CHAPTER 283: CHAPTER 273: TROUBLE-MAKING (PART 2)

Aside from these, Prince Jin gave Yu Xiaolian a copper gilded token of passage, engraved with Yu Xiaolian’s name and position.

The government officer said that this token allows passage into various towns in Yu State without inspection, exempts entry fees, offers free accommodation at inns, and other benefits.

Although Prince Jin didn’t give Yu Xiaolian a house, shop, or silver, it must be said that what he did give is very practical and thoughtfully considered for her.

Yu Xiaolian took out five taels of silver from under the counter to thank the officer who came to deliver the token.

Before leaving, the officer left his name, saying his surname was Jiang, with a single-character given name, and he was the cousin of County Magistrate Ma in Luocheng, telling Yu Xiaolian to find him at the government office if needed in the future.

Oh, not having to pay taxes, how delightful!

Yu Xiaolian turned around and embraced Zhao Erya, bouncing up with joy, thinking this reward is better than receiving hundreds of taels of silver.

"What’s the matter, so happy?" Yu Changhe, purchasing spices in town today, saw his daughter joyously jumping up and down upon arrival at Taotao Residence.

Yu Xiaolian, as if presenting a treasure, showed the copper gilded token to Yu Changhe, "Given by Prince Jin!"

"Oh wow!" Yu Changhe was surprised and quickly accepted it with both hands for a careful look, "Oh, there are words on it!"

"What use does this item have?" Yu Changhe asked.

"This item is very useful..." Yu Xiaolian recounted the rewards just given by Prince Jin.

"Wow, doesn’t that mean future increased taxes, conscription, and corvee labor by the court won’t concern our family anymore?" Yu Changhe rejoiced; this is truly a gratifying event.

Yu Xiaolian smiled proudly, adding, "Within five relations, precisely!"

Yu Changhe quickly returned the token to Yu Xiaolian, advising, "Make sure to keep this item well, don’t lose it by any means."

Yu Xiaolian clicked her tongue, she has space, how could she lose it?

Yu Changhe suddenly recalled the matter with the space, instantly feeling relieved.

"Dad, why did you come to town?"

"I came to buy spices and also to check on you.

Moreover, there’s an issue I’d like to discuss with you. Just recently, during the interim of harvest seasons, a few families in the village struggled to put food on the table, and these families came to our house together to borrow grain.

Your mother and I discussed and lent a half sack of corn grits to one family, thinking that borrowing once was enough, but who knew they came again yesterday.

Your mother said that now wild vegetables can be dug from the mountain, so we didn’t lend them more, yet these families spread rumors in the village, saying our family was unkind to the poor, angering your mother greatly.

Your uncle even fought someone over this matter, hitting one of the heads of the Wang family household, and now they’re clamoring for compensation, threatening to report us if not paid."

Yu Xiaolian frowned, "Isn’t Qi Lizheng handling this?"

The villagers shouldn’t be causing trouble at her house either; they’re not living bodhisattvas, and saying their family is unkind to the poor shows typical resentment towards wealth.

Yu Changhe sighed, "Qi Lizheng stepped forward, saying your uncle should compensate Old Wang’s father with five hundred wen for medicine, but Old Wang went back on his word after receiving the money yesterday, saying your uncle didn’t pay enough for medicine."

"What happened to that old man, did my uncle hit him hard?"

"Just a staff blow, and the old man conveniently fell to the ground.

Alas, I’m also to blame for not holding back your uncle."

Yu Changhe regrettably lent grain to those families due to sympathy, he should have directed them to Qi Lizheng, good deeds aren’t always rewarded!

"Later, I heard from your aunt that the families who borrowed grain from us were all related, collaboratively planned this, and instead of seeking help from the Village Chief, they targeted us precisely because of our wealth, wanting to take advantage."

Alright, now they’ve come to cause trouble!

"Dad, remember, from now on we’ll live behind closed doors and mind our business, not get involved in other matters."

Though the Great Liang and Great Meng have temporarily ceased conflict, during the years of internal strife among the princes after the old emperor passes, countless citizens will be usurping food and wandering homeless. If we try to help everyone, our family won’t be able to sustain itself.

Sometimes, being overly kind-hearted won’t help!

Yu Xiaolian immediately decided to return to the village with Yu Changhe.

Yu Changhe, driving the cart, continued to Yu Xiaolian, "When I left, the Wang family was lying in your uncle’s courtyard causing trouble; Qi Lizheng’s words were ineffective, they demanded twenty taels in silver from your uncle, saying without it our family won’t find peace."

"Dad, rest assured, leave this matter to me, I guarantee they won’t dare cause trouble for Uncle again."

Yu Xiaolian has her own ways to deal with these troublemakers; back when she was a forensic doctor, she needed to dissect the deceased’s body to determine the cause of death, and even if the deceased’s family disagreed, forensic examination could proceed legally with approval from county-level or higher public security organ or traffic management department.

Eventually, the autopsy revealed that the deceased’s brother had drugged his sister to claim insurance; the brother paid for the sister with his life, leading their parents to blame Yu Xiaolian when they came to the forensic department, claiming the autopsy results were flawed. They believed Yu Xiaolian’s insistence on conducting the autopsy caused their son’s death, having already lost a daughter, another loss was unbearable, attributing the blame to Yu Xiaolian.

During that time, Yu Xiaolian was hounded by the family, forcing her on a prolonged leave, and unexpectedly they found their way to her home as well.

Yu Xiaolian, unable to bear it any longer, decided she would not tolerate it any further, let the old refrain of gray-headed people burying black-haired ones go, even the pitiful have their abominable qualities.