Chapter 46: Fear and Restraint

Chapter 46: Fear and Restraint

Old Woman Qi's legs were barely obeying her, her dry, pale lips trembling with difficulty. Her whole body trembled violently, her face pale as death, resembling a withered tree shivering in the cold wind.

After Xie Yan discovered that her sprain was fake, she knew things were going badly.

Despite her sweet-talking and playing the victim, Xie Yan didn’t hesitate to turn back.

She knew that the plan she and her granddaughter had hatched was likely to fail.

But she clung to a sliver of hope—what if Sun Ershao succeeded?

Even if he didn’t, Xie Yan would surely feel uneasy seeing his newlywed wife entangled with the notorious playboy of Changhe County.

After all, they’d been neighbors with Xie Yan for three years, seeing each other every day, and there was some kind of bond. When the time came, she and her granddaughter could cry and apologize, and the matter would be forgotten.

But she hadn’t expected Xie Yan to act so decisively.

Anger and fear twisted around her heart like snakes, and she cried out, "Village Head, are you trying to drive us to our deaths?"

The old village head frowned. "Those who do wrong must face the consequences."

"If you think this old man’s decision is unfair, then let the county magistrate decide."

"Old Qi San was a native of Changxi Village. I married him, and as the saying goes, 'marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog.' You can’t force me out of Changxi Village. No way," Old Woman Qi insisted stubbornly.

Changxi Village was her roots.

Being kicked out of Changxi Village would mean dying as a lonely, wandering spirit.

"Xie Yan’s wife wasn’t even touched. I’ll kneel and kowtow to her, begging for forgiveness. Isn’t that enough?"

Old Woman Qi suddenly turned and knelt on the ground.

The Lu family members shielded Lu Mingchao, and Yunniang spat fiercely at Old Woman Qi.

Lu Mingchao looked at Old Woman Qi, who showed no remorse, and suddenly felt a sense of weariness.

A cold wind swept through, rustling the dry branches around them, creating a desolate and bleak atmosphere. The chill seeped through their coats and clothes, biting into their bones.

Lu Mingchao adjusted her cloak slightly, her gaze sweeping over Old Woman Qi like a fleeting bird over snow. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, masking the complex disgust in her eyes.

"Old Woman Qi," Lu Mingchao spoke softly, her breath turning into wisps of white vapor in the dry winter air.

"I’m new here and don’t fully understand the customs of Changxi Village."

"In Changxi Village, can wrongdoers so brazenly threaten their victims?"

"I escaped your and your granddaughter’s schemes and preserved my reputation, not because you were merciful or had a change of heart, but because I stood my ground."

"So, why do you think that just because I wasn’t hurt, I should let you off the hook?"

"Why?"

"Because you and your granddaughter are shameless?"

"Because you and your granddaughter are vicious and cruel?"

Lu Mingchao glanced around, her eyes passing over the faces of the villagers, young and old. She let out a light laugh, her gaze finally settling on Old Woman Qi’s resentful face. "Even children know the saying, 'Do not commit evil, no matter how small.' Old Woman Qi, after living for decades, don’t you understand such a simple truth?"

"Today, I, Lu Mingchao, am holding Qi Rui and old woman Qi accountable for their crimes. Some of you here might think I’m being too harsh."

"Yes, I have not suffered any real harm."

"But all of you have sons and daughters. If the scheme of Qi Rui and old woman Qi to conspire with outsiders to tarnish my reputation is dismissed with a few words, then over time, everyone will lose their sense of reverence. Imagine, wouldn’t such things start happening all the time?"

"Would your daughters-in-law and daughters also fall victim to the selfish schemes of others?"

"After all, the wrongdoers would think that by kneeling, kowtowing, apologizing, crying, and putting on a show of misery, no one would pursue the matter, and they might even gain sympathy."

"But not everyone has my good fortune. When that time comes, how would your daughters-in-law and daughters cope? Would they be thrown into a pig cage to drown? Or would they hang themselves from a crooked tree?"

"If one broken window isn’t fixed, the rest will start breaking too."

"We can’t let wrongdoing slide, not even once."

"I am seeking justice for myself, and also protecting the girls born in Changxi Village and the wives married into Changxi Village."

"Today, I will not retreat, nor dare I retreat."

"I can’t live with the guilt if someone gets hurt later because I was too soft now."

"Born a woman, I understand the difficulties women face in this world."

"I hold respect in my heart, and that keeps me in check."

Lu Mingchao's voice was clear and cold, like a mountain stream that flows endlessly, unhindered by mud or rocks.

Every word was clear, resolute, and powerful.

Blending into the howling cold wind, it entered everyone's ears, shaking their hearts and minds.

Lu Mingchao's words made many people bow their heads in shame.

Because they had truly been thinking of being lenient where possible.

In the crowd, Feng Jinyu felt as if each sentence was like a thunderous drumbeat continuously passing through her ears, striking her eardrums, making her dizzy and deaf, unable to hear the wind, the whispers of those beside her, or the wails of old woman Qi. Only the clear, firm voice echoed in her mind.

Slowly.

Feng Jinyu regained her hearing.

She had never so objectively examined the slender figure standing at the center of the crowd.

She truly could not compare to Lu Mingchao.

Feng Jinyu gave a bitter smile.

Unaware of Feng Jinyu's thoughts, Lu Mingchao coughed lightly, her face growing paler. "Old woman Qi, kowtowing is useless, putting on a show of misery is useless."

"Today's matter, I will pursue it to the end."

"Since you are unwilling to accept the old village head's goodwill, then let's report it to the authorities. I will do everything in my power to eradicate this kind of wrongdoing."

Old woman Qi’s resentment boiled over, her eyes filled with hatred, glaring as she gritted her teeth and lunged towards Lu Mingchao.

Xie Yan stepped in and easily held old woman Qi back, preventing her from advancing.

"Xie Yan, I helped raise your children!" Old woman Qi wept bitterly, in a frenzy.

Lu Mingchao sneered, "Raised his children?"

"After all, it's all in the past. I didn't want to bring it up again, thinking to spare you some dignity and respect."

"Since you're shameless, let's get into it."

"How did you raise them? By using Xie Yan's money, eating the game he hunted, living in the house he renovated, insulting his children, and treating them like servants to cater to your family?"

"Riding high horses, serving tea and water, freely scolding and beating, eating watery gruel that could mirror a face?"

"Is this really helping Xie Yan raise his children, or are you just finding slaves for yourself?"

"If this is how you raise them, shouldn't you pay Xie Yan's children a monthly wage?"

"Second Young Master Sun, what's the monthly wage for the maids in your mansion? It would give me a reference standard, so I don't have to demand according to the capital's standards, and Old Lady Qi won't say I'm bullying her."

Second Young Master Sun: Is there still a role for him?

"What's owed must be paid."