Chapter 22: Returning Home Safe
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Every word turned into a knife that stabbed into her heart.
Tears streamed down Zhang Guizhi’s face. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to speak.
Liu Cheng was shocked and pushed her away before she could utter even a word. “I will never acknowledge you as my mother again for what you’ve done.”
Liu Cheng’s father added. “That’s right. Our family doesn’t have a vicious member like you. I’m going to divorce you.”
Liu Cheng’s mother lowered her eyes. Her heart ached so much. Why did it hurt so much? Was this her karma?
She knew the consequences of pleading guilty and knew that if she did, she would die.
She only wanted to see her son one last time and say a few words of concern. However, Liu Cheng thought that she was going back on her word and was afraid that she would say something else. He deliberately interrupted her and did not give her a chance to speak.
Zhang Guizhi confessed.
Wei Shilai ordered in a deep voice. “Zhang Guizhi, a wicked woman who set fire to a mortuary and killed two people… you will be executed at the market in three days!”
“Liu Cheng and his father are pronounced innocent.”
“I’ve already investigated the coroner and the others who were implicated in this case. They are innocent.”
“I hereby demand Liu Cheng to compensate the Liu family for mental damage. Three taels of silver.”
“This case is closed.”
Wei Shilai hit the table with a gavel a few times.
Liu Cheng’s father and Liu Cheng immediately heaved a sigh of relief.
Only then did Liu Sanniang run over. “Father, Mother, are you alright?”
Although she was unhappy about this result, she had no choice but to accept it.
It was Liu Shun who instigated it, but from the beginning to the end, Liu Shun was not implicated at all.
Liu Shun was the most evil person.
When he was instructing Liu Cheng, no one saw or heard him say it. Although Liu Sangniang had psychic ability and could see the scene, others couldn’t.
Madam Wei hugged Liu Sanniang and kissed her forehead. “You must be worried sick. I’m fine. God will punish evil.”
Liu Sanniang leaned into her mother’s arms and could feel her mother’s overwhelming love for her.
Madam Wei loved her daughter and would do anything for her.
Liu Sanniang suddenly realized it.
She understood why Zhang Guizhi was willing to be the scapegoat for her family.
Motherly love was the greatest love in the world.
Hence, Zhang Guizhi took all the blame. She was fearless. She did not need to think about what to say. She only needed to follow her heart. No matter how evil Liu Cheng was, she was willing to protect him because Liu Cheng was her son.
Mr. Liu hugged Madam Wei and patted her shoulder.
Liu Dalang and Liu Erlang looked relieved. Fortunately, everything was fine now.
Now that the case was over, they could go home.
On the way home, Liu Sanniang kept feeling that someone was following her. She turned around several times but did not see anyone.
She held Madam Wei’s arm and edged close to her. “Mother, I want to eat braised pork.”
With her mother around, she had nothing to be afraid of.
Madam Wei smiled dotingly. “Alright, I’ll make whatever you want to eat.”
Liu Dalang smiled. “Mother, I want to eat fish balls.”
“Mother, I want to eat fried fish.”
Madam Wei responded. “Get lost!”
Mr. Liu smiled and looked at his wife, daughter, and son, feeling at ease.
On the busy street, Chu Yan narrowed his eyes and looked at the figure who was already very far away. He withdrew his gaze and turned to leave.
Chu Yan finally returned home. He had left home temporarily to protect Liu Sanniang. Now that she was safe, he could go back.
Madam Li was feeding the chickens. She stood in the courtyard with the grain and called. “Coo, coo, coo…”
Hearing the door open, she turned around and was almost scared out of her wits. “You, why are you back?”
What was wrong with the government? Why hadn’t they arrested Chu Yan yet?
Chu Yan glanced at Madam Li and ignored her. He returned to his room, put down his things, and quickly came out.
Madam Li was distracted as she watched Chu Yan leave.
Madam Li thought for a moment and was no longer in the mood to feed the chickens. She put down the grain and left.
She went straight to the government office.
After mustering up her courage, she went up and asked. “Officer, have you caught the arsonist?”
The guard answered. “Yes, the case is closed.”
Madam Li was puzzled. “That’s weird. Why is my stepson back at home then? Did you catch the wrong person?”
The guard’s gaze turned cold. “The magistrate investigated this case thoroughly. What nonsense are you spouting? You didn’t see your stepson do anything bad, but why are you so sure he was the arsonist? What kind of stepmother are you?”
Madam Li said unhappily, “That’s not what I meant. Since you caught the arsonist, can I go collect the reward?”
The guard was speechless. “The clues you provided are unreliable. Are you looking for trouble?”
Madam Li was furious, but she did not dare to cause trouble here outside the government office.
If the murderer was not Chu Yan, then who was it?
Madam Li felt that she had to ask around. She was also curious. If Chu Yan was not the murderer, why did he leave home?
When Madam Li went back to the smithy, she saw that it was open again.
There were many customers inside.
Madam Li pursed her lips. Chu Yan was a good blacksmith and his business was not bad, but he had never given her a penny. The thought of it made Madam Li resentful.
When Madam Wei returned home, she already knew, from her family, what had happened in the past few days.
When she heard that Madam Bai helped a lot, she was stunned for a moment before an awkward expression appeared on her face. “Then, then… get them to come over for dinner tomorrow.”
No matter what, it was a fact that Madam Bai helped instead of kicking her family when they were down.
Mr. Liu smiled. “Alright.”
The Liu clan had always been very united when it came to defeating outsiders, even if they had grudges against each other.
Madam Wei knew that her family was worried about her, so when she was cooking, she put in a lot of effort to make the dishes they liked.
At night, Madam Wei rubbed Liu Erlang’s feet. Liu Erlang smiled and said, “Mother, it doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s fine.”
Madam Wei said angrily, “Shut up. If you’re crippled, no girl will fall in love with you in the future.”
Liu Erlang giggled. “Hehe, it’s enough as long as I have Mother around.”
He was already a big boy. When Madam Wei mentioned marriage, he would always feel embarrassed, but at the same time, he had some fantasies about his future wife.