At this point, Zhao Yongqiang had no room left to deny it.

The shop assistant clearly identified him as the person who bought the quicklime yesterday morning.

Normally, with so many customers coming and going, it would be hard for a clerk to remember any one of them in particular.

But Zhao Yongqiang had made a scene — when buying the lime, he ran into people who were buying grain and coal.

He mocked them, which led to an argument.

That’s why the shop assistant remembered him so clearly.

With the clerk’s testimony, Zhao Yongqiang’s denials were meaningless.

Under Village Chief Wang’s firm threat to report the matter to the authorities, Zhao Yongqiang finally confessed.

Once he did, Li Cuihong had no choice but to admit it as well — she had gone to the field last night and scattered the lime.

Fortunately, Li Cuihong wasn’t completely stupid.

She took all the blame upon herself and didn’t mention the children’s involvement.

Zhao Xiaojun acted shocked, eyes brimming with tears, wearing a mask of disappointment as she looked at her mother.

Qian Chunhua shook her head.

Had she not already figured out the girl’s nature, even she might’ve been fooled by the act.

Judging by the crowd’s reaction, everyone else believed Zhao Xiaojun had been kept in the dark.

They even took her side and began scolding Li Cuihong:

“What kind of mother sneaks out to do something so vile and then lets her daughter care for her like nothing happened?”

“Poor Xiaojun, with such parents…”

“Let’s see what the village chief decides. This kind of behavior is disgusting.”

…

Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong, who had just been playing innocent, now collapsed to the ground, gazing pitifully at Clan Leader Zhao.

At this point, only Clan Leader Zhao could possibly protect them.

Zhao Daqing looked utterly devastated, his face pale, barely able to stay standing.

He was deeply shaken by everything that had happened.

All these years, he had pinned his hopes on his eldest son for his retirement.

Now, that same son had committed something utterly detestable — and Zhao Daqing could no longer protect him.

The expressions of those present varied, but ironically, the only one who looked relaxed was the victim, Qian Chunhua, who simply stood by and watched the drama unfold, waiting for justice to be served.

This wasn’t something that could be brushed aside anymore.

Village Chief Wang looked to Clan Leader Zhao for his opinion — when dealing with such matters, the village chief typically deferred to the clan leader’s stance to avoid conflict between village authority and family power.

Clan Leader Zhao shook his head.

He had already given them a chance, and they still refused to repent.

“Handle it however it should be handled,” he said, utterly disappointed.

In just a few short days, Zhao Yongqiang’s behavior had become intolerable.

Before, no one realized how despicable he was because he and his wife had lived off the second branch of the family for years, leeching off them.

Now that there was no one left to exploit, their true natures were exposed.

Clan Leader Zhao’s words left Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong pale-faced.

They dropped to their knees and began kowtowing frantically.

“Second Uncle, Second Uncle, I was wrong — we were both wrong! We’ll change, we promise! Please don’t give up on us!”

Zhao Yongqiang understood now — Clan Leader Zhao was ready to abandon them.

If the Zhao family cut ties with them, Village Chief Wang would act according to the law, and they’d be sent to the magistrate’s office — a death sentence for people like them.

Seeing Clan Leader Zhao unmoved, Zhao Yongqiang panicked.

He crawled over to Zhao Daqing and clutched his father’s legs, sobbing.

“Father, please help us. I don’t want to die. Think of Qingyun — please, help us!”

Tears streamed down his face.

Li Cuihong sat dazed on the ground, her mind blank.

All she could think was: How did we get caught? What do I do now? I don’t want to die…

Zhao Xiaojun was completely stunned.

For all her cleverness, she was still just a child — and had never imagined the consequences would be so severe.

She stood frozen beside her mother, totally at a loss.

Only Zhao Qingshui understood what was going on.

He followed Zhao Yongqiang, crying and begging Zhao Daqing for help.

“Father, please, help me too. I still want to care for you in your old age!”

Every word Zhao Yongqiang said cut straight into Zhao Daqing’s heart.

He valued Zhao Qingyun, hoped Zhao Yongqiang would provide for him in old age — all of this became bargaining chips in Yongqiang’s hands.

After a long while, Zhao Daqing stood up, walked over to Clan Leader Zhao, and knelt heavily to the ground: “Please, Clan Leader, spare Yongqiang’s life.”

The crowd was shocked by this move.

Clan Leader Zhao looked at him and shook his head.

“Daqing, it’s not that I’m being cold. If you insist on protecting Zhao Yongqiang, then fine — but your entire branch will be expelled from the clan.”

Zhao Daqing’s face turned ashen.

He staggered but nodded.

“All I ask is for Yongqiang’s life to be spared.”

Clan Leader Zhao sighed and finally gave a nod.

As soon as he did, Zhao Daqing collapsed, unable to hold himself up anymore — he spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.

Chaos broke out.

Members of the Zhao family rushed to carry him inside. Zhao Qingshui ran off to fetch the village doctor.

Qian Chunhua shook her head.

Old Man Zhao really is blind — about to be killed by his own son.

But even with Zhao Daqing unconscious, the matter wasn’t over yet.

With Clan Leader Zhao choosing to shield Zhao Yongqiang, Village Chief Wang and Clan Leader Zhao jointly announced the final judgment:

The field beside the main road — originally belonging to Qian Chunhua — would be handed over to Zhao Yongqiang. In exchange, Zhao Yongqiang must give her one mu of his own land, and Qian Chunhua had the right to choose any plot from the Zhao family’s holdings.

Zhao Daqing’s entire family, including Zhao Yongqiang, would be expelled from the Zhao clan, and their names would be removed from the family register starting tomorrow.

Zhao Yongqiang must write a confession, acknowledging guilt, and swear never to harm anyone’s farmland again. If he does, everything will be settled in one final reckoning.

..

Although Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong were deeply dissatisfied, they didn’t dare object.

Compared to losing their lives, this was a small price to pay.

But to everyone’s surprise, Qian Chunhua disagreed.

“Yongcai’s wife, why are you against it?” Clan Leader Zhao asked, clearly displeased. He thought the arrangement was more than fair to Chunhua.

But Qian Chunhua had plans to build a tea stall on that roadside land. If she gave it up, what would she use for her business?

So she refused.

“Second Uncle,” Chunhua said firmly, “I want that roadside land.”

Clan Leader Zhao frowned — Was this woman a fool?

That land was now poisoned and worthless.

Only Village Chief Wang looked thoughtful.

He remembered how, a few days earlier, Chunhua had come to inquire about opening a tea stall. Clearly, she hadn’t given up.

So be it.

If she was willing to try, Village Chief Wang was willing to help her.