Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 133 Anping County Government Office

Liu Sanjiang left Zhao Dayong to look after the two of them and hurried in.

After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, Liu Sanjiang came out and said, "Come with me. The master wants you to wait in the hall."

The three followed Liu Sanjiang and crossed the gate of the county government office. Inside was a spacious courtyard. Going forward, there was another door, and the ceremonial door in the middle was closed.

The three of them entered the main courtyard through a small door at the side, and when they looked up they saw the lobby of the county government office.

Shen Yu took a quick glance and felt that the lobby of the county government office was not very grand. It was quite different from the majestic and spacious appearance he saw on TV.

The yard is quite spacious, with side rooms on both sides. The county government hall in the middle has a curved eaves and two large pillars on each side. In the middle is a long table and an armchair. Above the table hangs a plaque with the words "A Bright Mirror Hanging High". On the wall behind hangs a painting of "Sea Water and Rising Sun". It has been hung for so long that the color has faded and turned gray.

There was no one behind the desk at this time. There was a yamen runner standing on each side. Liu Sanjiang and Zhao Dayong, who followed in, also stood on both sides quietly.

Next to the long table was a middle-aged man who looked like a legal advisor. He wore a pair of round crystal glasses and sat at a small desk nearby, waiting quietly.

Shen Yu muttered to himself, why hasn't the county magistrate come to the court yet?

Just as I was daydreaming, I suddenly heard a loud shout: "Master, come to the classroom."

The yamen runners on both sides were holding black and red long sticks and said in a long voice: "Mighty!"

The lawyer with round glasses also stood aside with his hands hanging down.

Then, a series of clattering footsteps were heard coming closer and closer. A middle-aged man, about 40 years old, walked slowly to the back of the table with square steps and sat down on the armchair in the middle.

Shen Yu lowered his head slightly and quickly glanced at the county magistrate in the hall. He saw that he was wearing a green official uniform, had a fair face, a neatly trimmed short beard under his chin, and did not look very well.

Shen Yu quickly lowered his head and only saw the green corner of the official robe out of the corner of his eye.

There was only a slight cough in the hall, and a casual and low voice asked: "Who is the victim? What is the complaint?"

Mrs. Hu hurriedly said, "My Lord, it is I who want to file a complaint."

The yamen runner beside him struck the killing stick on the ground and shouted: "How dare you! You are answering the master and you don't even kneel down!"

Mrs. Hu was so frightened that she trembled and knelt down on the ground with her knees weak. "I want to file a complaint. I want to sue the steamed buns lady who has a steamed bun stall at the entrance of the market. Her steamed buns are poisonous and have poisoned my grandson."

The county magistrate said "Oh" and asked slowly: "Mr. Hu, do you have any evidence? Tell the truth about what happened. If you lie, it is a serious crime to falsely accuse others."

Seeing that the county magistrate was gentle and had a big stomach, Mrs. Hu said loudly, "My lord, my grandson ate the buns bought from the Shen family this morning and had vomiting and diarrhea. He is not feeling well now."

The county magistrate was furious when he heard this: "How can this be? Come on, the guy from the bun stall..."

The county magistrate wanted to say Baozi Xishi, but then thought it was not elegant, so he paused and said, "Did the owner of the Baozi stall come with him?"

Liu Sanjiang stepped forward and said, "In reply to your Excellency's words, Miss Shen, the owner of the steamed bun stall, has been brought here. This is her."

Shen Yu looked at the hard and cold blue brick floor, but could only kneel down helplessly and said, "I am Shen Yuzhi, the humble girl, and I meet you, sir. I make a living by setting up a bun stall at the entrance of the market, and I have never poisoned anyone."

The county magistrate scolded him, "You criminal, you are so vicious at such a young age. Would Mrs. Hu use her own grandson's life to frame you? What have you done? Why don't you confess the truth?"

Shen Yu was so angry that his lungs were about to explode. What a corrupt official this was! He didn't even check any evidence and just believed what that old woman Hu said.

She took a deep breath, raised her head calmly and said, "Sir, do I have any evidence of poisoning? Can you let me get up and answer your questions?"

The county magistrate was stunned. He had probably never seen a young girl of fifteen or sixteen so calm in the hall. He nodded and said, "In that case, stand up and answer."

When Mrs. Hu heard this, she also got up from the ground and said, "Sir..."

The county magistrate slammed the gavel beside him and shouted, "I am questioning the criminal. The victim should not interrupt and just stand aside."

Mrs. Hu pursed her lips and had to stand aside with her hands hanging down.

Shen Yu held up the lotus leaf buns he had been carrying with both hands and spoke clearly, "Sir, these are the buns my family made this morning. Every morning, we steam more than a dozen steamed buns. We sold them all morning, and only these few were left when we were about to close the stall. These buns use the same fillings as the buns sold this morning. We'll know if they are poisonous once we test them."

She pointed at Liu Sanjiang and Zhao Dayong and said, "The two runners have also asked the guests who ate my buns this morning. Everyone who ate them is fine. No one said they felt unwell."

Shen Yu thought for a moment and added, "Sir, this grandmother's grandson is dying. As a grandmother, she didn't stay by her grandson's side, but insisted on accusing me of poisoning him. She kept crying in front of my stall. I would like to ask you to send someone to this grandmother's house to see what happened to her grandson and whether he is really dying as she said."

After saying this, he handed the lotus leaf bag in his hand to the yamen runner beside him, who placed it on the table in front of the county magistrate.

The county magistrate looked at the lotus leaf bag, pondered for a moment, and said to Zhao Dayong who was standing aside: "Zhao Dayong, is what this girl just said true?"

Zhao Dayong stepped forward, bowed and said, "Your Excellency, it is indeed as Miss Shen said. I asked the people around who were watching the excitement, and no one who ate the buns in the morning felt unwell."

The county magistrate nodded and said, "I understand. Come on, take Mrs. Hu to her house to check on her grandson and see how he is doing. If there are any leftover buns, bring them back as well."

Then he said to another yamen runner, "Wu Qingshan, call the coroner to test whether the buns are poisonous."

The runners on both sides heard the order and were about to do their own thing. Mrs. Hu plucked up the courage to say, "Sir, these two officials have a good relationship with Baozi Xishi. If they go to my house, they will have to speak for Baozi Xishi. I beg you to replace an official to go to my house to check and seek justice."

Zhao Dayong was so embarrassed that his face turned red. He defended himself, "Sir, Liu Sanjiang and I are not partial to anyone. When we were questioning, many people were present. There are also people outside the door who have come to watch the excitement. You can summon them and question them."

Mrs. Hu said confidently, "Sir, a few days ago I saw with my own eyes that this steamed bun beauty gave each of these two officials a box of small reunion cakes. Each box of cakes cost several hundred coins. These two officials were talking and laughing with her on the street. They must have a good relationship."

Liu Sanjiang was also getting anxious. He opened his mouth to reply, but the county magistrate waved his hand and said impatiently, "Then let Lu Changping go instead."