Chapter 48: Is He Interested in His Sister-in-law?

Chapter 48: Is He Interested in His Sister-in-law?

Lu Mingchao's eyes sparkled like bright stars, yet carried a hint of icy detachment, resembling snow under silver moonlight. On the surface, she appeared composed, but her inner resolve was unshakable and unquestionable.

Her attitude was clear and unambiguous.

Even if Qi Pozi died, Qi Rui would still have to repay the money, unless they both went to hell.

The old village head pondered and found it reasonable. "Xie Yan, what do you think?"

"I agree," Xie Yan glanced at Lu Mingchao without hesitation.

Naturally, he would follow Mingchao's lead.

The old village head raised his voice, straightened his slightly hunched back, and spoke with aged authority, "Then this matter is settled."

"Qi Pozi and her granddaughter must return twenty-four taels to Xie Yan and his wife within three days. After repayment, they must immediately leave Changxi Village."

Xie Yan released Qi Pozi with disgust, and she crumpled to the ground, wailing hysterically, her claw-like hands pounding the earth.

"Rui'er and I, old and young, rely on each other. We barely have enough to eat or wear. Where would we get the silver? Even if you sell my old bones, we couldn't scrape together twenty-four taels."

"Since you're not giving me a way out, I might as well end it all to avoid being bullied."

The village head's patience wore thin from the incessant wailing. "Qi Pozi, if you keep crying, we'll have Xie Yan report this to the authorities and have the officers investigate how Qi Laosan died."

At these words, Qi Pozi's cries were instantly stifled, as if someone had grabbed her throat.

"Repay the money and leave, or we'll report this to the authorities."

"Make your choice!" the old village head barked.

Qi Rui wept like a delicate flower, her sorrow exuding an indescribable beauty, as if silently conveying her inner grievances, like rain beating on banana leaves, trying to evoke pity as usual.

The second young master of the Sun family, his ears nearly calloused from the noise, touched his frozen, slick hair and kicked out, "Isn't it a bit early to start crying now?"

"Don't forget, you're still a servant in the young master's household."

Qi Rui: ...

She had only played a small trick; why all the fuss?

She had known and accompanied Xie Yan for three years. How could Lu Mingchao come in and take over?

Seeing Qi Pozi hesitate and remain silent for a long time, the old village head's cane struck the ground heavily, each thud like a drumbeat. "Make your choice!"

Qi Pozi felt as if she were in the underworld, facing a dark-faced judge.

"Repay, repay," Qi Pozi stammered.

Lu Yao, who had remained silent until now, spoke coldly, "Words alone are not enough. A gentleman's promise must be kept, but the actions of Qi Pozi and her granddaughter have clearly insulted the term 'gentleman.'"

"To be safe, they should sign a promissory note and a guarantee."

"If they fail to repay on time, they will be immediately handed over to the authorities."

The disdain and anger in Lu Yao's voice were barely concealed, laid bare for all to see.

"The scholar speaks wisely," the old village head concurred.

On such a cold day, he didn’t want to keep dealing with this nuisance over and over again.

“I happen to have ink and a brush at home, just wait a moment.”

“But there’s no paper.”

The four treasures of the scholar’s studio—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—are all quite valuable.

The second young master of the Sun family cleared his throat. “No need for paper. Tear my clothes; they’re much tougher than flimsy paper.”

“Xie Yan, come here and tear it quickly.”

His tone was both taunting and tinged with unease.

Lu Mingchao turned her head away, unable to bear the sight.

The villagers watching whispered among themselves, suspecting that the second young master had lost his mind from the cold.

Xie Yan stepped forward and untied the rope binding the second young master’s arms.

The second young master chuckled and started tearing the cloth himself.

He gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked, but the hem of his clothes stayed intact.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it, but the clothes seemed to be against him.

Xie Yan, expressionless, raised his hand and lightly tore a piece of cloth, which appeared in his palm.

Qi Rui, who couldn’t read or write, had the old village head set the ink and brush before her, and Xie Yan followed suit.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Qi Rui had no way to avoid it.

“Press your thumbprint,” urged the second young master, familiar with the process, after Qi Rui finished writing.

“Why don’t you just bite your finger and press it?”

“If the young master can do it, why can’t you?”

“A Xing, bite her!”

The servant boy A Xing shook his head like a rattle drum, as if encountering a flood beast. “Second young master, I’m afraid of getting entangled.”

A wave of humiliation washed over Qi Rui, her eyes red, unable to breathe. “What kind of person are you!”

How could she possibly stoop to pestering a servant who had signed a life-long contract of servitude?

A Xing stopped shaking his head, first sighed in relief, then said, “Then hurry up and press it.”

Didn’t you notice the ice crystals in the young master’s hair still glinting in the weak sunlight?

A cold was unavoidable.

Seeing Qi Rui still dawdling, the impatient second young master directly found a sharp-edged stone and cut Qi Rui’s thumb.

Then he dragged Qi Rui, using her blood, to press the thumbprint.

Afterwards, he handed the guarantee to Xie Yan with both hands.

“Today, we thank you, old village head, for standing up for Mingchao’s justice,” Xie Yan bowed his head politely.

The old village head waved his hand, "Right and wrong are matters of the heart."

"Be more vigilant in the future, and don't be fooled by wolves in sheep's clothing."

"Make a good life with the Lu family girl."

"Let's disperse, let's disperse, everyone disperse."

He didn't want to endure the biting northwest wind for another moment.

The old village head closed the courtyard gate, and the onlookers clicked their tongues in small groups.

Xie Yan spoke loudly, "Today, I thank everyone for speaking up. I won't forget this kindness."

Someone in the crowd laughed and said, "We've enjoyed so much of young Xie's generosity; we can't do something ungrateful and lose our conscience."

Soon, the crowd had completely dispersed.

Yunniang repeatedly rubbed Lu Mingchao's freezing hands, worriedly saying, "Chaochao, your complexion is so poor, and your hands are freezing. Were you frightened?"

"Mother, it's that time of the month," Lu Mingchao whispered in Yunniang's ear.

Yunniang's expression shifted several times, completely believing Lu Mingchao's previous words about her cold constitution affecting her fertility.

"Then let's go back quickly."

"Don't get cold."

Yunniang reached out to adjust Lu Mingchao's cloak, instructing her.

Lu Mingchao nodded, looking at the Lu family members with the same certainty in their eyes, "Grandma, father, mother, I will return early tomorrow."

"Big brother, be careful when you carry grandma; don't fall."

"Second brother, you lend a hand too."

Lu Xin's little nose was red from the cold, muttering, "I want to walk with sister."

Yunniang lightly patted Lu Xin's head, "What kind of talk is this."

Lu Mingchao smiled, "It's okay, stay tonight, and we can go back together tomorrow."

Lu Mingchao reached out her hand to Lu Xin.

Lu Xin smiled sweetly, his eyes narrowing into slits, quickly taking Lu Mingchao's hand.

Lu Lei hesitated, "Little sister, why do I feel like the second young master of the Sun family has an interest in your husband?"

"Stay away from the deceitful."