Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

"Lin Niangzi's brothers came to demand an explanation, and a fight broke out at the Lin family's gate. Lin Laogui protected his mother, grabbed a carrying pole, and swung it at them, seriously injuring them. Since it was a matter of life and death, he was sentenced to five years in prison and sent to the prefecture."

Old Zhao sighed, "Old Lady Lin hates these two girls, saying they killed their own mother and harmed their own father, so she drove the two girls out of the house."

"The older one was only six years old that year, and the younger one was just three. In the dead of winter, the two girls were frozen and hungry at the village entrance for two days and almost died."

"Old Ma's wife was also from this village. The couple had no children of their own, and they couldn't bear to see the two girls like this, so they adopted them. When Ma's wife was alive, the two girls had someone to rely on. But Ma's wife passed away the year before last, and he was left to raise them all by himself."

Old Zhao's voice was a little hoarse, "He's an old man, farming a few acres of poor land, it's good enough if he can just survive, let alone raise two children, he really can't keep going..."

Zhang Sanlang remained silent for a moment, then turned and glanced at the two maids inside the room.

The older sister had stopped crying and was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) with the younger one in her arms. The younger one was still sobbing, her face buried in her older sister's chest.

The big one raised its head, glanced at Zhang Sanlang through the door frame, and then lowered its head like a startled fawn.

"What are the two girls' names?"

Old Zhao thought for a moment, "The older one is named Lin Qiao'er, and the younger one is named Lin Xiu'er. Ma Dashou didn't change their surname after adopting them; they still have the surname Lin."

Zhang Sanlang nodded and walked into the house. When the two maids saw him come in, the younger one shrank behind the older one, while the older one stood up, head down, hands clasped together.

"Old Zhao told me everything about your situation," Zhang Sanlang said kindly. "Now that Uncle Ma is gone, what will you do?"

Lin Qiao'er raised her head, her eyes red-rimmed, her lips trembling slightly. "I...I can work. I can do laundry, cook, start a fire, and take care of my younger sister. Please, sir, don't separate us."

Lin Xiuer peeked out from behind her, tears and snot still on her face, and looked timidly at Zhang Sanlang.

Zhang Sanlang squatted down and looked at them. "I'm not an official. My surname is Zhang, and I'm a minor official in the county government. Uncle Ma entrusted you to me before he passed away. Are you willing to come with me? I will take care of you sisters until your father returns."

Lin Qiao'er was stunned for a moment, then tears welled up in her eyes again. She knelt down on the ground with a thud, "I'm willing. Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

Lin Xiuer also knelt down and kowtowed, her forehead hitting the muddy ground with a dull thud.

Zhang Sanlang glanced at Old Zhao, then pulled out two hundred coins from his sleeve. "You'll handle Uncle Ma's funeral arrangements. Buy a coffin if needed, hire people if necessary. I only have two hundred coins on me; come back to me later if you need more."

Old Zhao took the money and put it in his pocket, his eyes reddening again. "Zhang Qianxing, it's not safe for the two girls to stay on the estate. If the people who did this find out that Old Ma is gone, they might not spare them either."

"You take them with you, I'll stay and see Old Ma off. Buy what needs to be bought, treat who needs to be treated, don't worry."

Zhang Sanlang nodded upon hearing this, then looked at the two girls and said, "Pack your things and come back to the county town with me."

The two girls obediently turned around to tidy up.

There wasn't much to pack: a few tattered clothes, a chipped earthenware jar, and a pair of shoes with half-sewn soles.

Lin Qiao'er stuffed the things into an old cloth bundle, carried it on her shoulder, and stood in front of Zhang Sanlang, holding her younger sister's hand.

Zhang Sanlang found it unbearable to watch, so he turned and left the courtyard. The two maids followed behind, the older one holding the younger one's hand. Lin Xiuer glanced back at Ma Dashou on the earthen bed, her lips trembled, and she was about to cry again, but Lin Qiaoer pulled her back.

The donkey cart was still parked at the door. The old man who owned the donkey was dozing off against the cart shaft. Hearing the noise, he opened his eyes and saw Zhang Sanlang coming out with two girls. He was stunned for a moment, but didn't ask any questions.

Zhang Sanlang helped the two girls onto the cart, then jumped onto the shaft himself. The donkey cart creaked and groaned as it drove out of the village and headed towards the county town along the main road.

The two maids sat on the cart floor, their eyes red and swollen, saying nothing. The wheat fields on both sides of the official road were lush and green, and the tender seedlings of winter wheat, just sprouting, trembled slightly in the cold wind.

When the donkey cart stopped at the entrance of Kujing Lane, it was already late afternoon.

Zhang Sanlang led the two maids off the carriage. Lin Qiao'er, carrying a bundle and holding her younger sister's hand, followed behind Zhang Sanlang, her eyes constantly glancing to both sides.

Lin Xiuer clung tightly to her sister, taking small, quick steps, as if afraid of getting lost.

Xi Mei was with Qing Ge'er and A Yun when she heard footsteps. She looked up and saw two unfamiliar girls following behind Zhang Sanlang. She was stunned for a moment.

"Father, why are you off duty so early today? Who are these two sisters?" Xi Mei'er walked over quickly, her gaze falling on the bundle on Lin Qiao'er's back, and then on Lin Xiu'er's red and swollen eyes.

Zhang Sanlang led the two maids to the east wing entrance. "Uncle Ma's daughters. Uncle Ma is gone, and they have nowhere to go, so they'll stay at our house temporarily."

happy Mei'er paused for a moment, her lips moving slightly. She looked at the two maids; Lin Qiao'er was half a head taller than her, her face pale, her eyes red-rimmed, and her hands clasped together.

Qingge slid down from the low table, ran to Zhang Sanlang's side, looked up at the two maids, then at Zhang Sanlang, and asked, "Father, where do they live?"

Zhang Sanlang looked around.

The bed in the inner room of the east wing has been made; it's a hardwood bed frame, crafted by He the carpenter, and covered with new straw.

The desk and chair in the outer room were also set up, and the tabletop was polished smooth.

He thought for a moment, "happy Mei'er, you and your two older sisters will live in the inner room. Qing Ge'er will live in the outer room with his father."

happy Mei glanced at Zhang Sanlang, then at the two maids and nodded.

She walked over, took Lin Qiao'er's hand, and said, "Come with me."

Lin Qiao'er was taken aback for a moment, then was led by her towards the inner room of the east wing. Lin Xiu'er followed behind, her steps lighter.

Zhang Sanlang stood in the courtyard and called out, "happy Mei'er, your father has to go to the yamen. You guys eat first, don't wait for me."

happy Mei peeked out from the east wing, "Father, it's getting dark, come back soon!"

Zhang Sanlang responded, turned around, and left the courtyard. His face was ashen as he strode toward the county government office.

County Commandant's Office.

Xu Kai sat behind his desk and saw Zhang Sanlang come in, so he put down his pen. "What's the matter so late?"

Zhang Sanlang sat down on the bench in front of the table and, gritting his teeth, recounted how Ma Dashou had been beaten to death.

Last night at midnight, thugs broke into the Ma family home and severely injured Ma Dashou, who died on his bed this afternoon. His two daughters are left unattended; he has already taken them home and suspects Chen Youde sent someone to kill them.

Xu Kai looked surprised after hearing this, and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table. "Ma Dashou is the Chen family tenant who filed the lawsuit against you?"

"Yes. He was forced to submit the complaint by Steward Chen, and the interrogation department has already verified it."

Xu Kai leaned back in his chair, remained silent for a moment, and asked, "You suspect Chen Youde instigated this? Do you have any evidence?"

"No. But Ma Dashou identified Steward Chen in the torture chamber, and Clerk Gu summoned Chen Youde to reprimand him and ordered him to redeem the two girls from the Ma family. Only a day later, he was beaten to death. There's no such coincidence in the world."

"I suspect Chen Youde is retaliating out of personal grudges. It's a way of punishing Ma Dashou for disobeying orders, expressing his dissatisfaction with Registrar Gu, and also a warning to me. It's a case of killing someone and then destroying their spirit!"