Chapter 42: How Can It Be Impossible to Drive the Three Members of the Yan Family Out of the Village?

Village Chief Luo’s face was grim. "What you say makes sense."

"However, my intuition tells me that Xu Lecheng wouldn't be foolish enough to do something like this. He is likely trying to use those thugs to facilitate some other scheme of his."

Yan Ziyue nodded in agreement. "Village Chief, I have the same feeling."

"On the way back to the village, I kept thinking about this, but I just couldn't figure out exactly what Xu Lecheng is planning."

A sharp glint appeared in Xiao Heshuo's dark eyes. "Whatever Xu Lecheng is up to, we will know if we keep a close watch on him."

He would never give Xu Lecheng a chance to harm Yan Ziyue.

Village Chief Luo gave a hum of agreement. "That is the right way to look at it." He added with a look of annoyance, "Originally, I wanted to take this opportunity to drive Xu Lecheng and the Yan family out of our village. But some of the clan elders disagreed."

Yan Ziyue and Xiao Heshuo exchanged glances. The clan elders valued rules and reputation above all else; why would they disagree? Yan Ziyue asked exactly that.

Village Chief Luo explained, "The elders don't want to make this a public spectacle and bring shame upon Damu Village."

Yan Ziyue understood, but she did not agree. "Xu Lecheng and the Yan family have done so many wicked things. If they aren't driven out, they will only commit more evils. What are those elders thinking?"

Village Chief Luo sighed. "The older generation values their reputation more than anything else. Let’s not talk about this anymore; let’s go inside and eat."

After repeatedly declining, Yan Ziyue finally left Village Chief Luo's house with Xiao Heshuo and headed toward her own home.

Xiao Heshuo suddenly remarked, "Driving Xu Lecheng and the Yan family out of the village would actually be letting them off too easily."

Yan Ziyue was surprised by his words. "You don't think I want to let them off, do you?"

Xiao Heshuo shook his head gently. "I know you don't intend to let them off; you want to make it so that they don't even have a place to live. But I believe it is better to keep them in the village. This way, you can keep an eye on them without worrying that they will be able to harm you."

Yan Ziyue smiled. "Actually, I don't necessarily need them to be driven out. I just want them to know that they are on the verge of being cast out."

Xiao Heshuo understood. "You can leak that information to Xu Lecheng and the Yan family."

Just as Yan Ziyue said "Good," she heard a roar of anger from not far away.

"Zhang Qingqing, you wicked girl, give me back my money!"

Yan Ziyue looked in the direction of the noise and saw Yan Zhuangshi and Zhang Qingqing struggling with each other, while Zhang Juhua stood to the side, wanting to intervene but not knowing how. She noticed that many villagers were standing around, watching the spectacle.

"I heard Zhang Qingqing stole all the money in the house and was caught by Yan Zhuangshi."

"Does the Yan family still have money? Didn't they say their savings were stolen by those outsiders?"

"I know, I know! It’s said that this was the money Yan Zhuangshi had hidden away. He had quite a bit. You all know he’s a carpenter; he’s earned a lot of money over the years, but he rarely brought much home. Where did all that money go?"

"Supporting that woman Zhang Juhua, of course. Zhang Juhua is only as fair and tender as she is because she's being kept by a fool like Yan Zhuangshi."

Hearing this, Yan Ziyue sneered. Yan Zhuangshi’s money was indeed supporting Zhang Juhua, but not her alone—he was also supporting Zhang Qingqing. This was something Zhang Qingqing had told her personally just before she died in her previous life.

She pulled Xiao Heshuo to a stop to watch the drama unfold. The more loving and united this trio had been in her past life, the more they were tearing each other apart in this one.

Zhang Qingqing tried to shake off Yan Zhuangshi’s hand but failed. "Dad, what nonsense are you spouting? I didn't take your money at all!" In her mind, her father's money was her money, so she was just taking what belonged to her—no one had the right to interfere.

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhuangshi raised his hand and struck her hard across the face. "Wicked girl! You stole my money and you still won't admit it!"

Zhang Juhua hurriedly shielded Zhang Qingqing, sobbing, "Dear, you know Qingqing is a good girl. She wouldn't take your money. I think someone else must have stolen it and is trying to frame her."

She shouldn't have added that last sentence, as it immediately incited public outrage among the villagers.

"Zhang Juhua, bah! You shameless woman! Keep your family’s business away from us, or I’ll beat you to death!"

"Look at that ugly way you’re crying; it disgusts me. You’re still playing the same old sobbing act."

"Zhang Qingqing is a 'good girl'? If she is, then there isn't a single bad girl in the whole village!"

The injuries on Zhang Juhua’s face from before hadn't fully healed, and she had added new ones in recent days. Unable to care for herself properly, she looked both ugly and repulsive.

Yan Zhuangshi recoiled in disgust and shouted, "What are you crying for? I’m still alive and well, yet you’re there wailing—are you hoping I’ll die sooner?"

Zhang Juhua’s sobbing halted; she didn't dare cry anymore. "Dear, I didn't mean it like that. Let’s go back and talk, okay?"

Ever since these events, her husband had grown increasingly intolerant of her, his eyes filled with nothing but loathing. She knew this couldn't go on.

Hearing this, Yan Zhuangshi’s fury erupted like a volcano. "Go back where? A perfectly good home has been ruined by the two of you! If I had known it would come to this, I would never have married a jinx like you in the first place!"

The word "jinx" made Zhang Juhua stare at him in disbelief. "Dear, you... you would say that to me?" She had rejected so many suitors to be with him, and now he spoke to her this way.

Just as Yan Zhuangshi was about to curse her further, he heard a villager remark with biting sarcasm: "Zhang Qingqing, your parents are arguing so fiercely, where are you trying to sneak off to?"

Zhang Qingqing was grabbed by two village women and, no matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free. "Let me go! You bitches, let me go!"

Hearing this, the two women grabbed her by the hair and began to rain kicks and punches upon her.

"Calling us bitches? A slut like you who only knows how to spread her legs for men is the real bitch!"

"You base creature who can't live without a man, I’ll tear your clothes off!"

Not a single person present felt sympathy or offered to help Zhang Qingqing. Even Zhang Juhua, who tried to assist her daughter, was blocked by several villagers.

The sound of ripping fabric echoed repeatedly. Within seconds, Zhang Qingqing’s clothes were torn away by the two women, leaving her curled up naked on the ground, exposed to the judgmental gazes of the villagers.

"If it weren't for those scars, Zhang Qingqing is actually quite fair and tender. No wonder so many men like to play with her."

"She’s certainly well-endowed, so it’s no wonder those outsiders said she was a thrill to play with. With a figure like that and being so loose, how could she not be?"

Zhang Qingqing’s screams were as loud as her hatred. "Get away! Get away from me! Don't look! None of you are allowed to look!"