At this moment, anyone with a bit of tact would know to go along with her, right?

She wasn’t foolish and naturally wouldn’t go against her.

Besides, her son was still studying in the county. If word got out, who knew if it would affect his future in the imperial examinations?

With that in mind, of course, she had to be pleasant toward Jian Xiu.

“Clean up and return? Fang Miaojun, you say that so easily. My son was scared—shouldn’t there be compensation for that? Zixuan’s wheelchair was kicked and broken—shouldn’t that be paid for? And look at Qitou—his knees are bleeding! Do we not need money to get a doctor? Or do you people not use money to see a doctor on a regular basis?”

Fang Miaojun: “……”

She wanted to say that Qitou had gotten injuries like this almost daily before, and hadn’t he always just let them heal on their own in a few days?

Since when did it become so serious that they needed a doctor?

But when she met Jian Xiu’s sharp gaze, she didn’t dare to say a word, no matter what.

“Jian Xiu, don’t push us too far! You beat my son Sixi like this, and we haven’t even come after you for that, yet you’re the one bringing it up first?”

Not far away, Zhang Zihua said viciously.

At that moment, he was still holding the new clothes Jian Xiu had bought yesterday.

Seeing this, Jian Xiu didn’t speak.

She just walked up to Zhang Zihua, slowly stretched out her right hand, and clenched it into a fist right in front of him.

Just as Zhang Zihua was wondering what she was up to, Jian Xiu suddenly swung her fist hard into his stomach.

“Ah…ugh…” Zhang Zihua doubled over in pain.

A moment ago, he had been curious about why she had raised her fist in front of him.

But before he could react, she had already punched him in the gut.

And the most shocking thing—why was her punch so powerful?

She was just a woman. How could she have such strength?

It felt like his internal organs had shifted.

“Jian Xiu…you can’t…” The bruised and swollen Chen Sixi shouted at Jian Xiu.

“No need to call out to me. You should be grateful I didn’t kill you with that punch. Do you even know what you’re holding in your hands? That’s my property. Do you think my things are so easy to take?”

Jian Xiu cut him off coldly.

“I’ll make it clear right now. Fixing Zixuan’s wheelchair will cost at least one tael of silver. Treating Qitou’s knee injury will cost another five hundred copper coins. And my courtyard—cleaning it up again, plus labor and emotional damages—that’s another five hundred copper coins. I’m not even charging you extra. Two taels of silver—don’t even think about giving a single coin less.”

Jian Xiu spoke lightly, her sharp gaze never leaving Old Zhang.

She knew that while the money was in the hands of Old Madam Liu, the one who truly made decisions in the family was Old Zhang.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Old Zhang jumped up in anger and shouted,

“What? What did you just say? Why don’t you just rob us instead? That lousy wheelchair costs a whole tael to fix? And Qitou’s tiny scratch—”

“You can refuse, but then we’ll see each other at the county tomorrow! I know exactly how I got my money, and I think you all know too. Even the manager at Yuexiang Tavern knows. Let’s see who the county magistrate decides to throw into jail—you or me.”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot to mention—it’s spring plowing season. If you all get sentenced to dozens of beatings, you’ll be bedridden for at least a month. And if you’re bedridden for a month, the spring planting will be over. That means your ten or so acres of prime farmland will go to waste.”

“But no worries. My son Zixuan has given you plenty of money before while he was working as an escort. That should be enough to feed your whole family for a year. You may leave now. It’s getting late anyway, and even if we do go to the yamen, that’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

As soon as she finished speaking, it wasn’t clear if anyone else understood, but Fang Miaojun definitely did.

She also knew that if Jian Xiu was telling the truth and the family had no income for a whole year, there was no way her son Datou could continue his studies at the academy.

Thinking of this, Fang Miaojun immediately turned to Old Zhang and said,

“Father, we can’t go to the yamen. We must not go! Datou is still in the academy—he can’t afford this, we can’t afford this!”

Hearing this, Old Zhang, who had been about to argue further, opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again—only to find that he couldn’t say a single word.

Zhang Zixuan, standing beside him, had the same stunned expression.

The difference was, Zhang Zixuan wasn’t just shocked—he was also excited.

This version of Jian Xiu—he liked it!

“You’re still not leaving? Do you want me to send you off?” Jian Xiu said lazily when she saw that they hadn’t moved.

Hearing this, Old Zhang became even more anxious.

At first, he thought Jian Xiu was just bluffing.

But looking at her calm and composed demeanor now, he started feeling scared.

Not because he was timid, but because Jian Xiu really seemed fearless—like there was nothing she wouldn’t dare to do.

She had even dared to lay hands on her former mother-in-law.

If she said she’d go to the yamen, she would definitely do it.

But to just hand over two taels of silver—that was like taking his life.

That amount of money was their entire family’s yearly income!

And that was if they lived frugally and if his son could find work in the county frequently.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to save up two taels.

But deep down, Old Zhang knew Jian Xiu was right.

If they went to the yamen, they wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

If things really turned out the way Jian Xiu said, wouldn’t they be at a huge loss?

Thinking this, Old Zhang softened his tone and said, “How about less? I’ll pay you fifty copper coins.”

“Old man, are you crazy? You’re actually going to pay thi wretched…wretched…her?”

When Old Madam Liu met Jian Xiu’s sharp gaze, she swallowed her insult halfway through.

“Add ten more copper coins,” Jian Xiu said casually.

Hearing this, Zhang Laotou’s expression turned into one of rage and frustration.

Seeing his helpless face, Jian Xiu felt satisfied.

“If you say one more word, I’ll add another ten coins,” she added.

“You wretched woman, why hasn’t the heavens struck you down with lightning yet?!”

“Two taels and twenty copper coins!”