Chapter 1205: Chapter 1207: Fight Violence with Violence_1
Speaking of the way these two villages conduct themselves, Ye Zi’an said it was just the behavior of hooligans. When the bailiffs arrived, the women were the first to confront them. Once he and Ye Si appeared, the village girls stepped forward. These people weren’t the slightest bit afraid of the authorities. The more people you sent, the entire village—men, women, old, and young—would all come out. If you dared to draw a knife, they dared to brandish pitchforks. They were incredibly united.
"So what you’re saying is that they’re essentially thuggish villages?" Yang Chuxia snorted coldly, "Well, if that’s the case, there’s no need to hold back, just go in hard."
"Madam, these people aren’t afraid of a hard approach. Some even say they should all be arrested; that way, it would be great to eat prison food and save on household provisions. I’ve called several Land Officers to go and probe what exactly these two villages are up to."
"Never mind their motives, meeting violence with violence is also a strategy. Since they become more arrogant with your intervention, I’ll handle this matter." As she said this, Yang Chuxia took the opportunity when no one was around to pinch Ye Zi’an’s cheek teasingly, "You and Ye Si are both too good-looking. You should consider scarring your faces to prevent public duties from being affected."
Ye Zi’an also felt helpless, always attracting those shameless women like Cao Lingling, completely disregarding what others thought.
"I’ll go with you," Ye Zi’an said, "These people can’t be killed, for the empire doesn’t have a law that says taxes can be left unpaid without penalty. As for arrests, if we really imprison a group for a year or two, that would scare them. The problem is the prison can’t hold so many and it would be a waste of prison food. Arresting too few would also be ineffective."
"Why bother with killings or arrests? Hurting them is best. Against the actions of ruffians, we usually have to use even more ruffian-like methods."
Having said that, Ye Zi’an and Yang Chuxia led people to the two villages.
Although called two separate villages, they essentially seemed like one, separated merely by a road—one known as Yangxi Village, the other as Yangdong Village.
Before even entering the villages, Yang Chuxia noticed a group of women standing in the middle of the road, each looking fierce, holding clubs in their hands.
Spotting the group of women Yang Chuxia had with her, the villagers exchanged glances and took a couple of steps forward.
"Call out the Land Officers of your two villages!"
Yang Chuxia’s command was met with no movement, just disdainful eyes.
Some even said arrogantly, "Are you here to make us pay taxes again? Don’t even think about it."
"Exactly, don’t even think about it!"
"Mom, did I hear that our County Magistrate is here again?" A somewhat delicate female voice was heard.
Following that, Yang Chuxia saw several girls come out.
Yang Chuxia turned and whispered something to Ye Zi’an, then Li Wen, who had followed Zi’an, went back, while Ye Zi’an stepped aside.
"You really are a bunch of shameless creatures, already flirting with men while still sporting maiden braids." Yang Chuxia looked sternly at several of the girls in the middle, "I’ll say it again, bring your Land Officers out to talk, or else..."
While Yang Chuxia looked quite threatening when she was angry, the villagers weren’t scared at all. Having survived many floods and battled with death, naturally, they were fearless.
One of the women, who seemed to be the leader, said, "Or else what? You’ll arrest us? Then go ahead, it will save my family’s rice. Kill us? Haha, he wouldn’t dare. With hundreds of people in our two villages, if he kills us, he wouldn’t get away with it either."
"You really are arrogant!" Yang Chuxia snorted coldly, "I won’t kill you or arrest you."