"Don't listen to just one side of the story, and don't blindly repeat what others say. It is easy to ruin a person's reputation, but difficult to clear oneself of a false charge. A scholar's life is not an easy one. They must endure ten years of bitter hardship for even the slightest achievement. I implore you, my fellow townspeople, not to believe or spread these rumors. Please wait quietly for the Lord County Magistrate to deliver his judgment before deciding what is right and wrong."
"I trust Mr. Zhao, and I trust Mr. Chen's character as well. I suggest everyone watch patiently. A conclusion to this matter will be reached soon enough."
Whether it was Huang Chen, Chu Xun, or Wang Jun and Wang Xiao, all four of them were quite well-known, both among the common folk and their fellow scholars.
Huang Chen was ugly, a laughingstock to the townsfolk. But
his family ran a century-old braised meat shop.
