Chu Nanzhi knew that this was unbelievable. With the Host's intelligence, how could she solve any case?
Everything would be clear when Lin Jinxiao returned.
However, she could not take the Qi family's silver anymore.
As the saying went, one could be poor, but one must retain one's pride.
She felt uncomfortable when she thought of the Qi family matriarch's sharp and mean appearance, and how Qi family had arrogantly bullied them.
She held Liu Yun's hand and said earnestly, "Mother, regardless of whether I'm telling the truth, just return the Qi family's silver first. Don't let that aunt find an excuse to make trouble for you again."
"I'm already old. What's the big deal? I just want you to have a good life."
Liu Yun replied gloomily.
The Qi family members, who had followed closely after Liu Yun, heard her words. The mistress of the Qi family, Qi Yujie, led her son, Qi Mochen, into the courtyard and started cursing.
"Yes, yes, yes. You old swine, you've no more pride, but stop hurting our family again and again. Look at us, with so many dependents. You're really a group of sluts and parasites. All of you are sluts. Without the Qi family, you wouldn't be able to survive."
Qi Yujie glared angrily at the people in the courtyard. She was so aggressive that Si Bao immediately burst into tears. "We're not sluts. You're the slut."
"Hey, you little b*stard. You're really badly brought up."
When Qi Yujie heard that, he tried to hit Si Bao in front of Chu Nanzhi.
The other children were so frightened that they started crying.
Chu Nanzhi grabbed Qi Yujie's hand and said calmly, "Aunt, I respect you as an elder and won't get physical with you, but you should behave like an elder. You should be kinder with your words."
"Bah."
Qi Yujie said grumpily, "Who are you to say such things to me. Why don't you consider what kind of person you are?"
As she spoke, she broke free from Chu Nanzhi's grip and glared at Chu Nanzhu. "You b*tch. You can't even control your own man. Aren't you ashamed to continue living? How much money has he lost in gambling over in the past two years? Every time, I had to help that cur pay his debts."
"But our family has scraped up the money and returned it to you."
When Chu Nanzhu heard this, she only dared to whisper. Then, she lowered his head and sobbed softly and pitifully.
Chu Nanzhi saw that this woman was becoming increasingly aggressive and unrestrained She immediately snatched the package from Chu Nanzhu's hand and took back the thirty taels of silver that Liu Yun had obtained from selling her jewelry. Then she tossed the rest back to Qi Yujie.
"Aren't you just here to take back the silver? Here are the 200 taels, still untouched. If we still owe you money, our family will slowly repay it. However, if you continue to spout such filth, don't blame me for being disrespectful to you even though I'm your junior."
"What? Don't tell me you dare to hit me? Even if I allowed you to do so, you wouldn't have the guts to do it. If you don't have the ability, don't come bragging to me."
Qi Yujie knew that this woman beat and scolded her children and husband, but she was sure that Chu Nanzhi would not dare to be rough with her.
After all, no one from this branch of the family could do without her help.
Not to mention scolding them, even if she beat this family up, they would still beg her submissively.
Unexpectedly, Chu Nanzhi did not hesitate and pushed her away with a slap. "I've always been like that. If others respect me, I'll return that respect tenfold. But if you treat me with disdain, don't blame me for turning on you."
Qi Yujie lost her balance. She staggered backwards, still holding the silver. She lost her balance and fell to the ground. She cried out in pain and cursed, "Hey, you lousy slut. Forget about ever getting any more silver from my family in the future."
Seeing this, Qi Mochen also rushed forward to scold Chu Nanzhi. "You evil woman, have you no respect for the Qi family, or do you think that you orphans and widows can do as you please?"
"Even an orphan and a widow can't be bullied."
Chu Nanzhi's eyes met his as she said sternly.
However, Qi Mochen was fearless. With a malicious gaze, he threatened, "So what if I'm bullying you? When you're sold to a brothel in the future, I'll let you experience what it's like to lead a life worse than death and have a taste of hell on earth."
"Then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Brother Qi."
Chu Nanzhi said coldly.
When Liu Yun saw this, she quickly went over to support Qi Yujie and advised her kindly, "My daughter said that she helped the county magistrate solve the case. Eldest Brother will be released soon. Sister-in-law, don't be angry. We don't need the money Brother brought. Sister-in-law, just take it back."
"You old fool, how can you believe this b*tch's words? Does she have that kind of ability?"
Qi Yujie glared at Chu Nanzhi resentfully.
However, just as she said that, Li Ce, who had been standing by the door for a long time and watching the commotion, excitedly rushed towards the courtyard door shouted, "Brother Jinxiao, you're really back."
When the four children saw that, they hurriedly stopped crying and went forward to greet him, calling him "Father".
Everyone's gaze followed them and they saw a group of people carrying a cheerful Lin Jinxiao into the courtyard.
Qi Yujie got up, still clutching the silver. She was dumbfounded. "What… what's going on?"
Qi Mochen frowned.
Liu Yun could not believe it either. She rushed over and asked, "Eldest Brother, my eldest daughter said that she helped the county magistrate solve the case. You're not guilty now. Is that true?"
"It's true, it's true. I heard from the county magistrate that it was indeed Madam Chu who solved the case and cleared Eldest Brother and all of us of our grievances."
The people around Lin Jinxiao replied excitedly and tearfully.
"That's great."
Li Ce was also so excited that tears welled up in his eyes. He immediately felt ashamed when he thought about his recent actions.
After hesitating for a moment, he decisively walked to Chu Nanzhi and knelt down in front of everyone. He kowtowed and shouted, "Ancestor, please accept my bow."
Everyone was puzzled, but he had already kowtowed a few times.
Chu Nanzhi was so frightened that she was at a lost for words. She quickly helped him up and said kindly, "It's just a joke. Why take it so seriously?"
"No, no, no. I wronged you just now. This is an apology."
Li Ce was a man who always kept his word.
In addition, he had admired Lin Jinxiao's talent and character since he was young and had always treated him as his own brother. He was sincerely grateful to this woman when he saw that Lin Jinxiao had returned safely.
Chu Nanzhi knew that Li Ce was not a bad person. For him to still care about Lin Jinxiao even when he was in trouble showed that he was a loyal person.
He only hated the Host's actions.
Looking at Li Ce, she smiled and said simply, "Let bygones be bygones. I have also done wrong in the past. Let's just get along well in the future."
Li Ce rubbed his hands excitedly and nodded a few times before he went to ask Lin Jinxiao how he was.
Chu Nanzhi had just calmed Li Ce down when she saw the big men beside Lin Jinxiao also kneel.
"Madam Chu, you saved us. We will never forget it. Please accept our thanks."
Chu Nanzhi did not know these people. They were probably Lin Jinxiao's colleagues, who were implicated in this case.
After being repeatedly misunderstood and despised, this sudden gratitude overwhelmed her.
She pulled Liu Yun along to help the group of burly men up one by one. Then, she glanced at the cold and arrogant Lin Jinxiao and explained gently, "I was just trying to save my own life. There's no need for everyone to take it to heart. It's better to hurry home and tell your families that you're safe."
"Yes, yes, yes. Don't let your family worry too much."
Liu Yun also smiled happily and said, "Everyone, rest in the courtyard for a while. I'll bring water for everyone to quench their thirst before going home."
As she spoke, she looked around at the crowd and instructed, "Sister-in-law, come and help me."
However, after searching through the crowd, she realized that Qi Yujie and her son were nowhere to be seen. They had already fled with their tail between their legs.