After an incense stick had burned, the Liu family guards lay on the ground, their faces bruised and swollen, groaning in pain.

Before long, the village's elderly and children gathered, alarming the two village chiefs.

Liu Cuihua dragged Li Changgeng away but then returned, leaving everyone stunned by what they saw.

Li Qingyun and Li Fuze exchanged a glance, heartbroken: "Is Master Liu trying to extort money from us?"

"Miss Liu, your guard is injured, why are you staying at Madam Mo's house?"

"Pfft!" Liu Qianqian choked on a mouthful of blood, almost choking to death. She was so angry that her hands trembled and she couldn't utter a single word.

Granny Liu's old eyes, sharp as if coated with venom, stared intently at Mo Qingcheng: "Does your Nanping Village really think you're human? My young lady condescended to come and apologize, yet your guards were brutally beaten. Pay up!"

“Yes, pay up. There are so many of you, and you’ve made a mess of my yard. You have to pay, you absolutely have to pay.” Shangguan Yunxi’s eyes darted around, and the little girl pointed crisply at the guard lying on the ground, speaking with reason and conviction.

Mu Wanqing nodded, expressionless: "Grandpa Clan Chief, the precious medicinal herbs left by my cousin were damaged by these people. Even a thousand taels of silver isn't enough to compensate us, boohoo..."

"Wow! Mother, the toy is broken. My cousin will buy a new one in the capital for five hundred taels of silver..."

Everyone: "..."

I've seen scams before, but I've never seen anything like this. This family is truly ruthless and cruel.

Goodbye!

Li Yunqing and Li Zefu were sweating profusely; the three children were quite a sight.

Xuanyuan Ying tugged at her silly older sister, signaling her to join the robbery.

Xuan Yuantong nodded: "Aunt Mo, the new clothes you bought for us are torn. Please pay fifty taels in compensation."

“Aunt Mo, the hair ornament my uncle sent from overseas is broken… I can’t buy it back even for two hundred taels of silver, sob sob…” Xuan Yuan Ying was filled with grief and sobbed.

Bai Yueniang wanted to cover her face with her hands, wondering how her daughter had gone astray.

Liu Qianqian jumped up in anger: "You...you've gone too far!"

"Oh? Miss Liu, I didn't lay a hand on you from beginning to end. You came to provoke me. It's not that I can't refuse compensation, but alas... I'm all alone, do you think it's easy for me to raise a few children?"

"Sister Mo, didn't the Imperial Inspector say last time that we could send him a letter to plead his case?" Bai Yueniang slapped her forehead, a sudden idea popping into her head.

The people of the Liu family were dumbfounded. Liu Qianqian glared at Granny Liu, saying that she was more trouble than she was worth!

"Hmph! I'll give you five hundred taels of silver out of pity, and that'll be the end of it..."

Liu Qianqian's personal maid felt a pang of heartache, and reluctantly took out five hundred taels of silver from her purse and threw it at Shangguan Yichen's face.

The young boy, who had been watching the commotion, reached out and grabbed the silver note, a glint of malice flashing in his eyes: "Don't you want your claws anymore?"

The maid was so frightened that she trembled and quickly backed away.

Liu Qianqian snorted coldly, turned around and left, going back to settle accounts with Granny Liu and Widow Li!

I absolutely will not pay this amount!

Mo Qingcheng's eyelids twitched. As for Liu Qianqian, one more or one less wouldn't make a difference. But... she's foolish and rich, she'll get used to it after a few more times.

"Miss Liu, you are welcome to visit the Mo family often..."

"Pfft!" Liu Qianqian coughed up blood, stumbled, and almost fell face-first into the mud, while cheers came from behind her.

Mo Qingcheng bowed deeply apologetically to everyone, saying, "Everyone, I'm so sorry to have worried you. To express my gratitude, please come to my house tomorrow for a meal with meat and vegetables..."

Everyone: "..."

Lady Mo is beautiful and kind-hearted. I searched my mind and found the words to describe her. I can't just say "wo cao" (a derogatory term for a woman who is not beautiful) to describe her.

"Hmph... a hypocritical vixen..."