Chapter 29

"Has the county magistrate arrived?"

Yang Rui couldn't help but feel nervous, instinctively turning to look at Yang Shouwen.

Only then did the family members of the Yang household notice Yang Shouwen's presence, their faces changing slightly as they hurriedly bowed and said, "Song An greets the eldest son."

This Song An was a servant brought by Yang Rui's mother.

Yang Rui's mother came from a small family in Changping, somewhat akin to a local landowner.

The Song family made their fortune by trading wild goods but had no real power. Years ago, Yang Chenglie had helped Yang Rui's maternal grandfather with a small favor. After that, Yang Rui's maternal grandfather actively promoted his daughter, and she successfully married into the Yang family.

With Yang Chenglie's position as the county military officer, the Song family gradually rose in status.

However, a few years ago, after Yang Rui's maternal grandfather passed away, his sons fought over the inheritance, causing a great stir in the city. Song Shi felt disheartened and gradually distanced herself from the Song family. Although they occasionally interacted, it was not very intimate.

Song An was a family member brought by Song Shi.

Yang Shouwen could sense that Song An's gaze was wary, even somewhat hostile.

But he didn't care, not even glancing at Song An, and said in a deep voice, "Where is Father? Is he well?"

Yang Rui was also very clear about the situation in Fanrenli.

In fact, Song Shi had no real hostility toward Yang Shouwen. Overall, she was a gentle and mild-mannered woman who disliked conflict. However, since Yang Chenglie had been a widower for many years and Song Shi had been married into the Yang family for a long time without being made the official wife, it naturally led to dissatisfaction among the Song family, who secretly tried to stir up trouble.

Yang Qingnu, Song Shi's daughter and Yang Shouwen's sister, harbored resentment toward Yang Shouwen for this reason.

Yang Rui had been the same before, but after being scolded by Yang Shouwen, he changed his attitude.

"Eldest brother, please follow me."

Yang Rui quickly gestured for Song An to step aside and led Yang Shouwen into the main gate.

The Yang residence was divided into three sections: the front, middle, and rear courtyards.

Yang Rui led Yang Shouwen along the corridor to a side room in the middle courtyard.

"Eldest brother, please forgive me. Since the county magistrate has arrived, Father may not be able to see you immediately. Please wait here for a moment."

"Where is Jiaoli?"

"Oh, Jiaoli is in the rear courtyard."

Yang Rui explained, "Since the incident this morning, Jiaoli has been by Father's side, guarding him in the rear courtyard."

"That's good!"

Yang Shouwen sat down, gesturing for Yang Rui to do the same.

"Second son, I didn't ask you in detail on the way here. Since the county magistrate has visited, please tell me what happened so I can be prepared when I see Father."

Yang Rui quickly agreed, mimicking Yang Shouwen's posture and began to recount the events of the day in detail.

It turned out that after returning to Changping, Yang Chenglie had rested for two days.

During these two days, he had spread the news that he held evidence, but the murderer had not made any moves. From the time Yang Chenglie went to Guguzhu to when he was resting at home, the office had been managed by Guan Hu. Seeing Guan Hu working tirelessly, Yang Chenglie felt he was very hardworking, so once his injuries improved, he went to the office to take over.

For several days, everything was peaceful, and Yang Chenglie let his guard down.

Who would have thought that just before dawn today, a group of bandits suddenly broke into the county office. They appeared so suddenly that the guards didn't have time to react and suffered heavy casualties. Yang Chenglie hastily fought back but was surrounded by several masked men and nearly lost his life. Fortunately, he had brought Jiaoli with him, and when the danger arose, Jiaoli suddenly appeared and killed two of the bandits on the spot.

The bandits, realizing the situation was not in their favor, immediately set the county office on fire.

By the time the militia arrived, a third of the front office was engulfed in flames.

The bandits took advantage of the chaos to flee, and although the militia pursued them, they not only failed to catch them but also lost three lives.

As Yang Rui spoke, a look of hatred appeared on his face.

"How hateful that I wasn't on duty today. If I had been, Father wouldn't have been injured."

It sounded like if you had been there, Father wouldn't have been hurt. Yang Shouwen thought to himself, but he didn't say it out loud. He could see that Yang Rui was genuinely remorseful. Regardless of his abilities, having such filial piety was commendable.

Just as he was about to speak, a voice came from outside the door.

"You talk as if you're invincible. If you were there, you might have just been a burden to Father."

Before the voice finished, a small figure walked in.

This child looked about the same age as You Niang, slightly shorter, with a round face and a hint of youthfulness.

She walked in, saw Yang Shouwen, and loudly asked, "Yang Rui, why did you bring him here?"

"Qingnu, what are you doing?"

Yang Rui frowned, a bit unhappy, "Father asked me to bring the eldest brother here. Why are you speaking like this?"

"Hmph, what eldest brother? I see him only twice a year."

"Qingnu!"

The little girl paid no attention to Yang Rui's displeasure and stared directly at Yang Shouwen, "When my eldest brother went into the mountains with you, he almost lost his life. Then Father went to Guguzhu with you and came back injured. You are truly a harbinger of misfortune. Why are you here?"

The little girl's words were extremely venomous, and her gaze was full of hostility.

Yang Shouwen's face changed slightly, glanced at the little girl, and then lowered his eyelids, not retaliating.

This little girl was Yang Rui's younger sister, Yang Qingnu.

Yang Shouwen didn't know why Yang Qingnu was so hostile to him, but he couldn't take it seriously with a little girl.

However, his indifferent attitude infuriated Yang Qingnu.

"Why don't you speak? Do you think you haven't caused enough harm to our family?"

Yang Shouwen suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze deep.

"Who told you I have harmed the Yang family?"

"Isn't it true?"

Yang Qingnu was unafraid, meeting Yang Shouwen's gaze, "Throughout history, good people have never been struck by lightning. When you were a fool, you made Grandfather live outside the city, and Father couldn't fulfill his filial duty. Now that you are awake, are you going to harm our family? First, you put my eldest brother in danger in the mountains; then you made Father return injured from outside. Now, Father has been attacked by bandits, all because of you. You came here today to take control of the family and drive away my mother, didn't you?"

"When did I ever want to drive you away?"

Yang Shouwen was puzzled and turned to look at Yang Rui.

"You don't need to threaten my eldest brother. I'll tell you, my eldest brother is foolish, but I am not. My eldest brother fears you, but I do not."

"Qingnu, how dare you!"

At that moment, a soft but stern voice came from outside the door.

Following the voice, a middle-aged woman walked in.

She was dressed simply, with no makeup, and the years had left their mark on her face, but she still had a certain charm. It was clear that she had been a beauty in her youth.

"Mother!"

The woman entered the room, and Yang Rui quickly stood up.

Yang Shouwen also stood up and bowed to the woman.

"Xizi, your father has called for you."

"Yes!"

Yang Shouwen recognized that this middle-aged woman was Yang Chenglie's current wife, his stepmother, and the biological mother of Yang Rui and Yang Qingnu, Song Shi.

Song Shi's face was stern, and she stared at Yang Qingnu without saying a word.

Yang Qingnu, who had been defiant just a moment ago, now looked like a frightened kitten, lowering her head and not daring to meet Song Shi's gaze.

"Mother!"

Yang Shouwen took a few steps, then stopped and turned around, "Qingnu is young and doesn't understand. Sometimes she might be influenced by others. She is concerned about Father and means no harm. Don't blame her; I won't hold it against her."

With that, he and Yang Rui left the room.

Song Shi was stunned!

She stood at the door for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she murmured to herself, "Xizi actually called me Mother. He called me Mother."

For over a decade since marrying into the Song family, Song Shi had always been cautious and fearful.

Yang Chenglie was a man who spent money freely and was not good at managing the household. Supporting a family on his salary was not easy, even with the income from 200 acres of land, which was controlled by Yang Dafang. Song Shi knew that Yang Dafang looked down on her, or rather, on the Yang family behind her. However, Yang Dafang did one thing well: he didn't prevent Yang Chenglie from marrying Song Shi because of his personal preferences.