Chapter 37 Falsely Accused of Stealing Money, Ends in Court

"Come on, let's go see Muramasa!"

He felt that the village chief would stand by her side as before.

He pulled Song Li along, intending to walk towards the door.

Unexpectedly, Song Li casually tossed her hand, causing her to stumble backward and fall heavily on her buttocks.

He was in so much pain that she grimaced and couldn't get up for a long time.

Firstly, it's because of the pain.

Secondly, because she had been staying at home for many days and was unaware of what had recently happened in the village.

"Everyone come quick! Song Daya is a heartless thief who stole our house!"

Mrs. He sat on the ground, slapping her thigh and wailing incessantly.

She tried to lure the villagers over.

To everyone's surprise, after howling for so long, until her throat was practically burning, very few people actually came.

—Ever since the last time Qian Hudan caused trouble and someone egged her on, Song Li knocked out her front teeth, the villagers who like to do good deeds get toothaches whenever they think of Song Li, so how could they dare to watch her make a scene?

Even if a few villagers couldn't resist, they only dared to watch from a distance.

Looking around, Mrs. He felt disappointed but also puzzled.

What happened?

Why can't the villagers be mobilized?

Isn't it usually easy?

However, Song Lao Er rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

Madam He quickly rallied, wiping away her tears as she pointed at Song Li, accusing him of being the villain who had betrayed her, and said, "Husband, I didn't dare tell you just now, but actually our family's money wasn't deposited in a bank at all. Your good niece stole the money!"

Song Lao Er's expression changed drastically: "What?!"

Mrs. He said, "All the money is gone. Your niece stole it and ruined it. Look at the cotton-padded clothes they're wearing. They were bought with our money. And now she has everything she needs at home. She's even eating meat! And she's treating everyone to meals!"

He's accusations were so forceful that they made Song Lao Er's head buzz.

For the first three and a half years after my elder brother was promoted to the capital, he received a monthly allowance of five taels of silver. My sister-in-law's dowry and the bride price from her widower husband when she remarried... So much money, all of it was stolen by Song Daya!!

Then he'll be penniless!

Thinking of this, Song Lao Er was furious.

"You little brat! Come with me to see the officials!"

Ignoring Qian Hutao's explanation, he grabbed Song Li by the collar and said through gritted teeth.

Qian Hutao was frantic and loudly protested, "No, Da Ya didn't steal the money!"

She wanted to tell Uncle Song that the money was earned by Daya herself from selling cosmetics.

Song Li preemptively sneered, "Second Uncle, how much money did you lose that you're so anxious and upset?"

"I..." Song Lao Er was speechless at her question.

He genuinely didn't know how much money his family had.

But in short, there are many.

The cash his elder brother and sister-in-law gave him alone amounted to several hundred taels. The Song family also had more than ten acres of fertile land. Over the years, their own food, living expenses, and land taxes had all been covered by readily available funds, so they couldn't touch that money.

He then stated a large sum, rather menacingly, "Five hundred taels."

Song Li chuckled, "If you ask me, how about five thousand taels?"

He paused for a moment, then said, "Second Uncle, have you forgotten why you and Aunt sold me to Old Man Wang?"

"You said back then that because your family was struggling to make ends meet, you couldn't bear to see me suffer with you at such a young age, so you sold me to the Wang family as a concubine, where I could live a life of luxury. How come your family suddenly has five hundred taels of silver now?"

"Since you want to see an official, let's go. We'll go to the yamen and make things clear!"

After saying that, she entrusted Song Xiaoxiao to Qian Hutao's care, and then pulled Song Lao Er away.

If Song Lao Er thought she was threatening him, then he was right.

In a world where ordinary women who are abducted can only seek justice by rolling on a bed of nails, how could she possibly win this lawsuit?

But Song Lao Er was also a commoner, and even though he was a male elder, he might not dare to file a lawsuit.

Moreover, given Song Lao Er's timid nature, he wouldn't dare to actually take the matter to court.

So who's afraid of whom?

As expected, fear was evident in Song Lao Er's eyes, but he expressed his fear through insults.

"A perfectly respectable young lady like you, always thinking of running to court to file a complaint, have you no shame?"

Song Lao Er wanted to settle things privately from the beginning; his meeting with the officials was just a bluff.

After all, based on his more than thirty years of life experience, which ordinary person is not afraid of officials? Besides, Song Daya was a little orphan with no parents.

Song Li ignored him completely.

Song Lao Er gritted his teeth and pushed back with both feet, trying to break free from Song Li's pull.

But how could he possibly outmaneuver Song Li?

Song Li held his clothes tightly, and no matter how much Song Lao Er struggled, he couldn't budge him an inch.

"Song Daya!" Song Lao Er exclaimed anxiously.

Song Li continued to ignore him.

She was still the same person, but for some reason, Song Lao Er felt that she had a kind of resolute aura.

This niece, who was always gentle and weak, much like his soft-hearted sister-in-law and whom he could mold at will, unexpectedly resembled his elder brother!

Song Lao Er suddenly felt a little guilty.

He has been living off his older brother's family since he was eight, relying on them for his schooling. If things were to really come to a head...

The more Song Lao Er thought about it, the more frightened he became.

The fact that the eldest brother, an illiterate rough man, could become a captain on the front line shows that he is a fierce man. If he were to return home in glory one day, and Song Daya were to complain about him to the eldest brother, wouldn't he be finished?

"Alright, alright, let's forget about the money!" he said in a condescending tone.

—He was educated after all, and he cared about his reputation. No matter how sweet his words were, they sounded like a favor.

He understood his meaning, and her heart suddenly ached.

Are we really just going to let it go after losing so much money?

But she also breathed a sigh of relief, because regardless of whether it counted or not, the blame for stealing money had been firmly placed on Song Daya, and the head of the household would not pursue her mistake in the future.

Song Li seemed not to hear her and continued walking forward.

Just as he was about to leave the courtyard, Song Lao Er panicked completely and shouted, "I know, you didn't steal the money!"

Song Liwan said, "Words are not enough. Please ask Second Uncle to go to the village head's house to make a written agreement."

Song Lao Er: "..."

He said in a deep voice, "I heard you didn't steal the letter, aren't you afraid people will say you're trying to cover it up?" He was still not giving up and was trying to manipulate her.

Song Li nodded: "That's true. Then we should go see the magistrate and clarify things in court."

Song Lao Er stamped his foot in frustration: "I'll write it! I'll write it, okay!"

Song Li smiled slightly: "Your wife smashed my window, you have to pay for it!"

Song Lao Er: "Fine, fine, I'll pay!"

Song Lao Er's sudden easygoing nature made He Shi's brow twitch. What did her husband mean by this?

But she didn't have time to think it through; she got up from the ground and ran.

That brat wants her to pay for the window; where is she going to get the money? Should she run away and wait to be interrogated by the head of the household?

...

He hurriedly went to town to pawn the silver bracelet, then hurriedly hired a craftsman, and then hurriedly returned to the village.

Walking on the official road, I happened to pass by the big crooked tree at the entrance of Niuma Village.

After thinking for a moment, Mrs. He turned around and went inside.

—She was confined at home for ten days and was unaware that Wang Laocai, known as the "local tyrant of the surrounding area," had been brought to justice.

At this moment, she was thinking that since Song Daya had beaten up Wang Laocai and escaped, Wang Laocai must hold a grudge. If she agreed to work with Wang Laocai from the inside, they would definitely be able to deal with Song Daya.

He entered Niuma Village and strode towards the Wang residence.

Others might be afraid of Wang Laocai, but she wasn't. No matter how arrogant Wang was, he was still a country bumpkin. Her father, on the other hand, was a scholar who lived in the county town. Over the years, he had accumulated some connections through entertaining guests and giving gifts. Winning over Wang Laocai, this nouveau riche from the countryside, was a piece of cake. She wasn't afraid that he wouldn't listen to her.

Mr. He was full of confidence.

However, when she arrived at the Wang residence, she found it deserted and empty, leaving her dumbfounded.