The procedure for the authorities was not familiar to Su Xiaoqi, so Shen Yun handled it.
She was, however, somewhat reluctant to part with the fish in the pond.
People’s conflicts had made these fish scapegoats.
She crouched by the fishpond and examined the water quality. Without professional tools, she couldn't know if anything had been added.
However, she managed to extract traces of arsenic from the pond bank.
Her heart filled with even more hatred.
The person who administered the poison had not shown the slightest compassion, only intending to cause harm.
It was truly detestable.
Su Xiaoqi was furious, and by then, the officials had arrived.
They were utterly shocked to see the pond filled with white, floating dead fish.
"They're all… all dead," the leading yamen runner seemed unable to believe his eyes, rubbing them as he looked.
Shen Yun went to handle the communication.
Soon, the yamen runners began their investigation.
They started with Zhao Family Village, asking if they had any enemies.
Shen Yun pointed out Zhao Baoyi and Zhao Guanggun one by one.
The yamen runners, being experienced in handling cases, quickly identified the two. They brought them in and subjected them to threats and intimidation.
The two initially tried to hold out, but Su Xiaoqi quietly mentioned finding arsenic on the pond bank.
Shen Yun understood and stepped forward, suggesting that purchases of such poisonous items were recorded at pharmacies, and it would be easy to find out by asking around.
Upon hearing this, the two were startled and quickly confessed.
Zhao Baoyi claimed that Zhao Guanggun was responsible and that he had seen it with his own eyes.
However, Zhao Guanggun then turned the tables, saying Zhao Baoyi had ordered him to do it.
The two knelt on the ground, swearing oaths and blaming each other.
When they became emotional, they even started cursing.
The yamen runner looked at Shen Yun, who, at the opportune moment, offered a small silver ingot.
The yamen runners politely refused, stating their superior had instructed them not to take anything from the common people.
Shen Yun said it was for tea and also travel expenses for their arduous journey.
At this time, no one knew that Shen Yun had passed the imperial examination, and Shen Yun had no intention of revealing it.
Therefore, the yamen runners accepted the silver with a clear conscience and proceeded to handle the matter impartially, preparing to take them back to the county office to go through the proper procedures.
After a public trial by the county magistrate, they would be convicted as deserved.
This commotion caused quite a stir, and the villagers of Zhao Family Village were all alerted.
They all rushed to the fishpond to watch.
Seeing the pond full of floating dead fish, they also felt a great sense of pity.
They openly and indirectly accused Zhao Guanggun and Zhao Baoyi of being heartless and doing such a thing.
Su Xiaoqi, seeing the villagers’ agitated emotions, finally understood Shen Yun’s earlier reminder.
This was his intention.
It made sense: a pond full of dead fish was naturally more impactful than an empty pond with no fish remaining.
However, some people saw that among those being apprehended was the village head’s own younger brother, and immediately someone ran towards the village center, intending to pass on the information.
Shen Yun glanced at the retreating figure, his brow furrowing slightly.
Without Su Xiaoqi needing to say anything, Shen Yun began to ask for everyone’s help in scooping out the fish and digging a deep pit to bury them.
"Alas, what a pity. Some fish in here are still alive, no need to bury them, right?"
"I heard they used arsenic, they can't be eaten, absolutely cannot be eaten."
"Oh, what a shame."
"Thank you everyone for your help. Each family that helps will receive ten fish," Su Xiaoqi announced.
"Ten fish? Your two ponds' fish are all dead, where will you get fish?" someone asked with doubt.
They certainly didn't want these dead fish.
Su Xiaoqi smiled and said, "Don't worry, there definitely will be, and they'll be live ones."
She had plenty in her spatial dimension. After returning to the manor, she’d go for a walk, and since the manor also had fishponds, she’d just say they were from the manor.
The crowd became excited and all pitched in to help scoop out the fish.
With so many people involved, the pond was quickly cleared.
Su Xiaoqi returned to the manor early, sent everyone else away, and released a thousand fish from her spatial dimension.
When things were settled here, Shen Yun, with people in tow, came to the manor to fetch fish.
"There are many fish in here. Here are the fishing nets, cast them yourselves. Today, everyone who helped will receive ten fish each."
"Ah, that's great." Just now it was ten fish per family, now it's ten fish per person.
This treatment was too good.
Some began to regret.
"Alas, I wish I had let my wife come and help too."
"Exactly, exactly. My youngest son wanted to come, I told him to go back and cut."
"Tch, only you want to take advantage. Look at Zhao Huzhi's family; there are five people in their family, and four of them came."
"And Zhao Dashan and Hu Erniu's families also brought quite a few people. You are unwilling to use your own family, so who are you blaming for not getting the benefit now?"
"Alas, be content. Ten fish per person. Looking at these fish, they are at least two catties each. That's twenty to thirty catties, over two hundred wen!"
"That's true. The Shen family is truly generous this time."
"What are you saying? When were they not generous? Don't you remember the bitter buckwheat tea incident? And now they are even officials who passed the imperial examination!
Haven't you heard, they say this manor was bought by them."
"Really? No wonder they called us to get fish here."
…
As they spoke, they fished, working with great enthusiasm.
The fish were distributed only as the sun was about to set.
Su Xiaoqi additionally kept Zhao Huzhi's family behind.
She had overheard them chatting earlier about their family preparing for a new bride.
She said she would convert the fish from his contracted fishpond into money for him.
Times had changed; she was no longer someone who couldn't afford to pay.
Moreover, Zhao Huzhi's family had contributed the most effort, so she directly gave them ten strings of cash.
Zhao Huzhi was startled and quickly declined, "It's too much, too much!"
The previously agreed-upon price was one hundred fish per mu for the contracted fishpond, which came to a little over one string of cash at most.
Why had it increased tenfold?
Su Xiaoqi looked at Shen Yun, signaling him to say a few words.
Shen Yun said, "This is what you deserve. While we were away, you often went to our home to help, consider this our thanks."
Shen Yun had heard this mentioned by Madam Zhao long ago. She had told him which families often brought vegetables they grew to their home, and which families came to visit, helping to draw water from the well.
Shen Yun had always been fair in repaying favors and debts, and he remembered these kindnesses. As soon as the time was right, he would reciprocate.
At this moment, many people had not yet left, and upon seeing this scene, they all dropped their jaws in astonishment.
Ten strings of cash! In the village, that was enough to build a house.
It seemed the Shen family had truly prospered this time.
They should treat this family well from now on, perhaps they could even gain some benefit from it.
While Su Xiaoqi was handling these matters, Shen Yun took the opportunity to invite everyone to the manor for a banquet in two days.
Typically, wealthy families in the city would hold banquets that lasted for three full days for such happy occasions.
Su Xiaoqi had also intended to follow suit. Now that prices had stabilized, and she had fish and grain in her spatial dimension, it wouldn't cost much money to sustain for three days.
However, Shen Yun declined. A single day of feasting in the village was enough; three days were not necessary.
Furthermore, he did not have that much time to deal with them.
After they moved, they would need to set aside time to personally invite their teacher and all close relatives and elders to a waterside gathering at their new home.
Su Xiaoqi thought time was pressing and said, "The manor is fully equipped with everything. I don't think we need to pack anything. Let's go back and pack our clothes and move over."
This manor was good in every aspect, including its layout and furniture.
The only drawback was that it didn't have a complete bathroom like the houses built in the village.
She figured they would move in and live there first, then gradually renovate and add the furnishings they liked. Perhaps they wouldn't live here for too long.