Madam Xu clutched the red jade pendant tightly in her hand. Although she had gotten the item back, her anger had not subsided, especially after hearing that Xie Yan'an had embezzled over a thousand taels of silver.

The mother and son were puffed up with anger, just like frogs.

"Kill them, they definitely deserve to die. You lot who helped him cover it up, you all deserve to die. Men, drag them all away and beat them to death with sticks!" Xu Wenyan kicked Xie Yan'an to the ground and ordered.

Upon hearing this, Yan Xia looked up abruptly and gasped.

After thinking for two seconds, he immediately knelt on the ground and began to beg for mercy.

"Your Honor, their crimes do not warrant death. Yesterday was the old lady's birthday banquet, and today you witnessed so much bloodshed. This is not good for the old lady. Killing Xie Yan'an alone would be enough. Killing too many will affect her fortune. It would be better to let these people atone for their crimes and serve you well. Spare their lives, and they can accumulate merit for the old lady, so that she may have a chance to ascend to the ranks of immortals. Besides, killing so many people at once will arouse suspicion. If some ignorant family members complain to the capital, then it will be all over. This matter was started because of me. I do not want to harm you, Your Honor. I hope you will reconsider."

Yan Xia's words showed consideration for the Xu family in every way, and Old Madam Xu was also holding the red jade fortune token.

She was deeply moved.

“My son, Yan is right. It’s not good to see too much bloodshed. Those people didn’t do anything wrong. Killing one of them is enough. I think that Xiao Qi is quite filial. Let him replace that bastard.”

As a filial son, Magistrate Xu naturally agreed.

"Alright, you lot, remember this: you're all alive thanks to the old lady. From now on, behave yourselves properly. If there's a next time, I'll send you to your deaths! Shi Qi, is it? From now on, you'll lead them to guard the county office. As for Xie Yan'an, drag him away, beat him to death, and throw him into a mass grave! Gag all his family members and send them to the countryside to farm. If even one of them escapes, I'll take your lives—"

Xu Wenyan glared at Xie Yan'an with a sinister look.

Before he could finish speaking, his mouth was gagged and he was dragged away.

"Alright, let's just leave it at that. Son, have someone release that shopkeeper so he can make money for the Yan family. Look at this red jade fortune plaque, it's really beautiful. Yan family, you have excellent taste."

After taking revenge, Madam Xu began to admire the jade pendant in her hand.

The more I look at it, the more I like it.

If the Yan family earns more money, they will definitely sell her other good things.

Why not? Saying that will also do someone a favor.

"Thank you for your help, Madam. You prevented that scoundrel from stealing the jade pendant. However, he still managed to touch it. I will find you an even better one in the future."

Yan Xia walked up to Madam Xu.

He tried to kneel down, but was stopped.

"No need to kneel. I find you pleasing to the eye. Come visit more often. What's with all this bracelets? What's the point of an old man like me wearing bracelets? This is fine, haha. Son, you go ahead and do your work. I'll have Yan keep me company for a chat. Oh, and take Shouguo away. We women should chat. It's not proper for him to just stay here all the time. Find him a job."

His words had several meanings.

"Yes, Mother."

Xu Wenyan glanced at Chen Shouguo, his tone unchanged. After he led the main group away, Yan Xia followed Old Madam Xu back into the main room.

This time, only two of the family of three are left.

While chatting, her eyes scanned the surroundings, deeply imprinting the layout of the room into her mind.

When it was time for dinner, Yan Xia declined Old Madam Xu's offer to stay for dinner. After saying goodbye to the Xu residence, she went to the county government office.

After learning that Deng Qiuzhi had been released, they went to his shop.

"Bizhong is back. You'd better get a house ready quickly. It's not good for him to always be sleeping in the shop. I've let Bizhong stay at my place for now. Also, I haven't settled accounts with the Wang family. After all, you said you want Bizhong to pursue the imperial examinations, and he can't have a mother who's in jail. I won't get involved in the aftermath of this matter. You'll have to handle it yourself. I went through a lot of trouble to get you out of here this time..."

“........”

Yan Xia told him everything that had happened in the past few days.

Seeing that he was really tired, I didn't chat with him for long.

I stayed for a while and then left.

I had just gotten home when I saw Shi Qi in the pavilion.

"Thank you so much, Aunt Yan, for saving my life!"

Shi Qi knelt down.

"No need for that. I told you, we're in this together. I'll eat the meat, but I'll never let you have any soup. I'll definitely keep my promise to you, and I'll protect your life too."

Yan Xia helped him up.

"Work hard from now on. You have a bright future ahead of you. However, I'm often away from here. You'll be my eyes and ears in Jiangnan County. When I come back, you'll tell me everything that happens here, big or small. Is that alright?"

"Yes, I will definitely inform you, after all, I am your informant, Aunt Yan."

Having escaped death and broken free from his cousin's control, Shi Qi couldn't have been happier.

In addition to the silver Yan Xia gave him.

Our family's life will definitely get better and better.

"My elder brother is dead. His body has been thrown into a mass grave. His family has also been taken away. They have no idea why. They just think that Xie Yan'an offended the county magistrate and that's why they were implicated."

"Okay, I got it. You should go back early and leave through the back door."

"good."

She had to be careful; what if Xu Wenyan sent someone to monitor her?

Yan Xia was thoughtful and thorough.

In fact, she didn't trust Shi Qi at all. After all, if he could betray his own family, he could also betray her. Moreover, the system notification sound didn't ring, which meant that his favorability rating hadn't even reached 60.

However, it can still be used for a while if no one else is available.

After seeing Shi Qi off, she knocked on Deng Bizhong's door.

"Your father has come out and is safe and sound. Go to the shop and see him. Remember to come back early."

"Really? Thank you, Aunt Yan, thank you so much." Deng Bizhong was overjoyed, his voice rising and falling until his figure disappeared from Yan Xia's sight.

"Father, Father—"

Deng Qiuzhi, who was lying in bed, was asleep when he vaguely heard his son calling him, and he immediately woke up from his sleep.

"Father—" Deng Bizhong shouted as he rushed from outside the shop to the backyard, then ran into the house and knelt by the bed, his movements incredibly smooth.

He looked at Deng Qiuzhi with tears in his eyes.

"Father, are you alright? Aunt Yan said you were out, so I came right away. Father, are you hurt? Did the jailers torture you? Shall I go and get you a doctor?"

"It's nothing, Dad just needs a good night's sleep. We owe a lot to your Aunt Yan this time. You probably know what happened by now. Your mother, she..."

Deng Qiuzhi seemed about to speak but then stopped himself.

"Father, from now on I will pretend I have no mother. She went too far. I really can't forgive her. How could she do this to you? If it weren't for Aunt Yan, I really wouldn't know what to do. If Mother had even thought about me for a moment, she wouldn't have done this."