Chapter 285: Chapter 285

When he thought sacrificing his subordinates could solve the problem, Pei Shu’er revealed irrefutable evidence.

What he did just now had already chilled his subordinates’ hearts.

Now with Pei Shu’er’s words, all his previous efforts became futile.

Pei Shu’er saw Niu Hao’s face turning sour, and her smile deepened.

"What are you talking about? I’m just proving my innocence. Don’t say you learned how to build city walls and never taught you how to make blue bricks in Yuhua Valley."

"Besides, with the current weather, your firewood isn’t even enough for warmth, how could you afford to use it for brick-making?"

"Our blue bricks are all stocks from the past."

Pei Shu’er smiled and looked at the two government officers.

"Lord, can you arrest them now? After all, the evidence is conclusive, and delaying further would only waste your time."

"They not only stole our work but also our raw materials and, more importantly, deceived the Lord."

Niu Hao hurried to dissociate himself: "I was the last to arrive and didn’t know this person would commit such a mistake. Lords, go ahead and arrest."

The green-eyed one looked at Niu Hao with disbelief.

Niu Hao smiled: "You go ahead, I’ll take good care of your son."

The green-eyed one gritted his teeth and looked at Niu Hao with hatred, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

Pei Shu’er noticed Niu Hao’s intention to leave and said, "Wait a minute, what about the things from Deserted Mountain?"

Niu Hao snorted coldly: "Impossible, we never took it. If you’re accusing someone, it has to have limits."

He didn’t believe Pei Shu’er could find those things.

Pei Shu’er raised her hand and clapped, her people immediately appeared, each holding a tied person.

They threw them in front of Niu Hao, and Ma He spoke coldly.

"These people, what they have in their hands, are from Deserted Mountain."

Niu Hao wanted to deny it but saw blue bricks, cement on wheelbarrows, and some exchanged goods, including unique items from Deserted Mountain.

Niu Hao said: "I really didn’t know; since my subordinates have such individuals, let them atone for their sins."

Another group of people lost hope in Niu Hao, looking at him with distress.

Niu Hao had no other choice now but to sacrifice the car to protect his coach.

Pei Shu’er asked: "Anyone has anything to say? While others are hard to say, those present have beaten my people and must be punished."

"The less you say, the lighter the punishment. Otherwise, the fate could be being sent to the military."

As soon as these words were spoken, some immediately backed down. They didn’t want to be conscripted, as that wasn’t a life worth living.

They looked at Niu Hao’s gloomy face, finally gritting their teeth and speaking. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝓷𝓮𝓽

"It was... it was Niu Hao who told us to do it; we didn’t want to; he forced us."

More and more people began to accuse Niu Hao, claiming their innocence.

Niu Hao’s complexion went from normal to gloomy, watching Pei Shu’er with intense hatred in his eyes.

This person, having harmed his brother, now comes to harm him!

He looked at her with hatred before saying: "I am innocent."

Pei Shu’er pointed at those from Yuhua Valley: "If Niu Hao is innocent, then it shows you are lying and falsely accusing."

Everyone was surprised by such a reversal but started recounting details to prove their innocence.

As more people spoke, and with testimonies aligning with those from Deserted Mountain, Niu Hao had to admit it, even though he didn’t want to.

His face looked extremely bad, standing there silently, clutching the long spear, seemingly ready to throw it at Pei Shu’er at any moment.

He asked the government officers: "Dare I ask, what is my punishment?"

The government officer sneered: "Forty strokes for you, and your subordinates get twenty each."

Niu Hao wanted to escape, but considering that if he fled now, his foundation would be gone, he had invested so much in gathering these forces, no one could imagine.

Moreover, if Yuhua Valley fell, he wouldn’t have the capital to oppose Deserted Mountain.

Thinking about this, he stayed still.

When the two government officers pulled Niu Hao aside and started striking him with military sticks.

All that could be heard was the sound of blows landing on flesh and Niu Hao’s painful groans.

The people of Deserted Mountain were thrilled.

"Serves him right; he was so arrogant before, now with forty strokes, if he doesn’t die, he’ll be lying down for a while."

Lin Yu looked at Pei Shu’er with sparkling eyes: "Thanks to Young Madam, thanks to her for bringing the government officers, otherwise we’d never clear things up even with all the talking."

Now everyone had valid reasons, but without an impartial authority, talking would be useless, as Niu Hao was the type to backtrack.

Pei Shu’er smiled at Niu Hao: "As they say, one’s evil deeds will lead to their doom."

Niu Hao angrily glared at Pei Shu’er, waiting, this wretch, he would surely make her regret today’s actions.

Until Niu Hao stood up, his backside was bleeding heavily now, his face pale, eyes vicious.

Every step he took was a stagger, and yet his subordinates didn’t help him, merely looking coldly at him.

Thinking of their betrayal, Niu Hao’s eyes were filled with deeper hatred.

If he had manpower now, he wouldn’t want these useless subordinates, as they were more of a liability than an asset.

Niu Hao angrily shouted: "Why aren’t you helping me."

Finally, someone walked over and supported him, though that person had also been beaten, not as severely as Niu Hao.

The subordinate sighed: "Boss Niu, I told you before, there’s no need to confront the people from Deserted Mountain, but you wouldn’t listen."

Niu Hao’s face grew uglier, a person who dared not speak to him before, now blaming him.

He raised his hand, wanting to slap the person, but seeing his subordinates watching him with disappointment in their eyes, his hand ultimately didn’t fall, swallowing his anger silently.

Pei Shu’er curled her lips into a smile and left with her people.

Along the way, Pei Shu’er was instructing the brothers Lin Yu and Lin Hong.

"In the future, when you go to any territory to set up the stove, if you encounter unreasonable people, have someone go find the government officers."

Lin Yu scratched his nose; wasn’t it an oversight forgetting to do this recently since the officers were so useless.

Moreover, to their eyes, the officers were not individuals they wished to associate with.

Pei Shu’er said: "By the way, have the people I sent to Yuhua Valley returned?"

They nodded: "They have."

Pei Shu’er smiled and said: "Let’s go, see the trophies."

Tang Peizhong was standing with people in front of the warehouse, seeing Pei Shu’er, he nodded slightly, considered it a greeting.

Pei Shu’er smiled and said: "Thank you for helping, Dad."

Tang Peizhong waved his hand: "It’s just a small effort; you have been a great blessing to our Tang Family, your gratitude makes me feel guilty."