“Da Shan, untie the ropes.”
Cheng Luanluan spoke icily.
Old Madam Cheng immediately said, “Don’t release these two little rascals. We need to teach them a lesson, to see if they’ll dare to come steal from our Cheng family again!”
Zhao Dashan stood rooted to the spot, unsure who to listen to.
Cheng Luanluan gave him a cold glance. “What, do my words carry no weight?”
Zhao Dashan immediately walked towards the large pagoda tree, hurriedly untied the ropes, and helped his two younger brothers, who were sitting on the ground.
“Spoiling children harms them. If you indulge them like this, these two will cause big trouble sooner or later!” Old Madam Cheng said with the air of someone experienced. “Listen to me, you should tie them to the tree, let them go hungry for a few days and nights, and they’ll naturally behave…”
Cheng Luanluan said coolly, “My sons, I will teach them myself. It’s not for outsiders to meddle.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Cheng frowned. Why did her second daughter feel so different?
Eldest Sister-in-law Cheng stood at the door of the main house. “Second Aunt, Mother is your birth mother, how can she be an outsider? Your words truly hurt Mother’s heart.”
“From the moment Eldest Brother smashed my head yesterday, I ceased to be a member of the Cheng family.” A terrifying coldness filled the corners of Cheng Luanluan’s mouth. “It was just a hen, yet I have to compensate two taels of silver. I’ve never seen a family swindle a married daughter like this!”
Old Madam Cheng’s face darkened. “This hen indeed isn’t worth two taels of silver, but it can lay eggs. The eggs it lays over ten years, wouldn’t they easily fetch two taels?”
“Alright, then let’s say it’s worth two taels of silver.” Cheng Luanluan curved her lips. “We won’t count the ancient, ancient debts. Let’s just talk about last year, the twenty taels of pension money that Dashan’s father received after dying in battle, all of which Eldest Brother borrowed. Deducting the two taels of silver for the hen, that leaves eighteen taels. When do you, the Cheng family, plan to return this money to me?”
As soon as she heard this, Eldest Sister-in-law Cheng instantly bristled. “You gave these twenty taels of silver to our Cheng family. When did we say we had to pay it back?”
Cheng Luanluan smiled. “It’s a self-evident truth that debts must be paid. I actually don’t mind going to the county magistrate to seek justice. I also wonder if Cheng Zhao would be willing to lose face in court over the twenty taels of silver the Cheng family borrowed and refused to repay?”
Cheng Zhao was the Cheng family’s scholar, and the most accomplished student in Cheng family village. He currently seemed to be a *tongsheng*, with high hopes of passing the *xiucai* examination.
The original owner believed this grand-nephew would definitely pass the exams and become a high official, so she spared no expense in subsidizing her maternal family, only hoping to bask in a little of this grand-nephew’s glory. She didn’t bask in any glory, but instead had her head smashed by the Cheng family and died.
Because Cheng Zhao was a scholar, the Cheng family was extremely concerned with appearances.
Being questioned in court over twenty taels of silver would make Cheng Zhao lose all face at the town’s academy. Old Madam Cheng would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen.
“Second Aunt, are you crazy?” Eldest Sister-in-law Cheng couldn’t believe it. “If you dare go to court, our Cheng Zhao will no longer acknowledge a Second Aunt like you!”
Cheng Luanluan sneered, “I don’t care if he acknowledges me or not. I only have one question: when will you return the eighteen taels of silver to me?!”
“You shameless wretch, how dare you come to the Cheng family demanding money? Who gave you the nerve?” Old Madam Cheng instantly flared up in anger, grabbing a piece of firewood and throwing it. “Let’s see if this old woman will beat you to death, you shameless thing! You’ve grown strong enough to defy this old woman, have you…?”
Zhao Daishan stepped forward in a rage, shielding Cheng Luanluan.
Cheng Luanluan dodged the firewood and said coldly, “If Old Madam insists on turning hostile, then let’s meet in court. Daishan, Er Gou, San Niu, let’s go to town and report to the officials!”
She turned and immediately walked out of the courtyard, her steps steady.
Old Madam Cheng was so furious she nearly toppled over.
Raising a daughter truly is a losing investment. Yet she wants to sue her own birth family in court? Is there any justice left in this world?