Chapter 51: Ungrateful Wretch

Uncle Chen Jiu’s eyes immediately sharpened as he stared at Hu Da’s wife on the ground. “Bullying someone from our village is the same as going against all of Tongshu Village!”

Hu Da’s wife was dumbfounded. She scrambled to her feet, dragging Guo Nier up with her. “You little wretch! Say something, quick!”

Guo Nier looked up with tear-filled eyes and said to Uncle Chen Jiu, “Grandpa Jiu, it’s me. I’m Guo Nier… I wanted to come back, but Aunt Zhao wouldn’t let me see my sister-in-law…

“My aunt just got anxious and said something wrong in the heat of the moment, and Aunt Zhao beat her up like this…”

As she spoke, she sneezed, snot dribbling out. She wiped it with her sleeve and sniffled. “Grandpa Jiu, I’m also from Tongshu Village! It’s just my sister-in-law and me left in our family now. If I come back, who else would I come for besides her?”

Uncle Chen Jiu looked at her with disgust. “You’re Guo Nier? Doesn’t look like it! You used to be such a clean and fair little girl. Now look at how filthy you are!”

Guo Nier flushed with both shame and anger but didn’t dare lash out. She just kept playing the pitiful act.

Hu Da’s wife took the opportunity to say, “Uncle, can we talk inside? We’ve all been freezing out here for ages. It’s fine for us adults, but what if the child gets sick from the cold?”

Uncle Chen Jiu rolled his eyes. “If you’re afraid of the cold, don’t go out during New Year’s!”

Hu Da’s wife was left speechless.

Suddenly, someone from outside the crowd asked, “What’s going on here? Grandpa Chen, we’re about to boil dumplings—what are you doing here?”

The crowd parted, and Xu Xia escorted Zhou Yu over.

Zhou Yu was wearing the cloak Qin Ying had mended for him, with a hat on his head.

It was originally a rustic and ugly hat, but on him, it somehow gave off an air of nobility he never had before.

With a stern face, he walked slowly over, glanced at the disheveled Hu Da’s wife and Guo Nier, then turned to ask Aunt Zhao, “Aunt Zhao, what’s the situation here?”

Uncle Chen Jiu wanted to explain on her behalf, but Zhou Yu gave him a cool, indifferent glance, and he immediately shut his mouth. So that’s what Zhou Yu’s official authority looked like—it was terrifying!

Aunt Zhao’s eyes were red as she recounted Hu Da’s wife and Guo Nier’s purpose in coming and the words they had said. In the end, she couldn’t hold back her tears. “Everyone in the village has seen how hard Yingzi has had it!

“She spoke so recklessly—what if people believe her? A woman’s reputation and virtue are everything! She’s clearly trying to destroy Yingzi’s life!”

Zhao Hu’s eyes darted around. He ran back, unlocked the door, grabbed a stool, and dashed back outside. He didn’t forget to call out, “Sis, Lord Zhou is here. You don’t need to come out! It’s cold outside—don’t let Anbao get chilled. You just stay put inside!”

He carried the stool over and placed it behind Zhou Yu, wiping it with his sleeve and respectfully said, “Lord Zhou, please sit.”

Xu Xia glanced at him and couldn’t help but chuckle. “This kid sure knows how to be clever.”

Zhou Yu accepted the gesture and sat down.

The once-angry villagers fell quiet. Those living farther away had heard the commotion and came over too. Soon, nearly the whole village had gathered.

But aside from Aunt Zhao’s sobs, there was no sound at all.

Hu Da’s wife and Guo Nier were as frightened as quails.

Zhou Yu glanced at them and asked, “Who are you two?”

Xu Xia, standing beside Zhou Yu, barked, “Speak!”

With a bit of inner strength in his voice, everyone present felt a jolt in their hearts. Hu Da’s wife and Guo Nier’s legs gave out, and they dropped to their knees.

Zhou Yu didn’t tell them to get up.

Xu Xia shouted again, “The lord is speaking! Answer him!”

Hu Da’s wife pinched Guo Nier hard.

Guo Nier’s tears instantly flowed. Trembling, she said, “I… I’m the youngest daughter of the Guo family. My name is Guo Nier, and this is my aunt…

“My uncle and aunt heard that life in Tongshu Village had gotten better, so they wanted to send me back…”

Hu Da’s wife hurriedly added in a small voice, “It’s not that we didn’t want to keep raising her, it’s just that life in our Gaojia Village isn’t as good as it is here. So we thought she’d be better off living with her sister-in-law.

“When we took her away before, it was because we thought life was too hard for two young girls alone.

“We didn’t take her sister-in-law too because we already have two growing boys in the house and not enough space…”

“That’s nonsense!” Aunt Zhao was so furious her chest heaved. “Lord Zhou! You don’t know! When they came to take her away, they smashed bowls and cursed Yingzi for freeloading!

“But heaven knows Yingzi did every bit of farm work and house chores after arriving at their home!

“That little ungrateful brat, Guo Nier, was raised by Yingzi herself!

“They took everything edible and useful from the Guo house and didn’t leave Yingzi even a bite!

“And that was during a famine!

“If I hadn’t gone looking after not seeing Yingzi for three days, that child would’ve starved to death!

“They already drove Yingzi to the brink of death once—isn’t that enough? Now they want to do it again!

“Do you know what they said? They said An’an is Yingzi’s—ugh, the words are too vile—I can’t even say them!”

“Hm?” Zhou Yu’s expression darkened, his cold gaze sweeping over Hu Da’s wife and Guo Nier. “Is what she said true?”

The two trembled violently and instinctively huddled together. But neither dared lift their head or speak.

Zhou Yu said coldly, “Spreading falsehoods and slandering others is defamation. According to the law…”

He glanced at Xu Xia, who immediately understood and cleared his throat. “The lord is worried you won’t understand, so I’ll explain it to you!

“If you lie and spread rumors that hurt someone, according to our Great Zhou’s law, you’ll be sentenced!”

Zhao Hu scolded, “Did you hear that? Dare to talk nonsense again?”

Hu Da’s wife broke out in cold sweat and kowtowed to Zhou Yu. “Please spare us, my lord! We won’t do it again—we swear!”

Guo Nier didn’t know what to say and simply followed her aunt’s lead, kowtowing along.

Zhou Yu was about to speak when, from the corner of his eye, he saw Qin Ying coming out holding An’an.

Qin Ying first greeted Zhou Yu with a bow, then turned directly to Hu Da’s wife and Guo Nier. “Didn’t you say you were cutting all ties with me forever? So why are you back now?”

Guo Nier shuffled on her knees and hugged Qin Ying’s leg, crying up at her. “Sister-in-law! I know I was wrong! I missed you! I want to come back! Let’s wait at home together for my brother to return, okay?

“From now on, I’ll listen to you in everything! I won’t make any more mistakes!

“Sister-in-law, my dear sister-in-law, you even raised a child you picked up… and I was raised by you yourself!”