Chapter 34

Outside the gate, the villagers glanced at Cao Yunxia and her companions. It seemed the Huo family was serious this time—even the police had been called. The Cao family was in big trouble.

Yao Guizhi was a bit surprised as well.

She walked over to Lan Yun’er and asked, “Did you really call the police?”

Cao Yunxia, Cao Guangji, and the others fixed their eyes on Lan Yun’er, trying to determine if she was bluffing.

Lan Yun’er glanced at Yao Guizhi and replied, “Yes, I reported it. Before you all got back, I had someone help me report it. Mom, I originally wanted to resolve this peacefully, but this sister-in-law of mine has gone too far. I couldn’t tolerate it anymore!”

After all, Cao Yunxia was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Huo family, and the Cao family was a relative of the Huo family. Lan Yun’er was worried Yao Guizhi might get angry at her actions.

Yao Guizhi frowned, looking at Lan Yun’er. “You did the right thing. If you can’t tolerate it, neither can I. The Cao family deserves a good lesson!”

As for Cao Yunxia—well, if she could take all the meat from the house back to her maiden family, what did that say about her? Clearly, she didn’t care about her in-laws at all. If she didn’t care, why should they?

The exchange between Lan Yun’er and Yao Guizhi made Cao Yunxia and Cao Yunshu nervous. However, Cao Yunshu stiffened her neck and glared at Lan Yun’er, shouting, “Calling the police is useless! The things we took today were clearly given by you. On what grounds can you report us? And this dress—it’s mine! I bought it myself. As for the receipt, I lost it. Surely the police won’t be so unreasonable as to think I stole it just because I lost the receipt!”

Lan Yun’er smirked, her gaze disdainfully sweeping over Cao Yunshu. “Your excuses won’t work. Explain it to the police when they get here.”

“What explanation? Stop trying to scare us! Get out! Get out of here!”

Suddenly, an elderly woman stormed out of the kitchen with a broom and swung it at Lan Yun’er.

Lan Yun’er calmly sidestepped, not even letting a strand of her hair be touched. The old woman was Cao Yunxia’s mother—Cao Yu’shi.

Cao Yu’shi glared at Lan Yun’er with hatred and shouted, “You troublemaker! Is it not enough that you’ve tormented my daughter in the Huo family? Now you come here to lecture her? Do you think the Cao family is so easily bullied? Get out! Get out now!”

Cao Yunxia had frequently complained to her mother about how miserable her life was in the Huo family, blaming everything on Lan Yun’er. Naturally, Cao Yu’shi held a deep grudge against Lan Yun’er.

Her attack on Lan Yun’er wasn’t just out of anger but also a calculated move to drive her away. If the police arrived and didn’t see Lan Yun’er, the Cao family could smooth-talk their way out of trouble.

Lan Yun’er coldly sneered, noticing the shifty look in Cao Yu’shi’s eyes. She could guess what kind of underhanded plan the woman was cooking up.

Oh, but today, the Cao family was going to pay dearly. They wouldn’t get off so easily.

Seeing Cao Yu’shi attack Lan Yun’er enraged Yao Guizhi. She stood in front of Lan Yun’er to protect her, glaring at Cao Yu’shi. “You and your daughter are really shameless. I wondered where Cao Yunxia learned her audacity from—turns out it was you! You say my Lan Yun bullied Cao Yunxia? What a joke! Everyone in the village knows how domineering Cao Yunxia is, bossing everyone around. She’s the one bullying others, not the other way around! Maybe she’s done so much evil that even the heavens couldn’t stand it anymore, and that’s why she got sick! Let me tell you, she’s not welcome in my family anymore. Tomorrow, I’ll have my son divorce her!”

The word “divorce” drained the color from Cao Yunxia’s face. Panicking, she pleaded, “Mom, I won’t divorce him! I won’t!”

The villagers outside the gate were stunned. Cao Yunxia had some kind of disease? What kind of disease? Was it one of those shameful illnesses?

“She’s not even that old—how did she get that kind of disease?”

“Maybe it’s punishment for all the bad things she’s done,” a villager murmured.

Someone else chimed in, “Come to think of it, I did notice a strange smell when she walked past me today. It was awful—makes sense now.”

“I noticed it too. The smell was disgusting,” said another villager, wrinkling their nose.

“Do you think Cao Yunshu has it too? I remember smelling something weird on her before,” someone speculated.

“Could be. Who would dare marry her if that’s true? I heard that disease is contagious.”

“Shut up! All of you shut up!” Cao Yunshu yelled, her veins bulging in anger. “I don’t have any disease! Stop spreading lies!”

The villagers exchanged skeptical looks. Could she really expect them to believe her?

Watching her younger daughter being slandered, Cao Yu’shi pointed her broom at the crowd. “Anyone who says my Yunshu is sick, I’ll tear their mouth apart!”

Unfazed, Yao Guizhi scoffed, “Oh, so now you’re calling me in-law? After everything, I don’t deserve that title! And don’t act like Cao Yunxia’s condition is some big secret. Everyone knows—every child in the village knows! Even your own villagers have smelled that stench. Are you really going to deny it?”

Cao Yu’shi’s face turned livid, and her voice shook with rage as she retorted, “If we can’t see eye to eye, then leave! We’re not hosting you anymore!”

“Fine!” Yao Guizhi spread her hands. “Return the things you stole from us, and we’ll leave.”

“We didn’t steal anything!” Cao Yu’shi protested.

Before the argument could escalate, a commanding voice echoed from outside. “Is this the Cao family?”

Everyone turned toward the sound. A group of seven or eight uniformed officers stood at the gate.

The villagers quickly stepped aside to let the officers through, one helpfully pointing toward the Cao household. “Yes, this is the place. Looking for them? Here they are!”

The villagers were clearly enjoying the spectacle, especially those who had grudges against the Cao family.

The lead officer, a serious-looking man, nodded at the villager and thanked them before leading his team into the courtyard.

Seeing the officers, Cao Yunxia and Cao Yunshu’s legs turned to jelly.

Cao Yu’shi, trembling, forced a smile and stepped forward. “Officers, what brings you here? Please, have a seat and let’s talk.”

But the lead officer remained stone-faced. “We received a report that your family stole items of considerable value from another village—”

“False accusations! This is all a misunderstanding!” Cao Yu’shi interrupted, slapping her thigh dramatically. “We’re an honest and upright family. We’d never stoop to such things. You must be mistaken!”

The villagers collectively rolled their eyes at this blatant lie.

Lan Yun’er, still smiling faintly, pointed to Cao Yunshu. “Officers, I’m the one who reported the theft. My half a pig was stolen by this family, along with two valuable pieces of clothing. One of those garments is being worn right now by that woman.”

The lead officer, named Deng Wencheng, turned to Lan Yun’er. Noting her calm demeanor and composed speech, he felt a certain admiration for her.

“Understood. Let’s get to the bottom of this.”

Turning to Cao Yunshu, Deng Wencheng asked, “Can you show proof of ownership for that dress?”

Cao Yunshu stammered, “I… I lost the receipt.”

“Convenient,” Deng Wencheng replied coldly. “But the other party has provided their receipt. Care to explain?”

Cao Yu’shi tried to deflect. “She stole that receipt from us! She’s framing us!”

Lan Yun’er remained composed. “Officers, the sleeve of that dress has my name, Lan Yun’er, and a small butterfly embroidered on it. Please check the sleeve.”

Cao Yunshu’s face went pale, and panic overtook her.

“Let me see the sleeve,” Deng Wencheng demanded sternly.

Cao Yunshu hesitated, her voice trembling. “There’s nothing there! No name! You can’t trust her lies!”

“Hand it over. Now!” Deng Wencheng’s tone brooked no argument.