Chapter 1037: Arrested and Taken to See the Magistrate

He Tianwa’s wife, trying to protect herself, pushed all the blame onto her own mother.

Mrs. Liu, a quick-witted woman, hearing her daughter speak, immediately cried out: "Village Chief He, Jinya is right, it was all this old lady’s foolishness, wanting to match our granddaughter with Master top scorer. Jinya and her husband truly didn’t know my intentions. Considering this old lady’s age and the fact that Jinya has given your He family three grandsons, please forgive me this time."

Mrs. Liu and her daughter were singing in unison, making He Tianwa’s wife appear entirely innocent.

However, Gu Jin’an knew the least innocent person was He Tianwa’s wife. Without her detailed explanations, how would Mrs. Liu, someone from another village, know to intercept them on this small path?

Mother Ju’er, upon hearing the Liu mother and daughter’s words, had a realization and hurriedly cried out: "Village Chief, my family is innocent too. I really didn’t know Lady Tao Ya had this intention. I’ll be wary of their mother and daughter in the future and won’t let them visit easily. Please spare my family this time. We are desperately poor and truly don’t have five taels of silver to compensate the Gu Family."

Mother Ju’er didn’t want to go to the officials, nor did she want to pay five taels of silver compensation, so she cried about her family’s poverty.

The women of the He Laixin Family, He Laosou Family, Lu Shankui Family, and Lu Huoya Family also cried bitterly, claiming they were unaware.

Village Chief He was shaking with anger, spat and said: "You lie without thinking, do you take me for a fool who would believe your nonsense? Unaware? You know better than anyone! I’m telling you, today you will definitely pay this silver, and if you don’t, I’ll drive you out of Da Feng Village just like He Cui’er’s family years ago."

He Cui’er tried to attach herself to Qi Kangping, but failed, and after causing a scene, was expelled from the clan and village. Now she lives a miserable life, and the village women often laugh at her family’s plight.

He Tianwa’s wife always spoke the most about the tragic situation of He Cui’er’s family after being expelled from the clan, and she laughed heartily each time. Now hearing these words, she couldn’t laugh anymore and cried, kowtowing to Village Chief He.

Mrs. Liu was not to be outdone, with the mother and daughter almost pounding a hole in the ground.

Village Chief He was startled by their display but knew the Gu Family was genuinely angry today and wouldn’t let things slide easily, so he dared not speak of forgiving them.

Seeing this, Mrs. Liu and her daughter pleaded with Gu Jin’an: "Master top scorer, considering Jinya is your village sister-in-law, please forgive our family this time."

"Yes, Good Brother An, sister-in-law was also deceived by her family, she truly never intended for her niece to plot against you." He Tianwa’s wife knew how to act pitifully, crying passionately.

Other women also pleaded with Gu Jin’an.

But Gu Jin’an remained unmoved, giving them only one response: "Resolve it at the government office."

Those women were stunned, not expecting Gu Jin’an to be so cold-hearted, even after they pleaded with him, he still didn’t forgive.

Mrs. Niu laughed: "You fools, why beg him? As long as we band together and say our girls were assaulted by him, he won’t have a choice but to marry them!"

Gu Family has money, even if they marry all seven girls, they can afford it, and their seven families could also gain a lot of silver from the Gu Family.

Gu Jin’an, hearing this, glanced at Mrs. Niu and merely smiled, ignoring her.

Brother Cheng, seeing his eldest brother’s "kind" smile, shuddered and quietly thought: Just wait and see how your family meets its end.

Sure enough, not long after, Luo Wu came riding in with the entire Si Li Square team.

He had planned to discuss the betrothal ceremony date with the Gu Family today before leaving, but upon hearing the news, he galloped to Si Li Square in town.

The people at Si Li Square were shocked and hurried to Da Feng Village.

"It’s them, arrest them all and take them to the county for trial!" Luo Wu, on horseback, pointed at Mrs. Niu and the others, ordering them.

Having served as a squad leader for three years, he had accumulated authority, and Dasheng and the others dared not slack off, advancing with ropes to seize Mrs. Niu and her group.

Seeing this, Mrs. Niu grabbed Liang Furong’s mother and pushed her toward the Government Official while trying to escape.

Luo Wu, seeing this, drew his bow and an arrow, and with a swoosh, the arrow landed directly on the ground in front of Mrs. Niu, blocking her path and scaring her into collapsing.

"We know exactly which village you belong to. If you dare to escape, the county government will arrest your entire families and put them in prison!" Luo Wu warned them.

The other women, originally intending to follow Mrs. Niu’s lead and flee, were thoroughly panicked upon hearing this and cried, no longer daring to run.

Mrs. Liu pleaded with Luo Wu: "Squad Leader Luo, you can arrest us old and dying, but please don’t arrest my granddaughter. If a girl goes to prison, her life will be ruined."

Mrs. Liu was still considering her granddaughter’s future, not wanting to ruin her life.

Luo Wu didn’t respond and instead looked at Gu Jin’an.

Gu Jin’an nodded to him; he intended to use these families to deter anyone in the county coveting his marriage but didn’t want to destroy the girls. After all, ruining them would also affect his reputation, especially as he was preparing for exams.

Seeing this, Luo Wu agreed and pointed to the girls from the seven families: "Those who don’t want to be imprisoned, stand aside; if you dare cause trouble again, you know the consequences."

The girls, long terrified, trembled as they walked to the roadside, standing obediently.

The women sighed in relief, then tried to plead with the Gu Family to be lenient and not send them to prison.

But Gu Jin’an had made up his mind not to let them off: "I gave you an opportunity; it was you who chose not to take it."

Village Chief He, clutching his cane, pointed at them and said: "Silence, you brought this on yourselves, it’s no use begging now."

He looked at He Dayuan and said: "Go find He Tianwa and the others. Five taels of silver per family to ransom them. If they dare to hide, they should never come back!"

"Yes, I’ll go right now." He Dayuan immediately took two young men and ran back to the village, dragging He Tianwa, He Laixin, and these men over.

Lu Gen Sheng also hurried over and immediately grabbed Lu Shankui and Lu Huoya, beating them: "You good-for-nothing, Lu Family’s days were just getting better, and you’re making trouble. I’ll beat you to death for daring to harm Lu Family!"

Lu Gen Sheng was exasperated, for Lu Family had been ridiculed in the village due to the issues related to Old Master Lu’s family. The Gu Family held no grudges and allowed Lu Family people to grow Mingya Grass and make money, but Lu Shankui and Lu Huoya’s families were still unsatisfied, even letting their relatives plot against Gu Jin’an.

"With your two families’ relatives’ behavior, you wish to marry into the Gu Family, are you out of your minds?" Lu Gen Sheng both beat and scolded them, furious beyond measure, finally warning: "Gu Family is Lu Family’s benefactor; if you dare plot against Gu Family people, the entire Lu Family clan won’t spare you!"