Chapter 10: Idiots, A Whole Family Of Idiots!
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Facing the two women, Liu Shun felt a headache coming on.
Liu Cheng panicked and looked at Liu Shun for help.
Liu Cheng’s mother was also flustered. How… How could the Liu family be so eloquent?
Liu Dalang and Liu Erlang looked at Madam Sun and Madam Bai in surprise. Did these two aunties speak up for his mother? Did the sun rise from the west?
“You, you’re slandering me!”
Liu Cheng felt guilty and became flustered. He even stuttered.
Mr. Liu would be a fool if he still couldn’t understand what was going on.
After Liu Cheng finished speaking, Liu Shun knew that there was no chance of turning the tables now. Liu Cheng was as much a fool as his wife. Liu Shun originally thought that after the corpse was cremated, there would be no evidence. He did not expect the Liu family to come so quickly and disrupt his plans.
Liu Shun smiled and said, “Uncle, there must be a misunderstanding. Liu Cheng reacted so strongly because he was too anxious. Auntie Wei is innocent. I hope Uncle can understand that this child was the hope of the family, but he’s gone just like that.”
If the Liu family had come a little slower, things would not have ended up like this.
Mr. Liu said, “Then what do you think we should do?”
Liu Cheng’s mother interrupted immediately. “Of course, you have to compensate us. Even a pig and a cow have to be compensated, let alone a human. Although my daughter-in-law was a fool, she had a child inside her. This is two lives. Without 180 taels, don’t even think about resolving this matter.”
Liu Shun frowned and secretly clenched his fists, thinking to himself. ‘Idiots, a family of idiots!’
“Father, I think they’re trying to extort money from our family. Report to the government and get the coroner to come for an autopsy. We can’t allow others to frame Mother,” said Liu Erlang.
Mr. Liu nodded.
Liu Shun was a little anxious. “Uncle, Uncle…”
Mr. Liu was a little disappointed in Liu Shun. “You don’t have to say anything. This is a matter between our Liu family and Liu Cheng’s family. It has nothing to do with you.”
After the test, Mr. Liu felt that Liu Shun was not a good candidate to be his son-in-law. He had the arrogance of a scholar, but he wasn’t very capable. He could tell that Liu Shun was a scheming person. Such a person was not suitable for Sanniang.
One had to live a down-to-earth life. It would be very tiring to live with someone like Liu Shun.
“Report to the government. Let the magistrate judge who is right and who is wrong.”
Mr. Liu asked Liu Dalang and Liu Erlang to capture Liu Cheng.
Both Liu Cheng’s mother and Liu Cheng started resisting and struggling.
“Giddy-up!”
The sound of horses galloping could be heard in Willow Valley. The officer in the lead shouted. “The authority is investigating a case. Please make space immediately!”
An officer came over. Mr. Liu and the others gave their way for the officer to come in.
The person was dressed in black with the word ‘officer’ embroidered on his chest. He held a sword in his hand, making people feel scared.
Liu Cheng’s mother had already knelt down, trembling like a sieve. For commoners who had never seen an officer in their lives, they immediately felt an enormous pressure, like a mouse seeing a cat.
Seeing Liu Cheng’s mother trembling like this, Madam Bai covered her mouth and mocked. “Look at how guilty she is.”
With such a gut, she even dared to murder. How funny!
Liu Cheng’s legs were also weak. He glanced at Liu Shun, but was frightened by the coldness in Liu Shun’s eyes. Liu Shun looked at him as if he was looking at a dead man.
“Officer, you have to investigate carefully. My daughter-in-law died too miserably. I still have an unborn grandson in her womb.”
Liu Cheng’s father jogged back with the officer. He thought that the corpse would’ve been cremated at this moment and started crying as soon as he reached the house.
The leading officer glanced at him coldly. “Coroner, take the body back to the mortuary for autopsy.”
Liu Cheng’s father was stunned. “Corpse? What corpse?”
Shouldn’t the dead person be cremated by now?
“Sir, the corpse is here. My wife was wrongly accused. Fortunately, we came in time. Otherwise, they would have cremated the corpse. If that happens, there will be no evidence to prove my wife innocent.”
The more Mr. Liu thought about it, the angrier he became.
The officer said expressionlessly, “This matter will be decided by the magistrate after the investigation. The magistrate is fair and honest. He won’t let a bad person off, nor will he wrong a good person.”
The officer waved his hand, and the bailiffs immediately put down the stretcher. They went forward in pairs, carried the woman’s body onto the stretcher, and quickly carried it out.
The officer looked at Mr. Liu, who had the advantage in numbers, and then looked at Liu Cheng’s family, who did not look confident at all.
He asked calmly. “Which of you is the plaintiff and which of you is the defendant? Follow me back to the government office.”
When Liu Cheng’s mother heard this, her body went limp and she fainted.
Liu Cheng was also at a loss. “Brother, brother, help me, you…”
Seeing that Liu Cheng was about to ruin things if he continued speaking, Liu Shun immediately interrupted him. “It’s fine. It’s a misunderstanding. Just explain the misunderstanding.”
On the other hand, Mr. Liu responded calmly. “Alright, we’ll go with you.”
The officer left the courtyard and mounted his horse, leading his men back to the government.
Mr. Liu said to Liu Erlang, “Erlang, go back. If Sanniang is asleep, don’t wake her up. If she’s not asleep, tell her it’s all settled and let her go to bed. I will definitely bring your mother back soon.”
Liu Erlang nodded. His foot was still injured. He didn’t feel it before, but now the pain was coming back.
The women also went home.
A few people around Liu Erlang’s age patted him on the shoulder, telling him not to worry.
Madam Bai waved her hands. “I won’t eat Sanniang if she stays at my house. You can come to pick her up when your mother comes back. Of course, you can drop a few coins for her meal if you want.”
Madam Bai was really not on good terms with Madam Wei. The two of them did not get along, but Madam Bai was not someone who would kick someone when they were down.
Liu Erlang nodded. “Okay, Auntie. Thank you.”
Liu Erlang returned home and sat down to massage his feet.
The next day.
When Liu Sanniang got up, Liu Yinniang had already woken up. When Liu Sanniang came out, Madam Bai was chopping pigweed in the courtyard. She glanced at Liu Sanniang. “You’re up. Stay here with Yinniang. Later, you can go home and get some clean clothes. There won’t be anyone at your house for the next few days, stay at my house.”
Liu Sanniang nodded. She was obedient.
Liu Yinniang was cooking, so Liu Sanniang went to help her.
Liu Yinniang smiled. “Sanniang, don’t worry. My mother told me that Liu Cheng’s family is guilty and your mother is innocent.”