Wei finished his report in the council hall the next morning. The growers had begun drying the released bitterleaf at three locations, and the disputed portion remained under seal in the public shed. Ning brought the hearing copies, while Bai gathered the market receipts, Luan’s witnessed ledger page, and the driver’s note into a separate evidence sleeve.
Wei’s report listed the legitimate seed contract, the receipt showing a paid debt, the fixed-basket sale, the altered boundary ink, and the missing survey stone. It also recorded that one family had agreed to sell a limited share and that the guild’s armed collectors tried to remove more before the hearing. The report did not call the guild’s entire claim false or the growers’ account complete.
Ning read the first page. “You call the receipt evidence of a payment, not proof that the debt closed.”
“That is what it says,” Wei replied. “The district ledger has not arrived.”
“And the boundary section?”
“It says the two stones match the older map’s line. The foreman still needs to explain the move.”
Ning checked the last page. “The collectors’ order is included?”
“And the council’s hold. The order authorizes secure storage during an inquiry. It does not award the crop.”
