The county magistrate rubbed his forehead and looked up at the advisor beside him. The advisor immediately leaned in and whispered into the magistrate's ear. The magistrate nodded repeatedly, his expression gradually improving. Yes, why hadn't he thought of it? After Song Mingze was fine, he insisted on escalating this matter, which had only two purposes: one, to not have Xun Wan niang as his wife, and two, naturally, to seek compensation. Where would this compensation come from? Naturally, from the Xun family.
Strictly speaking, the Xun family had no enmity with the Song family and no motive to harm them intentionally. The Xun couple's actions were merely to make Xun Wan niang and Song Mingze truly husband and wife. They worried that given Xun Wan niang's appearance and character, Song Mingze would not like her, and if he didn't like her, he would certainly not want to be husband and wife with her. If they weren't husband and wife, problems would arise over time, wouldn't they? Although the method of using medicine was a bit absurd, it was effective.
Having understood the matter, the county magistrate cleared his throat and began to pronounce the verdict: "Xun Tian lai and his wife, for instigating their married daughter to drug her husband, nearly causing a great disaster. Although the crime is not punishable by death, the death penalty can be avoided, but living crimes cannot escape punishment. I sentence the Xun family to compensate the Song family with half of their property. Xun Tian lai is to be imprisoned for three months and given twenty strokes of the cane as a warning. Xun Wan niang is to receive a letter of divorce and will no longer be a woman of the Song family. All of Xun Wan niang's dowry will be returned to the Song family. Madam Xun is to be given twenty strokes of the cane and to reflect properly. Song the matchmaker, starting today, is fined ten taels of silver and given twenty strokes of the cane. From today onwards, she is not allowed to engage in the business of matchmaking. Constable Wen, the execution of Song the matchmaker's punishment is entrusted to you."
At that time, the Xun couple had prepared a considerable dowry for Xun Wan niang so that she could hold her head high in the Song family, almost one-third of the Xun family's assets, all of which were now given to the Song family. The remaining property of the Xun family had to give half to the Song family, meaning more than half of the Xun family was compensated to the Song family.
Madam Xun rolled her eyes and fainted from anger.
Although Xun Tian lai felt heartache at giving away their family property, he was even more relieved that he wouldn't lose his life over this matter. As long as the green hills remained, there would be firewood to burn.
"Do you have anything else to say?" the county magistrate asked.
Song Mingze cupped his hands, "Your Honor is wise."
He was very satisfied with the outcome.
Xun Tian lai also had no objections.
The county magistrate stood up, preparing to announce the adjournment.
"Why divorce me? I don't agree. I am your wife," Xun Wan niang wailed, clinging to Song Mingze's arm. "I will obey you from now on, I will eat less, and I will work. You can't divorce me."
Madam Xun fainted, Xun Tian lai received the beating, and no one expected Xun Wan niang to be unwilling to leave the Song family.
Song Mingze forcefully pulled his arm, which was held by Xun Wan niang, and took two steps back, creating distance between himself and Xun Wan niang.
"I will send the divorce letter to the Xun family as quickly as possible. Miss Xun, from now on, we will go our separate ways. Please conduct yourself with dignity," Song Mingze said.
Unfortunately, Xun Wan niang didn't understand what he meant and continued to move closer, "I am your wife, I must follow you."
Xun Tian lai, who was about to be beaten, felt bitter. His daughter was not bright, but she had been very stubborn since childhood. Once she decided on something, she would stick to it. Song Mingze didn't fancy his daughter, but his daughter fancied Song Mingze. Even after hearing that a divorce letter was to be issued, she still was fixated on this man.
"Miss Xun, I am not a good match for you," Song Mingze said coldly.
"You are, you are, I like you," Xun Wan niang continued to pester Song Mingze.
"I request Your Honor to uphold justice for me," Song Mingze appealed to the county magistrate for help.
The county magistrate sighed and signaled to the yamen runners. Someone stepped forward to pull Xun Wan niang away, and the Song family hurriedly left the courtroom.
Qi Zhenzhen glanced at Xun Wan niang again. She was being held by two yamen runners, struggling in vain. Her plump body wriggled, appearing somewhat comical and pitiable. The Xun couple undoubtedly doted on Xun Wan niang, but perhaps too much. To have ended up like this, it was hard to say whose fault it was.
The group did not linger in the county town. Song Zhili stayed behind to handle the compensation from the Xun family.
Zhang Xiaoniu drove the cart, taking Song Mingze, his son, and Lu Qing shui back to Xinghua Village. Qi Zhenzhen rode her horse ahead.
After more than half a month of toiling and trouble, everything was finally settled. The Song family, and indeed everyone in Xinghua Village, breathed a sigh of relief.
"Miss, what do you think?" Lu Qing shui asked Qi Zhenzhen, holding up a skirt.
It was a bean paste colored long skirt made before the New Year, which Qi Zhenzhen liked very much. After the New Year, she had grown taller, and the skirt was no longer even reaching her ankles. The skirt was very new and stylish. Today, when Lu Qing shui was helping to tidy up clothes, Qi Zhenzhen mumbled that it was a shame it couldn't be worn anymore. Lu Qing shui eagerly offered to help.
Using fabric of the same color, they added length to make it suitable, and the seams were edged with a circle of sandalwood colored trim. With the appropriate length, the skirt looked... even more exquisite.
Qi Zhenzhen happily nodded, "Qing shui, your craftsmanship is too good, and the color combination is also beautiful."
Lu Qing shui smiled modestly, "My family is poor, and clothes are always mended and mended. To make mended clothes look better, I'm willing to ponder over it more. By now, I'm quite skilled at lengthening clothes and matching colors."
Was this considered a child from a poor family who grew up early? Of course, it also had a lot to do with talent.
Qi Zhenzhen simply dug out all the clothes she liked but no longer fit and asked Lu Qing shui to see if any could be altered.
Lu Qing shui was worried about having nothing to do at the Qi family. Upon hearing Qi Zhenzhen's request, she happily nodded, "I'll measure your dimensions first, and I guarantee I'll alter them all beautifully for you."
Madam Yun, who was nearby, looked helpless. In her opinion, if the clothes were too small, it was better to make new ones. The family's situation was quite good now; why bother altering clothes back and forth?
"Zhenzhen, Zhenzhen..." Song Mingyue ran in, panting.
"If your mother sees you like this, she'll scold you again. Where's the demeanor of a young lady?" Qi Zhenzhen handed Song Mingyue a cup of tea, "Catch your breath before you speak."
Song Mingyue drank the tea, called out to Madam Yun, and greeted Lu Qing shui before saying, "Xun Wan niang found our house. Save her alone."
In everyone's eyes, the matter between the Song family and the Xun family was concluded, settled, and in the past. How could Xun Wan niang have come knocking on their door?
Qi Zhenzhen was surprised, and Lu Qing shui was also surprised.
"How many people from the Xun family came?" Qi Zhenzhen instinctively thought that the Xun family was dissatisfied and had come to cause trouble at the Song family.
Song Mingyue shook her head, "Only Xun Wan niang came alone."
Xun Wan niang came by herself?
"Miss... how did Miss Xun arrive?" Lu Qing shui couldn't help but ask.
"She was in tatters. Judging by her appearance, she walked here. She was very disheveled, and her feet were worn raw," Song Mingyue said. "She was shouting at our doorstep, hungry and thirsty. She looked quite pitiful."