"Perhaps it's just as you said. The child beggars are all in places like temples." Qin Yining nodded slightly. Although he said this, he still said, "Later on, let Jing Zhe and the others go and take a look around. I keep feeling that this matter is not normal."
Ji Yun didn't understand why Qin Yining felt this way, but she trusted Qin Yining's judgment very much. She immediately said with a straight face, "Yes, this servant will go and tell Jing Zhe later."
Jing Zhe and the other three were currently chatting with the people of Danfu County.
This time, Qin Yining was close enough to hear their conversation clearly. Sure enough, when Jing Zhe mentioned the words "imperial mausoleum", the face of the middle-aged woman who was looking at the rouge immediately darkened. She pursed her lips and turned to leave.
This kind of situation happened several times in one day. Jing Zhe and the others tried their best to observe people's expressions. They specifically looked for kind-looking women or elderly people to ask. These people were soft-hearted and kind-hearted, so it was easy for them to get the truth out of them. However, in the end, they still didn't get any inside information.
The more no one spoke, the more certain Qin Yining was that there was indeed something wrong with this county. There must be an inside story if the people hadn't arrived yet.
At dusk, the orange-red setting sun dyed the sky with a gorgeous sunset glow.
Qin Yining's group of three carriages slowly drove back the way they came. In order to gather information, they didn't rest for the entire day. At this time, they each sat in the carriage and ate dry biscuits and snacks to allay their hunger.
Qin Yining tore a piece of biscuit and put it in his mouth. After taking two bites, he saw the skinny child beggar he saw when they arrived.
He was leaning on a bamboo stick that was as thick as an egg and was walking along the side of the road with difficulty. When he moved, it was obvious that his right arm and right leg were crippled! When he limped forward with difficulty, his sleeve drooped weakly and his right hand swung back and forth. It was obvious that his right arm was folded in his sleeve.
Qin Yining couldn't bear to see such a pitiful person. He couldn't help but lift the curtain when the carriage brushed past the beggar and said softly, "Wait."
However, that person continued to walk forward as if he couldn't hear him.
Qin Yining had no choice but to tell Ji Yun, "Hurry up and send this biscuit to that young man. Give this water bag to him too. And these bits and pieces of silver. "
Ji Yun smiled and said, "I know, I know that Madam is kind. I have some broken silver here. "
Ji Yun picked up the things that Qin Yining gave her, jumped down from the carriage, and quickly chased after him. As she was walking, she said, "Hey, little brother, wait a moment!"
However, the child beggar did not stop.
However, his legs were not good. It seemed that he had not eaten for a long time and did not have much strength. Ji Yun quickly stood in front of that person.
"Hey, why are you so disobedient?"
The other party seemed to be frightened by the person who suddenly appeared in front of him. He lowered his head numbly.
Ji Yun then handed over a few pancakes and a water bag wrapped in oiled paper. "This is from our madam. Hurry up and eat. Also, this broken silver. You don't look very well. Take this to the medical hall to have your injuries checked. "
The oiled paper bag exuded the unique fragrance of the pancakes. Ji Yun could clearly hear the beggar's stomach growling.
He looked up at Ji Yun. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out of his throat. He hugged the bamboo stick and slowly raised his left hand to take the oiled paper bag.
Ji Yun saw this and knew that not only was this person's right arm and right leg crippled, he probably did not deliberately ignore her just now. He could not hear or speak.
Ji Yun could not help but soften her heart and gave him more broken silver. "Take this and go see a doctor. This is from our madam. "
Because she knew that this person could not hear or speak, Ji Yun pointed at Qin Yining's carriage while gesturing.
That person understood Ji Yun's meaning and turned to look at the carriage.
Qin Yining was lifting the curtains slightly. Because she was in the carriage, she was not wearing a curtain hat. Half of her fair and delicate face was revealed, and her large eyes were filled with kindness as she looked at him.
That person hugged the oiled paper bag and lowered his head with difficulty to take a bite of the pancake.
Ji Yun sighed softly and walked around him to the carriage.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, two young men suddenly rushed over from the opposite side and knocked the oiled paper bag and water bag from the beggar's hands to the ground.
"Damn you! Who allowed you to eat! Who do you think you are! "
"You're only fit to eat dog food and pig food!"
Another young man grabbed the beggar's collar and pushed him hard. He raised his hand and was about to slap him.
Ji Yun had never seen such bullying! She had just given the beggar food, and someone knocked it over. Not only did he knock over the things she gave him, but he also wanted to hit him!
Ji Yun turned around and blocked that person's hand that had not yet landed. "What are you doing! Bullying a pitiful person, who do you think you are! "
"Young lady, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business!"
"I'm going to meddle in other people's business! You're bullying a pitiful person with a disability. Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning? "
"Hey! Get lost, b * tch. Be careful or I'll beat you up too! "
… …
Seeing that Ji Yun and the two ruffians were quarreling, Qin Yining saw that things were not going well and quickly got out of the carriage.
At this moment, the beggar had already been pushed to the ground by that young man. However, the beggar did not seem to feel pain as he grabbed the muddy pancake and ate it.
As if they were angered by the beggar's act of eating the pancake, the two ruffians became even angrier. They shouted loudly and went around Ji Yun to punch and kick the beggar.
"Stop." Qin Yining put on his veiled hat and led Jing Zhe and the others to block the two ruffians. He said amiably, "Two brave warriors, please calm down."
The two young men saw that the one speaking was a woman with a graceful figure wearing a veil hat. Judging from her actions and her voice, they knew that she was a beauty. They couldn't help but have some special feelings towards good-looking people. Their shouting became weaker, but their attitude was still bad.
"Foreigners! I advise you not to meddle in other people's business! "
The argument and shouting here had attracted many people's attention. Qin Yining's caravan had done quite a lot of business today. Seeing that a merchant had gotten into trouble here, men and women of all ages gathered over.
An elder over sixty years old walked out from the crowd and stood in front of Qin Yining with a sullen face.
"Madam, you're a foreigner. You came from other places and did business on our Danfu County's territory. Did we make things difficult for you? "
Qin Yining smiled and bowed. He said warmly, "Uncle, Danfu County is blessed by outstanding people. The people there are simple and honest, and the villagers live in harmony. We are foreign merchants, and our brothers and sisters in your precious land have taken good care of us. I am truly grateful."
The elder frowned and reprimanded in a deep voice, "Since our Danfu County has not done anything to offend you, why are you interfering in our business?"
Qin Yining took a step forward and said in a calm voice, "Uncle, we did not intend to interfere in your county's business. We only gave this little brother some food because we saw that he was in a difficult situation. How is this offending your county?"
"Let me tell you." The elder took a step forward and kicked the pancake in the beggar's hand away. He even stomped on it a few times.
"Four years ago, this person drifted here and fainted on the street due to hunger. Philanthropist Wang brought him home and treated him well. He was even given a job because he was deaf and mute. Who would have thought that he would kill Philanthropist Wang's wife after staying at his house for only two days! If it wasn't for the fact that we thought it would be too easy for him to just report him to the authorities and have his head chopped off, would he still be alive today? He did something worse than pigs and dogs. He doesn't deserve to eat human food. He only deserves to eat pig food and dog food! "
The elder was furious as he spoke and kicked the beggar again. This time, he kicked the beggar's broken right arm.
His arm was already crooked at an abnormal angle. This time, his arm looked even more strangely bent. The way he curled up into a ball and endured the pain made him look even more miserable.
Qin Yining frowned.
She wanted to gather information and didn't want to attract too much attention. However, it was hard for her to ignore this kind of situation.
"According to what you said. Did this person kill someone? "
"Yes!"
"If that's the case, why didn't you report it to the authorities four years ago and interrogate him? If there's enough evidence, the authorities will deal with this person. Since he killed someone, there's an upright master above who can behead him. There's no need to let others torture and humiliate him like this! According to what you said, he was a deaf and mute person for the past four years. His limbs were broken and he was thrown on the street to beg. Moreover, from what you said, you were never willing to give him alms and only gave him pig food and dog food. How is torturing a person like this any more noble than killing someone? "
"That's right!" Ji Yun was also filled with righteous indignation when she heard this. She put her hands on her hips and said fiercely, "That Philanthropist Wang's wife was killed, yet he could resist reporting it to the authorities. Isn't there something fishy about this? Alright, even if his wife was really killed by this person, no one would say anything if he was given a quick death. However, he used such a method to torture people. He didn't let them live well and didn't give them a quick death. He trampled on a life like this. How can someone who did such a thing be called a 'philanthropist'? Don't make me laugh until my teeth fall out! "
"You!" The old man was so angry that he blew his beard and glared. "You foreigners, I knew that you all had bad intentions! I shouldn't have let you in to do business in the first place! "
"The travel permit belongs to the imperial court. The imperial court didn't even stop us from doing business. How can an old man like you be so arrogant!" Ji Yun shouted back loudly.
At this time, many commoners had gathered around. Many of the young and strong people were already enraged. They all began to criticize Ji Yun and Qin Yining.
"You people are so tactless!"
"That's right. We can punish the criminal however we want. You talk about the law of the country. Could it be that you're the same as those lackeys of the imperial court, harming the commoners?!"
In their eyes, it was natural for them to deal with a criminal who had killed someone. They had never been criticized like this before. Everyone was furious.
Jing Zhe and the others saw that the situation wasn't right and hurriedly stood around Qin Yining to protect him.
Qin Yining didn't expect things to turn out like this. At first, she didn't believe Jing Zhe when he said that the three large families in Danfu County together accounted for 80% of the county's population. However, these commoners were so united now. Even if they firmly believed that this was a foolish method, no one raised any objections. They still believed in the judgment of their elders without any doubts. Moreover, they were hostile to the imperial court and completely violated the imperial court's laws.
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