Turning around, Li Yao saw that three well-dressed men were blocking her and Da Zhuang's way home. Seeing they were strangers and this was an isolated spot in the woods, Da Zhuang became wary, keeping a close eye on the three men's actions.
Now that the family had come into money, they were bound to arouse jealousy and greed.
"Mistress Li," the one with a goatee who seemed to be the leader came forward with a chuckle, "may I have a word?"
Da Zhuang said, "Say what you want to here!"
Goatee ignored Da Zhuang and looked to Li Yao, seeming to know she was the one in charge.
Li Yao was unafraid of these men. Even if ten more came, she could guarantee her own safety. Rather, she worried for Da Zhuang. The boy had only brute strength without any martial arts training.
If a fight broke out, he was very likely to get hurt.
"Da Zhuang, go home first. I'll come back later."
"But Mother..."
"Go home."
Seeing her expression turn icy and hearing the uncompromising tone, Da Zhuang felt no urge to disobey. He could only look back worriedly and head home with the oxcart.
After Da Zhuang had gone far, Li Yao said, "Where to talk?"
"No need to go far, just somewhere away from prying eyes," said Goatee.
Goatee led Li Yao a short way into the woods and stopped.
"Mistress Li, you're quite bold."
"Just say what you came to say."
"That's even better, so direct," Goatee said. "I've actually come about the matter of the dry well."
Li Yao's brows furrowed slightly.
She had thought Goatee wanted to make a shady "exclusive deal" with her for the Green Grass Ointment and Fragrant Soap selling so well. It seemed she had guessed wrong.
"What about the dry well? No good?"
"On the contrary, very good," said Goatee. "So the magistrate wants to reward you for it."
What?
Li Yao wondered if she had misheard.
The magistrate wanted to reward her, yet sent people to summon her to the woods for a secret meeting?
But she understood the key point right away.
The magistrate likely wanted to claim exclusive credit for the dry well.
Although she did not care about credit or rewards, there was no way she would let someone else take it. If it had to be given to someone else, it could only be the Song County Magistrate. At least he had stayed up all night for the benefit of Baichuan County's common folk.
As for this magistrate, he probably hadn't left his yamen yet wanted to claim the credit. That was unacceptable.
"What do you think, Mistress Li," said Goatee. "As long as you promise not to say a word about the dry well, I can give you... 50 taels of silver!"
When he finished, he looked expectantly at Li Yao, waiting for her to be overjoyed.
After all, 50 taels of silver was enough for a village woman to live ten years!
But instead of readily agreeing, Li Yao gave a cold smile.
Goatee frowned. "What are you laughing about? Or is it not enough?"
"It's not that it's not enough, but too little," said Li Yao. "To get me to give up credit for the dry well, you'd have to offer at least 50 taels of gold."
"You..." Goatee's eyes bulged. "50 taels of gold? What fantasy are you living in! Fine, 100 taels! Take the money and live well. Otherwise..."
Here, the two men behind Goatee took a few steps forward, clearly ready to use force at his command.
Facing their overt threat, Li Yao was utterly unmoved.
"Go back and tell your magistrate if he wants political achievements through this, he should govern properly and do more for the people. If all he thinks about is scheming, who knows how he'll die in the end."
"You, you dare!" Goatee was so angry his hair practically stood on end. "Stupid woman, you dare threaten the magistrate! Men, seize her!"
On his order, the two thugs pounced almost in unison.
In their eyes, Li Yao was just a village woman. Even with years of farm work, she wouldn't have much strength. She'd be easy to subdue.
Seeing the glaring flaws in their attack, Li Yao flicked her wrist, sending a dagger from her sleeve into her palm, about to kill them both in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, a roar came from behind.
"Impudent thieves, you dare!"
Li Yao's brows knitted, immediately recognizing the voice as belonging to Zhang County Captain. She swiftly hid away the dagger.
Seeing someone from the authorities, Goatee shot Li Yao a fierce glare.
"Let's go!"
The three hastily retreated. As Zhang County Captain was alone, he didn't pursue them for fear Li Yao would encounter other dangers.
"Mistress Li, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"County Magistrate sent me ahead to honor you in He Wan Village. I happened to meet your Da Zhuang and he said you were taken by three men, so I hurried over."
Li Yao's mouth twitched. The county magistrate was coming again?
This was bad. With Zhang County Captain here, it seemed she couldn't avoid it this time.
"Mistress Li, the county magistrate will arrive shortly. Let us wait for him on the road."
"Alright."
With no choice, Li Yao went back to the road where she saw the anxious Da Zhuang from afar.
"Didn't I tell you to go home? Why did you come back?"
"Mother...I just couldn't stop worrying..."
"Fine, you're back already," said Li Yao. "But never do this again, understand?"
"Yes."
Soon, Song County Magistrate arrived with two yamen runners, riding quickly towards them.
After hearing Zhang County Captain's report, Song frowned deeply. In a few steps he was before Li Yao.
Li Yao bowed.
"Mistress Li need not be so formal."
Song waved his hand to stop her from bowing. Li Yao was delighted and immediately stood up straight.
As long as he didn't make her kneel, she could tolerate anything.
This was Song's first time seeing Li Yao up close. As a man from the capital previously holding the third rank, he had seen all kinds of exceptional women.
Yet Mistress Li here was very different from those women, with lively brows and carefree grace in her every move.
Wearing plain clothes, her features were charming yet she emanated a heroic spirit, unforgettable at first sight.
"County Magistrate?" Seeing him lost in thought, Zhang County Captain quietly reminded him.
"Oh, ahem..." Song snapped back to the present, feeling slightly flushed. He quickly got to business. "Mistress Li, do you know who those three men were?"
"They should have been sent by the magistrate."
"The magistrate?" Song exclaimed in shock, eyes wide. "This...this...this..."
That was very possible!
The dry well was a huge accomplishment. If the magistrate could claim sole credit, his year-end performance review would shine brilliantly. He might even get promoted and transferred to an important post in the capital next year.
And because the benefits were so great, he wanted to silence Li Yao.
But how could Song allow this to happen in his jurisdiction right under his nose?
"Captain Zhang, return to the yamen."
Zhang was slightly surprised. Wasn't the plan to honor Mistress Li?
Could the county magistrate have changed his mind out of fear?
Seeing Song and his men head back, Li Yao felt relieved. If the county magistrate had come to the village to publicly honor her, she really wouldn't have known what to do.
"Da Zhuang, let's go home too."
"Yes Mother," Da Zhuang immediately brought over the ox cart, worriedly saying, "Mother, just stay home from now on and don't go out. Let me handle any business outside."
