Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2982: Chapter 2983: Quick Learner

Before Bai Yihong could speak, Master Xun angrily shouted, ”Bai Yihong, you despicable person, your son framed my son, and you even occupied my family’s fields. Aren’t you afraid of being struck by thunder?”

Bai Yihong was so angry he laughed. He thought about what his daughter said about acting skills and being an emperor of acting; isn’t this Master Xun just like that?

Originally, he claimed to be eager to sell the fields, with such a sincere attitude. Now he turns his face as if he was genuinely taken advantage of, how impressive.

”Thunder won’t strike me. Heaven has eyes. It’s not that it won’t repay; it’s just that the time hasn’t come yet,” Bai Yihong retorted.

Bai Zehao secretly cheered, wow, his father now has some eloquence.

Li Ming didn’t want them to continue arguing, so he tapped the courtroom wooden block and said, ”Silence, Bai Yihong, Xun Kai accuses you and your second son Bai Zepei of coercing the Xun family into selling their farmland, buying it at twenty percent below market price. Is this true?”

”This is not true. Buying and selling are voluntary. If it were forced, why would I give him a penny?” Bai Yihong loudly responded, ”And he says I conspired with my second son to coerce the Xun family, but my second son is in Capital City. How could we conspire together?”

”It was your son Bai Zepei who framed my son Xun Yuanju, and you used this to force me to sell the land. Why don’t you dare to admit it?” Xun Kai said.

”Back then, you said you were going to Capital City to join your son and were eager to sell the land, asking me to buy it all. Now, how quickly your words have changed,” Bai Yihong said.

”Master, you can find intermediaries to testify!” Xun Kai hurriedly said.

Bai Yihong’s heart tightened. Ruozhu was right; money can make ghosts work, and the intermediaries must have been bought off.

”Master, Xun Kai’s accusations involve officials in the capital. You must verify before adjudicating, but going back and forth would take a long time. Since the Xun family feels wronged, it’s better to file an imperial decree,” Bai Yihong said as instructed by Ruozhu.

Li Ming was instantly enlightened and became happy. Yes, such a matter involves the capital’s situation; how could he arbitrarily adjudicate here?

According to Danliang Country’s rules, if a case involves two places, the local governments must cooperate, but ultimately it is handled by a higher-level government. Since it involves Capital City, it should be adjudicated by them.

”It makes sense. I need to verify with Capital City and cannot just listen to Xun Kai’s account unilaterally. And since the matter involves imperial court officials, it ultimately must be handled by the Dali Temple,” Li Ming said, ”Xun Kai, you can provide more details, and I will report to the imperial court.”

Xun Kai was displeased upon hearing this. If it was reported to the capital, he would have to travel thousands of miles to the capital, not knowing how long it would be delayed.

”Master, even if you don’t investigate Bai Zepei framing my son, can’t you at least adjudicate Bai Yihong forcibly pressuring me to sell the land?” Xun Kai asked.

Bai Yihong glared at him, ”Words alone are not evidence. What proof do you have that my son Zepei framed your son? How can you prove I forced you? Is the witness you speak of the intermediary? There are countless cases of buying witnesses in the world, but what about material evidence?”

”The material evidence is the transaction contract. If it wasn’t for your coercion, why would I sell it to you at twenty percent below market price? My fields are good, they should be sold at thirty percent above market price,” Xun Kai produced the transaction contract.

This time Bai Zehao spoke up, ”Everyone knows that in the business world, retail and wholesale prices are not the same, and buying the whole package can give you a discount. My father bought all your farmland at once, and a discount is normal. If it was forced, why give you so much silver just to get you twenty percent off?”

Speaking of this matter, Xun Kai was full of resentment. His initial intention was to sell to Bai Yihong at four to five percent below market price, as he had been urging Bai Yihong to take all the land, saying he was short on time. Who knew Bai Yihong would prefer to gather money rather than lower the price? Afraid of arousing Bai Yihong’s suspicion, he dared not say more.

The twenty percent discount was indeed difficult to explain.

”This is the Bai family’s cleverness. My farmland cannot be measured by silver alone. They got the bargain but didn’t easily reveal the flaw,” Xun Kai said.

Li Ming cleared his throat, ”The transaction contract can’t serve as material evidence. This matter still requires joint investigation with Capital City. Xun Kai, you can go back, or you can directly go to Capital City to file your complaint, which might be more convenient.”

”Master!” Xun Kai shouted angrily, ”You’re trying not to handle this and covering up for the Bai family?”

”Impudent!” Li Ming knocked the courtroom wooden block, ”Xun Kai, you lack evidence yet insist on me punishing the defendant. What are your intentions? If you’re dissatisfied with my handling, you can report to the city lord, the Dali Temple, or even file an imperial decree. I have a clear conscience! Court dismissed!”

Li Ming didn’t want to argue with him and, after knocking the courtroom wooden block, rose and went to the back hall.

Bai Zehao coldly looked at Xun Kai, ”Master Xun, the way to Capital City is long, you better start your journey early.”

”Officials protecting officials, you all wait and see!” Xun Kai said.

”Sure, we’re waiting,” Bai Zehao said.

Xun Kai flicked his sleeves and left.

On this side, the dark guard saw nothing amiss and immediately went back to report to Bai Ruozhu.

”Mother, did you see me assuring there’d be no trouble? They thought they were smart, implicating second brother and damaging our family’s reputation. But as long as the case is brought to the public hall, it can’t tarnish our reputation unless they spread rumors. But Beiyu City isn’t under their control,” Bai Ruozhu said, giggling.

”Once the case involves officials in Capital City, it will be adjudicated in Capital and investigated there. Lord Li isn’t foolish; he doesn’t want to take this trouble on himself. Naturally, he will report it to Dali Temple and let Capital handle the investigation.”

Bai Ruozhu continued, ”Once it gets to Capital, there’s no need to worry. With second brother’s intellect, won’t he just toy with them? My second brother nearly got into Wei Hall after passing the Jiuli Clan’s Enlightenment Tablet. If he can’t toy with them, I’d despise him.”

Lin Ping’er was amused by her words, ”You have so much confidence in your second brother. I think you’re giving him a headache.”

”Who says so? Second brother and second sister-in-law said they miss you. If they’re adjudicating the case, you can just visit Capital for a trip and meet family and friends,” Bai Ruozhu laughed, ”Think of it as an official-funded trip.”

Lin Ping’er was amused, ”How come you’re making such a matter sound like fun? You’re so clever.”

”Father called me the Female Zhuge. I can’t tarnish the prestige of Zhuge Wu Hou,” Bai Ruozhu teased with a smile.

Soon Bai Yihong and his sons returned home, and Bai Yihong naturally praised his daughter well. What she said turned out to be effective and saved trouble.

”Wouldn’t this cause trouble for your second brother?” he worriedly asked again.

”Oh, come on, what kind of brain does the second brother have? He can definitely toy with them,” Lin Ping’er said.

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, ”Mother, you learned that very quickly.”