The next day, Yang Ming brought Xiaoxiao to the county government office. He hadn’t wanted his wife to come, as she hadn’t fully recovered yet, but she insisted.
Xiaoxiao had never been to the government office either and was curious to see what it was like.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the government office, she saw two large stone lions, so lifelike that it was indeed impressive for that era.
At the entrance was a large drum, seemingly there for the purpose of beating when making an accusation! Just as Yang Ming was about to pick up the drumstick, his wife said, "Let me do it!"
Xiaoxiao was very curious and wanted to give it a go. "Yang Ming, is there any particular way to beat this drum?"
"Just beat it directly."
"Alright." Xiaoxiao took the drumstick and swung her arms, striking it several times, which was quite tiring.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
It wasn’t long before a government official came out, "Have you brought the written complaint?"
"..." Huh! They need a written complaint? A petition?
"We have!" Yang Ming handed over the written complaint to the official, who said, "Wait!" and went inside.
"Yang Ming, when did you write this? What did you write?" Xiaoxiao really hadn’t expected making an accusation to be so troublesome!
"While you were sleeping! I just wrote about the incident with the medicine!"
In a short while, the official came back out, "You may enter now."
Xiaoxiao followed Yang Ming into the government office.
Upon entering, they saw two rows of government officials standing at attention, "Majestic... imposing..." Oh my goodness, it’s terrifying!
There was a loud "clang," and she heard, "Who is beneath this hall, and for what reason have you beaten the drum?"
"Scholar Yang Ming pays his respects to the Magistrate."
Xiaoxiao watched Yang Ming and followed his lead, "Commoner Zhong Xiaoxiao greets your honor, the Benevolent Judge!"
Benevolent Judge? Hmm, that’s a nice term, but... Suddenly there was another "clang," "Woman below, why don’t you kneel upon seeing this official?"
"..." Ah, jeez! With all this banging on that piece of wood, it’s scaring me half to death, and now I have to kneel too? I’ve never knelt before anyone in my life, and I’m not coming again.
While thinking this, she immediately knelt down anyway. She couldn’t afford to offend the County Magistrate.
And yet, her husband, the Scholar, evidently didn’t have to kneel, probably due to his title. It truly was a case of "comparisons are odious."
"For what reason have you beaten the drum?"
"..." Xiaoxiao was already at a loss for words. Hadn’t they already handed in the written complaint? Was this really an upright official? Not the least bit amiable, could it be a case of a new official taking office with zeal?
"My family produced sauerkraut that someone poisoned with rat poison. I request the Magistrate to do us justice and find out who the perpetrator was."
The County Magistrate didn’t say a word, but took the written complaint and started to read it carefully. Sauerkraut? Was it the talk of the town yesterday, and today someone has already reported it? My first case upon taking office is so serious!
"This is the rat poison left by the perpetrator! Perhaps it can be used to track down the culprit."
Seeing this, the County Magistrate signaled the official to take it, "This official will dispatch someone to investigate promptly! You may return home and wait for news."
"..." Huh? That’s it! I haven’t even spoken, just knelt down briefly!
"This Scholar thanks the Magistrate!" Yang Ming said as he helped Xiaoxiao to her feet, "This commoner thanks your honor, the Benevolent Judge!"
They left the government office , "Yang Ming, do you think the Magistrate is reliable? Why do I feel so uncertain about it?"
"It’s his first case since taking office; he should take it seriously! Let’s go home and wait for news," Yang Ming replied.
And just like that, they went home to wait. Indeed, news arrived the very next day, as a government official came to their door!