Chapter 166: Old Woman
Granny Li looked at Liu Sanniang and blushed. “Miss Liu, please help.”
She, a Daoist nun who had been in the sect for 20 years, still had to ask a young lady for help. It was really embarrassing, but she had no choice. She didn’t want to die.
Liu Sanniang turned around and Li Jingui walked into the courtyard. When she saw Liu Sanniang’s embroidery rack, she was green with envy. Not only was her mystic technique strong, but even her embroidery was extremely good.
This embroidery was even better than the kind which rich ladies wore. It could be sold at a good price.
Liu Sanniang put away the clothes. “Granny Li, what’s the matter?”
Granny Li retracted her gaze. “Miss Liu, I had a problem. Three days ago, the mother of Councillor Tan died. He invited me to do a ritual, so I went. Councillor Tan’s family is well-off. I just wanted to get more money. Who knew that I would cause trouble?”
Granny Li knew that Liu Sanniang was a capable person, so there was no point in lying to her.
She told her the truth. It was better for her to be honest than for Liu Sanniang to read her mind. She did not want to experience that kind of fear for the rest of her life.
Granny Li sighed. “His mother died strangely. I usually do rites to comfort the souls of the living, but when I went, I was frightened. However, for the sake of money, I bit the bullet and did the rites. But when I went back home, I felt tired. I feel that if you don’t save me, I’ll definitely die.”
With resentment weighing down on her, she would be unlucky. Her luck was average to begin with. Who knew what would happen if she was unlucky?
“Miss Liu, Councilor Tan’s mother hasn’t been buried yet. He said that the coffin was too heavy to be lifted. Strange thing is that there are dead wild cats and birds in his courtyard for no reason.”
Just thinking about it gave Granny Li a headache. Normally, she would be able to handle such things. Councilor Tan’s family was quite well off. She wanted to earn some extra money, so she went.
If she knew that she would get into trouble, she would not have gone. After all, her life was more important than money.
After saying that, Granny Li begged her. “Miss Liu, help me. I’m willing to give you all the money I took from Councillor Tan.”
Liu Sanniang nodded. “Let’s go. Take me there.”
Granny Li did not want to go. “Can I just show you the way?”
Liu Sanniang shook her head.
Granny Li was extremely regretful now. She shouldn’t have been so greedy for money. If she hadn’t been greedy, she wouldn’t have been so unlucky. But now, it was useless to regret.
She was depressed. That deceased woman was Councilor Tan’s biological mother. What kind of grudge did she have against her own son? Why did she have to haunt him?
Granny Li brought Liu Sanniang to Councilor Tan’s house. The councilor was called Tan Fengzhi. He had ten concubines at home, and his wife had long been forgotten. In the Tan family, she had built a Buddhist temple and lived in seclusion. This Tan Fengzhi was a playboy.
However, since he was rich, Granny Li wanted to extort him, but she didn’t expect that after taking the money, trouble came to find her.
When Liu Sanniang and Granny Li arrived, they saw Zhu Zongyang taking notes with two officers while the servants of the Tan family were talking.
When the butler of the Tan family saw Granny Li, he immediately walked over. “You liar. Sir, arrest this liar. She’s a swindler. She spouted nonsense, saying that the old madam died in resentment, and extorted a good sum of money from my master.”
Granny Li knew that she was not capable enough, but she wouldn’t allow anyone to call her a swindler because she still had to make a living in this trade.
Immediately, Granny Li replied calmly and coldly. “Butler Tan, you can’t slander me like that. I admit that I’m not capable enough but I am not a swindler. It’s not that easy to deal with the matter in the Tan family. If you don’t believe me, you can find someone else to do it. Only then will you realize how serious this matter is.”
Councilor Tan’s mother died with overwhelming resentment. Not many people could dispel the resentment and calm the deceased.
In a small county like Yong County, there were many Daoist priests and witches. How many of them were really capable?
Everyone was the same. Those who were really capable had long gone to the capital to make a fortune.
Granny Li looked at Liu Sanniang, thinking to herself that this girl was an exception. She was blessed and gifted.
Zhu Zongyang looked at Liu Sanniang. “Miss Liu is quite capable.”
He felt that Liu Sanniang only knew some tricks to deceive others. What could such a young girl know? However, the magistrate believed her so much as if he was possessed. Without needing to do anything, she could earn ten taels a month. That was unfair! As the magistrate’s assistant, he only received three taels a month and his workload was quite heavy. It would be strange if he could find her capabilities convincing.
Liu Sanniang said calmly, “I’m flattered.”
Liu Sanniang could hear the jealousy and sarcasm in Zhu Zongyang’s tone, but she ignored it.
She admitted it openly. Zhu Zongyang felt a lump in his throat. As expected, she was still young and couldn’t even understand his sarcasm. She really thought that he was praising her.
Zhu Zongyang looked at Granny Li. “It’s you again.”
Granny Li nodded and said to Butler Tan, “I’m not someone who will run away after taking the money. I can’t deal with the matter, but someone else can. Only Miss Liu can do it.”
Liu Sanniang was even able to dispel the resentment in the entire River Village. What happened in the Tan family was just a small matter in comparison.
Butler Tan looked at Liu Sanniang and was a little incredulous, but he did not refuse. “I don’t care who she is. Anyway, you took the money, so you must resolve this matter. Otherwise, I’ll sue you.”
Zhu Zongyang took a deep breath. “If there’s nothing else, we’ll go back to the government office first. The magistrate will send constables to investigate this case. Councilor Tan must have offended someone and his enemy is deliberately making things difficult for him.”
Butler Tan sent him off with a smile. “Yes, yes, yes, please ask the magistrate to investigate this case. We have to find out who was causing trouble and punish them severely.”