Transmigrated as a Peasant Girl with Prophetic Dreams: Using My Space to Become the Richest Person - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Grounds for Family Separation

When Old Man Yang heard Sun Qiuping dare to call for the County Magistrate, a surge of fury rushed to his heart. He stepped forward and delivered a swift kick right to Sun Qiuping’s chest.

Sun Qiuping let out a cry of pain and collapsed onto her children behind her.

The Village Chief hadn’t expected Old Man Yang to dare to strike her while he was standing right there. He roared, “Old Man Yang! What are you doing?!”

The onlookers were stunned. Once they snapped back to their senses, they scrambled to find the Magistrate.

Old Man Yang glared at the crowd with murderous intent. “Whoever dares to fetch the Magistrate, I’ll kill them!”

Those attempting to leave paused at the threat, but in the next second, a majestic, authoritative voice rang out.

“Who is so bold as to claim they’ll kill someone?”

At the sound of that voice, Old Man Yang and the eldest branch were scared witless.

The County Magistrate entered the courtyard, his brow furrowing deeply as he saw the woman and children sprawled on the ground. He had heard that something was happening in the village and followed the Chief out of curiosity; he never expected to walk into such a scene.

Ruffians. Absolute ruffians.

“Was it you? Tell me—who exactly do you intend to kill?”

Old Man Yang’s legs turned to jelly, and he dropped to his knees. “No… no one. This lowly one wouldn’t dare kill anyone. It was just nonsense talk. Spare me, My Lord!”

The Magistrate snorted coldly. “I am staying in this very village, yet you dare to commit a crime right under my nose? Is there anything you don’t dare to do? Speak!”

Terrified by the roar, Old Man Yang trembled uncontrollably. “Mercy, My Lord! Mercy!”

No matter how arrogant Old Man Yang was in the village, like anyone else, he had an instinctive dread of officialdom—especially an official who looked ready to convict him on the spot.

“Hmph!” The Magistrate snorted and commanded, “Men, take this ruffian who treats human life like grass and give him ten strokes of the board.”

The Magistrate knew his business. With ruffians like this, there was no need for waste words; a small taste of punishment usually made them much more cooperative.

Hearing “ten strokes,” Old Man Yang’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted again.

The two attendants stepping forward to carry out the punishment looked at each other and then at the Magistrate. “My Lord… this…”

The Magistrate looked at the fainted old man with utter disdain. Just a moment ago, he was shouting about killing people, but now, faced with a mere ten strokes, he passed out. With such a weak constitution, he dared to act like a tyrant? Bullies who preyed on the weak deserved to be taught a lesson.

“Wake him up with cold water.”

“Yes, sir!”

The attendants turned to the dazed Yang Lao Er. “You. Go get a basin of water and splash him awake.”

Yang Lao Er stammered, “I… that… I…”

“Go, now!”

Startled by the shout, Yang Lao Er’s tongue suddenly loosened. “Right! I’m going!”

As he went to fetch the water, Yang Lao Er muttered to himself: Father, I’m sorry. It’s not that I want to splash you, don’t blame me.

When he brought the water out, the attendants ordered, “Splash him.”

Yang Lao Er hesitated, looking at his father on the ground. One of the attendants, losing patience, snatched the basin and dumped the entire contents over Old Man Yang’s head.

Old Man Yang sputtered awake, wiping the water from his face. His eyes were blank for a second before memory came flooding back. He scrambled to his feet instantly. “Mercy, My Lord! I was wrong! This lowly one knows his mistake!”

The Magistrate frowned. He didn’t believe for a second that this man realized his errors; he was simply terrified of punishment. Once the official left, the man would surely revert to his old self.

“Tell me, exactly what is happening here? Who are they?” He gestured toward Sun Qiuping and the four children.

Sun Qiuping had recovered from the shock of the Magistrate’s appearance. Enduring the pain in her body, she pulled her children down to kneel before him. “Please, Lord Magistrate, uphold justice for us!”

The Magistrate waved them off. “Since you are injured, stand up to speak. There is no need to kneel.”

Sun Qiuping and the kids were too terrified to move. Seeing their state, the Magistrate sighed and signaled his men to help them up. Once they were standing, he asked, “Tell me everything. What is going on?”

Sun Qiuping immediately poured out the history of the Old Yang household: the missing mother-in-law, the eldest sister-in-law in jail, and the father-in-law’s extreme bias toward the eldest son. She explained how her family was used as a punching bag, subjected to constant beatings and verbal abuse while being forced to do the most work. Finally, she begged the Magistrate to authorize a family separation.

Only then did the Magistrate realize that these people were Yang Xue’s relatives. He had heard about Yang Xue’s family situation from the Village Chief and realized that this foul old man was the very same one who had bullied Yang Xue’s branch.

The Magistrate’s gaze toward Old Man Yang turned even colder. “Your family certainly has a ‘fine’ tradition.”

Old Man Yang knelt with his head bowed, his heart filled with a desire to kill Sun Qiuping, but he didn’t dare utter a single word of protest.

“I believe Sun’s request for separation is entirely reasonable. Village Chief Lin, what do you think?”

The Chief thought to himself: You’re the Magistrate, we follow your lead. Just make the decision yourself, no need to drag me into it! But aloud, he said, “Your Lordship, based on Sun’s account, her request is indeed reasonable.”

Old Man Yang finally couldn’t help but speak up. “My Lord, since ancient times, as long as the parents are alive, the family does not separate. Her request is improper!”

The Magistrate looked at him coldly. “So you know a bit of ‘reason,’ do you? But it seems your knowledge is shallow.”

“The idea that ‘families do not separate while parents live’ is your own traditional saying; the law does not dictate that. According to the law, there are several conditions under which a family may separate. Let me explain them to you.”

“A family may separate if: First, the parents have passed away. Second, the children are adults and self-sufficient—once a son is an adult and possesses the ability to live independently and a financial foundation, he may request separation. Third, there are irreconcilable family conflicts. Fourth, the family’s production or economic situation changes such that it can no longer support a large household. Fifth, according to a will—if an elder has clearly specified the method and timing of separation.”

“As long as any one of these conditions is met, a separation may be proposed. According to Sun’s testimony, Yang Lao Er is an adult and self-sufficient, and your family has irreconcilable conflicts. That fulfills two conditions already. Therefore, I declare Sun’s request reasonable.”

“You may not use any excuse to prevent this separation, otherwise, you are in defiance of the law! Old Man Yang, do you wish to defy the law?”

Old Man Yang’s heart skipped a beat, and his entire body shook violently.