Su Qi'an turned around and saw a middle-aged fat man slowly walking around surrounded by four or five big men.
Qin Ziyin looked at the fat middle-aged man, his expression changed, and then he greeted him with a smile.
"It turns out to be Shopkeeper Guan. I wanted to finish my work at hand, so I was talking to Shopkeeper Guan. Could you please Shopkeeper Guan to travel so far away?
"Hmph, I think if this shopkeeper doesn't come, the Su family's wife will probably miss out on this debt."
"What did Shopkeeper Guan say? My husband-in-law is blessed and survived by his ancestors, so I don't want the coffin made by Shopkeeper Guan. I'm really sorry."
When the middle-aged fat man heard what Qin Ziyin said, the flesh on his face trembled and he said coldly.
"Madam of the Su family, are you kidding me? There is no reason to return the coffins from my Guan family shop. I am a kind-hearted shopkeeper and specially made a coffin for your husband-in-law on credit. You don't want it anymore." It doesn’t make sense that nothing happened.”
Qin Ziyin also knew about this and acted a little carelessly, so he quickly laughed and said.
"What Shopkeeper Guan said is true, but Shopkeeper Guan also knows what's going on in the Su family. If you don't give me a hundred coins, how about treating all the master craftsmen to tea?"
Su Qi'an, who was sitting aside, could clearly see the reluctance on Qin Ziyin's lips when he mentioned the money.
Now the Su family is afraid that they will only be able to get 300 yuan if they spend a lot of money. Qin Ziyin can give out one third, which is considered good.
Shopkeeper Guan, whom Su Qi'an also knew, was a coffin shop. Even though it was a menial job, many people died due to the war these days. With this skill, shopkeeper Guan made some money.
Those who do business all over the country are also famous.
If the man named Guan was a miserable man, Su Qi'an would not say anything. In fact, Su Qi'an still knew about some of the dirty tricks he used behind his back.
If this matter can be so good, this shopkeeper Guan will not bring a few big men, and there is also a rogue Wang Er among them.
Sure enough, when Qin Ziyin reported the price, several big men beside him laughed out loud, and the rogue Wang Er stepped out and said directly.
"Uncle, what I said is right. I just want to send you away with 100 yuan. I think this is deliberately teasing you."
"Madam of the Su family, I am also from Dongshan Village, and my uncle is also kind-hearted, so naturally he will not have trouble with you. Let's do this. As long as you sleep with me, I promise that this matter will be over. How about it?"
After saying that, Wang Er looked at Qin Ziyin up and down with lustful eyes.
Qin Ziyin's expression changed, and he quickly backed away and stood behind Su Qi'an.
Wang Er looked at this scene and didn't care at all. He looked at Qin Ziyin wantonly in front of Su Qi'an with his lustful eyes.
Su Qi'an was just a weak scholar. He had been insulted by his words before and even jumped into the river. In Wang Er's eyes, he was a loser.
Moreover, this was not the first time Wang Er had teased him like this. What could Su Qi'an do? It's nothing more than closing the door and reading his so-called sages' books.
What else can you expect from such a waste?
"Don't be afraid, Madam Su. Your brother Wang is very gentle. Come on, Madam."
As he said this, Wang Er actually stretched out his hand to pull Qin Ziyin.
Qin Ziyin's expression changed drastically and he kept retreating, just as Wang Er's arm was about to touch Qin Ziyin's shoulder.
The next moment, a bloody light shot into the sky, and Wang Er's arm was cut off directly by the axe.
Wang Er wailed, curled up, and rolled back and forth on the ground.
This scene immediately stunned shopkeeper Guan and several big men. It wasn't until Wang Er's wail sounded that they came back to their senses.
At some point, Su Qi'an, who had been sitting on a stool chopping firewood, stood in front of Qin Ziyin holding an ax.
On the ax head, blood kept slipping.
Su Qi'an's face was pale and he was panting heavily. This was not because he was afraid, but because his body was too weak. In just one moment, most of Su Qi'an's strength had been drained away.
Looking at Wang Er rolling on the ground and wailing, shopkeeper Guan had a strong murderous intent on his face. Upon seeing this, several big men under him quickly surrounded him.
As long as shopkeeper Guan gives the order, Su Qi'an will die.
But shopkeeper Guan was not an ordinary person. He seemed to have thought of something, suppressed the murderous intention in his heart, and whispered softly to a big man beside him.
The big man understood, and the next moment, he was beating gongs and drums around him, shouting while beating.
"Come and see, Su Xiucai killed someone!"
"Is there any law in Great Liang? Scholars openly kill people, so I hope you fellow villagers can make the decision."
These shouts quickly attracted most of the people in the village.
The first person to bear the brunt of this is the head of Dongshan Village. His surname is Li and he is over sixty years old.
In his early years, he took part in the imperial examination and failed, but he still had the reputation of being a scholar and had high prestige in the village.
Village Chief Li arrived and looked at the scene in front of him without saying anything. Shopkeeper Guan Kuai beside him said directly.
"Dear fellow villagers, although I, Guan Wu, am a coffin maker, I still rely on my ability to make a living. A few days ago, the Su family's wife came to me and said that her husband was dying. I was kind-hearted and made a coffin for Su Xiucai on credit. , but when it came time to collect the bill, even if the Su family’s wife didn’t pay, this Su Xiucai actually cut off my nephew’s arm after a disagreement.”
"I hope Village Chief Li can make the decision for me. Even though Su Xiucai is a distinguished man, committing murder is a heinous crime. Even if he goes to the government, I will seek justice for my nephew."
Shopkeeper Guan burst into tears as he spoke, looking like he had been wronged.
The surrounding villagers watched this scene and all whispered.
"No, when did Su Xiucai become so arrogant and dare to kill people? I remember that he was not a weak scholar?"
"Who knows, I heard that he committed suicide in a river a few days ago and was lucky enough to survive. I heard that some people who have experienced such an accident may have a drastic change in temperament. I think we should stay away from him to avoid being affected. It’s not good.”
"No, I thought I could take advantage of it, but now, something like this has happened again. It's really unlucky."
"..."
"You guys are talking nonsense. It was obviously Wang Er who acted unreasonably first. It was my husband-in-law who did it to protect me..."
Qin Ziyin beside him looked anxious and kept explaining, but the discussion was too loud and was eventually drowned out.
Su Qi'an protected Qin Ziyin behind him, touched his hair, turned his head and whispered.
"Madam, stop talking. It's okay. Your husband-in-law will solve this matter today. Just stay behind me."
Only Su Qi'an now can understand everything that the scholar Su Qi'an encountered.
If there was an award for the best troll in ancient times, then these villagers in front of them would be worthy of it.
Village Chief Li is a scholar no matter what, but in his heart, he still prefers Su Qi'an. Listening to the noise in his ears, he frowned, still wanting to hear Su Qi'an's voice.
"Xiao Su, put the ax down. If you have anything to say, just say it."
When Village Chief Li's voice fell, the voices of the surrounding villagers suddenly became much quieter, and they all looked at Su Qi'an.
Su Qi'an did not put down the ax in his hand, he said with a smile.
"Since the village chief wants to hear my opinion, then let me tell you."
"Half a year ago, my wife was being teased by a naughty king while she was cooking in front of her house. All the surrounding villagers should have seen it. Did anyone say anything?"
"Three months ago, when I was studying at home, some thugs from the village threw stones at me and smashed through the thatched roof of my house. Did anyone say anything?"
"Half a month ago, at the entrance of the village, I was scolded and insulted by the thugs headed by Wang Er, which eventually led me to commit suicide by drowning myself in the river. Who said anything?"
Su Qi'an's voice was not loud, but every word fell in the ears of every villager like beads.
The villagers who were clamoring just now all lowered their heads, and no one dared to look directly into Su Qi'an's eyes.
Shopkeeper Guan, who was watching this scene, said directly, "Okay, even if this is my nephew's fault, Su Xiucai, how can you break someone's arm and kill someone for such a trivial matter? Do you really think that you are a scholar? You can be unscrupulous.”
Su Qi'an glanced at Shopkeeper Guan and sneered, "Shopkeeper Guan is truly a businessman. In terms of your ability to confuse right and wrong, no one has ever said that to you."
"You are right, I rely on my reputation as a scholar!"
"Shopkeeper Guan's mind is spinning so fast. He must have been reading for a few years. What is Article 12 of my Great Liang Law? Do you still remember it?"
Shopkeeper Guan's expression changed, his eyes flashed, as if he thought of something, but he quickly shook his head.
"I don't know what you said. I only know that you want to kill my nephew."
Village Chief Li next to him sighed, shook his head and said, "Article 12 of the Great Liang Law, except for those who have the title of scholar or above in our court, except for corvee service and exemption from taxes, if they are reviled and insulted by common people and untouchables, and those below who commit crimes above will be punished, He should be punished, and those who are serious may even be punished."
Just these words from Village Chief Li immediately caused the villagers on the scene to fall into silence, with no one daring to say a word.
Although Su Qi'an was treated as a waste and a joke in the village, they forgot one thing. Su Qi'an was a genuine scholar.
It stands to reason that when civilians like him see him, they all have to salute and call him sir.
After all, with the reputation of being a scholar, one does not have to kneel down even when meeting a county magistrate. Although he may not seem like an official, he should not be underestimated.
Because of Su Qi'an's forbearance and low profile, they ignored Su Qi'an's identity and only remembered his weakness and incompetence.
Su Qi'an looked around and landed on shopkeeper Guan, his voice cold.
"This king, a pariah, molested my wife in front of me. For the following offense, no one would dare to say anything, let alone break an arm. Even if he were killed, no one would dare to say anything."
"Shopkeeper Guan, do you still want to stand up for your nephew?"
Guan Wu's expression changed wildly, his previous aggressiveness disappeared in an instant, cold sweat dripped from his forehead, he knelt down and said repeatedly.
"The little one is blind, blinded by lard, and has offended Mr. Su. I hope Mr. Su has more knowledge and doesn't have the same knowledge as the little one. If Mr. Su is willing, Wang Er's life belongs to him."
Guan Wu's decisiveness somewhat surprised Su Qian.
"It seems that this Guan Wu is not an ordinary person, he is also a ruthless master."
Su Qian sighed inwardly and then said.
"I don't care about the life of a rogue. Take him away as soon as possible. If you show up in front of my house, you know what will happen."
"Yes, yes, I understand, little one, get out of here."
After saying that, Guan Wu and several big men quickly dragged away Wang Er, who had fainted from the pain.
But what Su Qi'an didn't see was a trace of resentment and murderous intent emerging from Guan Wu's eyes.
The onlookers looked at this scene with chills. Just as they were about to sneak away and disperse, Su Qi'an's cold voice sounded again.
"I, Su Qian, am not a narrow-minded person. I won't take anything I did before seriously. But in the future, if my wife is scolded and insulted, this is what will happen!"
Su Qi'an raised the ax in his hand and cut the firewood on the side into two pieces.
