Chapter 256: Beware, Retribution Will Come Sooner or Later

Fifty mu of land, inside were ten workshops, five warehouses, and some houses for people to live in.

"Madam, these were all built according to the plans you gave me; I, your husband, took the liberty to add a row of houses at the back to provide workers with lodging."

"Mm, in your county, the population is sparse, so commuting every day is quite troublesome."

"Yes, three days off per month,"

"After the New Year, we'll start training oil‑cutting workers, right?"

"Mm, I think the same; the sooner we get the workers to start, the sooner they can earn wages."

The two then rode their horses around the county outskirts, looked over the Bare Land, and Qiao Mai inspected the first batch of planted trees.

"In another year, we can definitely harvest pinecones."

"Madam, we won't incur a loss, will we?"

He had specifically inquired about the Qiao Family yesterday; the Qiao Family is not easy to deal with, and it's not just because Yuan Jiaqi, the Fifth‑rank County Magistrate.

"Spit, Zhu Xianling and the Qiao Family are friends; filing a complaint? With just a casual letter, they can deal with you. Don't you even know how heavy you are?"

The next day, Zhou County Deputy immediately prepared a carriage and went himself to Taohua Village; the Tian family thought their in‑laws had come to support them, but upon meeting, Zhou County Deputy scolded them as being no good inside or out.

Yuan Jiaqi also regretted his own impulsiveness; he was only thinking about changing Shexian and didn't anticipate this.

After all, back then everyone watched as the Tian family bullied Qiao Mai, remaining indifferent, and no one stepped in or spoke up to help.

Originally, Ling'er felt a certain kinship toward their family due to blood ties, but seeing them repeatedly entangle, she gradually grew annoyed with them.

"I say, Old Zhou—"

The Tian family were lamenting at the doorway; when Jin Mama sent someone to report to the officials, they fled, becoming especially sly oil boys.

"I'll draft a memorial for you, husband, and submit it to the Emperor."

A ten‑year‑old pine tree yields two hundred jin of pine nuts per year; if you look solely at the pine nuts…

He plans, after the Tian family's funeral, to call his daughter back home; to avoid future clan‑annihilation troubles, he'll have his daughter and son‑in‑law Divorce by Mutual Consent. He's truly afraid that one day, because of Tian Sanzhuang's stupidity, he'll lose his position as County Deputy.

Upon taking office, he thoroughly investigated every major household within Yi County.

Zhu Xianling opened the letter and immediately furrowed his brows.

He only consulted his father‑in‑law, who is the County Deputy of Yi County's county office; although the County Deputy is slightly lower than the County Magistrate, given who it is, Zhu Xianling's status is too intimidating, so the County Deputy can only obey obediently.

After seeing this, Qiao Mai immediately drafted a letter at home and sent a courier on a swift horse to deliver it into Zhu Xianling's hands.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Jiaqi felt a bit embarrassed; back then, in a heat of the moment, he bought tens of thousands of mu of land. Now it's usable, and if he really has to pay tribute in grain, he'd be at a loss.

Tian Sanzhuang's heart fluttered, and he quickly put on a smiling face to ask, "Father‑in‑law, did they file a complaint at the county?"

It remains to be seen whether they can sell the goods later; they say rarity makes things valuable, and tens of thousands of mu of pine trees, if sold poorly, become cheap goods.

"Mm‑mm, we must petition; otherwise, I won't handle anything."

The wounds had already healed, yet they still intend to scheme against Ling'er; Qiao Mai will certainly not let them get away.

It seems a thorough plan is needed; Qiao Mai looked at the pine forest with some worry, having stayed in Shexian only two days before returning to Tianshui Town.

They had only left Taohua Village yesterday, and today they returned to investigate the case; his daughter still has to come back to mourn for her mother‑in‑law, and he's so angry he wants to kick Tian Sanzhuang a few times.

"Isn't he recuperating at home during this period?"

Zhou County Deputy, sweating coldly, said, "Please rest assured, sir, I will definitely handle this matter properly."

Qiao Mai looked it up online; a mature pine tree can be tapped for about one jin of oil per month. Few people sell pine oil here, so its price hasn't been set.

Ling'er was adopted and is flawless; the Tian family repeatedly harasses them, seriously affecting their lives.

It turns out that after the Tian family learned Ling'er opened Embroidery Workshop, they would occasionally come to tempt them.

He didn't summon Tian Sanzhuang, because he wasn't worthy of meeting him in person.

Tian Sanzhuang was so angry he slammed his hand onto the kang, looking defiant; that night, Tian Sanzhuang's leg was broken in one place, Tian Laohan's arm was broken in one place, and the Tian family was hung directly at the Tian family's main gate.

"Sir—"

I swear, with such a figure stationed here, who would dare to provoke?

Meanwhile, our own son‑in‑law, eyes red at money, sees the Qiao Family doing well and wants a share; that's one thing, but the Prefect Zhifu of Weicheng protects the Qiao Family even more fiercely.

Tian Sanzhuang, I, the official, warn your whole family: if you again scheme against Miss Ling'er of the Qiao Family, you bear the consequences. When the time comes, I will take back the daughter and grandson, and you may return home to farm as you wish.

At this point, the Tian family finally realized they were scared; it seems that not dying isn't enough to move their greedy hearts.

Tian Laohan and Tian Sanzhuang were both injured, unable to handle the Tian family's funeral arrangements, so they had to ask the Village Head and others to help their few sons.

One mu can plant twenty pine trees, which amounts to four hundred taels of silver; if only pine nuts are sold, it can still sustain these tens of thousands of mu of pine trees.

The murderer of the Original Host, the Tian family, is already dead; her death has terrified the people of Taohua Village.

Zhou County Deputy tossed out that remark, and sent someone back to the County Town with the daughter and grandson.

It's just buying grain as a supplement; where could one possibly purchase that much grain at once?

Today, Jixiang Yuan still houses two bigwigs: one is a retired Minister, and the other is the First‑rank Life-bestowing Lady personally appointed by the Emperor.

She rode a winter jujube, and as she passed the entrance of Embroidery Workshop, she saw Jin Mama, Yuehong and Yuexia standing side by side at the gate, glaring at the people there.

"Father‑in‑law, don't be angry; from now on I won't let them go."

Upon hearing this, Zhou County Deputy got angry, brought officials and came, but found no clues; even though it was clear the Qiao Family was responsible, no evidence could be found.

If roasted pine nuts sell for one hundred wen per jin, a single tree yields a profit of twenty taels of silver.

The couple arrived but ignored each other, and went straight inside.

After hearing this news, Zhou County Deputy bit his lips until they were torn.

"Still not honest about recuperation? The Tian family sees that the daughter looks like him and keeps picking trouble. Don't blame me for not warning you; the Qiao Family is a major household in our county, providing aid to the people every year. Your son‑in‑law clings to them and won't let go. If something happens, your official career will end. The man of Qiao Niang is a Fifth‑rank County Magistrate and could be transferred to the capital at any time."

Now that the Tian family members have died violently, people say Qiao Mai hired someone to do it; those with guilty consciences begin having nightmares at night.

"What exactly is going on with your son‑in‑law?"

"Don't blame me for not warning you; with the Qiao Family's current power, making your whole family disappear quietly is possible. Hmph, they're truly a headache—eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot, you think too much, your mind is impure; be careful, you'll eventually face retribution."

Qiao Mai shook her head, "It probably won't happen. Your barren land has been left fallow for so many years, and now it's become Bare Land. Shouldn't the court have ruled that it can't be used as good farmland and must be fully paid in grain? If so, how much grain would our family need to contribute each year?"

At the beginning of a person, nature is good; as long as you keep even a little kindness in your heart, you will never just watch someone starve to death or watch someone being bullied to death without saying a word. Truly, how to put it, some say that giving alms is a kindness, not giving is a duty—why bother nitpicking?

What I want to say is, if one day you are about to starve to death, if you are about to be bullied to death, I will stand by, coldly watching. Please don't call me cold, and also don't hold a grudge against others, because didn't you already say that? No one will worship you.

The weather is getting colder; the common folk have finished the harvest and are preparing for winter.

The people of Shexian are fortunate this year, because the Bare Land was cleared of many branches; they hauled them home to dry, to use as firewood.

I've noticed some netizens nitpicking without reason, saying the heroine is ill—what illness? Huh? Little Sun person? She married into Taohua Village; they're all neighbors, and seeing her victimized, shouldn't they lend a hand? "At the beginning of a person, nature is good"—where is that goodness? Watching people being bullied with indifference is coldness. What's wrong with her not liking the villagers, and why does that get tied to worship?

This part the author got "yang" (sunny); after it's ready I'll fix the typos, ha!

(End of chapter)