Qian Yuan smiled slyly and said, "Lanzhi, I like your strong personality. You're tough. You don't agree? No problem, I'm not in a hurry!"

As he spoke, his groping hand landed on Xu Lanzhi's shapely buttocks. Xu Lanzhi immediately jumped away, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Master Qian revealed a lewd smile and said, "Xu Lanzhi, don't test my patience. I've brought the matchmaker here today. As long as you agree, your mother-in-law will be back unharmed soon. I've given you face and respect. Don't be ungrateful!"

The matchmaker smiled and said, "Look at your bare house, Master Qian said the betrothal gifts are up to you. I think tomorrow is an auspicious day, let's get things done tomorrow!"

Xu Lanzhi was furious, but her mother-in-law was in their hands, so she had no choice but to swallow her anger and beg Master Qian, "Master Qian, my Dongsheng brought things back just a few days ago. Tell me, how can a woman with a husband and children be worthy of you? Please have mercy and release my mother-in-law. I, Xu Lanzhi, will remember your kindness for the rest of my life!"

Mr. Qian looked surprised: "What did you say? Impossible! Xia Dongsheng could never come back!"

Xu Lanzhi pointed to the cow and said, "Look at what you're saying, if it weren't for Dongsheng, how could my family have such a big cow!"

Upon hearing this, Master Qian felt truly uneasy. He said to Xu Lanzhi, "It's not that I can't help you, but you need to send the children away so I can have a few words with you alone!"

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Xu Lanzhi asked with a hint of doubt, "Will you really release my mother-in-law?" Her eyes were full of wariness.

Master Qian smiled and said, "Since Xia Dongsheng is unharmed, I naturally can't do anything to you. I'll tell you how to save your mother-in-law!"

Xu Lanzhi handed Tang Qiqi over to Zhao Di, asking her to take her younger sisters to play in the courtyard.

Tang Qiqi's face turned red with anxiety. This man surnamed Qian was definitely up to no good. She shouted, "Mom, don't listen to him!" But all she could hear were babbling sounds.

Tang Qiqi had no choice but to burst into tears.

When she cried, Xu Lanzhi's heart ached, and she turned back to hug her.

Master Qian frowned and said sternly, "Xu Lanzhi, you don't want to save your mother-in-law!"

Xu Lanzhi had no choice but to harden her heart, withdraw her hand, signal Zhao Di to take Tang Qiqi away, and then she turned back.

Tang Qiqi could only express her dissatisfaction by crying.

Zhao Di, holding Tang Qiqi, greeted her younger sisters, who all looked curiously at the room where Xu Lanzhi was.

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Sisi puffed out her cheeks and said, "Big sister, I think that uncle looks like a bad person. Will he bully Mom?"

“I don’t like that bad uncle either, he’s so ugly!” Niandi chimed in.

Yindi didn't say anything and quietly left the courtyard.

Inside the house, Master Qian was still lecherously staring at Xu Lanzhi, his eyes filled with greed.

Xu Lanzhi was extremely nervous, taking steps back and stammering, "Mr. Qian, please say what you have to say!"

Master Qian approached Xu Lanzhi step by step, grinning wickedly, "You've already given birth to a litter of babies, why are you still pretending to be a virtuous and chaste woman? Even though your unfortunate husband isn't dead, I've been lusting after your body for so long, I have to have a taste!"

After saying that, he pounced on Xu Lanzhi.

Xu Lanzhi tried to run away, but it was too late. She was no match for Master Qian and was already caught by him.

Master Qian pulled Xu Lanzhi into his arms, pinched her chin, and said, "You'd better be good and submit to me. If you serve me well, I'll definitely release your mother-in-law. Otherwise, she might spend the rest of her life in jail!"

As Master Qian spoke, his hands began to wander restlessly over Xu Lanzhi's body. Xu Lanzhi struggled fiercely, but her strength was like an ant trying to shake a tree. Master Qian felt as if she was tickling him, and his actions became even more unrestrained!

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Unwilling to be humiliated, Xu Lanzhi raised her knee and slammed it hard into Qian Yuanwai's genitals. Qian Yuanwai saw stars in pain, and only then did Xu Lanzhi break free from his grasp.

But before she could run away, Master Qian grabbed her again. He said viciously, "You shameless woman, you don't know what's good for you. If I don't punish you today, I'm not a Qian."

After saying that, he began to frantically tear at Xu Lanzhi's clothes. Xu Lanzhi was on the verge of tears and wished she could die immediately.

At this critical moment, Erzhuzi rushed in, pushed Qian Yuanwai aside, and shielded Xu Lanzhi behind him.

His eyes widened in anger, his fists clenched, and he said menacingly, "Get out of here, or I'll beat you to a pulp!"

Xu Lanzhi looked at Erzhuzi with gratitude, then burst into tears of grievance.

Master Qian's son, Erzhuzi, said, "Boy, it's a matter of mutual consent between me and her, so don't meddle in other people's business!"

Xu Lanzhi hurriedly shook her head and said, "Brother Erzhu, don't listen to his nonsense, he's worse than an animal!"

Hearing Xu Lanzhi's affectionate address and seeing that Erzhuzi was young, strong, and handsome, Master Qian cursed, "You, Xu Lanzhi, pretending to be a virtuous and chaste woman here, are you actually having an affair with this poor boy?"

You'd better be sensible. If you give in to me, I'll be magnanimous and let your mother-in-law go. Otherwise, you can expect to be collecting that old hag's corpse!

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Xu Lanzhi was so angry that her face turned pale and she couldn't say a word.

Erzhu grabbed a wooden stick from the side and said angrily, "If you don't get out of here, I'll break your legs! So what if you have money? I only have myself to eat, I have no family to worry about. It's worth it to trade my life for yours!"

Seeing that Erzhuzi didn't seem to be lying, Master Qian could only leave, cursing under his breath.

Xu Lanzhi watched as the wealthy man Qian fled in disarray, then collapsed to the ground and burst into tears, lamenting, "This world is truly unbearable!"

Erzhuzi helped Xu Lanzhi up, but didn't know how to comfort her. He just nervously rubbed his hands together. After Xu Lanzhi had finished crying, he said, "Sister-in-law, it's getting late. Auntie isn't here, and the children are all counting on you. You have to cheer up. It's my fault for being useless and unable to help!"

Xu Lanzhi then remembered that her seven children were still outside. Erzhuzi was right; she couldn't collapse.

She wiped away her tears, tidied her disheveled hair, thanked Erzhuzi, and walked out of the house.

Six pairs of eyes stared at her, and she asked timidly, "Mother, what do we do now?"

Xu Lanzhi's mind went blank. What could she, a woman, do? But she still managed a smile and said, "Don't be afraid, your mother is here!"

Several children rushed into Xu Lanzhi's arms. Xu Lanzhi reached out and hugged the children, but her mind was constantly thinking of a solution!