Divorce with three kids? I'll build a house and eat meat, driving my in-laws crazy.

Chapter 268 You'll Get What's Coming From

Seeing that the Chu family was pretending to be poor, Shen Kuo asked the maids and servants, "Is your Chu family really that poor? You can't even come up with 26 taels of silver?"

No one dared to say anything.

Shen Kuo said with a stern face, "I am the prefect. If you are lying, you will suffer the consequences."

The maids and servants looked at each other, but none of them dared to be the first to speak up.

The young master was a spoiled brat who often used them as live targets for archery practice, and seven or eight of them died in a single month.

They just dragged him out and buried him on the back hill, as simple and casual as killing a chicken.

The lady was unpredictable, and she had a whole repertoire of ways to beat and torment people; which maid hadn't been beaten by her?

Once, a maid was so humiliated that she hanged herself. The next day, a different maid was brought in, and she was still served.

The master is a lustful man who can't control his lower body, and he has harassed many maids who are even slightly attractive.

There was also a pregnant maid who was tortured to the point of miscarriage and death.

If they don't treat people like human beings, then don't blame them for kicking someone when they're down.

Xue's personal maid was the first to step forward and say, "My lord, let alone more than 20 taels, the Chu family can come up with twice that amount."

"You insolent brat, what nonsense are you spouting?" Madam Xue flew into a rage, scrambling to her feet and reaching for the maid's hair.

The maidservant hid frightened and hid behind Shen Kuo. Shen Kuo slammed his hand on the table and angrily said, "Xue Shi, what do you want to do?"

"Reporting to... Lord Shen, please don't listen to this vile woman's nonsense. Even if the Chu family sold everything they owned, they would never be able to come up with more than 400,000 taels."

200,000 is still manageable, but 400,000 is an astronomical figure.

Shen Kuo looked at the maid and said, "You did a good job. My household happens to be short of a maid to serve you. Would you be willing?"

"This slave thanks you, sir!" The maid was overjoyed and knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly.

She went from being a wealthy family member to becoming a maid in an official's household.

This was not only a leap in social class, but also the highlight of her life.

She served as a maid for over ten years, always working diligently and conscientiously.

Even so, Xue still beat, scolded and humiliated her in various ways.

Now, she has only said a few words, yet she has already gained Lord Shen's attention.

The maid felt that her luck was about to change for the better.

Seeing this, the other servants and maids of the Chu family stepped forward, ready to start revealing the inside story.

Chu Yu threatened coldly, "I'm warning you, there are consequences for talking nonsense. I'll say it again, the Chu family doesn't have that much money."

A maidservant spoke up: "Young master, have you forgotten? You own several large houses on East Street. You could get a lot of money by selling them."

With one person taking the lead, the others followed suit without hesitation.

"Madam, you've forgotten that your dowry and betrothal gifts are all stored in our storeroom. They amount to a total of seventy or eighty thousand taels."

"Sir, the money in the bank has just matured, a full 100,000 taels. It would be perfect to use it for disaster relief."

"This mansion should fetch a good price."

"Madam also has many clothes and jewelry, which can add up to quite a lot."

"The young master's study is also full of treasures."

"The master keeps several women outside, and their monthly expenses are not small. Their gold, silver, and valuables should be used to help with disaster relief."

The Chu family felt like they were being pushed around like a house on its last legs, and now that the house hadn't even collapsed yet, they were already being pushed around.

The three gritted their teeth, determined to remember each and every face.

Once they get through this difficult time and Shen Kuo leaves, they will definitely tear these people to pieces.

A bunch of lowly people, they're practically asking for death.

Everyone felt uneasy under the glare, but they still mustered their courage to carefully list the places where the Chu family hid their money and the items they could sell for cash. As Shen Kuo listened, he silently calculated in his mind that these items added up to about 26 taels of silver.

With a smile on his face, he's really something.

He casually mentioned it, and ended up including all of the Chu family's assets.

Seeing Chu Yinglong biting his lip as if he wanted to plead for mercy, Shen Kuo spoke first: "I won't say anything more. Headmaster Chu is truly a great philanthropist, willing to donate all his possessions for disaster relief. This is truly a blessing for the people of Pingchuan County."

Seeing that their money had been effectively emptied, the Chu family wondered if they could gain some fame.

With a good reputation, things will be easier, and it won't take long to make the money back.

Yingtian Academy, in particular, needs this kind of publicity.

At that time, the common people will surely send their scholars there to study.

Yingtian Academy can not only become incredibly popular, but it can also make a lot of money.

Chu Yingtian and Chu Yu had both thought of this, and the father and son looked at Shen Kuo expectantly, hoping that what he was about to say would meet their expectations.

But after Shen Kuo finished speaking, he got up and prepared to return home.

Magistrate Chu was anxious. His brother had almost lost all his possessions; he had to receive some compensation.

Before he could speak, Chu Yingtian interjected, "Lord Shen, I have no objection to you using all my wealth for disaster relief. But I should at least get something in return."

Surely he can't get nothing out of it.

Shen Kuo looked at him like he was an idiot and said, "I didn't take it. If you don't want to donate, no one is forcing you."

Madam Xue said happily, "Then we won't donate. We don't even have enough for ourselves."

No matter how hard the disaster victims suffer or how difficult it is for them to go hungry, what does that have to do with her? It's just their bad luck.

Shen Kuo said to the constable beside him, "The three members of the Chu family deceived the imperial officials. Take them away and execute them in three days."

Upon hearing that she was to be beheaded, Madam Xue hurriedly said, "We will donate, we will donate voluntarily."

Faced with the choice between life and money, she chose the former without hesitation.

The Chu father and son had no choice but to nod and say, "We'll donate, we'll donate."

Konjac tofu and maltose are both life-saving substances; if this were reported to the higher authorities, it would surely bring a large reward.

Maybe we can even give them an official position.

They wanted to deceive Shen Kuo and make him think that it was all their doing.

Who would have thought that Shen Kuo, who looked honest and simple, was actually very cunning.

Not only did they see through their scheme, they also wanted to kill them.

Giving up a little money to save one's life is nothing, but that's all the family's savings. Losing it like that would break anyone's heart.

Shen Kuo was very satisfied. He picked up the last piece of pastry from the plate, patted his bottom, and left.

Magistrate Chu sighed and said, "Brother, hurry up and gather the money. I'll bring people to count it after five people."

Shen Kuo only gave the Chu family seven days, and Magistrate Chu thought that it was better to end the pain quickly than to suffer for a long time.

It's best to pay the money as soon as possible.

"You two should just live your lives honestly from now on and stop thinking about those unnecessary things."

They dare to fool the officials appointed by the imperial court. What were they thinking? How dare they do that?

Don't they know all civil officials are shrewd and calculating? Sigh!
Chu Yingtian slapped Chu Yu across the face, "You unfilial son, it's all your fault, what a terrible idea you came up with."

Chu Yu hadn't been fully awake all morning, but after being slapped by his father, he finally came to his senses.

He covered his face and said, "So Dad can do whatever he wants? Didn't Dad think it was a good idea back then?"

"You dare to talk back? You've gone too far!"

"Don't hit my son, go ahead and hit me if you dare!" Madam Xue stood protectively in front of her son like a mother hen.