Lin Chen returned with the Yamen officers pretty soon, Xin Shi wasn't a trained criminal, naturally, she left behind loads of evidence that was captured by the officers within minutes as soon as they started looking for them.
" There is a trail of oil from her house to the fields, looks like she filled the entire bucket with oil before bringing it here, from the looks of it, I can be assured that she has the intention of burning the entire fields of this thing called melon and not just one block of it." explained the Yamen officer as he recited off the evidence that he and his colleagues found while they were looking for clues.
His words sent the entire village gasping as they all turned to look at Xin Shi who lowered her head and licked her lips to moisten them ever so slightly. It was true, she really did bring the entire bucket of oil to burn the entire fields of the Lin family, it was what her husband asked her to do, so what choice did she have? He was the one who returned from somewhere in the middle of the night and woke her up before asking her to pour oil in the Lin family fields and burn them up, she wasn't the one who wanted to do it!
She raised her head and looked at her husband who shook his head and mouthed their children's names, all of a sudden all the strength in her body left. That's right, she was already charged as an arsonist if she dared to say her husband's name then who will take care of their kids? Even though Xin Shi felt like her husband was too much of a coward, she still didn't say his name and pulled him into a mess along with her.
" There is a small pool of oil there," the Yamen officer continued as he pointed to the spot where Xin Shi was hiding and added, " the bucket seemed to have been knocked there and the oil in it was spilt all over the place, and we also found two cans of oil that were emptied in her house, it's enough of evidence to tell what happened, so what do you want? If you charge her for her actions, she will be locked in the Yamen for three years and there is no saving her, of course, she can be freed by paying a certain amount but considering her situation, I don't think that it is possible."
Village head Luo looked at Xin Shi who was on her knees, shaking and trembling and then at the Lin family whose stance was pretty clear they wanted Xin Shi to pay for what she did, Village head Luo sighed. He couldn't understand why such a thing was happening in his village why can't the villagers all leave the Lin family alone and just leave in peace now look at the mess they have created.
" Please take her away," said Village head Luo in his tired voice. " Take care of her according to the laws of the country and make her pay for her crimes, even if it is three years, she has committed a crime and needs to pay for it."
The Yamen officer sympathised with the Village head Luo who was the one in charge of this rotten village, the Village head was a nice guy but because of the villagers, his image dropped every single time. " All right, we understand."
But just as they were going to take Xin Shi away, Su Wan who has been silent throughout the search stepped forward and spoke again, " Wait a minute officers."
Almost instantly all the villagers groaned as they whispered among themselves.
" This wife of the Lin brothers just doesn't know when to shut up, Xin Shi is arrested already but her heart is not at peace."
" Exactly, I understand that Xin Shi was wrong but she is being too much as well, just look at how she is clinging to Xin Shi and not letting the matter rest, what does she want now?"
" Who knows maybe Xin Shi'a blood??"
The gossiping villagers didn't deter Su Wan as she faced the officers confidently and said, " Officers this woman caused my family to have a loss of twelve hundred taels, who is going to pay for it? My family might be doing good but that's because we work hard and not laze around every day, a loss is still a loss to us isn't it?"
The Yamen officers stopped and looked at the burned fields, they too have heard about the exotic fruit called melon and knew that its seed was really expensive, so they also knew that the loss of the Lin family wouldn't be small. They paused for a short while and then said, " She is the one who is responsible for the entire thing so, of course, she will have to pay for it through her dowry or any savings that she has but in case her dowry or savings doesn't make up for the loss then her husband would have to take on her responsibility and pay you back——"
" Why? Why will I pay them back?" The Yamen officers were still speaking when Feng Zihang interrupted him. " She was the one who came to their fields with a splint and oil bucket, I didn't ask her to do it, so why should I be the one pay for the damages that she caused huh? What kind of nonsense is that?"
" She is your wife! You should be helping her in the time of crisis——"
" Who says that? I will divorce her here and now, then do I have to pay for her mistakes?" When the Yamen officers didn't say anything Feng Zihang knew he was right. " I will divorce her then, I still have kids to take care of, if I spend twelve hundred taels after her then how will I send my kids to the academy or pay for their brides? No way, I am paying that money!"
His heartless words made everyone's hearts get chilled.