The Chen family's courtyard was not large to begin with, so such a commotion naturally attracted the attention of neighbors. Some quick-witted individuals, after knocking on the door for a long time without an answer, directly climbed over the wall with a ladder to see what was happening inside.
Some even went to report to the authorities. The officials arrived and directly took Liu Wen Yu away.
After a night of efforts to save her, Chen's mother woke up the next morning. However, the thought of her predicament brought tears to her eyes, and all her will to live vanished.
As for Liu Wen Yu, after a night's delay, she suffered a stroke. The matter was very easy to investigate, and she was ultimately sentenced to immediate execution. At this point, Liu Wen Yu was numb to the outcome. She felt that in her current state, death was preferable, putting an end to everything.
Although Chen's mother was dealt with lightly, Chen's family was left with only her. Old Master Chen was alive, but he had been lying in bed for years, and some of his muscles had atrophied. His passing was only a matter of time.
Due to their daughter's actions, the Liu family's reputation had been terrible recently. They tried to reduce the number of times they went out and kept a low profile.
None of the three people who had forced the original owner to her death met a good end. Wu Cai Wei felt relieved, as she had not forgotten her purpose for coming.
Upon hearing that his son was missing, Old Master Wang frantically sent people to search. This was the Wang family's only son, and nothing could happen to him.
After searching all afternoon and questioning everyone in and out of the city, there was still no news. Mr. and Mrs. Wang were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
Just then, an arrow shot in and landed on the ground in front of Old Master Wang. He quickly looked up in the direction the arrow came from and saw a masked figure leap over the wall. He signaled the people beside him to pursue.
Upon opening the note, his hands began to tremble. It turned out that someone had kidnapped his son and demanded five thousand taels of silver. They were to meet at the Ten Li Pavilion outside the city at midnight to ransom their son.
At this time, five thousand taels was almost the entirety of the Wang family's fortune, but compared to their son, it was insignificant. After all, money could be earned again, but if their son was lost, their Wang family would be without an heir.
Seeing her husband lost in thought, Madam Wang quickly took the note from his hand. Upon reading its contents, she also fell silent. "What should we do next?" After some thought, she still wanted to seek her husband's opinion.
"Of course, saving our son is paramount. As long as our daughter remains the General's wife, our family fortune will eventually return. But we only have this one son. He is so intelligent and has a talent for reading; perhaps in the future, he will lead our Wang family to greater heights," Old Master Wang said without hesitation. He had always put his son first.
Hearing him say this, Madam Wang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless, her son was her life, and she did not wish to give up on him.
"I'll go prepare the ransom now," Madam Wang asked tentatively.
Old Master Wang nodded. Although he knew they had to save their son, he had many concerns. It would be fortunate if they took the silver and ransomed their son back. But what if they paid the ransom, and the other party still harmed their son? Wouldn't that be a lifelong regret?
But who could he ask for help now? If it were in the past, given his relationship with the county magistrate, a single word would have been enough, and the magistrate would have certainly given him face. But he had just refused the magistrate yesterday. He didn't believe the magistrate didn't know what that meant.
Unable to find help for a while, he finally hardened his heart and knocked on the county magistrate's door.
The county magistrate didn't need to guess to know why he was there. Initially, he didn't want to see him, but then he thought that since he had nothing to fear anymore, mocking him would be quite enjoyable.
"Well, well, how did you end up at my doorstep again? Yesterday, when I went to your mansion, I couldn't even get through the door," the county magistrate began to speak sarcastically as soon as they met.
"It was a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. The servants didn't report to me. So, I've come to see my elder brother today and to apologize." Old Master Wang had anticipated this situation and adapted well, as one had to bow their head when under another's roof.
"Whether it was a misunderstanding, you know, and I know. Don't treat others like fools. You don't come here without a reason, so tell me, what do you want?" the county magistrate asked knowingly.
"There is indeed a matter. My son has been kidnapped. Tonight at midnight, I am to pay the ransom. I fear losing both my son and my money, so what should I do? He is the only son of our Wang family, and I don't want any harm to come to him. Therefore, I implore you, elder brother, to help by sending some constables with me." Old Master Wang quickly stated his purpose. The humiliation he suffered today would be avenged later, but his son could not be harmed.
"Do I look like a fool? After cooperating with someone like you once, haven't you suffered enough losses?" the county magistrate said with a smile.
"I was also compelled. I was ordered from above to abandon you. What could I do? Help me this once, and when you get into trouble, I will try my best to protect your family," Old Master Wang quickly proposed a trade.
"Hahaha..." The county magistrate threw his head back and laughed. As he laughed, he began to cry. "Why do you always treat others like fools? Do you think I would believe you again? I feel you won't be able to bring your child back this time. People like you deserve to have no descendants."
"How can you be so vicious? Tonight, I will do my best to bring my son back, and then you'll have to eat your words!" Old Master Wang said, standing up abruptly, looking at him in disbelief.
"I'll be waiting. I've always believed that there is karma for everything. The reason I'm in this predicament is because I harbored improper thoughts. What retribution will you face? I'll wait and see." Although the county magistrate wanted to mock him, he couldn't go too far. After all, once he was imprisoned, if his family could still have a way out, he didn't want to block that path entirely.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Wang snorted coldly and turned to leave. He felt that coming to the county magistrate with such humility today was a complete mistake.
When he returned home, his wife had already prepared the five thousand taels of silver. He then went to the escort agency to find a few escorts and, along with his household guards, went to the designated location as agreed.
The Ten Li Pavilion was brightly lit. A man in black held a knife to Young Master Wang's neck, watching Old Master Wang approach step by step.
"I have brought the silver. Sir, can you release my son now?" Old Master Wang said, opening the bundle to reveal the five thousand taels of silver, consisting of five hundred taels in cash and four thousand five hundred taels in banknotes, to show his sincerity.
"How do I know you're not trying to trick me? Bring the banknotes closer so I can see them and verify their authenticity," the man commanded, deliberately lowering his voice.
"Why do I feel something is not right with my son? He has a wild and unruly personality, but today he's so quiet?" Old Master Wang, who had been constantly observing his son's condition, asked with concern, fearing something might happen to him.