Du Chunzhi said, "That brave man by the gate, quick, help me pin that old woman down."
The man lifted his hand, palm like a giant palm-leaf fan, and with a swift *thwack*, pinned Mammy Tian firmly to the ground.
Du Chunzhi smiled faintly. "Uncle Village Chief, the current laws allow for the buying and selling of slaves, but they certainly do not allow for free citizens to be sold, do they?"
So that was her game.
When handling the Song family’s affairs earlier, Song Huaiyu still had some reservations, but Mammy Tian was just an old woman from a neighboring county—what reason did he have to protect her?
"That’s right. To prevent free citizens from being sold, identities must be verified in person. If one is not of slave status, they must be a willing servant, and there must be guarantors. If it’s discovered that a free person has been abducted, the guarantors will also face punishment."
"Uncle Village Chief, you are truly knowledgeable! I wouldn't know the first thing about all this!"
After laying on the flattery, Du Chunzhi continued, "This old woman clearly knew I was a free woman, yet she harbored the intent to sell me into slavery. If she dares to buy me today, she’ll dare to buy anyone in our village tomorrow! This matter cannot end here. I am going to the County Yamen right now to file a complaint. Songjia Village cannot be bullied by outsiders!"
As these words were spoken, the villagers of Songjia Village were stirred into a fervor. Song Huaiyu felt something was amiss, but it was already too late to stop it.
The "brave man" from the village kept Mammy Tian under guard, pushed off his boat, and headed straight for the County Yamen. Villagers looking for a spectacle joined in, some taking the waterway, others the land route, all rushing toward the county seat, hoping to get their fill of gossip before sunset.
Song Huaiyu slapped his thigh hard. Disaster! Du Chunzhi didn't just want to send Mammy Tian to jail!
Just think: when the county magistrate tries the case, would he not ask for the cause? When discussing the ins and outs of the matter, could he bypass the Song Yao family?
Whether it was gathering evidence or assigning blame, they absolutely could not escape!
Song Huaiyu could think of this, and naturally, Song Yao could too. He said with a bitter face, "Uncle Village Chief, we have to bring that woman back."
"Bring her back for what? You can't escape it anyway, so just save yourself the trouble. I'll point you in the right direction: go straight to the County Yamen, admit your fault, and just accept the punishment. Perhaps there’s still a chance for salvation."
Du Chunzhi went to the County Yamen to report the case. The magistrate collected evidence and even brought people from the Wang family over from the neighboring county.
The case was tried for two days. Mammy Tian insisted it was her own doing and took the full blame, clearing the Wang family’s name.
Mammy Tian was given ten strokes of the rod and thrown into prison.
Old Mother Song, fearing for Song Yao’s future, also claimed that Song Yao had no knowledge of the matter, and she secretly slipped away silver to smooth things over.
She, too, received ten strokes of the rod and was thrown into prison.
The matter ended with two old women being locked up. Du Chunzhi wasn't entirely satisfied, but she didn't want to drag it out.
Right now, she was just a commoner; achieving this much was already difficult. If she wanted true revenge, she would have to become stronger.
The case of the sold village woman was thus closed. Du Chunzhi didn't return to the village immediately; instead, she strolled around the county town.
In her past life, she rarely left home. Even when she went to the county seat, it was only to sell grain, and she would always rush in and rush out. She had never truly seen how big the place was, how lively the market could be, what new fashions existed, or what delicacies there were to eat.
This time, she memorized the shops in the county town, took two taels of the silver Song Yao had given her during the divorce, and tasted some snacks.
She bought fine silk threads and various fabrics, then purchased a pair of tiny earrings, and finally bought several large steamed buns.
Satisfied, she packed her things and headed back to the village!
Traveling between Songjia Village and the county town usually meant going through the town via land, but by boat, one could go directly. Du Chunzhi found the ferry and boarded a small boat, only to find that the person poling it was the same "brave man" who had helped her pin down Mammy Tian yesterday.
This man was an outsider named Zhao; the villagers called him Zhao Laoliu.
Zhao Laoliu was tall and sturdy. He was usually taciturn and kept to himself. Even while ferrying, he would just keep his head down and pole, always maintaining a distance from the villagers.
Du Chunzhi nodded to him, paid the fare, and sat inside. After waiting for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, more people from Songjia Village boarded the boat.
Seeing Du Chunzhi, the villagers couldn't help but tease her. But Du Chunzhi was no longer the honest, easily bullied woman she once was. When others mocked her, she would play the victim, complain about poverty, and curse Song Yao. When asked about her future plans, she replied that she would "eat, sleep, and curse Song Yao."
Since she didn't care, the others just laughed it off and moved on.
When the group returned to Songjia Village, Du Chunzhi stepped off the boat, rolled up her sleeves, looked left and right, and picked up a stick from the side of the road.
She had divided the land during the divorce, but the household items had not been split yet.
Although the village chief had given her a place to stay, that dilapidated hut had been abandoned for years and didn't have a shred of life in it. With a leaking roof, mottled walls, half a door missing, and no windows, it was truly barren!
Although she still had some silver, she didn't intend to use it for furniture. Where would the clothes, bedding, pots, pans, cabinets, and chests come from? She would definitely ask Song Yao for them!
The villagers had all gone home. Zhao Laoliu finished securing the boat and happened to pass by the ferry landing.
Du Chunzhi thought for a moment and said, "Laoliu, you helped me pin down Old Mother Tian the other day; I haven't thanked you yet."
Zhao Laoliu glanced at her. "Speak your mind."
"Brave man, can you help me one more time?"
"No."
Du Chunzhi’s tactics were not circuitous at all. "I’ll pay!"
"What kind of help?"
"Please help me raid a house."
"Song Yao's house? I can't raid the whole thing; the village chief wouldn't approve."
"Then half a raid. I can't move it all by myself, so you just need to lend a hand." Seeing that Zhao Laoliu didn't budge, Du Chunzhi added, "I won't make you work for nothing. Five copper coins, how about it?"
Laoliu: "..."
"And two more steamed buns. Can't do more than that."
"I only move things. I won't handle anything else."
"Fine, fine. I’ll ask for the items, and you just move whatever I point to."
The two came to an agreement and headed straight for the Song house. To avoid suspicion, Du Chunzhi walked in front, while Laoliu followed far behind, as if they didn't know each other.
The father and son of the Song family had returned long ago. Old Mother Song was still locked up in the county, so there was no one to cook at home. The two were so hungry they were doubled over, slumped by the table sighing.
"Dad, why is that woman so fierce? She's practically a female demon!"
Song Yao rubbed his face. "Who knows? It’s lucky we kicked her out, otherwise, having her at home would be a disaster."
"The matter of the contract is very suspicious. How did Du Chunzhi figure it out? Did you let something slip?"
"Me? I didn't let anything slip! Perhaps it was you who gave the game away when you went to find her, making her suspicious."
"I didn't say anything either. Since neither of us let it slip, it must have been what my grandma said."
"Possibly. If I’d known, I wouldn't have brought her along."
The two were famished and dizzy. They planned to swallow their pride and go to the village chief's house to beg for a meal. After all, they were the scholars of the village; surely Song Huaiyu wouldn't just watch them starve to death?
Just as they were about to leave, Du Chunzhi barged in.
Song Yao was startled. This woman had already taken her share of the land and her money—what was she here for?
"Since we’ve divorced, it wouldn't be excessive for me to take some household belongings, would it?"
Song Yao was so angry he started trembling. "Y-you, what other belongings could you possibly want?"