The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 657: Only One Death (6)_1

Pei Qin raised an eyebrow, "Divorced again and sent back?"

"Definitely, that businessman must have found out that the elder sister was ennobled with a Third-Rank Decree, and brother-in-law became an official too, even defeating that dog official Huang Youzhong, so he dared not marry her and divorced her again! It’s been less than two months! The dream of glory and wealth, shattered just like that!" Pei Qian said with a smug hum.

"That must be infuriating," Pei Qin said, tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Sun Xiujin was simply furious, she still dreamt of marrying someone without power but at least wealthy, so she could live a life of glory and pampering. That bitch Pei Qin and her pretty-boy husband can go to hell! She withdrew her hand, looking for another opportunity to teach that little slut Pei Qian a lesson!

Little did she expect, the situation took a dramatic turn. Pei Qin was blessed in disguise with a decree, and Mo Heng became an official. While she, having just started to enjoy the wealthy life, was divorced and sent back to her parents’ house.

Miao’s, at home, held her daughter and cried, bitterly swearing, "Mother will surely find you an even better family!"

An even better family? Sun Xiujin could forget about that for the rest of her life. She didn’t have the luck, nor the fate to enjoy it! The eldest daughter-in-law muttered under her breath, while pondering to arrange a marriage for her daughter Tingyu. Now that the younger sister-in-law was divorced again, her daughter’s matrimonial prospects were affected too! ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Now that Miao’s had no mind to meddle in her granddaughter’s matrimonial affairs, and Sun Lizheng had no choices left, he lowered the criteria, looking for a match for Sun Tingyu that was decent enough, where she wouldn’t suffer or starve. After marrying into such a family, taking care of her husband and teaching her children was all that would be expected of her.

The matchmaker did find such a family, a Scholar because his mother had died, his father was not in good health, and he had a younger brother who was still young. He had studied for a few years, could read, and wrote well, so he earned a living by copying books for others. However, his family was poor, and at nineteen, had not yet discussed marriage.

Sun Lizheng inquired about his learning and found it very good, even better than Li Baoxiang from before. So, they mentioned the idea of a marriage.

Although Sun Xiujin had hurt Pei Qin, she was still the daughter of the Sun Lizheng family, and the entire family could not be condemned because of her. Besides, their family was poor and couldn’t afford to marry a bride. Sun Tingyu was pretty, literate, and good at embroidery, and for her to be willing to marry them, was already quite a favor. The sickly old man in bed so thrilled, he almost felt cured.

Nevertheless, Sun Lizheng still aspired to climb higher. With Sun Tingyu’s conditions, it was entirely possible to find a farmer with ten or twenty acres of land, where living wouldn’t be hard, nor would she be treated too disrespectfully. An ordinary life for a lifetime was also possible. Yet, they insisted on seeking a Scholar, thinking of financing his studies for the examinations, expecting that if he excelled, he would definitely repay their family.

Sun Tingyu was not pleased at all; the family was just too poor! There was a sick father, and she would have to work and serve meals and medicine if she married into that family. She barely did any chores at home and seldom cooked.

Her mother was also dissatisfied with such a family, so she sent a message to her husband who worked outside, saying she was finding a match for their daughter elsewhere, and wouldn’t return home for the New Year. Instead, she would take their daughter to join him and their son.

After hearing his wife’s complaints and realizing his daughter’s marriage was being affected to the point of nearly finding a destitute family with nothing to eat, Sun Tingyu’s father sent a message back, mentioning a proposal for Sun Tingyu, from the son of a Shopkeeper. He told Sun Tingyu’s mother and daughter to dress nicely and go for a meeting.

The moment Sun Lizheng heard it, he understood clearly, neither his daughter-in-law nor his son was satisfied with this marriage proposal, so it had to be dropped.

Sun Tingyu and her mother quickly packed their luggage and set off on their journey.

As the end of the year approached, marriage proposals became more frequent. Previously, Pei Qian was still young, but after this New Year, she’d be one year older, and so would Pei Wendong, who would turn twelve. Pei Qin was getting more impressive by the day, with a Third-Rank Decree and Mo Heng becoming an official. Fang Liuming and Fang Fu had been sent to the Imperial College, meaning Pei Wendong’s future was undoubtedly promising. To become allied with their family, one couldn’t just win a person, but wealth!

Sure enough, several matchmakers came calling.

The moment Pei Qin heard they were matchmakers, she declined them all.

Lady Chen, with her daughter’s marriage not easy to arrange, did not expect her son to be of age and that arranging his marriage would be difficult too, with the desired families making excuses not to agree. When the matchmakers mentioned Pei Wendong, they all blossomed with joy, eager to form an alliance, simply despicable!

She sought Qian Wanxiu’s help, but she was preoccupied with her son’s upcoming spring examination and concerned about the new County Magistrate.

The ruling from the Ministry of Justice came quickly: the murderer was to pay with his life; the false accuser was to receive a counter-penalty. Adding to that the previous embezzlement of Pei Qin’s land harvest, multiple offenses were combined, sentencing Huang Youzhong to death by beheading, overseen by Magistrate Meng Dinglun of Runing Prefecture. The assassin who killed Master Ding was sentenced to exile for three thousand miles. Ding Dalang was sentenced to three years of hard labor in Shicai Mountain.

The new County Magistrate was also soon to assume his post.

On the day Huang Youzhong was beheaded, many people gathered to watch.

Pei Zongli and Pei Houli had just returned from outside and witnessed the scene of the beheading.

The head fell to the ground, blood spraying three feet in the air.

Pei Zongli let out a low cry, his heart swirling with panic.

Pei Houli couldn’t help swallowing hard. Pei Qin had already fought the Huang County Magistrate to death. Next, he feared, it would be their turn. Recalling how her gaze had always been cold and piercing with contempt when she looked at him, Pei Houli felt a chill course through his body.

Seeing the fear in both of them, Qian Wanxiu was rather contemptuous, "Look at you two, scared as if it were your own heads being chopped off!"

"Wanxiu! Do you think they’re going to come after us next?" Pei Zongli was truly frightened of Pei Qin.

Qian Wanxiu’s lips pressed together coldly, "The most important thing right now is Pei Wenli’s imperial examination next spring. As long as he becomes a Palace Graduate and becomes an official. If our Wenchen manages to pass the Scholar examination next year too, we will have enough power to confront them! They haven’t found any evidence of us committing arson or murder. They don’t have the skill to frame and trap us. What is there to be afraid of!"

"But now Huang Youzhong has been beheaded, and we know nothing about the new County Magistrate!" Pei Houli was very worried.

Pei Zongli knew how much effort Qian Wanxiu put into bribing Magistrate Huang, and now he had been beheaded before they could even make use of him. If the new County Magistrate sided with Pei Qin, it would be very unfavorable for them.

Soon Mo Heng received a letter from Capital Jingcheng with detailed information about the new County Magistrate of Yuanyang County. He was a fellow Palace Graduate from Liaodong Prefecture, who, after climbing the ranks for over a decade, was still a Seventh-rank County Magistrate, but had been transferred from a poor county to Yuanyang.

The news was delivered by Xiao Guangbi’s men. This new County Magistrate, Jiang Benxin, was one of Xiao Guangbi’s men. He would be of convenience to Mo Heng and Pei Qin in the future and could also help them with their affairs.

"Of convenience? They’re sending someone to keep an eye on us!" Pei Qin snorted coldly, then asked Xiao Yong, "Xiao Guangbi’s men will recognize Xiao Radish, won’t they?"

Mo Heng shook his head, "They shouldn’t. Consort Jing has passed away; Prince Yong’an stays in his fief year-round and is rarely called back to the capital, and Xiao Yong and the rest rarely show their faces."

Pei Qin frowned and nodded her head, "If recognized, we’ll just say he’s a hostage."

"I’ve already told them not to come and deliver things anymore." Mo Heng soothed her as he massaged her hand.

Feng Wei didn’t know if he should enter, he waited a moment and then coughed, "Young Master! Young Mistress! There’s someone outside delivering things."

"Who?" Pei Qin asked.

"Yang Boyan."