Finally, thanks to Lin Ru's persistent efforts, Bai Shi slowly woke up and wept in her daughter's arms.
Lin Meili was about to say something provocative when she realized that the old woman's search had been completed and nothing had been found.
Old Mrs. Lin cursed and swore
"You filthy hussy! Where did you hide my money! You bunch of thieves and prostitutes! If I don't find my money today, I'll sell your whole family to a brothel!"
"Come on! Hold these bitches down! Strip them naked! I bet they're hiding on their bodies!"
After saying that, he led his daughter-in-law and daughter to come up and take off their clothes.
Seeing this, Lin Ru immediately cast pleading glances at the village chief and clan leader.
"Grandpa Village Chief! Grandpa Clan Chief! Please, please save our family! My grandma is forcing us to die! If they strip us naked, how can we face anyone to live?"
Old Mrs. Lin said fiercely, "Don't threaten me with your life! What do I care if you live or die! The money is on you! Village chief! Clan chief! This is our family matter! You shouldn't interfere too much!"
The village chief is not one to meddle in other people's business. He only intervened the day before yesterday because he had to because of the knife incident. Now, it's just a body search, so there shouldn't be any problem!
Seeing the village chief's indifferent attitude, Lin Ru cursed inwardly that she had misjudged him.
If they weren't still too weak right now, and couldn't afford to completely break off relations!
She already took action!
She then looked at the clan leader.
"Grandpa Chief! Please! If we are searched like this, even if we are innocent, our reputation will be ruined."
"I know you all disapprove of my mother's elopement without a matchmaker, but you also heard what my aunt said!"
“My mother was young, naive, and innocent back then! So she was easily fooled! But no matter what, we are all descendants of the Lin family!”
The clan chief sighed. He had originally looked down on the Bai family, which was why he hadn't interfered much when the Lin family kicked them out and left them to fend for themselves. But now…
The clan chief sighed: "What do you want?"
Lin Ru immediately knelt down and bowed: "Please, clan chief, report this to the authorities! Our family is willing to prove our innocence in the presence of the yamen runners!"
The village chief angrily rebuked, "Nonsense! Village affairs have always been resolved by the village itself! How can you..."
Lin Ru looked up and stared directly at the village chief, interrupting him.
"So you're trying to force us to our deaths! Aren't you afraid that if the five of us are forced to our deaths, it will reach the ears of the authorities? How will you explain that then!"
"I believe there are no secrets that stay hidden forever! How will you protect yourself then? How will you protect the Lin family's reputation?"
"What if the same thing happens to other people in the village in the future? Will you just let it go like this? How can the villagers believe that you can protect them?"
The village chief's face turned red with anger. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! You're very good! Then report it to the authorities! When they find silver, I won't cover for you!"
Lin Ru sneered
"How can you be so sure without even searching me! Do I need you to cover it up?"
The village chief was so angry that he turned to leave, but was stopped by the clan chief.
In the end, it was the clan chief who arranged for his eldest son to report it to the authorities.
After all, this is a matter of life and death, and it's not something to be taken lightly!
And I heard that twenty-two taels of silver were lost!
This is a huge sum of money!
When Old Lady Lin heard that she was going to report it to the authorities, her heart trembled.
But remembering what Old Man Lin said calmed him down.
The standoff lasted for half an hour until they finally heard the sound of officials arriving from outside.
The two officers had already heard the whole story on the way.
Looking at the plump figures of Granny Lin and the others, compared to the emaciated Lin Ru and the others, and the mess inside the house, I couldn't help but feel pity.
Old Lady Lin cried out as soon as she saw the officials.
"Your Honors! You must do justice for this woman! They stole..."
The officers were used to tantrums and throwing tantrums, so they immediately interrupted.
"We already found out what happened on our way here! You said they stole your family's silver! But you had no evidence, so you came to search your house, and now you want to search your bodies, right!"
Old Lady Lin was somewhat intimidated by the official.
All I could say weakly was, "Who says I have no evidence! A body search would have provided it!"
This caused the officials to frown in annoyance.
Upon seeing this, Lin Ru immediately led her family to bow in respect.
"Sir! I hope you can clear my family's name. Even if the money was lost, they have no evidence to prove that I stole it."
"And according to her, I went to steal last night. How could I, a thirteen-year-old farm girl, go to her house at night to steal without being discovered by anyone?"
Old Mrs. Lin jumped up and cursed angrily
"You bitch! Who said no one saw it! Your grandfather saw it! You just knocked him out."
Lin Ru chuckled.
"Then I'm really amazing. Not only did I manage to break into your house and steal things without you knowing anything, but I also attacked my grandfather!"
"Besides, only you and Grandpa know where the money is. How would I know?"
Old Mrs. Lin was furious
"That's because you tried to kill me that day! I told you..."
Lin Ru interrupted, "Grandma, how can you say that? Do I, a young woman, have any reputation left? How could I kill you in front of so many people!"
"Everyone saw it that day! It was clearly Grandpa who wanted to kill you for Widow Zhang!? What does it have to do with me!?"
Old Mrs. Lin was so angry that she was about to take action.
One of the tall officers shouted impatiently, "Enough!"
Then he randomly pointed to a few women and a few young men in the crowd.
Then he looked at Lin Ru's family and said, "Come in with me!"
Lin Ru and the others obediently followed them inside.
The tall officer soothed him gently.
"Don't be afraid! Just search them! I will clear your names."
Then they searched a few boys first, and after that they told the men to leave.
One of the officers stood with his back to the women, and then the women began to search them.
Both the young man and the woman replied, "Sir! No!"
Old Mrs. Lin rushed over and roared angrily.
"You're covering for them! You should strip them naked! Only then will it count!"
The officer retorted, "I randomly selected these people, and I was present at the scene. Who are you accusing of covering for them?"
Old Mrs. Lin was so angry that she sat on the ground and cried.
"Oh my god! This is outrageous! You're all protecting them! You're bullying an old woman like me! You'll all die a horrible death! Those vixens have bewitched you! You'll all die a horrible death!"
The official was speechless.
Upon seeing this, Lin Ru knelt down and said, "My lords! Please do justice for me! I want to accuse them of trespassing, causing trouble, and smashing my house with a fabricated reason! They ruined all the food we had left! And they even falsely accused me of theft!"
Bai also led the three Lin brothers to kneel down: "We beg the official to make a decision!"
Old Mrs. Lin got up from the ground and angrily cursed at Lin Ru's family.
"You unfilial children! I am your grandmother!"
Lin Ru said calmly, "Ever since my father died! And you divorced my mother! And kicked her out to fend for herself, you've never been my grandmother again!"
Old Mrs. Lin was so angry that she was about to hit him.
The official shouted, "Enough! Where is the village chief? Where is the village chief?"
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