Transmigrated As A Scholar Chapter 66 Part 1

Chapter 66

Apart from the four witnesses found in advance, there were three additional people present: three merchants from whom the Qiao family had purchased pork, cloth, and grain for their charity distributions.

In addition to these, the physical evidence submitted included detailed expenditure records of the Qiao family's charity distributions, detailed sales records from the merchants, and actual samples of the items purchased by the Qiao family at the same price.

The four witnesses also brought items they had received from the Qiao family's distributions but had not yet finished, including clothing, pork they had taken home and cured, and some grain they had been reluctant to eat.

When the witnesses and evidence were presented together, there were quite a lot of items. The county magistrate and his advisor were dumbfounded, and the plaintiff's side buried their heads even lower, kneeling on the ground.

"Your Honor, you may verify each piece of evidence submitted."

Fang Yu poured some rice from his side's witness next to the rice presented by the plaintiff's side. Both types of rice were somewhat broken, but the rice from Fang Yu's side was noticeably whiter, while the rice provided by the plaintiff was slightly yellowish and, upon careful sniffing, had a faint musty odor. They were clearly from two different sources.

After Fang Yu stated his point, the spectators began to whisper and murmur among themselves.

Seizing the moment, Fang Yu added, "Your Honor, our witnesses request permission to speak."

Magistrate Qian steadied his composure: "Speak."

A woman immediately stepped forward: "Your Honor, this commoner woman also received charity items from the Qiao family five days ago. That day, I received two bolts of cloth, my mother-in-law received a string of meat, and my children received grain and rice porridge respectively. My family has eaten all the edible items from this distribution, and not a single one of us has shown any signs of discomfort."

Magistrate Qian fixed a stern gaze on the woman, intimidating enough to chill the blood: "Do you swear that every word you speak is true!"

The woman knelt with a thud: "This commoner woman dares not utter a single falsehood. Master Qiao distributes charity every year; everyone knows he is a kind-hearted man. I am only telling the truth, hoping Your Honor will see clearly and not let a good man suffer wrongful accusation."

Magistrate Qian furrowed his brows deeply, appearing somewhat moved, yet inwardly he was growing quite impatient.

"Your Honor, the grain Master Qiao purchased was bought from this humble one's Wangxin Grain Store. That day, Master Qiao bought two hundred jin of pure white rice priced at twelve coppers per jin, free of husks. This type of rice is well-known among the common folks in the city; Wangxin Grain Store has been operating for many years, and everyone is familiar with the quality of our rice. How could it be the moldy rice like that on the ground? The purchase time and quantity are clearly recorded in the accounts."

Fang Yu said, "If Your Honor suspects forgery, you can compare the Qiao family's expenditure records with theirs to see if the accounts match item by item."

The advisor presented the account books. The magistrate flipped through them hastily, his annoyance growing. He couldn't help but glare discreetly at his advisor. He had told him to pick the soft persimmon to pinch, but instead of a persimmon, they had grabbed a bag of nails.

[捏软柿子 (niē ruǎn shìzi): lit. to pinch a soft persimmon; fig. To bully or take advantage of someone who is weak, vulnerable, or easily manipulated.]

"The accounts indeed appear genuine."

"Your Honor, since more than one household in the city distributed charity, if the source of the poisoning is suspected to be among the charitable merchants, and the testimonies from both sides' witnesses differ, shouldn't we question and record statements from every poisoned person one by one? We should ask what, besides receiving charity, they purchased and ate before falling ill, and record each case in a ledger. By then, we will surely locate the source of the illness."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Qian immediately said, "There are so many afflicted people scattered throughout the city and even outside it. How can we possibly record statements from each one?"

"What is difficult about that? Recently, the afflicted have suffered greatly from the poisoning. The plaintiff's side also said that most victims are poor people who even had to borrow money on credit to buy medicine. Considering the people's hardship, the Qiao family is willing to purchase medicines for treatment and distribute them again as charity. When the afflicted commoners hear the news, they will surely come to collect the medicine. At that time, we can record a statement from each person as we dispense the medicine. Even if we cannot record every single commoner, we can obtain statements from the vast majority."

These words left Magistrate Qian at a complete loss for a reply. Even Qin Keqi, the opposing litigation master, watched with a look of astonished admiration. The spectators burst into enthusiastic cheers, and those who had fallen ill were overjoyed.

Fang Yu pressed his advantage: "Although currently, not only the charitable merchants but even the grain sellers are under suspicion, involving a wide range, surely Your Honor will treat everyone equally. Either detain all who have the slightest suspicion, or detain none, and directly apprehend the true culprit after investigating and clarifying the truth."

Fang Yu did not forget to remind Qian Wuzhang that this matter concerned his administrative performance: "The autumn harvest is here, and it's also time to report to the prefectural authorities and the imperial court. Your Honor is undoubtedly busy with numerous affairs and surely wouldn't want the case to drag on without resolution, causing public panic, leaving you scrambling to handle both ends. Therefore, a decision will naturally be made now, isn't that right, Your Honor?"

Qian Wuzhang was so angry his beard trembled, yet he had to maintain a dignified appearance.

According to protocol, indeed all suspects should be arrested and detained. However, all those involved in charity distribution were major merchants in the city. Offending all merchants over this matter would likely make future tax collection difficult. Thus, the only option seemed to be to release Qiao Xinnian as not guilty for now. But being forced into such a corner in open court by a Juren was truly damaging to his authority. Even if he were to release the man, he certainly couldn't do so immediately in court.

"It appears this case is of great importance and immensely complicated. The court will adjourn for today. This official will deliberate further in private before deciding how to proceed."

The gavel struck, and the call to adjourn cut off everyone's words.

"What? How can the court adjourn just like that?"

"If Master Qiao isn't released, can we still receive the medicine?"

Everyone discussed fervently, but amidst the staff-knocking of the two rows of yamen runners, their voices were lost in the hall. Fang Yu also felt a chill in his heart; he hadn't expected Qian Wuzhang to adjourn so blatantly, disregarding public opinion.

Just as Qian Wuzhang stood up to leave, several deliberate, measured claps rang out: "Splendid, truly splendid. This official was informed that a significant incident had taken place within the city and that the court was in session to hear the case today. Hearing it up to this point, I was thoroughly engrossed. Why is Magistrate Qian adjourning so early? This official observes that it is not yet the customary time for adjournment."

Seeing Ji Congyong walk into the hall in plain clothes, Qian Wuzhang, who had just risen, awkwardly turned back: "Assistant Prefect! How did you come to be here!"