My delicate husband

Early the next morning, the village road was bustling with activity, with villagers carrying rice on their shoulders everywhere. Zhang Xiaomo was still woken up by the noise, and instinctively kissed the hair of the person in his arms.

"An An, why don't you get up?"

"I asked Brother Xu to go and deliver the grain. Let's get some sleep."

Today, yamen runners will come to collect grain, so everyone gets up early. The earlier you pay, the better. The later you pay, the more impatient the yamen runners will be. So everyone goes to the threshing ground early to line up, so as to be the first to pay.

Brother Xu also got up very early. There was a total of six days of food, and he could only transport it over by ox cart.

"Xu boy, this is what An Ge asked you to carry, right? He is still too soft-hearted."

The team slowly lined up, and the village chief followed humbly beside a young man in blue clothes. Just by looking at his temperament, Brother Xu knew that he was the county magistrate. Brother Xu also understood why Lan An was unwilling to come.

"Auntie, do you want me to transport it with you?"

"Okay, that's troublesome."

Because Brother Xu was driving an ox cart, he arrived earlier. The villagers were jealous when they saw Brother Xu transporting six and a half dan of grain from the ox cart. The village chief's expression also improved a lot. Ang'er was quite sensible.

The team slowly lined up, and the village chief followed humbly beside a young man in blue clothes. Just by looking at his temperament, Brother Xu knew that he was the county magistrate. Brother Xu also understood why Lan An was unwilling to come.

Brother Xu did not take the initiative to step forward, but waited in line silently. He did not take the initiative because he knew that the county magistrate would come over to inquire about the situation, and he only needed to answer the questions.

The grain collection went quickly and smoothly. The villagers were well prepared, and no one dragged their feet. All that was required was weighing, registering, and signing.

Brother Xu was the fifth in line and arrived in a few minutes. As expected, the county magistrate came as Brother Xu expected.

"Where is your An Ge'er? Why didn't he come?"

"Brother Mo was unwell last night, and Ang'er was at home taking care of him. Ang'er said that these five grains were paid on behalf of the resettlement housing. We are doing our best to help, and we just want to have a clear conscience."

The county magistrate didn't say much, just nodded. He originally wanted to go talk to that guy, but he didn't expect him to be such a smart guy. It seemed that he didn't want to see him very much. It would be better to look for another opportunity.

The county magistrate was satisfied with the grain collection in Lianhua Village, and the yamen runners were also very good. They did not lose their temper or make things difficult for them without reason.

After delivering the grain, Brother Xu went back. Lan An thought he could live in peace for two days, but he didn't expect that trouble would find him.

The grain delivery was going smoothly and was almost over, but Sun Wangcai's family was unwilling to pay the grain. The reason was that Sun Fengshi saw that Lan An had paid five more grains, so she went to persuade Zhang Xiaohua again, and Zhang Xiaohua agreed.

She had almost spent the twenty taels of silver that Lan An gave her. She was wearing the latest cotton spring dress, a silver hairpin on her head, and silver bracelets on her hands. She had been eating rice, meat and eggs every meal these days. She regretted it now and should have asked Lan An for more silver.

"Where are Sun Wangcai's family? They're the only ones who haven't paid their grain yet. Hurry up, we still have to go to the next village."

Sun Feng pushed Zhang Xiaohua out. It would be a lie for the villagers not to envy Zhang Xiaohua. She was already beautiful, but now with this attire, she looked more like an unmarried girl than a woman.

"Zhang Xiaomo's family just made friends with someone from my family. I'm his biological sister."

The yamen runner checked again, a little impatient

"No, he paid six taxes, but he didn't say he would pay for you. Your family should pay the taxes quickly."

"I don't have any at home. You can go to my brother's house and ask for it. He said he would pay for me."

Zhang Xiaohua was obviously being unreasonable, and the village chief tried to signal her with his eyes several times but it was of no use. The county magistrate had always been interested in Lan Euan, and now he had a reason to go to his house.

"Then let's go to Zhang Xiaomo's house."

Since the county magistrate had spoken, the villagers did not dare to refuse. The village chief led the way in front, a group of yamen runners followed behind to protect the county magistrate, and a group of fearless villagers followed behind to watch the fun.

Lan An had just finished his meal and was basking in the sun in the yard with Zhang Xiaomo. He was just being coquettish and sucking Zhang Xiaomo's collarbone when suddenly a large group of people came and stared at him. Lan An's face turned green, and no matter how calm Zhang Xiaomo was, her face was flushed.

Lan An tidied up Zhang Xiaomo's clothes and looked at the group of people coldly.

"Why are so many people looking for me?"

County Magistrate Wu was also shocked by Lan An's aura. He actually felt the majesty of an emperor from a farmer's family.

"Sun Wangcai's family didn't pay the grain, and they said you were willing to help pay it."

Lan An glanced at Zhang Xiaohua and Sun Fengshi, his face frighteningly gloomy. If it weren't for Zhang Xiaomo, these two people would probably be dead.

"It has nothing to do with me. I gave her twenty taels of silver to break off the engagement. The village chief should know about this. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble the village chief and the county magistrate to go to the Sun family in person to inquire about the situation. If there's nothing else, Brother Xu will send the guest away."

Lan An did not give face to anyone present. He carried Zhang Xiaomo back to the room, took out the letter of severance, and asked Brother Xu to give it to the county magistrate.

Magistrate Wu also felt offended. It was the first time he had seen such a bold man.

"How dare you, you bold man, to be disrespectful to the county magistrate."

Lan An had no expression on his face and just glanced at County Magistrate Wu.

"Even an official can't be ignorant of right and wrong, right? Besides, a daughter who's married is like spilled water. I've never heard of anyone whose sister got married and her in-laws' family had to rely on her brother-in-law for support. That doesn't make sense, especially since we're no longer related."

"That guy is right. I just wanted to see what kind of unruly people are so arrogant. They are so presumptuous even when I am here."

"I would like to thank the county magistrate for his keen insight."

County Magistrate Wu did not comment on Lan Euan's irony. He was fine, but he admired An Ge'er even more. If the timing was right, he would definitely make friends with such a person.

Here, the yamen runners had checked, weighed, and loaded the goods. The grain collection in Lianhua Village was going smoothly; now all they had to do was send people to collect the corvée and taxes. They had thought that since the county magistrate was personally present, he would definitely work the early shift, but some people were still ungrateful.

The county magistrate took a group of people to Sun Wangcai's house. The yamen runners were all a little unhappy, but they didn't show it on their faces. Originally, after the grain was loaded onto the car, one person would be left to collect corvée taxes, and the others could return to the county town. Now that the task was completed today, they could rest early. Now everything was wasted, and they could only vent their anger on Sun Wangcai's family.

Led by the village chief, a group of yamen runners came to Sun Wangcai's house and kicked open the gate without knocking.

"Which blind bastard kicked my door?"

Butcher Sun came out cursing, and when he saw who was coming, he was completely panicked and didn't dare to say anything.

"You're being rude, Zheng Er. Five slaps on the face."

When Zheng Er heard the order, he greeted without hesitation, but he was very unhappy at the moment.

Both sides of Butcher Sun's face were swollen. The noise was so loud that the neighbors, although curious, could only watch from afar.

With such a big commotion, the Sun family no longer dared to act like turtles and all came to the yard.

Butcher Sun did not dare to be stubborn and quickly admitted his mistake.

"I didn't know your Excellency was coming to visit me. I'm sorry for the offense."

"Why doesn't your family pay the grain?"

Hearing this, Butcher Sun was also confused. Hadn't he prepared the food long ago? Didn't his father go to deliver the grain early in the morning? Seeing Sun Fengshi and Zhang Xiaohua's guilty faces, Butcher Sun also guessed something.

"Your Excellency is wronged. My family has already prepared food."

"Oh, I've already prepared it. Why did you frame Zhang Xiaomo? But you think I'm easy to fool."

County Magistrate Wu's face became increasingly worse. He hated fratricide the most. Butcher Sun also felt a little aggrieved, after all, he was the one taking the blame.

"Sir, I was wrong. It was my fault for not managing the house properly. I accept the punishment."

There was no way out, Butcher Sun could only blame himself for his bad luck. After all, one was his mother and the other was his wife. He had no way to shirk responsibility, but he felt some resentment towards them.

"Then drag him away and give him twenty lashes of the cane."

Constable Peng and Constable Wu dragged Butcher Sun to execute him. When Mrs. Sun Feng saw that her beloved son was going to be beaten, she immediately panicked and slapped Zhang Xiaohua, crying and begging for mercy.

"Sir, this has nothing to do with my son. He doesn't even know about it. It was all this bitch's idea."

Zhang Xiaohua looked at Butcher Sun who was being held for execution, and then looked at Sun Fengshi with hatred, and knelt down.

"Sir, please make the decision. Sun Feng forced me to do this, and I dare not disobey."

Seeing that Zhang Xiaohua did not agree with her and even dared to bite her back, Sun Feng became anxious and pounced on her immediately. Zhang Xiaohua also fought back without hesitation, and the two soon started fighting.

The county magistrate saw the scene and scolded

"Peng Da, go separate them and give each of them five big strokes of the cane."

Butcher Sun did not plead for mercy, and he was even more dissatisfied.

"Sir, I and my family know we are wrong, and we will pay the grain now."

"One fine is equivalent to paying two. The corvée tax is also doubled, so you have to pay four taels."

The Sun family finally paid all the grain and corvee taxes honestly. Looking at Sun Wangcai, he probably won't be able to get out of bed for half a month. Old Lady Sun and Zhang Xiaohua probably won't be able to go out for the near future either.

After the county magistrate dealt with the Sun family's affairs, he returned to the county town. He also wanted to have a good talk with Yan Chu. He felt that it was necessary to win over An Ge'er. If he wanted to be with Runzhi, he could not do without An Ge'er's help. County Magistrate Wu had a little plan in mind.

Lan An learned about the miserable plight of the Sun family from Aunt Wang. Lan An could only say that they deserved it. However, after this incident, Lan An was not so fond of Lianhua Village anymore, and he also felt a little disgusted with Village Chief Zhang. It seemed that he was too easy to talk to.