The Sage of Confucianism and Taoism

Chapter 2081 Thunder struck from heaven

After the woman beat her husband to death, she stood there blankly.

The child was not unconscious and no longer crying. He was stunned by his dead father and cruel mother.

After a few breaths, the middle-aged lady loosened her grip and dropped the stick on the ground. The madness on her face slowly dissipated, her eyes became clear, and then she showed a look of horror.

"What did I do? What did I do? I..." The woman was so frightened that she didn't know what to do, and finally hit the pillar hard.

The neighbors heard something strange and hurriedly checked. Then they were so frightened that they ran away and called the officials. Not long after, someone from the Yamen took the woman away and placed the child.

The county magistrate rushed to the court, and looked at the woman in the hall who had been hit and bruised. Then the squad leader walked up quickly and whispered: "Sir, that woman has the word 'guilt' written faintly on her left hand. There is light, I don’t know why.”

The county magistrate said hurriedly: "Hold it up and let me see."

The yamen servant opened the woman's hand and raised it up. The county magistrate looked at it carefully for a few times, then looked up at the dense clouds outside the yamen. He thought for a moment, asked the woman's neighbors, and finally said: "Heaven punishes unfilial piety, and I am responsible. The woman is not guilty, but she has done something wrong. We will take her into custody first and the judge will make her decision tomorrow."

Mo County, which is only twenty miles away from the Yangtze River, is a famous ink-producing county in the Qing Dynasty.

In the Pig Intestine Alley in the west of the city, the entrance of Lao Qiao's house was very lively, with countless people gathered around on the three floors inside and outside.

Everyone looked towards the door and saw Zhang Lizheng earnestly advising: "I say, Qiao Liu, your parents gave you all their property, including two shops. Apart from the dowry, your four sisters have nothing in these years." Taking a penny from the Qiao family has been subsidizing your father. Mom. Over the years, your four sisters have given your parents at least two to three thousand taels of silver. In the end, it all ended up in your hands. But you have never supported your parents for a day, so you still let the four of you My sister keeps it, and all the neighbors know about it. I, Lao Zhang, didn’t make it up, did I?”

I saw a young man with oily hair and pink face folding up his white paper fan, his triangular eyes flashing, and he smiled disdainfully and said: "Zhang Lizheng, don't blame me for this. I am still young, and those four sisters used to take care of my parents, and of course they still do now. They take care of me. Besides, my four sisters give me enough food every day. If they don’t take care of me, they can’t come to me, don’t you think so?”

While speaking, Qiao Liu glanced at his parents in front of him, then at his four sisters and brother-in-law.

Behind Qiao Liu, his wife held her paws and ate slowly. From time to time, she would spit melon seed peels in the direction of the four Qiao sisters, and from time to time she would look askance at others.

Father Qiao nodded vigorously and said: "Liuer, you are absolutely right. Those four sisters of yours are all white-eyed wolves. I really fed them four in vain!"

While wiping her tears, Mother Qiao responded: "Zhang Lizheng, don't bother with my Xiaoliu. Go and scold those four unfilial white-eyed wolf girls! Tell me, I have worked so hard to give you shit." We raised them in urine, so they treat us like this? These four ungrateful little beasts deserve to be struck by lightning!"

The four middle-aged women had different expressions, but they all remained silent.

None of the neighbors outside the door cast a disdainful look at the four middle-aged women. Instead, they all looked at Qiao's father, Qiao's mother and Qiao Liu with different expressions.

Zhang Lizheng gritted his teeth and said: "There are some things I shouldn't say, but half of the people in Mocheng know what you four girls are like. Over the years, their four families have taken turns supporting you, no matter how ugly you say it , they have endured it all these years. I have never heard of any of your daughters complaining about you two! But since this year, what have you done? You have to sell your daughter’s house, sell off their jewelry, and even their children’s pocket money and longevity locks. You’ve all been lied to, are you still human?”

Everyone at the door yelled and cursed in low voices, and many people spat directly in the direction of the second elder of the Qiao family.

Father Qiao said confidently: "Aren't we trying to save money for Xiaoliu to study? Now that Wenquxing is so big, there are so many more children being born every year. Maybe my family's Xiaoliu can also become a child and honor our ancestors! Those four losers What’s the use? Four daughters gave birth to two grandsons, but what’s the use of having eleven granddaughters?”

Zhang Lizheng said angrily: "Don't Qiao Liu have money to study? I think he is richer than an old boy like me!"

"Yes!" Someone among the neighbors suddenly booed.

"Qiao Liu even showed off his new cricket that day. It's called Purple Diamond!"

"Qiao Liu studies? Ta Ta Ma can't even memorize the first six words of the Three Character Classic!"

"How wonderful it is to have four girls, but I have been harmed by the three of you all my life!"

Mother Qiao screamed: "Aren't we going to buy Kai Zhi Xiang for Xiao Liu? Half a stick of that thing costs over ten thousand taels of silver. Although it's not as good as the one from the Holy Academy, once my Xiao Liu uses it, he will definitely be able to pass the exam for Tongsheng. Then I’ll see who among you dares to scold him!”

Zhang Lizheng said helplessly: "Kai Zhixiang is only useful for children. Qiao Liu is already so old, so it is useless to buy it. If you give money to Qiao Liu, he may not know what to do."

"Uncle Zhang, what did you say?" Qiao Liu glared at Zhang Lizheng.

Zhang Lizheng smiled coldly and said: "Why, do you think that I, Old Zhang, am your four sisters at your mercy?"

Qiao Liu was sweating from behind, and he hurriedly said with a smile: "Uncle Zhang, don't get me wrong, don't get me wrong. This is our family matter, and you are a busy man, so I think you should leave."

"You think I want to take care of it? Your family is making trouble every day, and the whole street is disturbed by your troubles. Who cares about me here? Stop arguing with me. Do you support your parents?" It’s all easy to talk about. If you don’t support me, I will take your four sisters to the Yamen to file a complaint!”

Qiao Liu turned to look at his parents and said with a grimace: "Father, mother, I have a wife and children to support now, and I also have to study. I really can't support you. The four sisters are all good, so they should support you." ah."

Father Qiao and Mother Qiao nodded repeatedly, and Mother Qiao pointed at the four daughters and cursed: "You four losers, aren't you afraid of thunder? I gave birth to you in vain and raised you in vain! You are still not human, let the neighbors judge you." , What’s wrong with us, the old couple, living at your place?”

Among Qiao Liu's four sisters, the eldest sister and the second sister looked cold, the third sister was extremely angry, and the fourth sister shed tears of grievance.

Zhang Lizheng snorted coldly and said, "Since you don't want to support Qiao Liu, fine! Let's go to the Yamen!"

Qiao Liu was anxious and shouted hurriedly: "Father, mother, we can't let our sisters go to court!"

Mother Qiao shouted: "You four little bitches have been stabbed a thousand times!" Then she rushed towards the most honest little daughter.

Fourth Sister Qiao's husband suddenly took a step towards his wife and blocked Mother Qiao.

Unexpectedly, Mother Qiao sat down on the ground, kicking her legs wildly, crying and shouting: "Killing people! Daughters are killing their parents! All saints, please kill these four unfilial daughters quickly... "

Suddenly, the dark clouded sky became bright and blinding, and then everyone heard two deafening thunders.

boom! boom!

A bright light flashed in the yard, and many people saw two bolts of thunder falling on Qiao Liu and his wife.

The two people turned into black coal.

Zhang Lizheng was stunned, surprised and delighted. He knelt down on the spot and shouted: "The saint appears! Thunder punishes unfilial piety! God has eyes!"

Everyone suddenly realized this and knelt on the ground, kowtowing in the direction of the Holy Court.

The four Qiao sisters were also frightened and kowtowed hurriedly for fear of being punished by thunder.

However, the four were safe and sound.

Father Qiao and mother Qiao were stunned for a long time. They rushed towards Qiao Liu's body crazily, hugging the body and crying loudly. While crying, they cursed God for being blind and scolded their four daughters for harming the good son who was carrying on the family lineage of the Qiao family.

Cursing and cursing, Father Qiao and Mother Qiao became crazy and stupid, as if they were dementia.

After a while, Zhang Lizheng stood up and said: "Four sisters of the Qiao family, listen carefully. From now on, Qiao Liu's family property will be divided into three parts, one part will be used to take care of Qiao Liu's three daughters, one part will be used to support his two elders, and one part will be used to support his two elders." If you four sisters don’t object, I will report it to the Yamen and the matter will be settled.”

No one objected.

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