Du Zhixing naturally didn't want to plead guilty. He wanted to yell at first, but he became honest after being knocked on the wall again by Cheng Jingzhou.
Butler Du was unsure this time.
The neighbors were watching how they made trouble, and it would be in vain for them to panic.
Now it just depends on how much face this county magistrate Cheng can give to the Du family and the head of Jiahua County.
Sure enough, Li An and Song DaDa took a team of people out each, and the results and witnesses they brought back were unfavorable to the Du family.
One of the uncles was very angry and said: "Isn't it just your second son who has climbed to a high branch? Can you tell me clearly whether the full house is the property of your Du family or the county mistress?"
This is to the point.
Cheng Jingzhou remembered that when he first came here, he asked about that restaurant. At that time, people said that it had changed owners, and the new owner was the owner of Jiahua County.
But looking at it now, this is obviously not right.
Cheng Jingzhou didn't want to get involved in their messy affairs, but this case had to be clarified first.
"Du Zhixing, now that the evidence is conclusive, can you plead guilty?"
Du Zhixing turned pale with fright. He was not stupid. He knew that now that his younger brother had lost his official position, all the benefits of their family were gone. However, his father still had the title of Jinshi. This couldn't be fake, right?
Yes, they also have a relative like the Lord of Jiahua County in their family, so they can't just watch themselves being arrested.
"Sir, little man, little man."
If Du Zhixing pleads guilty or not, he can't tell.
At this moment, Mr. Du hurried over: "Sir, wait a minute!"
When he turned around and saw the person coming, Sun Er's face immediately turned pale. This person was a Jinshi master, no less important than the county magistrate.
Cheng Jingzhou sat still and frowned: "Mr. Du, does he have new evidence to present?"
"Sir, I have no new evidence, but our Du family is willing to reconcile privately with Boss Sun, and we are also willing to pay more silver. Do you think?"
Naturally, such lawsuits that do not involve human life do not have to be punished by the Yamen.
But it’s not like you, the defendant, can just keep it private if you say you want to.
Firstly, it depends on the attitude of the plaintiff, and secondly, it also depends on whether it complies with the provisions of the law. If not, there cannot be a private settlement.
Cheng Jingzhou did not respond to Mr. Du, but first looked at Sun Er: "You heard what he just said. He is willing to compensate you more silver. He just hopes that you can drop the accusation against Du Zhixing. Are you willing?"
Sun Er trembled with his lips. He didn't know what to choose for a while. He looked at the county magistrate and then at Master Du beside him. He really couldn't tell whether the two people were colluding together, so he didn't know what to do. What a decision.
Boom, boom, boom!
The drums of injustice outside started ringing again.
Cheng Jingzhou's eyes darkened: "Who plays the drums?"
Song boldly took two people out, and soon came in with three common people wearing shabby clothes.
"Sir, the villain is suing the Du family, it's them! They took my house by force, and now they have forced it into their Du mansion. That is our family's ancestral house. It was built since my grandfather's generation. Say no It’s gone!”
"Sir, I also want to sue the Du family. This is this beast. He took away my daughter. My daughter is only fourteen. I have never seen anyone alive or dead. How can I ask you to be a humble citizen?" Make the decision!"
When Cheng Jingzhou heard this, he became excited.
Mr. Du sitting in the hall couldn't sit still this time. Why are we all here together?
This case hasn't been settled yet, and two more victims have arrived. This is no joke.
People outside the hall have begun to whisper.
"quiet!"
Cheng Jingzhou asked them if they had written a complaint. All three of them shook their heads, saying that their families were poor and they were illiterate, so they had no complaint paper.
"I still need to trouble Mr. Xie County Cheng."
"Yes, sir."
Xie Xiancheng asked them to speak again one by one, and then recorded them one by one. Later, the more Master Du listened, the paler his face became, and the more cold sweat formed on his forehead.
After Xie Xiuqi finished writing here, he asked a few of him to postpone it, and then there was a complaint.
Cheng Jingzhou asked Sun Er first: "Sun Er, I will ask you again, are you willing to reconcile privately?"
Sun Er may have felt that he had the same victim this time and was no longer afraid. He simply scratched his neck and shouted: "The villain doesn't accept reconciliation! The villain just wants his own property back and wants them to compensate my family." Let them be punished for their medical money!”
Among the people watching the excitement outside, no one knew who shouted: "Okay! Have some backbone!"
One person cheers, and then the second and third ones cheer for him.
Hearing these cheers, Sun Er also felt that he had done the right thing, and his back straightened a little. When he looked at Du Zhixing, he wanted to kill someone to vent his anger!
Cheng Jingzhou saw that he did not agree to a private settlement and that there were both witnesses and evidence in the case, so he was not in a hurry to let Du Zhixing plead guilty.
"Plaintiff Sun Er can get up and wait aside, keeping quiet."
"Yes, sir."
This is the time for the remaining two cases to be interrogated.
"You said that the Du family took over your house. Please tell me clearly, where is the location, and when did they take over your house? Also, do you still remember the year your house was built?"
"Sir, I don't remember exactly when it was built. I just remember that it was more than thirty years ago. Fengxian County at that time was far less prosperous than it is now. It was a brick house built by ourselves. Oh, by the way, My grandfather was a mason, so he hired a few brothers to help build it. Also, my house was originally on the east side of the Du family's house, separated from their house by an alley and another family."
Cheng Jingzhou nodded: "When was your house occupied by the Du family?"
The plaintiff didn't need to think about it this time and reported it directly: "That happened three years ago. Their family first said they would buy our house for ten taels of silver, but our family disagreed. Although our house is just a small yard, But there are a total of seven rooms including the main house and wing rooms, and there are also two sheds. According to the market price, it is worth eighty taels anyway, but our family refused, and as a result, our house suddenly caught fire. "
Mentioning this, a heroic man actually shed tears.
"It's pitiful that my father and mother were sleeping deeply and couldn't be woken up. Later, two of us brothers went in and carried him out despite the fire. But our house was also completely burned. Without the house, housekeeper Na Du came looking for us. They came to our door and threw us five taels of silver, saying it was money to buy this homestead, and told us to get out of the county."
Butler Du didn't say anything, but Du Zhixing didn't recognize this and scolded him directly: "You are really ignorant. Your house was burned down. We only bought your land. Do we have to give you eighty?" two?"
