Chapter 54: The Self-Torture Strategy

Behind the Lin family members was a group of villagers, all with different expressions, as they came towards the Lu family in a mighty manner.

"Sister-in-law, the Lin family said that Tiedan was kidnapped by you. What is going on?" Madam Rong spoke before everyone else and informed Shang Wan of the group's purpose in advance to prevent him from being deceived and falling into the Lin family's trap.

In her opinion, given Shang Wan's character, it is absolutely impossible for him to do something like kidnapping Tiedan.

Shang Wan raised his eyebrows secretly. Why do the Lin family members like to come and get beaten so much?

"Madam Shang, all the mistakes are my fault. Please don't bother with the child." Zhou, with red and swollen eyes, knelt down towards Shang Wan and took two steps on her knees. "Tiedan is only six years old. He doesn't understand anything. If you have anything to say, come to me. Please give the child back to me."

"Oh my Tiedan!" Liu also knelt down towards Shang Wan, tears streaming down her face. "I beg you, old woman, please let the child go!"

Oh, this time it’s a self-torture tactic.

Shang Wan folded her arms and watched the two perform quietly.

Lu Chengjing and the other two didn't say anything, and didn't even get up from the straw mat.

Yuanyuan nestled in the arms of her handsome father, her big eyes wide open, watching intently.

Liu and Zhou can’t handle this. What does it mean that they don’t say anything?

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked at each other, thinking about the plan made by Village Chief Lin, and no longer cared about the reactions of Shang Wan and others. They cried even louder, as if their parents had died.

The villagers were bewildered. One side was crying pitifully, while the other side remained silent. What was going on? Did they kidnap the child?

Someone couldn't help but ask, "Madam Shang, did you kidnap Tiedan?"

"No." Shang Wan picked up Yuanyuan and said, "I'm a mother too. How could I possibly lay hands on my child?"

Of course, if he bumped into her hand, it didn't count. Besides, Tiedan didn't bump into her hand, he bumped into the wolf's arms.

Shang Wan said this without feeling guilty at all.

"You dare not admit it, but my Erya saw you kidnap Tiedan with her own eyes." Lin Jianshan snatched Erya from Chen Guifang and pointed at Shang Wan, "Erya, is she the one who kidnapped Tiedan?"

Erya's head was wrapped in a thick layer of gauze, and her thin, pointed face was pale. She turned her head and glanced at Shang Wan quickly, nodded, and said timidly, "Yes."

A flicker of satisfaction flashed across Lin Jianshan's eyes, and he continued, "Er Ya, did she ask you to tell grandma and grandpa that we need silver to get Tiedan back?"

This time, Erya didn't even look at Shang Wan and continued to nod, "Yes."

Everyone believed that children would not lie. After hearing Erya's identification, the villagers showed surprised expressions on their faces.

They were called by the Lin family. It was said that Shang Wan held a grudge against the Lin family because of what happened in the morning, so he deliberately kidnapped Tiedan and hid him, threatening the Lin family to pay money to redeem him.

The Lin family wanted to ask Shang Wan to return their child, but they were afraid of being beaten by Shang Wan, so they wanted the villagers to help them seek justice and get their child back.

After what happened in the morning, most villagers did not believe this statement, but thinking that the Lin family had indeed been looking for their child for a long time, and Tiedan was lost after what happened in the morning, and that everyone had helped to look for him but couldn't find him, they came with the intention of watching the fun.

I didn’t expect that Tiedan was actually kidnapped by Shang Wan, exactly as the Lin family said.

Someone immediately advised: "Mrs. Xiucai, what does the child know? Don't bother with the child. Just hand him over quickly."

"Yes, everyone knows that you and Xiucai Gong were wronged in what happened this morning, but you also beat up the village chief, and Xiucai Gong's jade pendant was also recovered, so the matter is even. Hand over the child, and don't hurt the harmony between the two families."

"No matter how angry you are, you can't just rely on your fists and feet to rob people. What's the difference between you and a bandit? My wife, please hand over the child quickly, apologize to the man, and this matter will be over."

"Tiedan is only six years old. He can't stand being frightened. He'll easily lose his soul. Hand him over and let the Lin family call his soul back. Don't let anything happen to the child."

"If this matter really gets out of hand, you, the scholar's wife, will suffer. The Lin family is also considerate of the fact that we are all from the same village. Otherwise, if the case goes to court, you, the scholar's wife, will have to go to jail."

Everyone was trying to persuade her, and Madam Rong frowned. Even with Erya's accusation, she still didn't believe that Shang Wan would do such a thing as kidnapping. There must be some misunderstanding.

She looked at Shang Wan worriedly, but saw that Shang Wan suddenly yawned. The villagers' words had no effect on her at all.

Somehow, Madam Rong's heart instantly fell back into her stomach. Her sister-in-law was really generous.

Seeing everyone start to denounce Shang Wan, Zhou and Liu exchanged glances and both cried and rushed towards Shang Wan, "Give the child back!"

Unexpectedly, it came back empty-handed.

Shang Wan's figure flashed, and the two of them collided with each other with a "bang". The tears on his face finally seemed more real, as if they were caused by pain.

Liu covered her head and cried out "Ouch, ouch", and she lay on Zhou for a long time and couldn't get up.

Zhou was struggling like a tortoise that had turned over. She was in pain from being pressed down by Liu, so she reflexively reached out and pushed Liu away.

Liu was caught off guard. After hitting her head, she deeply experienced the thrill of her butt hitting a rock.

"Mom!" Lin Jianshui ran forward to help the person. Zhou was so scared that she jumped up. Just as she approached Liu, she was slapped in the face.

"You dare to push me!" Liu's butt was bruised and she grimaced in pain, and she didn't hold back any strength in her hand when she slapped him.

Four finger marks suddenly appeared on Zhou's face, which was swelling up and tears fell uncontrollably.

Shang Wan secretly sighed, look at how real the sadness and grievance from the heart were. If she had such acting skills just now, she wouldn't have yawned.

The villagers were all stunned. They had seen people scolding their daughters-in-law, but they had never seen anyone scolding their daughters-in-law in front of so many people. How would the Lin family live in the village in the future?

Lin Jianshan hadn't anticipated that not only did the two men fail to scam Shang Wan, but they also engaged in a brawl. Furious, his face livid, he dragged Zhou over and began to lecture her.

Zhou's tears flowed even harder. She had done everything her husband and father-in-law had said. She hadn't deliberately pushed her mother-in-law. How could it be her fault?

One aunt couldn't stand it any longer and scolded Lin Jianshan, "This isn't your wife's fault alone. Can't you see her face is swollen? Why don't you send someone home to get some cold water to apply."

"Let's go back together after we get the child back." Lin Jianshan held his breath and shifted everyone's attention back to the child.

The villagers, who had just tried to persuade him, all looked at Shang Wan, waiting for him to hand over the man.

Shang Wan put Yuanyuan in Lu Chengjing's arms, met Lu Chengjing's concerned gaze, and mouthed "don't worry".

She turned and walked closer to Chen Guifang, her eyes falling on Erya in her arms.

(End of this chapter)