Chapter 8

The money spoke? How could the money speak? Because these words were interesting, one by one, the crowd shifted their gaze towards Jiang Ruan. The old man, who was stomping with rage, also turned to look doubtfully at her. Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao exchanged glances, not knowing what Jiang Ruan had planned for later.

The housewife almost laughed, speaking rather mockingly, “Little girl, aren’t you spouting nonsense? Don’t tell me that you can really make the money open its mouth to speak? If it is true that you have this ability, then quickly let it be an eye-opener for everyone. If you are talking through your hat, then don’t let everyone watch you make a fool of yourself.”

“Of course, the money can speak,” Jiang Ruan spoke drily. “Let me ask once more. Madam, is the money really yours?”

“I definitely handed it to Maiden Qiao,” the housewife raised her head and spoke in a righteous and self-confident manner.

“Okay.” Jiang Ruan spoke, “Bai Zhi, find me a basin of clear water.”

None of the onlookers knew what Jiang Ruan was planning. A roadside hawker piped up, “I have fresh water for immediate use. I can give you some,” Bai Zhi carried the basin of clear water to Jiang Ruan and set it properly at her feet.

“Madam, please hand the money over to me.”

The housewife eyed Jiang Ruan doubtfully, while the child’s hands held the purse even tighter. “If you do not pass the money over to me, how can I interrogate it?” Jiang Ruan deadpanned.

As soon as these words were spoken, the tense atmosphere immediately burst into peals of laughter. At this moment, the number of spectators grew. They observed this young lady, with such an unconventional temperament and who had made such a sudden proclamation, and could not help but feel sorry for her in their hearts. She seemed like a smart lady, so it was unbelievable that a screw had gone loose in her brain.

Lian Qiao glared at the crowd around her. Perhaps, the crowd’s guffaws instilled confidence in the housewife, so she took the money from the child’s hands and passed it to Jiang Ruan, “There. You should ask clearly since everyone is listening.”

Amongst the people present at the scene, other than Jiang Ruan, there were only three who hadn’t smiled. Needless to say, Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao did not smile. The old man also furrowed his brows, carefully observing Jiang Ruan’s actions.

Jiang Ruan held the money within her palms. Her face was expressionless. Yet, her voice was exceptionally gentle, “Money, oh, money. Can you please tell me, when all is said and done, who is the one lying?”

The housewife sniggered, “Little girl, please don’t say that the money will inform you like this. You are basically trying to fool everyone. You shouldn’t play us as if we are idiots!”

Jiang Ruan barely looked at her. She loosened her hand and the money plopped into the basin. A layer surfaced on the rippling water. She stated, “The money has already spoken.”

“What words?” The housewife was getting slightly impatient, “There are so many pairs of ears here. Don’t tell me that you are the only one who can hear it speak?”

“It is not heard, but seen,” Jiang Ruan stared at the water. Amongst the crowd, a curious lad craned his neck, “Has it spoken already?”

“Didn’t it?” Jiang Ruan replied him with her own question. With her thin body wrapped under a loose robe, she should have a weak posture. Instead, she exuded extraordinary determination. It was as if there were no matters serious enough in this world that could sway her calmness into submission.

The onlookers could not decipher the mystery. One by one, they looked towards the basin, yet they could not spot anything that would explain it. After a moment, someone cried out in surprise, ‘Look! There is something on the water surface!”

A thin layer of grease surfaced on the clear water and its golden color was extremely noticeable.

Jiang Ruan spoke, “After Old Mister finished his deep-fried dough cakes, he grabbed his bronze coins. Therefore, it is common for the grease on his fingers to graze upon the money. It’s just that, I do not know how you caused the grease to brush against the money? Don’t tell me that you are recalling now that you or Maiden Qiao also bought some deep-fried dough cakes?”

Oddly, one could hear a cadence within her flat tone. She was able to explain the entire sequence of events clearly with just a few sentences. Killing two birds with one stone, she stifled the housewife’s possible arguments completely. If the housewife continued to quarrel, others would instead feel that her attempts to cover the matter up would only worsen it.

“So this is how it is!” Someone exclaimed, “The money belongs to the old man, because he bought some deep-fried dough cakes and grazed it with oil. The truth can only be revealed when the money meet the water. Isn’t this the money speaking?”

The crowd was full of discussion. Each and every one of them was astonished at Jiang Ruan. At such a young age, this bright mind was worthy of admiration. The old man continued to watch her every action. She freed him from their accusations easily. Naturally, he was overwhelmed with a mixture of joy and great surprise. His gaze softened a few notches towards Jiang Ruan, seemingly different from the person who rejected her so stubbornly earlier.

Hugging the child, the housewife still wanted to argue, “Your one-sided statement-”

“Sir,” Jiang Ruan did not listen to her words at all and turned towards the old man, “This matter is very simple. Since there are so many people who are unable to defend you with justice, you probably don’t need to waste your time here. Why not ask around at the prefectural county magistrate of East Street? There may be someone who can serve you justice.”

Naturally, the magistrate of East Street had the authority to uphold justice in the perfectural county, which included the West Street. Since ancient times, the people would not challenge officials. Even though everyone from West Street was prejudiced against outsiders, when it concerned their own gains, no one was willing to wade through muddy waters. The crowd that originally surrounded them  dispersed immediately.

With the situation turning unfavorable and Jiang Ruan shifting her previously gentle attitude to ruthlessness, the housewife knew that there was no use continuing the dispute. She picked up the child immediately, “I won’t argue with people like you. Qiao, let’s leave.”

After the housewife left, Jiang Ruan retrieved the coins from the money from the basin and passed it over to the old man. He accepted it and looked at her searchingly, “Young girl, you are quite interesting. Which manor are you from?”

“Sir, you are also quite headstrong. I wonder if you are an official from any manor,” Jiang Ruan replied coldly.

Startled, the old man did not expect the young girl that had been helping him to treat him so coldly out of a sudden. He spoke in confusion, “Do you have a bone to pick with me?”

“I do,” Jiang Ruan spoke. The old man’s blank stare met her. She continued nonchalantly, “When you come across such a circumstance, where the dispute can’t be settled decisively, you should report it to the authorities immediately. Sir, you have aged beyond decades. Surely, you can recognize the logic that everything has its own limits. If I were not here today, even if you argued for an entire day, settling this matter would have been unlikely. Perhaps, even more accusations may have been piled up against you.”

“Young girl,” the old man’s neck stiffened, “I originally thought that you possessed chivalrous courage when you lent me a helping hand. However, it never crossed my mind that you are also similar to the others. Of course, I need to make it clear who is right or wrong. I am right, hence I am unafraid to confront them.”

Jiang Ruan thought for a moment, “You are right. Despite being past your prime, you still argued in the streets. The strength of your character is deserving of admiration. I think that your younger self must have been similar as well. With the need of having the final say in an argument, no one could forcefully make you concede.”

With her unchanging expression and gentle voice, one would not know if her speech was meant to praise or disparage the old man. “The sharpness of the blade is honed on the grindstone and the fragrance of the plum blossoms originates from the bitter winter. Your character is quite similar to these plum blossoms. Bai Zhi, gift them to him as an acknowledgement of this fated chance that brought us together.”