Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 247: Take Them All Away
“Brother Yang’s crippled leg is a fact. No matter how you decide the matter, that fact cannot change. He has difficulty even walking; how can he be expected to repair the Great Wall? Clerk Huang, I hope you will reconsider.”
Zhu Ping’an slightly shook his head and cupped his hands toward Clerk Huang.
In the eyes of the several yamen runners, Zhu Ping’an’s actions made him look like a bookish fool. “We’ve made our point clear, yet you’re still asking him to reconsider? Reconsider what, seriously?”
“How much education did you get? Why waste words? Go aside and don’t make things worse,” one of the yamen runners waved his hand disdainfully toward Zhu Ping’an, indicating he should stay out of the way.
“Ding Da, mind your language and actions. Don’t tarnish the reputation of our county office. We are representatives of the county magistrate and are handling matters according to the rules,” Clerk Huang said, stroking his beard, lecturing in a sanctimonious manner.
“I already said, didn’t I? Yang Dacheng’s leg is just a minor issue. Right now, with the Tartars invading, it’s a time when people are needed. Yang Dacheng’s small leg problem should be put aside for the state’s affairs. He should quickly head north and serve the country by repairing the Great Wall.”
Clerk Huang spoke firmly to Zhu Ping’an, then glanced at Yang Dacheng, who was leaning on a shovel, as if considering the other person’s situation, before continuing:
“Of course, there’s compassion beyond the law. If Brother Yang is truly delicate and can’t overcome this small leg problem, he can hire someone to serve in his place. All it takes is 20 taels of silver to be exempted from this labor service. So, what will it be, Brother Yang? Will you pay the money or serve?”
After finishing, Clerk Huang looked at Yang Dacheng with a smile at the corner of his mouth, seemingly in full control of the situation.
“Yellow weasel, you’re bullying me just because of your position, I’ll fight you to the end!” Yang Dacheng, filled with fury, could no longer hold back. Gripping the shovel with both hands, he limped forward, his every move desperate.
“Dare to call me yellow weasel? Hmph, wait and see, Yang the cripple!” Clerk Huang sneered coldly, unconcerned with Yang Dacheng’s desperate charge. Calmly, he stood still, unmoving, because there were five strong and tall yamen runners ahead, already prepared to handle any desperate move from Yang the cripple. Otherwise, why bring five yamen runners?
Sure enough, after only two steps, Yang Dacheng was stopped by two yamen runners using their sticks to block the shovel, and then one of them kicked him in the back. Yang Dacheng, whose legs were already weak, stumbled back two steps, lost his balance, and fell onto the snowy ground. It was snowing at the time, and Yang Dacheng landed in the snow, eating a mouthful of snow, looking quite pitiful.
“Brother Yang!”
Zhu Ping’an couldn’t help but shout, rushing forward to help Yang Dacheng up.
These pieces of trash in yamen uniforms belonged in the trash! Zhu Ping’an’s anger toward the yamen runners and Clerk Huang in the yard was overflowing, just waiting for the right moment to explode.
Before Zhu Ping’an could reach Yang Dacheng, he heard the lady of the house crying out “Dacheng,” and then saw her rush out of the house, getting to Yang Dacheng before he did and helping him up.
“Cough, cough, I’m fine, don’t cry,” Yang Dacheng coughed and wiped his snow-covered hand across his wife’s face.
“Dad, dad!” A child from inside the house also cried as they ran out and hugged Yang Dacheng’s leg, sobbing uncontrollably.
How pitiful.
Zhu Ping’an shook his head, sighed, and turned to look at the yamen runners and Clerk Huang.
How detestable.
These people, who had no sympathy for the Yang family crying in the yard, instead looked like they had accomplished something, and their gazes toward the lady were filled with an impudent, almost obscene impulse.
Especially Clerk Huang, ever since the lady came out, his eyes seemed fixed on her, not even missing a single movement.
“Sister-in-law, imperial orders are hard to defy. There’s nothing to be done. Your family clearly can’t raise the money, so Brother Yang should go repair the Great Wall. He’ll earn ten wen a day. Don’t worry about yourself and the child—Brother Yang and I have some friendship. While he is away, I can come by often and look after you.”
Clerk Huang looked at the mistress and swallowed, his face showing a lewd smile, comforting her in a way that was unusually disgusting. It was obvious he had ill intentions from just one glance.
“Bah!”
The mistress glared at Clerk Huang and spat forcefully.
“Weasel, if you dare lay a finger on my wife, I’ll make sure you suffer, even as a ghost!” Yang Dacheng widened his eyes and swore, pointing at Clerk Huang.
“Scoundrel, I’ll beat you to death!”
The child, who had been crying while hugging Yang Dacheng’s legs, suddenly released his grip, cursed at Clerk Huang, and then raised his small fist to charge at him.
“Gou’er, stop!” the woman cried in alarm.
What could this foolish child do? With his little arms and legs, he couldn’t even tickle someone. If he took a punch or a kick, his life would be in danger.
In a critical moment, Zhu Ping’an quickly grabbed the child and pulled him toward him, holding him tightly.
Seeing this, the mistress let out a sigh of relief.
“Let go of me! You’re also a bad person, eating our food and helping the bad people, I’ll hit you!” The child, annoyed, raised his small fist and swung it at Zhu Ping’an. Despite his full effort, it didn’t hurt much.
The snow continued to fall, the yard was in disarray, the mistress was crying while holding Yang Dacheng, and the child was frantically hitting Zhu Ping’an. Meanwhile, the yamen runners and Clerk Huang stood by, looking at this scene with disdain.
“What, Yang the Cripple, are you planning to rebel?” one runner mocked. Then, pretending to think of the family’s welfare, he said earnestly, “Fine, your family has it hard. Clerk Huang’s household happens to be short of a serving maid. How about this: if your wife goes to help at Master Huang’s house for ten days or half a month, we can be flexible about the corvée. What do you say?”
“You’re putting me in a difficult position, Xiao Cao.” Clerk Huang stroked his mustache, looking troubled.
“Everyone knows how kindhearted you are, Master Huang. Why not lend them a hand?” the runner named Xiao Cao pleaded, putting on an act of interceding for Yang Dacheng.
“Uh, this won’t happen again, won’t happen again,” Clerk Huang reluctantly tugged at his mustache.
Zhu Ping’an curled the corner of his mouth, holding the child, quietly watching Clerk Huang and the yamen runner put on his little act.
I’m just quietly watching you two show off! Let’s see how long you can keep this up.
“To hell with you! I’ll fight you all!” Yang Dacheng, his eyes bloodshot, gently pushed his wife aside, then once again rushed toward Clerk Huang and his group with bare hands, full of rage. What did it matter if he was unarmed? Even if he had to bite, he would gnaw these bastards who were abusing their power to death.
“Yang Dacheng, you’re attacking yamen personnel and violently resisting duty, that’s an even worse crime.”
Clerk Huang smiled, watching Yang Dacheng charge at him again, clearly amused.
“You’re asking for trouble. Take him away, lock him up in the jail and wait for the magistrate’s decision.”
Clerk Huang smirked, waved his hand, and several tall, burly yamen runners quickly bound Yang Dacheng with ropes they carried.
“Wait. Take this one too—he’s an accomplice. Take him away with the rest.”
Clerk Huang glanced at Yang Dacheng’s wife, then caught sight of Zhu Ping’an from the corner of his eye and waved for the runners to seize him too.
This kid is the mistress’s little brother. With both this kid and Yang Dacheng in hand, I don’t believe the mistress won’t submit. Hehehe, just thinking about how she’ll submit excites me.
As he thought about it, Clerk Huang couldn’t help but scratch his mustache, feeling a tingle in his heart.