CHAPTER 62

Among the girls in Qingyun County, Yang Yunyan was one of the most prominent ones. The girls who usually interacted with Yang Yunyan all followed her lead.

At this moment, Yang Yunyan had so clearly expressed her dislike for the Malatang restaurant in the snack street, and the other girls followed her lead. In addition, in addition to Yang Yunyan, the title of “Beauty of the Snack Street” that was circulated in Qingyun County made everyone dislike the Malatang restaurant in the snack street even more.

These girls either came from families with teachers or big businessmen, and they all tried secretly to build a good reputation. However, except for Yang Yunyan, who had the title of the most talented woman in Qingyun County, the others spent a lot of effort but did not make any waves.

Now that someone in the snack street has easily won the title of beauty or something, these people felt uncomfortable.

She’s just a country girl; how can she bear such a great limelight?

Though there were some girls with a relatively calm attitude who were not unhappy about Su Wan’s popularity, the girls who were on good terms with Yang Yunyan had clearly expressed that they did not like the Malatang on the snack street. If they had any objections, they would inevitably incur the displeasure of the other girls, so they did not express their true opinions.

However, even though these girls don’t like it, the business in the snack street is booming every day. Many people get up early in the morning to queue up just to have food at noon. After all, only eighty bowls are sold at noon, and they will be sold out soon.

Diners who cannot afford the Malatang in the snack street will go to the one on South Street. Although there are also many people in the one on South Street and it is difficult to squeeze in, there is no limit on the quantity sold. As long as there are customers, they will keep selling. If you wait for a while, you can still get your food.

It’s not that Su Wan doesn’t want to sell more and earn more money in the snack street, but human strength is limited after all. Su Wan and Shen Lin still have a lot of things to do. If they focus all their attention on making and selling Malatang, they won’t be able to do other things.

They only sell 160 bowls a day, so it’s not too busy. Su Wan goes to look at the house when she has time, and Shen Lin goes to look at the shop when he has time.

The Malatang business was booming, but in the meantime, Su Wan and Shen Lin had to stop for a day because Shen Lin’s grandparents, Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen, took Shen Lin to court, accusing him of being unfilial. They wanted to take Shen Lin’s house and land and asked the county magistrate to let Shen Lin come to work for them more often.

As a grandson, Shen Lin could not sue Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen, but there was nothing wrong with Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen suing Shen Lin. On the day of the trial, Eldest Shen brought Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen to the court. Not only that, many villagers from Qingshi Village also came. Anyway, they had nothing to do, so it was good to come and watch the excitement. Watching a play costs money, but watching the county magistrate try a case is free.

As soon as the old county magistrate slammed the gavel and announced the start of the court session, Old Woman Shen started to cry. Old Woman Shen and Old Man Shen kneeled in the courtroom. Old Woman Shen cried and said that Shen Lin was unfilial and didn’t care about them two old people. He made them angry and didn’t give them food.

The county magistrate asked more detailed questions, “Ms. Shen Yang, you keep saying that your grandson is unfilial, that he made you angry, and that he didn’t give you food. What exactly is going on? Please tell me one thing at a time. Let’s start with the unfilial nature. How is Shen Lin unfilial?”

Old Woman Shen wiped away her tears and said, “My grandson is extremely unfilial. He talks back to us two old people. He doesn’t give us two old people food when he has good things, and he doesn’t give us two old people money to spend when he earns money, and he doesn’t come to work for us two old people.”

The county magistrate nodded. When Old Woman Shen saw this, she felt that the county magistrate agreed with what she said about Shen Lin being unfilial. She couldn’t help but feel happy.

The county magistrate asked Shen Lin again, “Is what your grandmother said true?”

Shen Lin also kneeled in front of the hall and replied to the county magistrate, “Before this year, whenever the family had good food, I would definitely bring most of it to my grandmother. This year, my mother is seriously ill, and the family really can’t make ends meet. It’s not enough for my mother to survive. Although my grandparents are old, they have food rations, so I will take care of the most urgent things first. As for my grandmother saying that I don’t give money, it’s the same. Before this year, I was giving it, but this year my family was really looking for medical treatment for my mother, and I can’t even take care of myself. As for talking back, I have never said a harsh word to my grandparents.”

Su Wan listened and felt that what Shen Lin said was somewhat evasive, so Su Wan, who was kneeling in the hall, opened her mouth and told him about how Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen had extorted money from Shen Lin to subsidize Eldest Shen Da over the years and how they only let Shen Lin work for them but never let Eldest Shen Da work. Finally, Su Wan also said that if Shen Lin was to be convicted of being unfilial, then Eldest Shen Da and Shen Lao Da’s sons would have to be convicted ten times more severely than Shen Lin, because Eldest Shen Da’s family had done less than one-tenth of what Shen Lin had done for Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen.

Su Wan also said that if the county magistrate did not believe it, there were many villagers from Qingshi Village who could testify.

The county magistrate did not call any witnesses but asked Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen, “You said that your second son’s grandson is unfilial. Then I want to ask you, Did your eldest son’s grandson do what you just said?”

When the county magistrate asked this, both Old Woman Shen and Old Man Shen were stunned.

The villagers standing outside the court began to talk.

“Yes, come to think of it, the three sons of Eldest Shen’s family have never done anything for Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen.”

“According to that statement, then Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen should have sued all three sons of Eldest Shen. But he only sued Shen Lin. Isn’t it obvious that he is targeting Shen Lin?”

“Not only have the three sons of Eldest Shen never done anything for Old Man and Old Woman Shen, they have always spent their money. I often see Old Woman Shen bringing delicious food to the three sons of Eldest Shen, but I have never seen the three sons bring food to them. I have seen Shen Lin bring food to them.”

Everyone started talking at once.

Su Wan had just seen that among the people outside the court, there were Yang Lao Er, Yang Lao San, and several other people who were usually fair. Although there were also a few who liked to gossip, as long as there were reasonable people here, those few talkative people could not cause much trouble.

The county magistrate then summoned the three villagers outside the court to come over as witnesses and tell the true situation of Shen Lin.

The three witnesses were Yang San, an old man Li who always claimed to be fair, and Wang Wu, a good friend of Shen San.

Yang San and Old Man Li told them how Shen Lin usually worked for Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen, brought them meals, and gave them money when there was a harvest, but the two old people were always dissatisfied. They also told them how Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen were partial to the Eldest son and extorted Shen Lin.

Wang Wu said that since Shen Lao Er had died, Shen Lin had to fulfill his father’s filial piety and support his grandparents and should not have any complaints. From now on, all the money he earned should be handed over to Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen to manage.

After hearing what Wang Wu said, Old Man Shen said quickly, “That’s right, Wang Wu is the only one who speaks fairly. Our second son is dead, and we are already heartbroken. Shen Lin should not only fulfill his own filial piety but also fulfill his filial piety for his father. In addition, Shen Lin should give the house and land deeds to the two of us old people.”

“Bang.” The county magistrate slammed the gavel heavily. “You two are so bold and unruly. You are talking nonsense. I understand that you two are falsely accusing Shen Lin. Shen Lin is your grandson and has not yet married. As a grandparent, you not only do not arrange for his marriage, but you also plunder him so much. You even ignore his grievances in order to make him filial to you. What kind of filial piety is this?”

“As a grandson, Shen Lin only needs to fulfill his filial duty. I heard from the witness just now that Shen Lin has done enough on a daily basis. As for his father’s part, it has nothing to do with him.”

“As for the house deeds and land deeds, you have already divided the family before. Since the family has been divided, the things of the second branch should naturally be inherited by the second branch’s son. It has nothing to do with you. Well, in today’s court hearing, I will rule that Shen Lin is not unfilial. The house deeds and land deeds of the second branch of the Shen family belong to Shen Lin. The two elders of the Shen family must not make trouble anymore; otherwise, they will each be beaten with thirty sticks.”

Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen really didn’t expect this result. Over the years, they said Shen Lin was unfilial, and the people in the village also said that Shen Lin was unfilial. How come when it came to the county magistrate, Shen Lin’s unfilial behavior was no longer valid? Moreover, how come the house deed and the land deed had nothing to do with them at all?

Old Woman Shen immediately opened her throat and cried, “My second son, open your eyes and see how your son is bullying your father and mother. The house you worked so hard to build and the land you cleared have all been taken away by this unfilial boy. Second son, open your eyes!”

The county magistrate couldn’t stand it anymore. Old Woman Shen also said that Shen Laoer’s house was built by himself and the land was opened by himself. It was only natural for him to leave it to his son. Why did the old woman say that it was taken by Shen Lin, as if Shen Lin didn’t deserve it?

The county magistrate slammed the gavel and said, “You daring and unruly woman, the court will not tolerate you being so rude and unruly here. Come, take her away, and give her five beatings.”

A gaurd came over, dragged Old Woman Shen out, and gave her five beatings with the board.

Su Wan tried hard to hold back her laughter. These five blows were not very harmful, but they were quite insulting. Now, everyone in the village knew that Old Woman Shen was beaten for saying that Shen Lin was unfilial. Now, the rumors about Shen Lin’s unfilial behavior were completely untenable.

Old man Shen didn’t want to give up yet; he kowtowed to the county magistrate and said, “I accept the county magistrate’s judgment just now. Since Shen Lin is not unfilial, then he is doing a booming business now. He has money, so he should be filial to us. In my opinion, he can make one or two taels of silver every day. I don’t ask for more. He can give us two old people fifty taels of silver every year, which is his filial piety.”

Shen Lin argued, “That stall is not mine; it belongs to Su Wan.”

Old man Shen had a headache, and he was again saying that it belonged to Su Wan. Just now, Shen Lin did not mention that the house and land belonged to Su Wan, but now he said that the Malatang stall belonged to Su Wan.

However, Su Wan thought that she and Shen Lin would get married sooner or later, and she would belong to Shen Lin in the future, so she naturally could not use this excuse anymore.

Su Wan said, “County Magistrate, as a grandson, Shen Lin doesn’t have to be as filial as a son, but he still has to show filial piety. How about this ? Shen Lin should show filial piety in the same way as Uncle Shen’s sons do. Uncle Shen’s eldest and second sons are studying in the county’s academy. Why not call them over and ask them how they should show filial piety to the two elders in the future?”

The county magistrate stroked his beard and thought that this method was very fair. So he sent the gaurd to call the eldest and second sons of Eldest Shen’s family over.

In order to get the truth from the eldest and second sons of the Eldest Shen family, the county magistrate ordered Su Wan, Shen Lin, old man Shen, and old woman Shen to keep silent. If any of them spoke, they would be beaten with thirty sticks. The same was for the villagers who watched. Anyone who spoke too much would be beaten with thirty sticks.

So when Eldest Shen’s two sons were brought in, the court was so quiet that you could hear the sound of a pin drop.