Qian Chunhua knew that if the child-swapping incident escalated, it would tarnish Village Chief Wang’s political record and also damage the Zhao family’s reputation.

Still, she had to raise the metaphorical stick high.

Whether she would bring it down hard or not would depend on how the negotiations played out.

She straightened her back, looked resolutely at everyone present, and declared:

“Please, all of you elders and villagers, serve as my witnesses—I intend to report this to the authorities!”

“Report it to the authorities?” Everyone gasped.

For rural folks who’d never dealt with official courts in their lives, this was a shocking move.

The widow of Yongcai sure had guts.

Some villagers admired her courage; others thought she was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Qian Chunhua ignored the murmurs and loudly continued: “First, I’ll report Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong for stealing my child. Second, for child abuse!”

“Wow!” The villagers who agreed with her clapped their hands.

Yes!

That’s how things should be done—otherwise society would be lawless!

But others shook their heads. “She’s too ruthless, trying to destroy the entire eldest branch.”

Qian Chunhua swept a cold glance over the crowd—and locked eyes with the speaker.

It was Li Lianyan, wife of Zhao Daqing’s second brother, and coincidentally Li Cuihong’s aunt.

Seeing Qian Chunhua’s cold glare, Li Lianyan defiantly lifted her chin.

But Granny Xu, standing nearby, snapped back:

“You call that destroying them? When Yongqiang and his wife were beating Qingsong within an inch of his life, why didn’t you stand up then and say they were trying to kill him?”

Granny Xu had always been kind and could no longer tolerate the hypocrisy of people like Li Lianyan.

Granny Xu’s words shut Li Lianyan up.

Though her Xu family wasn’t a major clan in Huanghualing, she had five strong sons and over ten grandsons—a family not easily crossed.

Clan Elder Zhao glanced at Zhao Daqing. That foolish nephew…

A lifetime of pride had raised a child like this. Others might not know Yongqiang well, but he did. The kid was slippery and sinister.

This scheme?

There was no way Li Cuihong could’ve come up with it on her own.

The real mastermind was clearly Zhao Yongqiang.

Still, this scandal would drag the Zhao family name through the mud.

Their younger generations would never lift their heads in public again.

If word got out into officialdom, it could ruin prospects for those taking the imperial exams.

Clan Elder Zhao looked hesitantly at Qian Chunhua.

Her righteous fury made him uncertain—could she still be persuaded?

“Yongcai’s widow,” the elder said, “let Second Grandpa make this right. If you agree not to go to the magistrate, whatever demands you have, we’ll try to fulfill.”

Village Chief Wang nodded. “Don’t worry—whatever you ask, we’ll make sure you get justice.”

That’s exactly what Qian Chunhua had waited for.

If she’d stated her conditions from the beginning, they would have downplayed them, watered them down.

But now, with her threatening official action, they’d do whatever it took to settle things quietly—even force the eldest branch to comply.

As for seeking justice for Qingsong?

Qian Chunhua knew Li Cuihong wouldn’t take this lying down.

The moment she retaliated or caused trouble again, Qian Chunhua could act—and no one would fault her.

Though she had a plan, Qian Chunhua kept up her act—pretending to be reluctant and holding her tongue.

Chief Wang and Elder Zhao grew anxious and turned to Zhao Daqing, urging him to speak.

Still stunned, Zhao Daqing was beginning to regret putting his faith in his eldest son.

Was following the eldest for retirement the right choice… or a huge mistake?

His eldest and daughter-in-law were simply too vicious.

But seeing the two elders’ eyes on him, he understood what was being asked.

“Chunhua,” Zhao Daqing said, “calm down. Let’s not talk about officials and lawsuits—we’re one family. Even if bones break, the sinews still hold us together. Yongcai just passed. If he were here, he’d never want to see siblings turn on one another.”

Mentioning Zhao Yongcai?

That only fueled Qian Chunhua’s rage.

“Father, you’re wrong. If Yongcai knew what they did, he’d crawl out of his grave at midnight to settle the score! You all knew how much he doted on the eldest son.

But the child he loved was not his biological son! He was deceived! The truth is, his real son was swapped at birth, and not just that—he was abused, starved, beaten, and neglected.

Now that Yongcai is gone and can’t seek justice himself, I—his widow and the mother of that child—will seek justice in his place!”

“And I, his uncle, will seek justice too!” Qian Xingshan stepped out from the crowd and stood firmly behind his sister.

The siblings nodded and glared together at Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong.

Things were spiraling out of control.

Even Zhao Yongwen panicked.

If his classmates heard of this scandal, it would be embarrassing—but worse, it could jeopardize his civil exam future.

“Second Sister-in-law, please… calm down. This is all my sister-in-law’s fault. I’ll make her apologize.”

As he spoke, he sent desperate looks toward Zhao Yongqiang.

Qian Chunhua laughed from sheer rage.

“Zhao Yongwen, you think one pathetic apology will settle this? After all the suffering my son Qingsong endured? You shameless ingrate! When Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong said your schooling was a waste of public money, who secretly gave you silver to study? Now you turn around and bully us—the widow and orphans?”

Zhao Yongwen’s face turned red, then pale.

Zhao Daqing bristled.

His most promising son—already a licentiate (xiucai)—was being publicly scolded by this woman!

“Chunhua, it’s the eldest branch who wronged you—not the third. Yongwen is just trying to keep the peace.”

Village Chief Wang intervened.

“Qian Chunhua, just tell us what you want—as long as you don’t go to court, I’ll guarantee your conditions are met.”

Qian Chunhua glared fiercely at Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong before finally speaking, as if unwillingly.

“Three conditions:

First, Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong must write a confession.

It won’t be submitted to court—I’ll keep it. If they can’t write, Qingyun can write it. All three must stamp it with their fingerprints.

No sooner had she said that than Li Cuihong jumped up.

“No way! I won’t write anything!”

Clan Elder Zhao roared:

“Shut up, Li Cuihong! One more word, and I’ll make Zhao Yongqiang divorce you right here and now!”

Frightened, Li Cuihong shrank back into her seat.

No matter how brazen she was, she didn’t dare risk being sent back to her own family.

Her sisters-in-law would never forgive her for ruining the Li family’s name.

Qian Chunhua continued:

“Second, all the money spent raising Zhao Qingyun over the years must be repaid. For three years of private schooling, at thirty taels per year for tuition and supplies, that’s ninety taels. Add living expenses, round it to one hundred taels.

Third, compensation for Qingsong’s abuse and trauma—one thousand taels. In total, one thousand one hundred taels.”

She knew full well they couldn’t afford it—but so what?

She intentionally opened with a lion’s bite.