"Lin Jinhong."
Chu Nanzhi rushed over angrily and scolded him, "Do you think you're so great because you can bully two children?"
When Lin Jinhong saw Chu Nanzhi, he tried his best to shake off the two children as he replied awkwardly,
"Sister-in-law, look at these two brats. I went to visit Big Brother but they insisted that I took your family's money. Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
"You know whether you've taken it."
"He took it. We saw him go into your room and take the silver."
The Lin Ruiwen and Lin Ruichong replied in unison.
Chu Nanzhi's heart ached when she saw that the two boys refused to let go even though they were covered in dirt from Lin Jinhong's kicks. "Let go of your Second Uncle first. I'll make him return the money."
The two boys did not believe her.
"I know better than you how important this silver is."
Chu Nanzhi lowered her head and murmured softly to them.
Only then did they let go.
Lin Jinhong straightened his clothes and glared at the two boys.
"Like mother, like child. Look at how they tore my clothes. My wife just made me this shirt. For Big Brother's sake, I won't force them to pay for it."
"Second Brother, you're really good at distorting the truth."
Chu Nanzhi did not know what to say to this fellow. He was a ruffian.
She ignored his provocation and said bluntly, "Hand over the silver, or I won't stand on ceremony."
"Heh, I think you really proved what I said just now. The little ones are crafty, and the big one is unreasonable. Did you see me take your silver? How can the word of two brats be trusted?"
Lin Jinhong pretended to be innocent and said rebukingly,
"You lazy, evil woman. Is your family running out of money? Is that why your family members are in cahoots to cheat me of my money?"
The quarrel attracted the attention of the nearby villagers. Liu Qingbo also rushed over after hearing the news.
When Liu Qingbo saw what was going on, he glanced at everyone and stared at Chu Nanzhi before asking, "What happened?"
Before Chu Nanzhi could reply, Lin Jinhong started to complain first.
"Village Chief, you and everyone else came at the right time. I want justice. I went to visit Big Brother today out of goodwill, but this family insisted that I stole their money and falsely accused me. I've been wronged."
Liu Qingbo ignored Lin Jinhong. He knew what kind of person this man was. He was not trustworthy.
If this fellow had really taken someone's money, it would not be easy to get it back.
He had witnessed just how shameless this ruffian could be. It was not the first time he had scammed people in the village.
His gaze stopped on Chu Nanzhi and he asked worriedly, "Has the money in your home really gone missing?"
Chu Nanzhi bit her lips and softly acquiesced.
The Village Chief frowned and asked, "How much silver did you lose?"
Chu Nanzhi thought for a moment. The fifteen taels of silver that Liu Yun had left were still in the money bag on her person. Lin Ruijia had probably hidden the seven taels of silver and jewelry that had been in the Host's bag in the inner room.
Since Lin Jinhong had not disturbed his brother, he must have only stolen the silver that she had earned.
After ascertaining it, she answered straightaway, "One tael of gold and thirty-eight taels of silver."
Without another word, Liu Qingbo ordered his men to force Lin Jinhong to the ground. Sure enough, he found one tael of gold and thirty-eight taels of silver.
But Lin Jinhong refused to confess and cursed indignantly, "Aren't there laws? You're robbing me of my silver in broad daylight. How can you be sure that this silver belongs to this evil woman? If she says that she lost a hundred taels, would I have to find the money to compensate her?"
Liu Qingbo stared at him solemnly, "Then where did you get so much money?"
"Why can't I have this money?"
Lin Jinhong explained earnestly, "I won this money last night at the casino. I even spent a few taels to buy my friends some wine. If you don't believe me, you can ask my friends in the county."
After thinking for a while, he looked at Chu Nanzhi and added, "That evil woman's cousin, the Qi Family's son-in-law, will back me up."
Lin Ruiwen and Lin Ruixi were angry when they heard that. They piped their accusation like so many birds chirping, "You big liar. You're obviously talking nonsense. We saw you take the money from our house."
However, Lin Jinhong spoke with conviction and even involved so many people that it seemed impossible to disbelieve him.
Liu Qingbo looked at Chu Nanzhi awkwardly.
Although the two elders' impression of her had changed after eating at her house yesterday, her past behavior was not enough to prove that she was telling the truth now.
Moreover, even if Lin Jinhong really took her family's money, without solid evidence, this fellow was so shameless that they would not be able to get it back.
This family had no choice but to admit defeat.
He looked at Chu Nanzhi hesitantly, wanting to go through the motions. He said hesitantly, "Why don't we ask your cousin or someone from the casino?"
"There's no need to go to so much trouble."
Chu Nanzhi knew Lin Jinhong's character.
This guy was an idler. He spent all his time in the casino and had many disreputable friends in the county. Even if she really went to ask them, those people would find a way to take her silver.
He had mentioned Qi Mochen to disgust her.
She could not be tricked by this guy.
The villagers were discussing the matter fervently, "If you're not going to ask, how are you going to get the silver back? Madam Chu, the Qi family's son is your cousin. Surely he wouldn't shield Lin Jinhong."
Chu Nanzhi pretended not to hear them. She turned and faced Lin Jinhong directly. She smiled and said, "My money has legs and can recognize its owner. Lin Jinhong, you keep saying that you won this money from the casino. I wonder, if you call your money, will it respond?"
"Nonsense, whose money can talk?"
Lin Jinhong looked at the silver in his hand and clutched it tightly in his hand. He scolded impatiently,
"Chu Nanzhi, you evil woman. Stop the drama. I've already said that if you covet my money, come and beg me. I might give you a little money for Big Brother's sake, but if you act shamelessly, I have plenty of ways to make you suffer."
"Lin Jinhong, stop pretending to be a good person. Do you really think that you can get away with this just because your eldest brother is crippled and the children are vulnerable?"
Chu Nanzhi fiercely pointed at the silver in his hand.
"Since you can't prove that this silver is yours, I'll show you how my silver recognizes its owner. My silver can speak."
The surrounding villagers had originally sympathized with her a little, but when they heard her words, their expressions immediately changed. They could not help but point at her and whisper, "This woman must have been knocked silly."
Liu Qingbo could not figure out what she was up to either. He went up to her worriedly and reminded her, "Madam Chu, your luck might run out. Don't make a fool of yourself. How can silver speak?"
Chu Nanzhi looked at him. He must have believed what she said to Elder Chang yesterday and thought that she had helped the county magistrate solve the case by luck.
She glanced warmly at the Village Chief and smiled. "I have my methods. Please bring this rascal to my house. I will give everyone a satisfactory explanation."
Liu Qingbo glared at Lin Jinghong helplessly. "Jinhong, please come along."
Lin Jinhong pretended to be calm and snorted coldly.
"So be it. Big Brother should be awake now. I'll go and visit Big Brother again and see what this evil woman is up to."