PNB Chapter 127 The Truth Revealed
Chapter 127 The Truth Revealed
Gu Mingtang suddenly felt the millstone become lighter, and he pushed it more and more smoothly and faster. He was completely bewildered. What was going on?
He was moving a little bit every time, but now it's so easy to push him. It's like someone is helping him push.
Thinking this, Gu Mingtang unconsciously shuddered, feeling the surrounding air become gloomy. He rubbed his goosebump-covered arms and quickly stopped this unrealistic thought.
It must be that my strength has increased.
After quickly finishing pushing the bucket of beans, the prisoner was so grateful that he almost knelt down before Gu Mingtang: "Brother, thank you so much! You're incredibly strong. Without you, I wouldn't have had any food or water today, sob sob sob..."
Gu Mingtang patted him on the shoulder without saying much. The others were grinding beans with the stone mill next to them, but many of them couldn't keep going and said that they really couldn't push it anymore, begging the officials to spare them.
The jailer, shaking his leg, glanced sideways at the group of prisoners: "No beans, no food, that's the rule. But rules are rules, but people are flexible. Many things are negotiable."
The jailer poked his hand, and anyone who had spent a long time in the prison instantly understood what the official meant: bribe him with silver.
The officers were shrewd; most of these prisoners had just met their families, and their families were relatively wealthy.
Most people despise their behavior, but there's nothing they can do about it.
Knowing that life in prison was tough, they would secretly slip money to the guards to buy them things; these people clearly wanted to have their cake and eat it too.
"Everyone, think it over carefully. If you want your family to visit you in prison tomorrow, please let us know in advance."
The person who said this was the leader inside; even though ordinary prisoners operate behind closed doors, he still has some power.
Gu Mingtang quickly ground five buckets of soybeans. It was easy to grind them. Why did everyone else look so exhausted?
The jailer looked at it in astonishment, and it was indeed ground, in a shorter time than others could grind a bucket of beans.
The jailer swallowed hard. Was he that strong?
He was somewhat skeptical, so he tried pushing the man himself. It was incredibly heavy, even though he had been instructed to exhaust him to the point of exhaustion.
The jailer immediately said that he had only ground beans that could be used for drinking water, and that if they wanted to eat, they would have to grind five buckets of beans.
Gu Mingtang endured it again and again but still finished grinding the five buckets of beans. The jailer stared wide-eyed at the ground beans, thinking how strong this man was.
No, no, this matter needs to be reported. If he keeps pushing it forward like this, the Ministry of Justice's expenditures will be exceeded.
The prime minister, who was practicing calligraphy when he received the message, frowned deeply upon hearing it: "Immense strength? Nonsense! I had no idea he was immensely strong. He's probably just putting on a brave face. Besides, even if he were, I don't believe he wouldn't tire himself out after pushing those beans a few more times."
"Why are you bothering me with such a trivial matter?" The Prime Minister put down his brush, somewhat displeased.
The servant thought for a moment and said, "The messenger said there are no beans left."
"If we run out of beans, we'll go buy some. Bring the ground beans to the Prime Minister's residence so I can try them. I want to taste beans ground by Gu Mingtang himself, and it'll save us money too."
"Yes," the servant replied and left.
Inside the cell, everyone else was asking Gu Mingtang why he pushed so easily and if he had any tricks up his sleeve.
"No, isn't it just that if you put your hand on it and give it a gentle push, the millstone will move along with it?"
Everyone: "..."
Some people tried to pull Gu Mingtang aside: "Hey, bro, I'll give you money, how about you help me push it?"
"What use would he have for money in the jail cell?"
"Please, brother, my family is rich. These dogs in the commune are just trying to find ways to make us spend money. It's better to give it to you than to let others profit from it."
Gu Mingtang thought about it and agreed. He would let Zhou Zhixing take him out next time he came: "Okay, I agree."
The little devils beside them were sprawled on the ground, practically foaming at the mouth. Help! No, wait, they're already dead. Someone save these ghosts!
So in the following days, several vendors selling douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) suddenly appeared on the streets and alleys.
The disguised officials squatted on the ground, looking sullen, their cries weak and listless. What kind of situation was this?
Instead of getting any money and rest time, the officers and prisoners were sent out by their boss to sell soy milk. They had been eating beans for days on end, from morning till night. The officers felt that they didn't smell of dampness from the prison, but rather of beans, which they couldn't wash off no matter how hard they washed.
My wives at home are all suspecting that I'm having an affair with the tofu seller in Dongmen, and they're making trouble for me every day. Ugh... what a mess this is.
For several days in a row, the Prime Minister's table has been filled with soy milk. The cook, worried that the Prime Minister might get tired of it, thoughtfully made tofu, soy pulp cakes, tofu skin, and dried tofu.
It's been four days. Even if Gu Mingtang is made of iron, he definitely won't be able to hold on today, right?
Or should we go and see how exhausted and haggard Gu Mingtang looks later?
The Prime Minister was overjoyed and ordered his servants to serve him a meal, thinking that he would finally be able to avoid eating bean products today.
When he sat down and saw the table, his eyelids twitched violently. The servant even went out of his way to explain: "Sir, this is tofu pudding, with a layer of minced meat on top. The dishes next to it have two kinds of dipping sauce, one spicy and one sweet. The cook made them especially for you, saying you would definitely like them."
I like you like a ghost.
The Prime Minister's anger was burning to his temples. Beans, beans, and more beans! In just a few days, the Ministry of Justice's expenditures had doubled. He could no longer tolerate it.
"Take it all away! From now on, you are forbidden from making tofu, soy milk, or any other soy products. If I ever see these things again, you're all out!"
The maids and servants were startled and quickly cleared the bean products off the table. It was strange; just a few days ago they were excitedly asking the kitchen to make these bean products, but now they seemed to have a grudge against them.
Are they just tired of eating it?
The Prime Minister summoned someone in: "Tell the Ministry of Justice to stop him from stalling."
"Yes"
The jailers never expected that what was supposed to be a win-win situation—torturing Gu Mingtang without resorting to torture while simultaneously making a quick buck—would be a double win.
In the end, all our efforts were in vain.
The jailer slammed his long sword on the table: "From now on, no one is allowed to grind beans for others; even if they do, it doesn't count."
"You," the jailer pointed at Gu Mingtang.
"Don't grind beans anymore." He ground almost all the beans that the Ministry of Justice bought by himself.
The cost of beans was included in the food rations for officials and prisoners.
"Oh, alright then," Gu Mingtang shrugged and sighed with regret.
He had earned a hundred taels of silver these past few days grinding soybeans for others—a hundred taels! That was incredibly easy money; he could have made a gold hairpin for his wife.
He planned to earn another hundred taels to make a bracelet for his daughter.
These past few days, as he thought about it carefully, he suddenly realized that these people who were locked up might not have committed any crimes.
Instead, it's wealthy merchants who have offended people who are deliberately arrested and extorted. Merchants have the lowest social status, so it's incredibly easy for them to mess with you.
It has to be said that Gu Mingtang was right.