Chapter 479 - 479: Stealing a Man

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia. “Why would the problem be with the Zhang family? Let’s go and ask Uncle Zhou.”

The two of them went to the front yard and asked Uncle Zhou about Zhang Defa’s family.

Uncle Zhou said to the two of them, “Someone in the village met Zhang Defa and heard that Zhang Defa was working as a transportation laborer. Chen Zhaodi was helping someone wash their clothes. Zhang Guisheng’s leg was broken by the mule cart, and Madam Zhu was also beaten up by their family so much that she fled. Zhang Guixiang was sold to get money for Zhang Guisheng’s treatment. The villagers are all discussing that the Zhang family has suffered retribution.”

When Li Yu heard that Zhang Guisheng was crippled, she looked at Zhou Jia.

“Will that crazy woman slander us with Zhang Guisheng’s crippled leg?”

Zhou Jia nodded. “Yes, these women are sinister beyond your imagination. Perhaps she has already sent someone to Tongzhou to look for Zhang Defa’s family.”

Auntie He looked at Li Yu worriedly. “Madam, those people are black-hearted. Their methods of harming others are sinister and vicious. We have to be careful.”

“There’s no need to be wary.” Li Yu pondered for a moment. “Let’s ask Aunt to publicize the Zhang family’s betrayal, plot to seize my family’s assets, and abuse of Ah Qing and me. Even if she really brings the Zhang family to the capital and lets them slander us for causing trouble, everyone already knows the reason for the matter. It won’t attract anyone’s interest.”

Zhou Jia agreed. “That’s right. Everyone has preconceived notions. We’ll cut off her path to sensationalism first.”

Seeing that the two of them had discussed a countermeasure, Uncle Zhou and Auntie He were relieved. Auntie He urged Li Yu, “Madam, you should go back and rest. It’s more important to recuperate. Let Master instruct Zhao Cai and the others to do these things.”

Zhou Jia hugged Li Yu and walked back. “Madam, go back and rest. I’ll go to Uncle’s house.”

The next day, just as Country Lord Ning woke up and sat in front of the dressing table to freshen up, Granny Song reported to her in a low voice from outside, “Madam, Madam Xu sent an old woman over. She said that Madam Zhang and Madam Feng have already said that they won’t help pass the message in the future. She also said that Lord Zhou went to the government office to warn their masters. Old Master Zhou even went to Madam Zhang’s house to cause trouble. When the masters of the families arrived, they went to settle the score with the Madams. Their families have already fallen out.”

Country Lord Ning was so angry that she knocked everything on the table to the ground. She gritted her teeth and said, “Bitch, I don’t believe you’re really that lucky and the men will always stand on your side. Mr. Yang is about to return. Let’s stop at the Zhou family and wait for Mr. Yang to return.” “Yes, Madam,” Granny Song replied with a bow.

Country Lord Ning looked at Granny Song. “How’s the matter with the Yang family?”

Granny Song looked at Country Lord Ning uneasily before replying, “Madam, Old Yang is lying on the bed and breathing heavily. Young Master Yang said that if you force him again, he will cut his face…”

With a puff, a teacup hit Granny Song’s shoulder. Granny Song trembled in pain and hurriedly knelt down. Country Lord Ning looked at Granny Song and said sinisterly, “Take someone to the Yang family and tell Yang Yi that if he doesn’t agree to the marriage, his face will be torn apart. If he does it, I’ll spare him.”

Granny Song endured the pain. “Yes, Madam.”

Ji Xiang brought Little Loach and Mao Dou to the Tongzhou Guild Hall and asked them to keep an eye on Li Fengqi. He went to look for Han San to investigate the matter of the donkev rolling around. Ruvi went to Lantern Allev and walked to the Yang family’s door. She saw that the Yang family’s lantern shop was closed. It seemed that they had not even done business.

Ruyi asked around, but most of them were unwilling to say much. Later, a chubby old woman in her fifties or sixties came to the shop next door to the Yang family and sat there looking at the shop.

Ruyi walked in and cupped her hands at her with a smile. “Grandma, may I ask why the Yang family next door isn’t open?”

The old woman glanced at Ruyi and smiled faintly. “His family has something on these few days. I have whatever you want to buy.”

Ruyi took a look and bought a small cow lantern and a tiger lantern. He took out a piece of silver and placed it on the cabinet. She smiled and said to the old woman, “Grandma, is the Yang family closed?”

The old woman sighed. “It’s not closed. The old people at home are sick. They’re all busy serving the old people.”

Ruyi looked at the old woman in surprise and pushed back the change the old woman was giving him. “Grandma, tell me, did something happen to his family? I remember that his family is very strong!”

The old woman happily put away the copper coins and pulled over a bamboo stool for Ruyi to sit down. She said to Ruyi in a low voice, “Old Yang fell sick from anger because of his grandson, Yang Yi. I’ve really never seen anyone like him! In the past, I’ve only heard of snatching commoners by force. I didn’t expect someone to snatch a son-in-law by force. The Yang family is such a good family. What a pity.”

Ruyi looked surprised. “Is there such a thing? This brother from the Yang family must be very outstanding!”

The old woman nodded. “Yang Yi is good-looking and sensible and filial. Old Yang’s heart ached for his youngest grandson, so he sent him to a private school to study. He studied for a few years and was about to take the county-level examination. For some reason, he refused to go again. Fortunately, he studied for a few years and learned some accounting skills. He worked as an accountant in a cloth shop on the street. Yang Yi was busy with his business during the Lantern Festival and helped in the shop. He was fancied by a noble lady who looked like a demon and insisted on recruiting Yang Yi as a live-in son-in-law.

The Yang family only had two grandsons. How could they bear to have Yang Yi marry into someone else’s family? Little brother, it’s not like they can’t eat. Who would be willing to marry their son to someone else? Don’t you think that makes sense?”

“Grandma is right. Just tell that woman that they don’t agree! Can she snatch him by force?”

The old woman shook her head and said, “It’s not that simple. That day, Yang Yi sent a lantern to that woman’s house and only returned home in a daze when it was dark. That night, we heard that Old Yang was so sick that he couldn’t get out of bed. A few of our old neighbors went to see Old Yang. Yang Yi’s sister-in-law said that the woman claimed that Yang Yi ruined her innocence and wanted Yang Yi to marry into her family.”

That slut actually had the cheek to mention innocence. Ruyi was so angry that she spat. “Pfft! In broad daylight, there’s actually someone who abducts civilian men in the capital!”

“What can we do? That widow is a powerful person. And she said that he ruined her innocence and wanted him to marry into the Yang family. I think the Yang family will be beaten to death sooner or later. Yang Yi can only become a live-in son-in-law.”

Ruyi felt that it made sense. At this moment, there was a commotion. Ruyi stood up and pointed in the direction of the voice. “Grandma, what happened?”

The old woman looked over with an indignant expression. “That woman probably came to force the Yang family to agree to the marriage.”

“I see! Let me take a look. I’ll leave the lantern with you first.”

The old woman nodded and pointed to the alley ahead. “It’s just around that corner.”

Ruyi quickly walked to the back door of the Yang family and saw that the courtyard door was closed. From inside, there were shouts and pleas. Ruyi stepped up the wall. She saw an old woman with four people dressed as guards standing arrogantly in the courtyard. Two guards were stepping on a man in his forties or fifties and a young man.

There was also a handsome man in a thin cloth jacket standing there stubbornly with a knife. Ruyi felt that he was probably Yang Yi. He thought to himself that he was indeed good-looking. From his posture, he looked like he was about to disfigure himself..