Chapter 164: A Show of Force

Chapter 164: A Show of Force

As it turned out, Yu Sanbao's caution was well-founded.

The family that was somewhat aggressive, with the oldest man, who was probably the father, and two younger, able-bodied men, took advantage of the cover of night to seek revenge on a household in an alley.

They not only murdered but also set fire to the house.

During the New Year celebrations, such brutality was especially horrifying.

Fortunately, when they tried to escape after setting the fire, they were caught in the act.

This massacre shocked all of Zhoucheng.

Because Wei Pozi and her group had gotten into a conflict with that family the previous day and, coincidentally, had moved out that same night, they were summoned to the authorities for questioning.

Wei Pozi and Yu Sanbao went to the magistrate’s office.

When she returned, Wei Pozi was still somewhat shaken.

Su Rouer, who had been staying at the inn to care for the children, hurriedly asked about the situation.

Wei Pozi patted her chest and said, "The magistrate here in Zhoucheng is quite different from our county magistrate back in the village... The magistrate’s office here is very large and quite intimidating."

"Did they trouble you?" Su Rouer asked with concern.

Wei Pozi shook her head, "They didn’t this time, they just asked a few questions."

Yu Sanbao, who frequently procured goods in and around Zhoucheng, had a habit of cultivating good relations with the local constables.

Since they were only summoned to provide details and Yu Sanbao had some influence with the constable, they weren’t hassled much and were let go.

Yu Sanbao inquired a bit about the case, but since Xingxing and Ju Geer were there, he didn’t want to discuss something so bloody in front of the children.

"Nothing else. We’ll pack up and head to your third aunt’s place shortly," Wei Pozi instructed.

However, Wei Pozi didn’t expect that before they could even visit, someone from the Liu family would come looking for them.

The person was the coachman who had been driving for Wei Sanniang when she visited Wei Pozi in Nan Tuo village.

He had been waiting at the inn’s entrance and, seeing Wei Pozi come out, hurriedly greeted her, "Greetings, Madam."

Wei Pozi was surprised and, after examining him for a moment, recognized the coachman. She asked curiously, "What brings you here?"

The coachman smiled, "...I passed by the magistrate’s office earlier and saw it was quite bustling. I thought I saw you there, but since you came to this inn, I didn’t dare go in to disturb you..."

What he didn’t mention was that after seeing Wei Pozi and her group arrive at the inn, he had hurried back to report to the eldest wife of the Liu family’s main branch.

Technically, the eldest wife of the main branch would call Wei Sanniang her mother-in-law. However, the main branch of the Liu family was the offspring of the previous wife. By the time Wei Sanniang was made the official wife, the children of the Liu family’s main branch had already started their education.

The main branch had always looked down on Wei Sanniang.

The eldest wife, who was in charge of the family’s finances, often restricted Wei Sanniang, who was supposed to be the matriarch.

Upon hearing that Wei Sanniang's relatives from her natal family had arrived, the eldest wife of the Liu family snorted coldly, not taking it seriously at all.

Just some mud-covered relatives from the countryside, probably here to mooch off them!

However, in the past six months, Wei Sanniang’s only son, Liu Yuanfeng, had been arranging his marriage. The Liu family’s main branch had tried to set a trap for him in the marriage arrangement, but he had managed to avoid it, which displeased the eldest wife of the Liu family.

This New Year's, when relatives from the clan came to visit, a few of them quite lacked tact in praising Liu Yuanfeng for his heroic demeanor and noble character, saying he was almost the same as when the Liu family's old master was young. This praise delighted the old master, who then thought more highly of his youngest legitimate son.

Later, seeing that Liu Yuanfeng was rather plain in demeanor, the old master even bestowed upon him a jade pendant.

This made the main branch even more displeased.

When Madam Wei arrived, the eldest wife of the main branch immediately devised a few ways to humiliate her.

The eldest wife sent the coachman over, under the guise of "escorting them."

When Madam Wei and her group saw someone coming to receive them, they had no idea of the underlying schemes. Thinking it was just Liu family etiquette, they naturally agreed.

However, when the coachman saw that the Yu family had arrived in their own carriage, he was momentarily taken aback and asked with a deliberate smile, "Madam, during the New Year, it's quite hard to rent a carriage, isn't it?"

Yu Sanbao glanced at the coachman, "This is our own carriage."

The coachman was even more puzzled in his mind.

The last time he visited that rural area, the Yu family was extremely poor. There was no way they had a carriage.

They're probably just putting on a brave face!

The coachman secretly scoffed and led the way in his carriage.

When they arrived at the Liu family's main residence, everyone got off the carriage. The coachman's introduction was laced with exaggerated praise, implying, "You country bumpkins must have never seen such a grand estate before."

Xingxing tilted her head.

Is that so?

But she had seen even bigger ones before.

Wasn't Fan's house bigger?

However, Xingxing didn't say it out loud and was soon startled by what was placed in front of the estate.

It was a copper basin, filled with charcoal and some other flammable materials, burning fiercely.

Both Madam Wei and Yu Sanbao turned to look at the coachman, "What does this mean?"

The coachman smiled, "Madam, since you've been to the yamen, it's somewhat inauspicious during the New Year. It's better to step over a fire basin to ward off the bad luck."

Whether it was Madam Wei, Yu Sanbao, or Su Rouer, their faces instantly changed!

Wasn't this implying they were extremely unlucky?!

Who ever has to step over a fire basin when visiting relatives!

This was clearly meant to give them a warning!

The coachman pretended not to notice their displeased faces and even stretched out his hand in a gesture, urging, "After you, please?"

Madam Wei, not wanting to start a scene in front of her sister's house, forced herself to take a deep breath and was thinking of how to respond when she heard Xingxing's confused voice, "Does that mean if you go to the yamen, you have to ward off bad luck? ... So, does Grandpa Zhizhou have to step over a fire basin every day when he comes home from the yamen?"

"Isn't that troublesome?"

Xingxing's little head was filled with confusion.

The coachman's face stiffened, not expecting to be countered by a three or four-year-old child.

Wei Pozi burst into laughter and gave the coachman a cold glance. "Dear boy, you don't understand. It seems the Liu family has even greater etiquette than the magistrate's office!"

The coachman's eyes darted nervously. "...They're just customs, just local customs... nothing to do with rules..."

Yu Sanbao coldly laughed. "It seems your customs here are quite peculiar. Forget it, we won't go in—instead, we'll wait here at the entrance. When others come to visit this estate, we'll ask them if they've ever needed to go to the magistrate's office in their life, and whether they have to step over a fire tray when coming to the Liu family."

A cold sweat instantly broke out on the coachman's forehead.

He really hadn't expected that the Yu family, from the elders to the youngsters, were not easy to deal with!

The old madam from the Yu family, who had been a concubine and later elevated to wife, was as soft as a steamed bun, so why were her relatives so difficult to manage?!