The main hall.
Zhan Feiyu beckoned Steward Zeng to sit down, and leisurely picked up the teapot on the table to pour two cups of water. "Our home is poor, we don't have any good tea."
"Aren't you worried at all? That's your own second uncle!" Steward Zeng couldn't help but ask.
Zhan Lao Er was still being pressed to the ground like a dead dog in the courtyard. She still had the mind to drink water. Seeing her composed demeanor, she didn't look like a seven-year-old child at all.
After taking a sip of water to moisten her throat, Zhan Feiyu smiled lightly, her dark eyes shining brightly. "This evidence can scare my second uncle, but it can't fool me. Otherwise, the officials would have come to our door today."
"You!" Steward Zeng's old face sank, and he glared at Zhan Feiyu angrily.
"The main culprit in harming Madam Zeng is Zhu Kun, but Zhu family's servants will definitely not go to the county yamen to testify, accusing Zhu Kun and my second uncle of colluding to harm someone. This is the first point," Zhan Feiyu wagged her finger.
Steward Zeng glared at her impatiently, "What's the second point?"
Wagging her two chubby fingers, Zhan Feiyu didn't keep him in suspense. "The second point is that Wang Ming gave a false testimony. He did it to save his life and to avenge his mother. If he truly went to the county yamen hall, Wang Ming would definitely be exposed."
In the incident of the startled horse on South Street, Wang Ming was innocent, but the Zeng family did not believe it.
Young Master Zeng had severely beaten the man fifty times, paralyzing him. Wang Ming's accusation that Zhan Lao Er had harmed Madam Zeng was merely a follow-up. The Zeng family would probably give him some money for medical treatment.
"Even if Zhan Lao Er can't be thrown into prison, he harmed my wife. Crippling him would only cost some money!" Steward Zeng, unwilling to give up, gritted out the words. No wonder the county magistrate valued this little girl; she was indeed not to be underestimated!
"As you wish." Zhan Feiyu shrugged, her rogue-like demeanor making Steward Zeng so angry that he couldn't draw a full breath, his old face turning red.
If he stayed any longer, he would be angered to death by this little brat. Steward Zeng flicked his sleeve and walked towards the courtyard, roaring furiously, "Today, I'm giving face to the old clan elder and the village chief. But if the Zhan family doesn't give a satisfactory explanation in ten days, don't blame me for being impolite! Let's go!"
Steward Zeng arrived aggressively and left majestically. The twenty-odd strong men also followed him away, and the Zhan family's courtyard suddenly became spacious.
"They just left?" The uncle at the courtyard entrance poked his head out to look outside. Seeing that they had really left, his voice immediately became a decibel higher. "Old clan elder, it's alright now, they've really left!"
The villagers, who hadn't even dared to breathe, finally relaxed.
"Little Yu is really capable, she sent them away with just a few words."
"Yes, thanks to Little Yu, otherwise there would have been bloodshed today." A timid aunt patted her chest in relief. If it had come to a fight, her man would have definitely helped, and those strong men were not to be trifled with.
"Don't look at how young Little Yu is, she's quite brave. A newborn calf isn't afraid of a tiger!"
For a moment, the courtyard was filled with praise for Zhan Feiyu. From now on, if anyone in the village had a problem, as long as Little Yu helped, it would surely be resolved.
The old clan elder and the village chief did not look so relaxed. Steward Zeng had left, but he had also left a warning. Zhan Lao Er had harmed Madam Zeng, almost causing a double death. This was a deep-seated hatred, not something that could be easily resolved.
"Zhuzi, you guys lock Zhan Lao Er in the ancestral hall. We'll open the ancestral hall tomorrow!" The old clan elder said with a cold expression. To harm someone's life for money, even if the Zeng family didn't come forward, the old clan elder would deal with Zhan Lao Er.
"No, why are you locking up my husband!" Madam Yao, Xiao Yao, came back to life. Seeing Zhuzi and the other young men approaching, she immediately clawed at them. "Don't come over!"
"Pah, a beast like Zhan Lao Er should be locked up!" Several hot-tempered aunts cursed, spitting as they rushed forward and grabbed the struggling Madam Yao, Xiao Yao.
"If you dare to make trouble again, I'll lock you up too!"
"Exactly, you caused harm for money and are still asking Little Yu to compensate. Have the dogs eaten your conscience!" An aunt who was distantly related to Madam Li unceremoniously pinned Madam Yao, Xiao Yao against the wall. "Zhuzi, hurry up!"
The young people in the village had always respected Zhan Lao Er. Zhan Lao Er was eloquent and thoughtful in his actions. He was also experienced from working at the dock. But now, their gaze towards Zhan Lao Er was only filled with contempt and disdain.
To harm someone's life for money, if they all lived in the same village, what if there were conflicts in the future, would Zhan Lao Er also harm their lives?
"My second son is still injured, you are trying to kill him!" Seeing that Madam Yao, Xiao Yao could not stop them, Old Madam Zhan angrily cursed, her wrinkled face pushing Zhuzi and the others away.
Old Madam Zhan, like a mother hen, protected Zhan Lao Er and sternly warned, "Whoever lays a hand on my second son will have to kill this old woman first!"
"Dad, I want Dad!" Zhan Sanlang cried out, rushing to hug Zhan Lao Er, who was sitting on the ground, and sobbed loudly. Today's events had thoroughly frightened Zhan Sanlang.
Old Master Zhan also resented Zhan Lao Er for harming someone's life for money, but this was his most favored son after all. Seeing Zhan Lao Er's pale, bloodless face, and him sitting on the ground covered in dirt, Old Master Zhan's heart softened.
"Seventh Uncle, Lao Er's body can't withstand the torment. Why not let him stay at home?" Old Master Zhan pleaded with a bitter face. If Lao Er got into trouble, what would they do!
Earlier, Old Master Zhan had forced Zhan Lao Da to compensate five hundred taels of silver. Where was his fatherly affection then? Zhan Lao Er had committed a grave crime, yet Old Master Zhan could not bear for him to suffer. His bias was truly boundless.
"If any of you dare to touch my husband, I'll take a rope and hang myself at your doorstep!" Seeing that Old Madam Zhan had intimidated Zhuzi and the others, Madam Yao, Xiao Yao, followed suit and clamored as if she would die.
Leaning against the doorframe, Zhan Feiyu watched the farce in the courtyard with cold eyes. Her grandmother and second aunt were indeed good at judging people. As soon as Steward Zeng left, they dared to throw a tantrum.
"Are your ears deaf? Lock Zhan Lao Er in the ancestral hall!" The old clan elder roared with full force. Looking at the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who were still trying to yell, he said ruthlessly, "If you want to die, go and die. It'll save money to hold the funerals together!"
Uh... Old Madam Zhan and Madam Yao, Xiao Yao, seemed to have their throats choked. They realized that the old clan elder was truly angry.
Zhuzi and the others quickly stepped forward, grabbed Zhan Lao Er, and dragged him towards the door.