Chapter 198: Greedy

Liu Wuniang furrowed her brows and said, “Siniang, what you’re doing is really not right. Since we’re sisters, you better stop this nonsense soon. Otherwise, I won’t be able to help you either.”

Su Zhi thought to herself that this family really knew how to put on a show. She glanced at Liu Siniang, thinking that she had already helped by stopping Village head and the village elders, and now it was up to herself.

Liu Siniang walked up to the village chief, giving a slight bow to him and the four village elders, saying, “I apologize for troubling Li Zheng and the elders. I knew today’s matter would require your assistance, so I asked you to stay.”

Li Zheng replied, “Siniang, you grew up in our Liushu Village, and I’ve watched you grow up too. Whatever it is, just tell us. You mentioned earlier that you wanted your uncle and aunt to return your father’s house and land to you. Is that why you asked us to stay?”

Liu Siniang nodded and said, “Exactly for this matter, Village head.”

The eldest of the village elders spoke up, “Siniang, your uncle and aunt said they already gave you the money. Do you now want to buy back the land and house? We can talk to them about it, but we can’t make decisions for them.”

The other three village elders echoed his sentiments. They had watched Liu Siniang grow up and saw no harm in a married woman returning home, especially nowadays when anyone, even an outsider, could settle in the village by buying a house, paying the registration fee, and obtaining household registration from the authorities. Moreover, Liu Siniang was already a daughter of Liushu Village.

Liu Siniang said, “Village Head, respected elders, I’m not looking to buy back my parents’ house and land. I want to reclaim what rightfully belongs to my parents. My uncle did not settle his debt with me back then.”

“You’re talking nonsense!”

Upon hearing Liu Siniang’s words, Liu Damu immediately interjected, glaring at her. Indeed, he hadn’t given Liu Siniang the money back then; the promissory note had been stolen and destroyed by Liu Yangshi. Liu Siniang had mentioned this to them before but was frightened into silence by them. He wasn’t afraid now, as the promissory note was gone. However, if Liu Siniang revealed this, his reputation would suffer, hence his glare.

Liu Yangshi also chimed in, pointing at Liu Siniang, “Siniang, Siniang! You can’t be heartless! Just now, we were thinking of seeking justice for you, but you’ve turned against your family instead of them! Have you no conscience? We gave you the money long ago, and you took it to your in-laws. Now that it’s all spent, and you’ve been kicked out, you come to scheme against us? Do you think we’re easy to bully?”

“Yeah, you say we didn’t give you the money, then where’s the promissory note? If you can’t produce it, you’re just making baseless accusations. Don’t think just because you’ve divorced that we’ll pity you and let you slander us like this!”

Liu Wuniang spoke up. She didn’t want her house and land taken away, as she wouldn’t have a place of her own to live. Not to mention, she wouldn’t have additional dowry when she married in the future.

The onlookers outside also urged Liu Siniang to produce the promissory note. They weren’t trying to pressure her; they just wanted to see some excitement.

The Village Head and the four village elders also furrowed their brows. They didn’t believe Liu Siniang was the type to falsely accuse others. Instead, they suspected that Liu Damu might indeed not have given her the money. However, when they insisted on seeing the promissory note, they thought that if Liu Siniang couldn’t produce it, it would confirm that she had no chance of reclaiming the house and land. Moreover, her reputation would undoubtedly suffer.

“Siniang, do you have the promissory note? If not, then it’s going to be difficult.”

“Village Head, I have the promissory note.”

Liu Siniang thought to herself, indeed, her uncle’s family was just as ruthless as they were over three years ago. Back then, when she asked for the promissory note, they acted as if they didn’t have it. In the end, they didn’t even give her the money. Now, they were still the same. They had been so affectionate towards her just now, only to try to gain something from her again. Since they were like this, she was even more determined to reclaim what belonged to her.

Liu Siniang took out the well-preserved promissory note she had kept and handed it to Li Zheng.

Dabao’s wife exclaimed, “This must be fake!”

Liu Siniang said, “Village Head, this promissory note was written in your presence and with the participation of several village elders. You must recognize it; it’s not fake.”

Li Zheng looked at the promissory note, nodded, and said, “Indeed, this is the promissory note from back then.”

The four village elders also examined it and said, “Indeed, this promissory note is the same as the one from back then.” One of the village elders added, “I personally wrote this promissory note, so I wouldn’t make a mistake. I even accidentally dropped a drop of ink on the corner of the paper back then. Look, the ink spot is still here.”

“Yes, indeed, it’s still here.”

The onlookers outside erupted like boiling water, all exclaiming that Liu Damu hadn’t actually given his niece the money to buy the house and land. They had claimed they did and even demanded to see the promissory note. It was clear they assumed Liu Siniang didn’t have it, but now she had produced it. What was going on?

One of the straightforward village elders asked Liu Siniang, “Liu Siniang, what’s the meaning of this? Your uncle said he gave you the money and confirmed that you didn’t have the promissory note. But how do you have it now?”

Before Liu Siniang could respond, Liu Wuniang shouted, pointing at her, “Alright, Liu Siniang, it’s a shame you’re my sister. Back then, my parents gave you the money, and you tore up the promissory note in front of them. It turns out you didn’t tear up this one! You’re a fraud! You’re truly despicable! Village Head, elders, we can’t let such a wicked person stay in Liushu Village! She’s here to tarnish our village’s reputation!”

The members of the Liu family all echoed Liu Wuniang’s words.

Upon hearing this, Su Zhi became furious. She realized she had underestimated Liu Wuniang. This girl was truly cunning; in such a short time, she had managed to turn the tables on Liu Siniang! Su Zhi wouldn’t let her get away with it!

“Village Head, elders, Siniang is definitely not that kind of person. Think about it, who would hand over money without seeing the promissory note? What Wuniang said makes no sense at all. Besides, someone like Uncle Liu, giving his niece money, wouldn’t he call other witnesses to prove he had repaid her? It’s twenty-five taels of silver, not a small amount. I refuse to believe Uncle Liu wouldn’t consider this aspect.”

Village Head and the others nodded, finding Su Zhi’s argument logical.

Liu Damu said, “I trusted Siniang so much, but who would have thought she’d be so cunning?!”

Su Zhi chuckled and said, “Back then, you claimed you didn’t have the money, but you suddenly repaid Siniang so quickly. How did you manage to get your hands on those twenty-five taels of silver in such a short time?”

Liu Damu’s face flushed, and it took him a while to respond, “You don’t need to worry about that. Anyway, I did repay her.”

Su Zhi continued, “You say you repaid her, but Siniang insists it’s not settled. Now that the promissory note is in Siniang’s hands, you still need to hand over the money. Otherwise, we’ll bring this matter to the authorities. I believe as long as this promissory note exists, you’ll lose no matter what. Or you’ll have to explain the origin of that twenty-five taels of silver. Others might accuse you of obtaining the money through dishonorable means.”

Liu Siniang looked at the speechless Liu Damu and said, “Uncle, you accuse me of tearing up the promissory note, of deceiving you, but everyone here knows that a promissory note is meant to be given to the debtor. If it’s not handed over, it’s considered void, and the debt is automatically waived. How could I do such a thing? Initially, I didn’t want to reveal what you did in front of so many people, but since you’re tarnishing my name, I won’t cover up for you anymore.”

Liu Siniang revealed that the promissory note had been stolen years ago, and she suspected it was by Uncle’s family. She recounted how she was intimidated when she tried to ask them about it and explained why she never returned to Liushu Village all these years.

“If you had given me the money back then, why would I have gone to the Zhao family with such a meager dowry? And why would the Zhao family have looked down on me all these years? It’s all because of you!”

“Liu Damu, what you did this time is truly despicable!”

The straightforward village elder didn’t mince his words when addressing Liu Damu. Li Zheng and the other elders also chastised them. The villagers outside looked down on the Liu family; they knew that the thickness of a dowry could determine a woman’s status in her in-laws’ family. If Liu Wuniang had had those twenty-five taels of dowry back then, she might have had a better life in the Zhao family and wouldn’t have ended up in her current situation.

Although the Liu family still claimed they were innocent, the promissory note was in Liu Siniang’s possession. Village Head and the village elders instructed them to return the house and land to Liu Siniang or pay her twenty-five taels of silver.

In the end, the Liu family had no choice. Pressured by the Village Head and the village elders, as well as Liu Siniang’s threat to report them to the authorities if they refused, they agreed to pay the silver.

The Liu family didn’t actually have twenty-five taels of silver. In the end, they only managed to produce five taels and offered to forfeit the two acres of land instead.

Since the land was of low quality, the Liu family didn’t see it as particularly valuable and were willing to give it up.

Liu Siniang entrusted the two acres of land to the Village Head and asked him to sell it on her behalf, to which the Village Head agreed.

With the laughter of the villagers echoing behind them, the Liu family left in a huff, casting angry glares at Liu Siniang before departing. There was no trace of their previous warmth, and there was certainly no invitation for her to return home. However, Dabao’s wife harbored sinister thoughts, contemplating how to retrieve the money they had just given away. She was determined not to let Liu Siniang off easily!

By this time, it was already noon. Su Zhi insisted that Village Head and the other village elders stay for lunch, but they politely declined. However, the Zhao family insisted on washing the children’s faces, which caused most of the onlookers to disperse.

After washing the children’s faces, the Zhao family quickly prepared a meal and invited Shen Zi’an and the others to eat. After the meal, the three of them boarded the ox cart and headed back home.