Chapter 58 Should I Just Be Beaten to Death?

Those few men lay flat on the ground, the sand scraping their faces painfully, yet they dared not utter a single sound.

Two quarters of an hour later, the people of the Xu Village arrived, looking aggressive and menacing.

"Futian Village, what is the meaning of this? Unprovoked insults directed at our villagers—do you wish to answer for this before the magistrate?" Village Chief Xu struck first.

Behind him followed dozens of people from the Xu Village, carrying an air that clearly indicated they were here for a brawl.

Yu Dong’s face turned cold. "What are we doing? Why don't you first ask what your Xu Village intended to do? In the past, you denied us irrigation water, and now that we've set up bamboo pipes ourselves, you are malicious enough to deny us even those. Do you want the people of Futian Village to starve to death?"

Village Chief Xu argued sophistically, full of confidence. "Yu Dong, what proof do you have? Just a casual flap of your lips and it's suddenly my Xu Village trying to harm you. What kind of insignificant things are you people in Futian Village that our Xu Village would even bother plotting against you?"

After a brief pause, he glanced at Fang Ning. "Or is it rather that some ignorant little upstart in your Futian Village, afraid of failing the imperial examination for a scholar's degree, deliberately schemed to frame my son? Once my son's scholar status is stripped, doesn't that mean he stands a better chance of passing?"

Fang Ning had long since noticed the middle-aged man in the crowd who sported a thin, waxed mustache and wore gray garments.

The man in gray carried an arrogant demeanor, looking completely out of place among the villagers of the Xu Village.

Fang Ning noticed calluses on the fingers of his right hand from holding a brush, indicating he was a scholar.

"Mister Xu, do not compare your son to me; he is unworthy!" Fang Ning said indifferently. "Of course, if you insist on making trouble, I wouldn't mind having the imperial education commissioner strip your son of his scholar title. With human and physical evidence both present, do you still wish to turn black into white and invert right from wrong? You may be blind yourself, but do not assume those well-read in books are blind as well. Reading is meant to illuminate reason and principles, not to let you engage in endless, unreasonable bickering."

Right off the bat, Fang Ning flattered the man in gray by placing him on a high pedestal.

Of course, she held the man in low regard.

However, before figuring out his background, she did not wish to bring trouble upon Futian Village.

Village Chief Xu quickly exposed the man's identity. "What would an unlearned, good-for-nothing brat like you know? Spouting lies here—let me tell you, today's matter is far from over. You must pay the price for what you've done! Master Liu, you have witnessed it yourself; how these people from Futian Village twist words and cause trouble. I implore Master Liu to uphold justice for us!"

Master Liu?

Could he be that maternal uncle of Zhang Fu?

Why on earth would he run over to the Xu Village? Surely not just to catch up with Scholar Xu over old times?

Was it for the recipe on how to process bayberries?

***

Master Liu cleared his throat and stepped out from behind the crowd. "Just what have you people done? Out with it and confess the truth! In broad daylight, this is no place for you rustic peasants to execute private punishments!"

After a brief pause, he looked at Fang Ning. "You are that Fang Ning who injured over a dozen people from the Xu Village? So young and already lacking proper virtue, yet you still wish to take the imperial examination?"

Yu Dong and the others had never laid eyes on anyone from the county yamen before. In their eyes, a yamen secretary was an official of towering stature, so none of them dared to open their mouths.

Master Liu was thoroughly pleased with the intimidation he had exerted over these country folk.

"Fang Ning, do you know your crime?!" he suddenly shouted.

Fang Ning replied calmly, "May I ask Master Liu, what crime have I committed? My grandfather was beaten bloody by the people of the Xu Village and nearly lost his life. Furthermore, two men in our village suffered injuries—one with a broken hand, and another missing half the skin on his leg.

"And I merely felt it was an injustice, so I went to the Xu Village to reason with them. When a dozen grown adults bullied me, a mere child, was it really so wrong of me to sprinkle a little chili water?

"Or perhaps I should have simply been beaten to death? I believe Master Liu is a sensible man, yet you were deceived by villains precisely because you are wholeheartedly dedicated to upholding justice for the people. Having served alongside the magistrate for many years, Master Liu must certainly possess divine judgment in resolving cases.

"I beg Master Liu to visit Futian Village and see whether what Fang Ning says is true. I pray Master Liu will not tarnish his reputation on account of a villain's honeyed words."

Village Chief Xu had not expected Fang Ning to be so sharp-tongued.

Seeing Master Liu's expression shift, he immediately chimed in, "Master Liu, over a dozen of our villagers were injured while there were only three of them. All things considered, it is our Xu Village that got the short end of the stick!"

"Indeed. The injuries you sustained would heal back to normal within an hour or two, whereas my grandfather and those two uncles are still recovering to this day. I can only wonder if Village Chief Xu believes Master Liu is blind, daring to speak such utter nonsense right before his eyes!" Fang Ning retorted sharply.

Furious, Master Liu lashed out with a slap. "You surnamed Xu, do you take me for a blind man?"

Village Chief Xu was left stunned from the blow.

The people of Futian Village were equally dumbfounded.

What was happening?

Why was Master Liu suddenly taking the side of Futian Village?

In truth, they did not know that Fang Ning had merely seized upon Master Liu's arrogance and deliberately uttered those words.

What Master Liu detested most in his life was being treated like a fool by others, especially since he was the magistrate's most favored confidant!

***

Since the Xu Village was twisting black into white, she would just fan the flames—who was afraid of whom?

"Master Liu, do you see these fields?" Fang Ning pointed to the agricultural plots and asked, "The ones higher up belong to the Xu Village, and the ones below belong to our Futian Village. The irrigation water we use must pass through their fields, yet every year they refuse to let us use it.

"With no other choice, we had to use bamboo pipes to channel the water down ourselves. But who would have thought that just as we finally finished setting up the water pipes, the Xu Village would attempt to destroy them, refusing to let us use even this?"

By the end of her speech, Fang Ning looked intensely aggrieved. "We were simply filled with indignation and wanted to reason with them, only for them to accuse us first, deceiving Master Liu and turning right into wrong. Master Liu, you perceive the finest details; I beg you to uphold justice for our Futian Village."

"I beg Master Liu to uphold justice for us." Behind her, Fang Ning made a gesture indicating to Yu Dong and the others that they should kneel.

Understanding the cue, Yu Dong led the villagers in dropping straight to their knees in unison. "I beg Master Liu to uphold justice for us."

Originally, Master Liu had only struck Village Chief Xu to assert his own status and authority.

Yet now, he had been cornered by Fang Ning and could not back down gracefully.

Growing angry out of embarrassment, Master Liu demanded of Village Chief Xu, "What on earth is the meaning of this? Out with the truth at once! If this matter is dragged before the magistrate, you will suffer grave consequences!"

Seeing Master Liu's changing expression, Village Chief Xu panicked inwardly. "Master Liu, please discern the truth. Every word of mine is the absolute truth; it is Futian Village that is bullying others too harshly!"

"If we were the ones bullying others too harshly, would we have needed to channel water using bamboo pipes? Clearly, you are bullying Master Liu for being tied up with official duties and lacking the time to travel deep among the common folk to understand their hardships, treating Master Liu as if he were blind!"

"This humble man would never dare treat Master Liu as blind."

"Then why were you standing there talking blind nonsense?"

Fang Ning pressed forward step by step, not giving Village Chief Xu the slightest chance to catch his breath.

Yu Dong had rarely encountered anyone from the county yamen, and Village Chief Xu certainly had not either.

Therefore, Fang Ning was determined to drive Village Chief Xu straight into Master Liu's bad graces.

Seeing Master Liu's face grow increasingly dark, a panicked Village Chief Xu blurted out, "That's only because your Futian Village refuses to show respect to my scholar son!"