Chapter 28

As the scene of a grand reunion unfolded before their eyes, Lin Gaozhe was about to break up the happy couple with his staff. The onlookers began to chatter away.

Seeing the people's support, Uncle and Aunt pleaded together before Lin Gaozhe, "Father! Please show mercy!"

Xie Lao San also rushed out to support Aunt, saying, "Sister, we won't beg the Lin family. I and our father will take care of you for life."

"Aunt, don't get involved in my affairs," Aunt said pitifully, looking at Lin Gaozhe.

"If you had known this would happen today, why did you leave the family back then? I ask you, do you still want the five acres of dowry land?"

Aunt cried, "I only want to live longer, I don't want any land."

"Then will you still make things difficult for Yan Chao and Qian Qian?"

"I won't, I swear. From now on, I will work like a cow and a horse for the Lin family. If I ever mistreat Yan Chao and Qian Qian again, I am not a human being."

Lin Gaozhe's expression softened, "Who doesn't have flaws? But one must know to correct them. What do you think, Yan Chao?"

Lin Yan Chao glanced at Aunt and said, "Everything depends on Grandfather's decision."

Lin Gaozhe nodded and turned to Xie Zongjia outside, "Father-in-law, what do you think?"

Xie Zongjia, seeing his daughter in such a state, sighed, "What else can I say? It's still up to you. This time, your Lin family has won."

Lin Gaozhe nodded and said to Aunt, "Alright, this time it's forgiven. Go home and live your life."

Well, well, the family is reconciled. This story of a broken mirror being mended again, though cliché, always moves the onlookers to tears.

"Live a good life with your husband from now on!"

"Yes, to have such a husband and father-in-law, where can you find them?"

"As women, we don't seek great wealth and honor, we just want a peaceful family. Don't you agree?"

Aunt, with tears streaming down her face, said, "I remember, I will remember."

*Slap!*

Just as the atmosphere was warm, the gavel sounded, and County Magistrate Zhou shouted, "You people, breaking up and reconciling at will, changing your minds like the wind, do you still respect this official? Do you believe I won't punish you for disrupting the court?"

County Magistrate Zhou's shout shocked everyone.

This was the famous County Magistrate who could ruin families. Was he someone to be trifled with?

Lin Yan Chao stepped forward, "Your Excellency, the purpose of hearing cases is not to punish but to educate the people. If you, Your Excellency, make a fair judgment, how can Xie Zongjia's family repent? If not for your authority, how could our Lin family and the Xie family reconcile? All this is due to your ability, Your Excellency."

"Punishment is to punish one person, to discipline one family, but through punishment, two families are reconciled, and the people fear and respect the law. This is your sincere love for the people. I beg you to understand, Your Excellency."

Lin Yan Chao bowed, and Xie Zongjia, Lin Gaozhe, and the other three hundred or so people outside also knelt and said in unison, "Please understand, Your Excellency!"

This is what the people's hearts are like. Lin Yan Chao's words made all the people stand on his side.

County Magistrate Zhou, the clerk, the scribe, and the other officials were all shocked. Seeing the sea of people bowing before the hall, the momentum was so strong that County Magistrate Zhou's hand, which was about to lift the teacup, paused in mid-air.

What is the strongest in the world? It is the will of the people!

At this moment, even County Magistrate Zhou, who could ruin families, had to put down his teacup, straighten his hat, and step aside from the table. If he continued to sit there carelessly, the inspector and the censor could impeach him to the emperor.

County Magistrate Zhou stood up, and the other officials also stood up, whispering. These officials and constables usually bullied the people, but a few hundred people?

"Is this boy really only twelve years old?"

"I don't know, but I've been in the office for twenty years, and I've rarely seen such a situation."

County Magistrate Zhou said, "Lin Yan Chao, what are you doing, manipulating public opinion?"

"I dare not, Your Excellency!"

The hall was silent, and County Magistrate Zhou said, "I am not unreasonable... I will forgive you this time for the sake of the inspector, and revoke the previous judgment. Live your life well, now stand up!"

"Thank you, Your Excellency!"

The people all stood up, and County Magistrate Zhou looked at Lin Yan Chao and smiled, "You are truly a good student of the inspector. This time, you must be going to the provincial capital to visit the inspector. Please greet him for me. Now, you may leave!"

Lin Yan Chao was stunned, then thought that County Magistrate Zhou's words couldn't be baseless, perhaps hinting at something.

Exiting the county office, they faced the bustling street in front of the office.

Uncle, who had been suppressed for so long, finally had his moment of triumph. Aunt, who had been domineering like a tiger, now clung to him like a meek wife.

Uncle, who had never before asserted his authority, now spoke louder, "Father, father-in-law, it's getting late. Let's have a meal first, then hire a boat to go home. This time, I'll treat everyone. How about at An Tai Tower?"

An Tai Tower was a famous restaurant in the provincial capital, located by the An Tai River north of the county office, near the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys where the officials and nobles lived. A meal there was not cheap.

Xie Laohu and Xie Lao San exchanged glances, feeling humiliated.

Xie Zongjia said, "Son-in-law, there's no need. We have some things to do. As long as you treat Aunt well, I have no other requirements."

Saying this, they left first.

The remaining four members of the Lin family, Uncle proudly said to Lin Yan Chao, "Yan Chao, it's all thanks to you today. What do you want to eat? I'll treat you, wife, what do you think?"

Aunt said gently, "Whatever you say, I'll do."

Hearing this, not only Lin Yan Chao but also Lin Gaozhe felt goosebumps.

Uncle laughed loudly, "Come on, Yan Chao."

Lin Yan Chao was thinking about County Magistrate Zhou's words, a flash of insight, but then couldn't figure it out, so he didn't pay much attention to Uncle's words.

Lin Yan Chao said, "Uncle, I won't go to An Tai Tower. I'll go to the Inspector's office to visit my teacher first."

Hearing this, everyone was stunned, even Xie Laohu and his son, who had already taken a few steps, stopped and perked up their ears.

"Yes, this time we were in the right, but the county magistrate also considered the inspector. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy."

Xie Laohu was now deeply regretful, thinking that he had lost the case, and this boy was the inspector's student, an official even higher than the county magistrate, who didn't even need to show respect to the governor. If he had known this, he wouldn't have filed the lawsuit.

Xie Laohu and his son left with their heads hung low.

Hearing that Lin Yan Chao was going to visit the inspector, Lin Gaozhe said to Uncle, "Quick, give all the money to Yan Chao."

Uncle said, "Father, if you give all the money to Yan Chao, how will we go home?"

"You don't understand. The Inspector's office is not easy to visit. Don't you need to give a tip to the gatekeeper?"

Lin Yan Chao then bid farewell to his family, found a teahouse on the street, asked for directions to the Inspector's office, and asked the teahouse owner for a cup of tea, a plate of cakes, and some ink and paper. Lin Yan Chao wrote a note while eating the cakes, writing "Student Lin Yan Chao pays respects" at the bottom.

After finishing, Lin Yan Chao noticed that many people in the teahouse were looking at him.

Lin Yan Chao found it a bit strange but didn't pay much attention. Just as he was about to pay for the tea, the teahouse owner smiled and said, "Young sir, your money has already been paid by a gentleman."

"What's going on? Doing good deeds without leaving a name?"

"Could I have some acquaintance in the provincial capital?"

"Which gentleman paid for me?" Lin Yan Chao asked, and a man wearing an eight-clawed hat stood up from a nearby table, smiling and said, "Young sir, I apologize for being forward, but I would like to get to know you."

"Sure, sure," Lin Yan Chao pondered the man's intentions.

The man immediately revealed his purpose, "In the county office just now, I saw you, a young man, use your eloquence to defeat a corrupt gentry. I am very impressed. Do you know that the gentry's complaint was written by the famous lawyer Ge? Yet, you still won. I have a small dispute, my half-brother is contesting my inheritance. I would like to ask for your help."

Lin Yan Chao hadn't expected that this lawsuit would make him famous, and in such an unexpected way.

Seeing Lin Yan Chao's hesitation, the man quickly said, "Young sir, you don't need to worry about losing. I've checked the market rate. A lawyer like Ge charges five taels for advice and ten taels for writing a complaint. I won't shortchange you. Whatever Ge charges, I'll pay you the same. If we win the case, I'll give you an additional reward. What do you think?"

Five taels, ten taels, a total of fifteen taels, enough to support a family of three for two years. To Lin Yan Chao, it was a huge sum.

The man's words made a few people in the teahouse quickly step forward, "I have a case to file, three taels, will that do?"

"Me too, me too."

"Don't rush, don't rush, first come, first served."

Unfortunately, Lin Yan Chao, despite his desire for the money, had to sigh. He couldn't act as a lawyer. Acting as a lawyer would tarnish his reputation, and if he were a scholar, the government would revoke his title if they found out.

Although Lin Yan Chao was pained by the loss of money, he had to maintain his integrity. So, he decided to be virtuous and refused the offer.

Lin Yan Chao clasped his hands and said, "Thank you all for your kindness, but acting as a lawyer, writing complaints, and inciting disputes, is against the principle of no litigation. A man of integrity may be poor, but he must not lose his integrity. I cannot help you with this. As for the tea money, I am poor, but I can still pay."

Saying this, Lin Yan Chao left a few coins on the table and left, with the air of a nobleman. His righteous words made the people respect him.

It seems that if I don't have a future in the imperial exams, I could become a lawyer and earn a few taels a day. In a few years, I could buy a house in the provincial capital and bring Qian Qian to live there. According to modern estimates, this area is within the first ring, at least 20,000 taels per square meter, extremely expensive.

Lin Yan Chao thought about this as he walked towards the Inspector's office.