Ji Jiuying arrived at a simple courtyard in no time. The houses were low and surrounded by mud walls.

The two ancient doors, now open, have long been weathered and stained with dirt, while clumps of green bamboo sway in the wind, partially obscuring the entrance.

As soon as Ji Jiuying entered, she heard some noises coming from inside.

"Ah Ying, I had no choice. Since ancient times, marriage has always been about matching social status. Now the news that you were forced to leave the General's Mansion has already spread throughout the village, and Meng'er doesn't want to marry your Da Niu at all."

"Hmph~ You two begged for this marriage in the first place, and now the two children are well past the age for the wedding ceremony. You keep delaying it, and what you really want is to break off the engagement," Zhang Mama said angrily.

Don't think she didn't know. Ever since her husband passed away unexpectedly, the He family has been trying to break off the engagement. They didn't dare to say it openly because she was working at the General's Mansion. Now, somehow the news that she and the young lady left the General's Mansion has spread to the village.

That's why the He family dared to so openly break off the engagement.

The day before she returned, Uncle Li next door told her that He Xiaomeng of the He family had already started dating Zhou Lin, the son of the current village chief.

"Hmph~ Zhang Lanying, what happened back then is what happened now. Whether you like it or not, I'm determined to break off this engagement."

Madam He was losing patience. Now that she had finally returned, the wedding was in jeopardy as Meng'er's belly was about to swell.

Seeing that she was determined to break off the engagement, Zhang Mama felt sorry for her son, Da Niu, who had waited so long.

Granny Zhang glanced at Da Niu, who hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"We can annul the engagement, but before you return the tokens, please return the betrothal gifts you sent earlier," said Granny Zhang.

Madam He was furious. This had happened years ago, and the betrothal gifts had long been divided up. Most of them had been used, and she was planning to use the remaining small portion as Meng'er's dowry. Now she was being asked to give it back; where was she going to find the money?

"Zhang Lanying, your Da Niu has delayed Meng'er for several years, how dare you ask for the betrothal gifts back?" Madam He said firmly.

"That's right, we're already being lenient by not making you pay compensation!"

"······"

The crowd was abuzz with discussion, all siding with Madam He.

Granny Zhang was both stunned and furious. She never expected the He family to be so shameless! They clearly didn't want to pay back the money!

If her Meng'er is delayed, won't her Da Niu be delayed too? It was the He family who kept dragging out the wedding, and now they're turning around and biting the hand that feeds them.

"You've gone too far!" Granny Zhang exclaimed, both angry and furious.

“Zhang Lanying, if you still want to stay in Shiting Village, I advise you to hand over the tokens of your love right away! As for the betrothal gifts—there are none!” Madam He snorted coldly.

"You..." Da Niu was about to say something when he was interrupted by a scream.

"Ouch! Who's that? Who pushed me from behind?"

Mrs. He fell flat on her face, then suddenly stood up and angrily pointed at the people behind her.

"It wasn't me."

"It wasn't me either!"

"······"

"Ah~" Just as Madam He was about to say something, her hands moved uncontrollably and slapped herself in the mouth!

Everyone was stunned; they looked at each other blankly!

He didn't stop until Madam He's face was slapped so hard it looked like a pig's head!

"Who's causing trouble in the shadows?" Madam He panicked and covered her swollen face as she spoke.

Granny Zhang and Da Niu exchanged a glance, unaware of what was going on.

"Hehe~ What's wrong with me?" A cold voice came from behind.

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice, where a slender and petite figure appeared at the doorway.

Ji Jiuying walked over slowly.

"Miss! Da Niu, come and greet the young lady!"

Granny Zhang led Da Niu forward respectfully and said...

"Miss!"

Although Ji Jiuying had never met Da Niu, she always knew that Zhang Mama had a son named Da Niu!

Miss? The General's daughter?

Everyone stared at the petite and simply dressed Ji Jiuying. Then they noticed there were no servants or guards following her. Was this really the young lady from the General's Mansion?

"Granny Zhang, I've come to see you! Are you alright?" Ji Jiuying asked.

"Miss, how could I trouble you to come all this way... I!" Granny Zhang said somewhat embarrassedly!

"Granny, what are you saying!"

"Miss... I'm so sorry to have offended you!"

Granny Zhang glanced at everyone; the young lady must have heard what they just said!

Madam He looked Ji Jiuying up and down. She had long heard that Zhang Lanying was serving an unfavored young lady in the General's Mansion, and judging from her attire, it seemed to be true.

The thought that she had been kicked out of the house long ago gave Mrs. He a boost of confidence.

"You're the young lady who was kicked out of the General's Mansion, aren't you? A young lady who was kicked out of the mansion doesn't even deserve to be called a young lady!"

Ji Jiuying laughed instead of getting angry, turning her head to look at Madam He, "Don't worry about whether I'm still a young lady or not, but you—if you don't return the betrothal gifts that Zhang Mama mentioned, I'm afraid your little head will be in danger."

Although Ji Jiuying was smiling, the coldness in her eyes made Madam He feel uneasy.

"How dare you? I am the village chief's future in-law. If you anger me, Zhang Lanying's whole family will suffer." Madam He's courage grew instantly when she thought of Zhang Lanying being all alone. Did she think that all her people would be afraid of a little girl like Zhang Lanying?

But she seemed to have forgotten what had just happened.

"Hehe~ Is that so?" Ji Jiuying smiled upon hearing this, her voice lazy and tinged with coldness.

Ji Jiuying raised her hand and, from a distance, grabbed Madam He's neck, slowly twisting it.

Everyone was stunned. So strong! He really is from Kyoto.

How dare Madam He?

"You... let go!" Madam He's face turned red from being choked, and she felt very close to death. Now she was truly terrified.

"Why aren't you going back to return the betrothal gifts? Your mistress is about to die at my hands!" Ji Jiuying glanced coldly at the people behind Madam He.

Those people looked at each other, unable to make up their minds.

"What? Is your wife's life not even worth as much as those dowry gifts?" Ji Jiuying tightened her grip on Madam He's neck.

"Why...why aren't you going yet...why aren't you going?" A bunch of idiots. Madam He was really going to be driven crazy by this bunch of idiots.

Those talented people from the He family all left and ran back to their master's house to find the head of the household.

Upon seeing this, Ji Jiuying flung Madam He away.

"Cough cough cough~ cough cough cough!" Madam He lay on the ground, coughing and panting incessantly.

"I'll give you half a day. If you haven't returned the full amount by then, then you'll pay with your life!"

Ji Jiuying's eyes, as cold as the night sky, gleamed with a hint of cold light. Her fair face was devoid of any smile, and her entire appearance was as cold as the depths of winter.

Madam He was somewhat alarmed by Ji Jiuying's gaze. She now regretted provoking her. After all, she was from the capital, so how could she be bad?

Now all I can do is pray that my husband can make up for the lost betrothal gifts as soon as possible.