Forcing their way into a private residence?

The lead officer looked at the beggars kneeling before him crying and wailing, then at the young woman holding a fire poker, his expression turning suspicious.

The middle-aged beggar naturally refused to accept this accusation and scrambled to his feet: “Young lady, don’t make things up! We’re all poor homeless people who have been kneeling here begging you to show mercy and take us in. How would we dare force our way into a private residence!”

Lin Hao stepped aside and pointed inside the gate: “Then why are they in the courtyard?”

Everyone looked closely and saw that among the group of children in the courtyard were several pitch-black beggars, their disheveled hair and tattered clothes making them stand out like chickens among cranes, extremely conspicuous.

Perhaps they had only been watching the commotion without realizing the commotion would involve them—the several beggars wore dazed expressions, each clutching a half-eaten roasted chicken in their hands.

This bizarre scene left everyone momentarily speechless, and the scene instantly fell silent.

Just then, a six or seven-year-old boy burst into tears and pointed at the beggars, accusing them: “Not only did they force their way into the residence, they also stole the roasted chickens we were saving for dinner tonight!”

The middle-aged beggar’s expression changed drastically, and he lifted his foot to rush inside.

Those idiots had not only forgotten to come out, but were even eating roasted chicken!

A blackened fire poker barred his path.

“Officer, right before your eyes he’s still trying to force his way into a private residence!” Lin Hao complained indignantly.

The lead officer said with a stern face: “In that case, come with us back to the yamen.”

The middle-aged beggar hurriedly knelt before the lead officer: “I’ve been wronged! This lowly one only wanted to call them out, not force my way into a private residence!”

The lead officer certainly didn’t think this beggar leader would dare to cause trouble right in front of him, but how could those several inside eating roasted chicken be explained?

More importantly, he suddenly remembered the identity of this young woman who had seemed familiar: She was Second Miss from the General’s Mansion!

In the spring, the Lin and Wen families had gone to court and been granted a husband-wife severance. Both of Madam Lin’s daughters had attended. It was quite rare for a high-ranking family’s marriage to reach such a state, so he naturally had a particularly strong impression.

Though he didn’t know what Second Miss Lin’s involvement with beggars was about, why not do her a favor?

“What about them then? If they didn’t force their way in, how would they be in someone else’s courtyard?”

“They… they also stole our roasted chickens…” the boy added tearfully.

“Forcing into a private residence and robbery too—the crime is compounded. Take them away!”

With a wave from the lead officer, several runners surrounded them, looking at the group of beggars somewhat uncertain where to start.

“Boss, take them all?” one of them asked hesitantly.

With so many beggars, taking them all back to feed wouldn’t be cost-effective.

The lead officer was reminded and instinctively looked toward Lin Hao.

Lin Hao smiled considerately: “Officer, just take away those who broke into the residence and their leader. I think the others were all deceived.”

Hearing this, the other beggars quickly said: “Right, right, right, we were deceived!”

Getting a few scoldings or beatings for following along to cause trouble was nothing, but who wanted to be thrown in jail?

Taking only these few people was much easier to handle. Immediately two runners seized the middle-aged beggar.

The middle-aged beggar cried out his innocence: “Officer, they accidentally fell in when knocking on the door—it’s not forcing into a private residence!”

“What about the roasted chickens in their hands? Did the family invite them to eat those too?” The lead officer sneered.

The middle-aged beggar faltered, both anxious and confused.

When he had desperately gone all out to cause a scene just now, those idiots had actually had the leisure to steal roasted chickens?

In this moment of distraction, the middle-aged beggar was dragged forward by the runners, and the onlookers hurriedly made way.

“Officer, please listen to my explanation, listen to my explanation—” The middle-aged beggar’s heart-wrenching shouts grew fainter and fainter.

Those several beggars were also escorted out by the runners. One of them mustered his courage and said to the lead officer: “Officer, what if I said that child invited us to eat the roasted chicken, would you believe—”

Before he could finish, the lead officer kicked him: “Get lost!”

As the runners led the beggars away, the curious onlookers followed for some distance.

The lead officer, falling behind, lowered his voice: “Miss Lin, it’s chaotic outside. Return to your mansion early.”

Since he was doing a favor, of course the other party needed to know he was aware of her identity.

Hearing these words, Lin Hao smiled slightly: “Officer, you enforce the law impartially and resolve troubles for the people. Later, my family will certainly go on my behalf to express thanks.”

The lead officer was very satisfied with Lin Hao’s perceptiveness.

The meaning of these words was that she acknowledged his favor, and there would be a thank-you gift later.

Having risen to become a minor supervisor among the runners, he naturally understood such matters. The lead officer immediately decided that how long those several beggars would be detained would depend on Second Miss Lin’s wishes.

“Miss Lin is too kind. Maintaining public order is our duty.”

As soon as the lead officer left, those beggars who hadn’t been taken away immediately scattered like birds and beasts, and the area in front of the Lin residence quickly emptied.

A’Xing reached out to close and secure the main gate, then walked to Lin Hao’s side.

“What just happened?”

“I had Baozhu go report to the authorities.” Lin Hao’s expression was serious. “When there’s trouble, you must find the authorities.”

The corner of A’Xing’s mouth twitched violently. In front of so many children, it was difficult to refute these words, so he asked about the roasted chicken incident.

The boy still had tears at the corners of his eyes: “They really took them on their own.”

He had only stood near those beggars holding the roasted chickens as Miss Lin had instructed, and they had reached out and taken them.

Watching dirty hands take away plump roasted chickens one after another, the tray emptying in the blink of an eye, his heart had shattered.

Once inside the house with no outsiders present, A’Xing’s gaze fell intensely on Lin Hao’s face.

Lin Hao looked bewildered: “Why are you looking at me like that?”

A’Xing didn’t speak for a moment.

He had thought Hao was an unworldly, kind-hearted, wealthy silly girl, but now it seemed his judgment had been poor.

Her kindness was selective.

This discovery actually made A’Xing even happier.

“I never imagined those scoundrels who stick like plaster—you solved the problem as soon as you arrived.” A’Xing said with emotion.

Lin Hao held her cup with a beaming smile, as if she had been leisurely drinking tea in the room the whole time: “I told you, when there’s trouble, find the authorities. We’re law-abiding people without the strength to truss a chicken—how could we clash head-on with scoundrels?”

A’Xing fell silent.

What common people would seek out authorities for no reason? They’d avoid them if they could.

“Those troublemakers will probably be detained until next spring opens. This winter, those beggars shouldn’t dare come harass us again.”

“Until spring opens?”

Lin Hao smiled: “With a jail cell to shelter from wind and snow, plus meals provided, at least they can pass the winter safely.”

A’Xing fell silent again.

Why did it suddenly feel like those scoundrels had profited from this?

“Want to go home together?” Lin Hao stood up.

A’Xing shook his head: “You go ahead. I’ll return after handling things here.”

Lin Hao left with Baozhu, and on the way back, they encountered Qi Qiong.

“Hao, where did you go? When I went out, I asked at your house and they said you’d left early.”

“A friend invited me out.”

Qi Qiong naturally wouldn’t pry into which friend it was. She linked arms with Lin Hao and said with a smile: “Hao, why don’t you just stay for dinner before going back? I know a great place for mutton hotpot.”