Chapter 249: Chapter 236: Comparisons Can Kill (6000+) _4
Translator: 549690339
However, these sorts of matters canât be reasoned out. No matter how much you advise, in the end, it can only be understood by the party involved themselves.
Zhuang Qingning sighed in her heart, but didnât show it. Instead, she nodded her head and smiled, âThen, Iâm looking forward to tasting Uncle Zhangâs cooking.â
âSpeaking of cooking, didnât I mention before that I wanted to have a tofu feast? Uncle Zhang, why donât you think about how to prepare the tofu feast, what dishes to include? When the time comes, let us try some new dishes?â
âNo problem, leave it to me.â Zhang Yongchang boldly patted his chest, âOver the next few days, Iâll come up with a list, try out each dish, and when they taste just right, Iâll prepare a whole table of it and invite you all to come and taste.â
âYou promised, Iâll be looking forward to it. Uncle Zhang, you better not forget.â
âHow could I laze around and forget about this? I promise.â
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Zhang Yongchang laughed heartily.
It was a hearty laughter, and it was clear it came straight from the heart.
Hearing Zhang Yongchangâs laughter, Lian Rong, who was gutting the carp, felt a little relieved.
Seeing that inviting Miss Zhuang over to speak with Zhang Yongchang really wasnât a mistake, with her frequent visits here, Zhang Yongchangâs mood should gradually improve.
Lian Rong kept smiling as he cleaned the fish and put away all the tofu and prepared everything else. Once all the preparations were complete, he called Zhang Yongchang to the kitchen.
The stewed carp with tofu, made with fermented bean curd, was fragrant and rich, tasted excellent, while the Eight Treasure Lucky Bag was tender and tasty, solving oneâs cravings with its refreshing aftertaste. As for the hot and sour soup, it was irresistible, savory and appetizing. The hand-pulled noodles were the best, satisfyingly chewy. By the time you finish a bowl, you would want another.
Zhuang Qingning enjoyed a very delicious and abundant lunch here. She chatted with Zhang Yongchang for a while, figured that Zhuang Sifu should have already arrived at the shop, she then bid farewell and headed for the tofu shop.
Zhang Yongchang and Lian Rong saw Zhuang Qingning off, reminding her to come and chat frequently. They watched her walk away before returning to their chores.
At this time, the sun had slightly tilted to the west, the noon heat gradually dissipating. Especially with the west wind blowing, wafting a faint coolness, it was very refreshing.
However, at this time, Du Yingwei didnât feel refreshed, he felt cold.
He felt ice-cold all over.
He thought that when Chu Jinnian came, he would just need to make a show of things and then he would be able to send this young novice away. But to his surprise, Chu Jinnian was silent in his actions, never leaving the house, and in just over a month, he had thoroughly investigated all of his affairs.
His corrupt practices, bribery, as well as his plot to frame the previous Magistrate Xia, were all crystal clear, backed by undeniable evidence.
It turned out that; he was underestimating this young master.
Du Yingweiâs gaze was cold and dangerous, staring at Chu Jinnian as if he had been poisoned, he was dying to take a big bite out of him.
âMagistrate Du.â Chu Jinnian, from his high pedestal, sensed his glare and glanced at him, his voice chilled: âIs there anything left you wish to say in this court?â
Is there anything left to say?
Of course, there was a lot left!
âMaster Chu.â Du Yingwei gave a cold huff: âAt this point, it doesnât matter what I say, what matters is what some people will say.â
Especially those in power.
Indeed, even at a time like this, he is still thinking that someone may be able to pull him out of this situation.
Chu Jinnian squinted: âThis is exactly what Iâm thinking.â
âAnd I, even though Iâm not very important, am still a young master.â Chu Jinnian leisurely added: âProbably better off than Magistrate Du, who was born into a humble family.â
Upon hearing this, Du Yingweiâs face changed suddenly.
Indeed, he was supported by Mr. Wei, but Chu Jinnian, on the other hand, had the Fourth Prince behind him. Although Mr. Wei had huge influence, he was the absolute power, and they could ignore the Fourth Prince. But after all, he was just a mere Magistrate. To Mr. Wei, he was just one of many chess pieces on the board.
To him, cutting off a leg of a centipede was no big deal, only a slight loss.
Mr. Wei was only considering himself. It was possible that he would abandon this chess piece at a crucial moment.
Unlike Chu Jinnian, he was a noble son, a future prince, with strong ties to the Fourth Prince, and there was no reason for him to abandon him. Even if there were major faults, the emperor would probably let it pass, considering Chu Jinnianâs noble status and close relationship, let alone this was a fair trial.
This time, the probability of Mr. Wei abandoning this chess piece was extremely high.
âMagistrate Du.â Chu Jinnian squinted his eyes: âEveryone knows itâs good to find a big tree for shade, but you have to see if the tree still wants to provide it to you.â
âWhat do you mean by that?â Du Yingwei suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
âThereâs no need for me to say more. Magistrate Du should understand.â Chu Jinnian grinned: âBy the way, I should tell Magistrate Du this. Ever since I arrived in Shouchun over a month ago, all the evidence that Iâve gone through has been sent to the capital in the first instance.â
âAnd ever since I collected all the evidence of your crimes until today, itâs been about seven to eight days, right? During this long period, Shouchun has been calm. Doesnât that seem strange to you, Magistrate Du?â
Du Yingwei clenched his teeth. His face had turned paper-white.
Seven to eight days was enough time for a fast-horse courier to bring the news to the capital. In fact, word from the capital has already arrived.
But itâs been quiet. There has been no real movement.
This means that Mr. Wei doesnât plan to make any waves.
He has become a discarded piece, a thoroughly abandoned piece.
âMagistrate Du is a smart man, and he should understand what heâs about to face.â Said Chu Jinnian.
Du Yingweiâs heart sank.
Of course he understood what he was about to face: corruption, bribery, with the amount involved reaching hundreds of thousands of taels. Plus, his scheme to frame Magistrate Xia for his own selfish ends, all these crimes put together, he could be sentenced to death immediately if each of them was carefully scrutinized.
If the emperor was angry and wanted to make him a warning to others, all the male members of his family could be executed, and his wife and daughter could be made state slaves.
After years of prosperity, he would suddenly fall from grace, with no face left to meet his ancestors.
Du Yingweiâs face turned ashen, and he sat down heavily on the ground.
Chu Jinnianâs lips curled up: âHoweverâŠâ
âI wonder if Magistrate Du is interested in making a deal with me?â
A deal?
A glimmer of hope flashed in Du Yingweiâs empty eyes.
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