Chapter 52 [V] Even if it's your top son-in-law...
The Ye family could handle it themselves, and Li Yan originally planned to just be an onlooker and not get involved.
But now, hearing Hou Er say that someone deliberately mentioned Ye Shi in front of him, and that she received several taels of silver a month, he couldn't help but feel that things were not so simple.
A woman around forty years old deliberately mentioned in front of him that Ye Shi earned several taels of silver a month... Li Yan's first reaction was that the woman was her stepmother, Yue Shi.
"Hou Er, are you saying that someone deliberately brought up the matter of the 'Longing for Home' money in front of you?"
Seeing that his employer had taken the initiative to inquire about the matter, Ye Wangxiang, being quite perceptive, simply remained silent.
Hou Er nodded hurriedly: "Yes, absolutely true, I wouldn't dare to lie to Boss Li. Now I know how powerful you are, even if you gave me an extra head, I wouldn't dare to deceive you."
Li Yan ignored his glib talk and only asked him what the woman looked like.
Fortunately, the incident hadn't been long ago, and it was daytime at the time, so Hou Er quickly described Yue's height and physical characteristics.
After hearing him say these things, Li Yan thought to herself, "It really was her."
Hou Er was unaware of her past conflict with Yue Shi. Perhaps, if Yue Shi hadn't intentionally approached him, he wouldn't have even seen her. Although he was a scoundrel, his words this time were quite credible.
However, although Li Yan believed him, she did not show it on her face that she believed him immediately.
Li Yan snorted lightly, adopting a skeptical attitude, and said, "Hou Er, you're used to being a scoundrel, you wouldn't make this up to deceive people, would you? Let me tell you, if I find out what tricks you're up to this time, I won't let you off easily."
Hou Er hurriedly said, "Grandma, everything I said is true, I'm not lying to you! If I dare to lie about even a single word, may I lose nine out of ten times in gambling and never be able to recover for the rest of my life."
Seeing that he couldn't even make a bet without gambling, Madam Ye couldn't help but roll her eyes in annoyance.
Li Yan then said, "If what you said is true, then someone did this on purpose. What was her purpose in doing this on purpose? Just to make you go home and beat up Madam Ye? Is she your enemy?"
Hou Er thought about it seriously for a while, then shook his head: "Probably not." He then muttered to himself, "But if we have no grudge, why would she want to harm me?"
Mrs. Ye was so annoyed with him. If it weren't for the fact that her employer still had questions to ask, she would have kicked him out long ago.
Just then, someone came to buy drinks, so Ye Wangxiang simply turned back and started doing business.
Li Yan said, "Since you remember her appearance, I'll find someone who is literate and can paint. We'll draw a picture of her based on your memory. Then we'll take this picture to identify her... Do you dare?"
Since Hou Er was not lying, he immediately agreed.
"I dare!"
"Okay." Li Yan finally began to believe him, and said, "In that case, come with me."
Hou Er is a scoundrel, a real scoundrel, but he's perceptive and knows how to flatter. Now that he knows this young woman is a formidable figure, he's too busy currying favor to hold a grudge against her for forcing him to divorce and putting him in legal trouble.
Some even wanted to use this incident to curry favor with Li Yan.
He's still quite clever; otherwise, he wouldn't have tricked Ye into marrying him back then.
However, this cleverness is petty and lacks a broad perspective, and it is not used for the right purpose.
Li Yan brought him to find Xu Qingshu, hoping that Xu Qingshu could help her create a painting.
The college entrance exams had just ended, and the results weren't out yet. Xu Qingshu was in a state where he had nothing to do, but also no interest in going out for food, drink, or entertainment.
That's why Li Yan came to bother him.
Upon arriving at the location, Li Yan raised her hand and knocked on the door, followed by a voice: "Second Brother Xu? Are you home?"
Hou Er followed behind Li Yan, his hands tucked into his sleeves. Ever since they entered the alley, his eyes had been furtively scanning the surroundings.
"Boss, are we here to see the same lawyer Xu from last time?" Hou Er asked quietly.
Thinking back to how Attorney Xu had eloquently listed his crimes in court, Hou Er still felt a little apprehensive.
Li Yan ignored him and knocked on the door again.
Xu Qingshu was at home and quickly came out to open the door.
"Second Brother Xu." Upon seeing him, Li Yan called out again.
Hou Er was also quick-witted. Knowing that the person in front of him was formidable and a scholar, he immediately bowed and greeted him.
"Young Master Xu."
When Xu Qingshu saw Li Yan, his expression was gentle and warm, but when his gaze fell on Hou Er following behind her, Xu Qingshu subconsciously frowned.
Li Yan noticed the change in his expression and immediately pushed him, saying, "Come on, let's go inside and talk."
Xu Qingshu glanced at Hou Er again before making way for him to enter.
Li Yan stopped him, saying, "Why would you let him in? Tell him to wait at the door." With that, Li Yan closed the door and dragged Xu Qingshu towards the main room.
Xu Qingshu was completely baffled and looked utterly bewildered.
Seeing that she was far enough from the door, Li Yan stood under the eaves and told Xu Qingshu about the situation.
Because Li Yan's voice was soft, Xu Qingshu leaned slightly towards her. His face was bathed in light, and his gentle expression gradually froze after hearing what she said, replaced by disgust and resentment.
“If that’s the case, then your stepmother is truly despicable,” Xu Qingshu said coldly.
Li Yan also found her despicable. She never expected that now that everyone was living their own lives and doing well, she would still be plotting against her and trying to trip her up.
"Based on Hou Er's description, it should be her." Although Hou Er was idle and acted eccentrically, what he said should be true.
"What do you plan to do?" Xu Qingshu felt that if the woman was truly cunning and vicious to this extent, there was no need to swallow his anger any longer.
He thought that she had no grudge against Hou Er and Ye Shi. This move was probably aimed directly at Li Meizi.
Fortunately, Ms. Li was lucky and did not suffer any harm as a result.
Otherwise, given Hou Er's temperament, if he hadn't gone home to beat Ye Shi but instead gone to the Xue family to steal, I really can't imagine what the consequences would have been.
This kind of despicable person is used to doing bad things in secret, and we must teach her a lesson so that she will remember it.
Li Yan said, "I've already made arrangements with Hou Er. He'll describe what he wants you to do, Brother Xu, to draw a portrait of Yue Shi based on his description. Then, I'll take Hou Er and the painting to her house to find her. Oh, by the way, Hou Er said that she was accompanied by a woman at the time, probably a neighbor."
Wasn't she planning to use Hou Er's shamelessness and shrewishness to deal with her? Fine, she'll let him reap what he sows now.
Xu Qingshu nodded and replied, "Then call Hou Er in now."
Li Yan knew that Xu Qingshu, a scholar, disliked Hou Er, that scoundrel, the most. So, after finishing the matter, Li Yan apologized to him: "I'm sorry, Brother Xu, I took it upon myself to bring Hou Er here without asking your opinion first." She had been a little impatient just now, and when she learned that it was Yue Shi who was behind it all, she was determined to make her receive the punishment and retribution she deserved.
Little did he know that bringing people here so rashly might be impolite in front of Brother Xu.
Xu Qingshu smiled and shook his head: "You mustn't think that way. I'm very happy that you come to me when you encounter difficulties." He was half a head taller than her. When they stood together under the eaves, he lowered his eyes to look at her, his gaze gentle.
Li Yan sensed the gentleness in his tone and the ambiguity in his gaze. Not knowing how to react, she quietly looked away.
"Shall I go and call him now?" she asked.
"I'll go call them," Xu Qingshu said, and strode down the steps toward the courtyard gate.
Outside the door, Hou Er was still waiting with his hands in his pockets. When he saw Xu Qingshu open the door, he just grinned shamelessly.
"Come in," Xu Qingshu said to him.
Xu Qingshu did not lead him into the room, but only let him stay in the main room, while he went into the room by himself to get paper and pen.
"You tell me, and I'll draw it."
Hou Er dared not be frivolous; in front of lawyer Xu Qingshu, he was very obedient.
Hou Er carefully recalled the woman's attire that day, her facial features, and her expression when she spoke... After Xu Qingshu finished drawing the picture as he had described, Hou Er immediately pointed and said, "That's her!"
He was truly amazed; he couldn't believe someone could paint so well.
Hou Er was good at talking, so he naturally praised Xu Qingshu to the skies.
Xu Qingshu possessed the aloofness of a scholar, and he scoffed at Hou Er's flattery.
Li Yan then stepped forward and said, "This person is my stepmother!"
Hou Er looked at her in surprise, then gave her a knowing look.
"If this isn't a scheme against me, then it's a scheme against you!" Hou Er said firmly.
Then, his gaze shifted, and he began to have a plan. Since he was scheming against Li Dongjia, he was the one who had been implicated and was the victim. Therefore, he could consider asking Li Dongjia for some benefits.
Before he could speak, Li Yan interjected, "You schemed against me. Why didn't you choose someone else to scheme against, but instead picked on you?"
Hou Er was speechless, unsure of what to say, and could only manage an awkward laugh.
Li Yan rolled her eyes at him and said, "So, in this whole thing, we're both victims. So, do you want justice and to vent your anger?"
"Of course!" Hou Er wasn't a coward; he was the one who bullied others, not the other way around.
Moreover, with Mr. Li and this lawyer Xu backing him up, he felt even more confident.
When are you going?
"Right now."
Li Yan had no intention of involving Xu Qingshu further. After all, he was a scholar and not related to her by blood. Getting involved in her family's dirty business would not do him any good for his reputation.
But Xu Qingshu was worried, and he didn't think getting involved in this kind of thing would tarnish his reputation, so he said, "I'll go take a look." He wanted to go and see what was going on, and if necessary, he could step in and help.
If it's not absolutely necessary, and Li Meizi can handle it herself, then he doesn't need to get involved.
Li Yan thought that with him around, she would have someone to rely on. Since he was willing, she no longer insisted that he not go.
Thus, Li Yan led Hou Er aggressively toward her father's place. Upon arriving at the door, Li Yan had Hou Er lead the way.
Hou Er was adept at these kinds of tantrums. After walking up to the door, he didn't knock but just started shouting at the door.
"Yue Shi! Come out here! You vicious woman, you've ruined me so much. You made me quarrel with my wife, and now my wife doesn't want me anymore. You give me a wife instead!" Hou Er started cursing angrily as soon as he came up.
This outburst of curses drew the attention of countless neighbors on either side.
Everyone pointed towards the Li family's house, whispering amongst themselves, asking, "What's going on?"
Li Shangping was not home during the day, so Yue Shi hid behind the door and eavesdropped for a while. After roughly understanding what he meant, she dared not open the door.
One of the neighbors, the very woman who had been dragged by Yue to the casino entrance that day, recognized Hou Er.
"You...you...aren't you the one...the one who came out of the casino that day?"
Hou Er recognized the woman at this moment. He immediately went up to her and said, "You are the sister who was with Yue Shi that day." Then, in front of all the neighbors, he immediately explained the situation: "Yue Shi is vicious. As a stepmother, she is jealous that her stepdaughter's business has grown and she is living a good life. So, she wants to use me to make things difficult for her stepdaughter."
"She knew I was a gambler, so she deliberately brought up my wife's job for her stepdaughter when I was desperately losing money. She even mentioned how much silver she earned a month. She said this on purpose, hoping that I would cause trouble for her stepdaughter when I was desperately losing money. But she didn't expect that I wouldn't go after that Mr. Li; instead, I went home and made a scene with my wife. Now, I've not only been abandoned by my wife, but I've also spent three months in jail... I deserve it, but that woman is cunning and manipulative; she should also be punished."
At this moment, Li Yan also stepped forward.
Li Yan didn't throw a tantrum; instead, she went straight up the steps and knocked on the Li family's door.
Madam Yue was very flustered at this moment, but she dared not open the door. She just hid behind the door, gritting her teeth and trembling.
After knocking a few times and seeing that no one answered the door, Li Yan said, "I know you're inside. If you don't open the door, I'm going to take you to court." Then, in front of many of the new neighbors of the Li family, she told them all the grievances that the original owner of this body had suffered.
After hearing this, the neighbors pointed and whispered in front of the Li family's door, saying that Yue Shi usually seemed very kind, but they never expected her to be this kind of person.
And he believed Li Yan's words.
If she wasn't guilty, why would she stay indoors all the time?
If she were wrongly accused, she probably would have come out to clarify by now, right?
Li Yan knew Han Yue's temperament well; he valued his reputation and was the last person who wanted to get involved in such matters.
If he truly treated his parents-in-law well, then when she sued Yue Shi in court, he would have stood up for his mother-in-law and done his best to protect her.
But he didn't.
Therefore, at this moment, wanting to deliver another blow to the Yue family, Li Yan brought up Han Yue.
“I know your son-in-law was the top scorer in last year’s provincial examination, and he’s very powerful, so you’re fearless. But let me tell you, I’ve been bullied by you for so many years, and I’ve had enough. Today, even if your son-in-law, who was the top scorer, comes to me, I’m still not afraid.”
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