"What business is it of yours what I do!"
Miao's eldest daughter-in-law stood up abruptly and shouted, "I know where your eldest son is! Give me the money, or I will never tell you, and you'll never find him in your entire lives."
"It would have been better if you had said so earlier. What are you pretending to be, kind folks? We even wasted two bowls of noodles." Li Lao Er also stood up, his face full of sarcasm. "So, how much do you want?"
Miao Laoda's wife hesitated for a moment, then shouted, "One thousand taels! Give me one thousand taels and I'll take you to find the people."
"How much?" The Li family members were both surprised and angry. "A thousand taels, all for a piece of news? Do you think we're easy targets?"
Since things had come to a head, Miao's eldest daughter-in-law stopped pretending to be a good person and, hands on her hips, scolded, "With such a big courtyard and a hot spring valley that brings in money every day, you can't even come up with a thousand taels of silver! No wonder your eldest son doesn't want you anymore, people like you..."
Before she could finish speaking, Old Lady Li had already slapped her across the face.
The crisp sound of the slap and the burning sensation on her face left Miao's wife stunned for a long time.
Old Mrs. Li coldly called out, "Fourth son, it's up to you! Find out where your eldest brother is!"
"Alright, Mother, just you wait and see!" Old Li was already furious, and he was no longer going to hold back.
He called out to Jiayi, got a rope, kicked Miao Laoda's wife over, tied her up, and hung her upside down under the eaves.
Miao's eldest daughter-in-law was stunned; her impression of the Li family was still based on her hometown back then.
Old Mrs. Li is still young. She is a widow raising several children, and she usually doesn't say a word when someone bullies her.
It was only after his son passed the imperial examination and became a scholar that he was able to hold his head high and enjoy a period of real success.
As a result, the son died, and the surrounding villages spoke ill of him, so the Li family rarely went out anymore.
Now that his son is grown up and the family has money, he's suddenly become so arrogant?
She quickly begged for forgiveness, "Sister-in-law, I was wrong, I was really wrong, we can talk things over! I don't want a thousand taels, five hundred will do!"
Unfortunately, the Li family ignored her completely, and Tao Hongying even tore a rag and stuffed it into her mouth.
"It's a pity about those two bowls of noodles. Don't let her spit them out and waste the food."
Jia Yin, being carried on Jia Ren's back, almost burst out laughing as she whispered in her brother's ear.
With such fierce and adorable parents, she's so lucky to have been born into such a family!
Li Laosi picked a thorny branch from the corner of the yard and lashed it across Miao Laoda's wife's back. She cried out in pain and bent over like a shrimp.
She wanted to beg for mercy, but couldn't make a sound.
Li Laosi didn't stop either, and in the blink of an eye, he struck seven or eight more times.
"Who gave you the audacity to come here and extort money! You should have sent a proper message; our family remembers your kindness and will certainly not treat you unfairly! But have you lost your mind, demanding a thousand taels?"
"Fine, I'll beat you to death today, then send you back to where your master wants to see how much money he wants, and whether your life is worth a thousand taels."
Miao's eldest daughter-in-law was truly terrified, in so much pain she felt like fainting, and filled with deep regret.
If she had known the Li family was so terrifying, she wouldn't have even stepped inside.
Now that begging for mercy has failed, she can only hope to hear some commotion and come to check, so that the Li family will have some reservations and release her.
Perhaps heaven heard her heartfelt words, for suddenly a head appeared on the right-hand wall.
Overjoyed, she quickly cried out for help.
Unfortunately, it was Ye Shan. He only glanced at the courtyard before asking, "Do you need my help? I'm a master at interrogating people."
Li Laosi waved his hand, "Go to sleep, Brother Dashan, it's nothing, it'll be over in a bit."
Finished?
Miao's eldest daughter-in-law's mind was buzzing. They were in cahoots! Today, she was going to lose her life here!
She struggled desperately, not caring about the money anymore, as long as she could get out alive.
Li Laosi tugged a few more times before finally tearing the rag out of her mouth.
Miao's eldest daughter-in-law coughed as she spoke desperately, afraid that the Li family would be dissatisfied.
“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you. I saw your eldest son in Kyoto. He was dressed very well and was riding in a carriage. I followed him all the way and saw him enter a place called Willow Alley in the south of the city.”
"I was originally planning to go and freeload sometime when things got better. But then I saw your second son in the valley, and he said the whole valley belongs to your family, so I... I just thought I'd come and deliver the message!"
"Hmph, she's just pretending to send a message; her real intention is to extort money!" Li Lao Er stood to the side with his hands behind his back, sneering, and shouted, "Fourth brother, I don't think she's being honest. She probably isn't telling the truth. Keep hitting her!"
"Yes, keep hitting her! She's made Grandma so angry, beat her to death!" Jiayi and the other boys chimed in, scaring Miao Laoda's wife so much that she almost wet her pants.
"Spare me! Spare me! Everything I said is true, not a single word is wrong. If you don't believe me... if you don't believe me, I can tell you, my master's family is the Chu family in Dingzi Lane, West City, and our master owns a cloth shop! I signed a contract with no possibility of escape!"
Li Laosi and Li Laoer exchanged a glance, and Li Laosi then slapped the man twice more before putting him down.
Miao's eldest daughter-in-law rolled forward a few times like a worm, crying and begging Li, "Sister-in-law, I was wrong. I was just greedy for money. Please let me go. I will never dare to do it again."
Old Mrs. Li was preoccupied with her eldest son and had no time to pay attention to her. She waved her hand and led Jiayin into the house.
Li Laosi kicked Miao Laoda's wife and untied her ropes. "Get out of here! If you dare to scheme against our family again, I'll chop off your head!"
Miao Laoda's wife didn't dare to say a word. As soon as she was free, she stumbled and ran outside. She even tripped over the threshold and fell hard outside the door, which made Jia An and Jia Xi follow behind, making faces and laughing.
Li Laosi whispered a few words to Li Laoer, then called Jiayi and secretly followed them.
Inside the house, Grandma Li held her chubby granddaughter, her eyes somewhat vacant.
The tears I shed and the grievances I suffered over the years because of my eldest son seem to be right before my eyes.
She had been looking forward to this day, but when it finally arrived, she didn't seem happy.
She was afraid that her son had truly abandoned his family for wealth and status.
Jiayin understood her grandmother's feelings very well. In her past life, she had felt the same contradictions countless times when she stood in front of her parents' new homes.
She desperately tried to find excuses for them to abandon her, while simultaneously hating their heartlessness.
Those who haven't experienced it have no idea how painful it is to be hurt by a loved one.
This kind of pain is far more profound than the heartbreak of a broken love or the betrayal of a friend; it can never be healed in a lifetime.
She hugged her grandmother's neck without saying a word, patting her grandmother's back repeatedly with her little hands.
When the old lady came to her senses, her granddaughter's tears had already soaked her shoulder.
The old lady quickly hugged her granddaughter, hurriedly comforting her, "Fu Niu, why are you crying? Are you worried about Grandma? Don't be afraid, Grandma's fine. Grandma's just curious about what that brat has become after all these years. Grandma isn't sad, really..."
The old lady was originally trying to comfort her granddaughter, but as she talked, she ended up crying herself.
"Fu Niu'er, do you think your uncle has lived in vain? He's not even as good as a little kid like you! You know how to care for your grandma, but he doesn't know how to care for his mother!"
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