Miao Chu

Chapter 22 Change
The mountains and rivers are full of doubts, and there is another village.

Song Miao was overjoyed and quickly took the book with both hands.

But after flipping through just a few pages, she realized something was wrong.

The book was so thick that it was difficult to roll up. Opening the title page, the table of contents alone contained twelve chapters and two hundred and thirteen sections. Following that were explanatory texts, decrees, regulations, rules, and imperial edicts, all in tiny, dense characters. Even if Cheng Zijian had three heads and six arms, he would have had a hard time copying it all in one day.

As you flip through the pages, you'll see that the handwriting is different for each page.

Remembering what the other party had said about "us," and seeing the scroll, Song Miao quickly thanked him and couldn't help but ask, "Did you ask someone else to help copy the book out of your own family's influence? I... I really don't know how to thank you enough!"

"No, no!" Cheng Zijian hesitated for a moment, looking somewhat apologetic. "It wasn't really a request. I just accidentally revealed what happened at Mr. Song's house without his permission. I'm very sorry..."

It turned out that he learned yesterday that Song Miao herself was anxious to read the book on criminal law, and that something bad had happened in her family. Although he was too embarrassed to ask her in detail in person, he secretly asked a classmate in the capital for information after he returned home.

The incident of Song Dalang falling into the water had already caused quite a stir. The Song family restaurant was right next to Nanlu Academy, so many people knew about it. In the past, when the teachers and students of Nanlu Academy encountered bandits in Hejian, it was an even bigger news story, known to everyone in the academies in the capital.

The classmate recognized the name and, during his lunch break, went home to inquire about it.

Liao Qingjiao was determined to force Song Miao to submit. He had already arranged for his men to spread rumors outside, and he also brought up the wealthy Wu, saying that the rich man was kind and wanted to help Song Miao repay her debts, give her a place to go, and that he would take her home in a sedan chair in the future, where she would eat and drink well and enjoy endless benefits.

This person's house was not far from Suanzao Lane. With just a few inquiries, he found out everything and immediately became angry.

When he returned to the Imperial Academy, he repeated what he had heard, and he became increasingly angry as he spoke, his voice naturally growing louder and louder.

Hearing the commotion, the students in the dormitory naturally gathered around.

Most of the students at the Imperial Academy were young scholars, full of youthful vigor and strong backbone. How could they stand to hear such powerful people oppressing the common people?
Moreover, the one being pressured is a young woman, whose elder brother was a student at the neighboring Nanlu Academy—judging from his name, he seemed to have been quite famous for his literary talent, but he died tragically in a foreign land—and now that this has come to blows against him, how could anyone stand by and watch out for their kind?
Then, when he learned from Cheng Zijian that this young lady was actually the one who sold Song's mung bean paste glutinous rice in the food alley these past few days—that rice was really delicious—it was simply unbearable!
Everyone immediately offered to help.

Some said to go find the schoolmaster and the teacher; others said that the restaurant must have been bought by someone else and the deal was probably not going to work, so it would be better to go to the capital prefectural government to file a complaint; still others said that Song Dalang's death was suspicious and that they should go and check the original coroner's autopsy file.

Cheng Zijian had no choice but to tell Song Miao about the request. Since he had not obtained the original owner's consent and did not know what she meant, he would ask her when he finished copying the book and sent it out.

Everyone was filled with fervor.

Those who have read "Wei Xing Tong" say that Cheng Zijian, if you were to copy all the contents of the book by yourself, when would you ever finish? I'm afraid that young lady would have cried all her tears. Who would make glutinous rice for us then?

So the group of people arrived together, went to the library to borrow books, untied the threads, gave some to each person, and some went out to call their friends.

Such a passionate act impressed the students, who felt it truly embodied benevolence and righteousness, and were eager to help those in need. So many people came, and soon the library was overflowing with people, almost filling all the tables and chairs.

With everyone pitching in, as the saying goes, many hands make light work, and they quickly finished the job.

As darkness fell, there was still some content left. Fearing that too many people would cause trouble, Cheng Zijian hurriedly sent everyone away and copied it himself until dawn, barely finishing the copying.

He then relayed everyone's suggestions and said, "We all mean well. Although we don't have much ability, we are all willing to help, Miss Song..."

Song Miao hurriedly bowed respectfully, saying, "My family's situation is known to all the neighbors, and I am not afraid of it being spread. You all mean well, but the matter is quite troublesome. I need to find out the details first. Before long, I will definitely need your help. Right now... I really don't know how to thank you!" She then bowed to Cheng Zijian again and again in gratitude.

Cheng Zijian stepped aside and quickly returned the greeting, saying, "Everyone copied it together, it wasn't just me. Besides, if it weren't for Miss Song..."

Having unexpectedly met Han Li and received his guidance, Cheng Zijian was already very excited yesterday. He wanted to tell others, but he was afraid that if his classmates heard about it, they would run to him one by one, which would only annoy him. Now that he had met Song Miao, he felt that she was a very suitable person to share with, so he rambled on about what had happened, and said, "If it weren't for the mutton buns from the young lady, if it weren't for borrowing books from the young lady, how could I have encountered such a good thing?"

"I just revised my article and was worried that I would come empty-handed today, but who would have thought that Miss Song would have prepared such a wonderful gift for me! Little stall owner Song, you are truly my great benefactor!"

He was acting all serious, even using flowery language and stringing together sentences.

Song Miao seemed to be deep in thought.

Hearing what Han Li had done, she was slightly moved and asked a few more questions.

Cheng Zijian spoke frankly and without reservation.

Having received Han Li's help, he truly admired the man and praised him to the skies, saying, "Indeed, rumors spread like wildfire. Everyone outside says this man is difficult to talk to, but I feel that he is a man of justice, with the generosity of ancient Yan and Zhao. He is far better than those who only talk the talk!"

If the maximum score was only 10, Cheng Zijian would really give Han Li 10,000 points—the extra 9,990 points were his selfish additions for him.

Words follow the heart.

Seeing his demeanor, and knowing that the completion of her book also relied on Han Li's guidance, Song Miao felt she had to express her gratitude to him as well, in addition to her many students.

After saying their goodbyes, Song Miao packed up her stall, pushed her cart home, and after tidying up her things, she didn't rush to go out to buy anything. Instead, she took out the newly acquired book and carefully examined the table of contents.

Over the course of eighty years, the Wei Criminal Code was revised once, but the basic legal logic remained the same, with only minor adjustments made.

Song Miao first looked at the laws on household and marriage, then the laws on theft and robbery, and finally the miscellaneous laws.

She remembered that after Song's mother passed away, Song Dalang had a big argument with his elder brother one day.

Later, while his son was at the academy, Song Dalang secretly slipped out with the household registration book, and asked his daughter to help cover for him.

The original owner of this body had too little experience and trusted her father too much, so she naturally didn't think much of it. But after Song Miao came, she always felt that something was wrong.

After Song Dalang passed away seven days ago, she should have gone to the government office to cancel his household registration, but she was not in a hurry. Instead, she first found out the household registration records.

Sure enough, according to the household registration book, Song Dalang had already secretly changed back to his original surname and had also gone to the yamen to exchange the documents.

Damn it! I've been working so hard to finish it, but why hasn't Wenli even had a bite of shumai yet?! I'm so angry!

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(End of this chapter)