Chapter 68: Cutting Off Family Ties

  "I don't know where Master wants us mother and daughter to go?" The older woman's voice was cold, like a sharp knife.

  "What's with all the nonsense? Just follow me and let's go." The officer was a stubborn blockhead, completely unable to tell that she was a straightforward person.

  "Is the official inviting us mother and daughter to eat at a restaurant or asking us to go to the garden to watch opera?" The words were full of sarcasm, it can be seen that this older sister-in-law was also worldly-wise and didn't get intimidated by officials like some ignorant women.

  Pfft~

  She spoke lightly, but everyone around her was amused by it. They knew she was intentionally making things difficult for the corrupt official, and they all took on a look of watching a show. Qin Dai also thought that this woman's mouth was sharp, yet not annoying, and decided to join in on the fun.

  The official was somewhat annoyed and hastily said: "What are you muttering about? Get up quickly!"

  The woman asked again: "Where to go?"

  The officer was getting impatient and was about to take another step forward, but was pulled back by another officer. The latter stepped forward and said: "Sister-in-law, let me tell you the truth! The boss of Chen's store has reported us to the authorities, saying that you two are extorting money from him, so we need to take you and your daughter to the yamen for a trip."

  "That woman didn't even raise an eyebrow, 'Blackmail? Paying back debts is the natural order of things, we haven't even accused them of not paying their debts yet. They actually dare to be the first to file a complaint?'"

  The shopkeeper-like man who had bribed the officer earlier stepped forward and said, "You woman, you're being unreasonable. Our master's brother lost contact with us over a decade ago, how could you suddenly appear as his relative? And you dare to spout nonsense about owing money without any evidence, isn't that extortion?"

  "Hmph, empty words? Has Chen Fu forgotten the IOU he wrote back then?" The tone was full of confidence. "In that case, I really need to take a trip with the two officials. As they say, 'money can make ghosts grind mills'. I'd like to see if this written IOU in black and white is something anyone can deny."

  Just now the second shopkeeper was still arrogant, but as soon as he heard that there was a loan receipt, he became flustered. Everyone knows that the governor of Taizhou is an honest and upright official who handles everything impartially. If what the woman said is true, not only will they have to repay the silver, but they may also be convicted of false accusation.

  His hesitation also made the two officers show a timid color, originally thinking of collecting some small money, it's not difficult to deal with two rural women, but unexpectedly they encountered a hard bone, if this matter is leaked to the top, the two brothers will be implicated, just thinking about whether to return the money or not, Qin Dai stepped forward and came to the center of the circle.

  Ru Yi looked at the back of her own young lady and anxiously stomped her feet. This official business is unclear, what are you getting mixed up in?

  "This elder sister, the two officials, and this shopkeeper, I was passing by this place and heard a rough idea of your situation. I have a plan in mind that may not be perfect but could be a solution. May I share it with you for your consideration?" Qin Dai's current appearance as a man made him look like a scholar, except for the mother-daughter duo on the ground who didn't react, the other three people all looked like they were waiting to hear what he had to say.

  Qin Dai's heart looked at the woman sitting on the ground and said: "Sister-in-law, rest assured, I am an outsider and will absolutely not favor anyone else."

  The woman perhaps also had no choice but to ask: "Tell me then."

  Qin Dai'er disagreed, saying: "This elder sister says that Chen the shopkeeper owes their family an old debt, with loan documents as evidence, and wants Chen to repay the money; but Chen thinks that he has been separated from his brother for many years, and this relative may be a fake. Both sides have different opinions, making it difficult to distinguish between them, but actually, it's quite easy."

  "What is the easy way?" Not only did the two officials ask anxiously, but also the onlookers couldn't help but become curious.

  "Think about it, this big sister has come from afar, if she wanted to extort someone, why didn't she go to someone else's house? Why did she pick on Chen the shopkeeper? There are many rich and wealthy families on this street, it can't be that only Chen the shopkeeper is capable of producing these things?" The implication being that your Chen family isn't rich enough, if you're going to extort someone, you should at least go after a big shot.

  "Doesn't this shopkeeper know if Chen shopkeeper said he didn't recognize this big sister?" It was a bit of a rhetorical question.

  "That's natural."

  "If you really don't want to do it, just let someone coax you out and that's it. Why bother reporting to the officials and giving them silver?" Her words were extremely soft, only the shopkeeper and the two officers heard, and their faces stiffened instantly.

  "So, we all know what's going on in our hearts. The relatives aren't fake, but because they've been separated for many years, they didn't recognize each other at first; the debt isn't that they don't want to pay back, but rather they want to figure out these two people's identities before making a plan." Qin Dai whispered to the woman: "Now your daughter is sick, it's exactly when you need money. If you really take them to court, I'm afraid it will take some time. Even if you get the money, your daughter's illness might not be cured. Moreover, how do you know they won't collude with officials? In the end, they might snatch the IOU from your hands and have you convicted of extortion. It's possible that you'll even die in prison."

  She saw the woman's expression relax, knowing that she had moved her thoughts, and came to the second shopkeeper's side and said: "I don't get involved in Chen's family affairs, but they are really pitiful. If you really take out the loan documents, I'm afraid it won't only be your boss who loses face, but also bring a reputation of being unfaithful and heartless." Businessmen value honesty most, without honesty, one can't stand firm.

  The second shopkeeper seemed to be weighing Qin Daihe's words, bowing his head in silence. Qin Daihe saw this and continued: "If that woman really produces the loan documents, I'm afraid Chen shopkeeper will not only have to return the money but also pay interest, and still suffer the reputation of bullying a widow with children. You don't need me to say it, you also know the temperament of the Taizhou governor, if he were to preside over this case...” She didn't finish her sentence, intending for the other person to ponder it themselves.

  The people on both sides seem to have reached a stalemate. The two officials were the happiest, and they stepped forward to ask: "In your opinion, how should this be resolved?"

  "This is simple, let that woman say the amount of money owed by Chen Zhanggui, and then add some interest accordingly. Tell this manager to go back and report, bring the money to exchange for the IOU, and it's done. Chen Zhanggui repaying the debt is a small matter, helping relatives is a big deal. Don't be fooled, I also know a bit of medicine, I think that girl is seriously ill, it should be an old illness, why not spend some money to settle this, give them the money and let them go back to their hometown."

  The shopkeeper said: "What if they keep bothering us?"

  Qin Dai thought to herself, this must be what Chen Zhanggui is most worried about? But on the surface, she pretended to be nonchalant and said: "The debt has been repaid, who still cares about other people's business?"

  The shopkeeper nodded and turned back into the store to consult, the woman also agreed, silently took out a yellowed paper from her clothes.

  In the end, under everyone's witness, Chen Zhanggui spent 200 taels of silver to "buy" back that IOU from many years ago, which included a principal of 150 taels and interest of 50 taels.

  The matter was resolved perfectly, and the people around dispersed one by one. Like Yi looked at Qin Dai Xin's eyes as if she had seen her idol, with little stars in her eyes.

  "Alright, the matter is settled. We should get back to our proper business." Qin Dai's mood was excellent as she walked with Ruo Xi towards their destination. Just as they turned around, they suddenly heard an unexpected call.

  "Please stay."

  PS: Transitional chapter