Zhang Qin's eyes shifted, and ever since the incident in the morning, she knew that she couldn't rush this matter - at least not until she had deceived the girl into her home. Only then could she turn against her.
Once the matter was settled, that dead girl Jiang Xiaohua would have to submit to her like her previous daughters-in-law.
Now, she wouldn't lose face. Just wait for her to be worn down after crossing the threshold!
Zhang Qin's attention turned to the shorter girl, and she began to softly tempt her with pastries.
"Xiaomiao, do you want to eat some pastries? Come to your aunt's house and let's talk. The incident this morning must have been a misunderstanding. Your big brother Dabao was spoiled by us. We don't blame you for hitting him, really."
Lu Jingzhi ignored her.
If it were a normal eleven-year-old girl, she might have been deceived, but she was Lu Jingzhi.
Hungry.
Greedy.
But not stupid.
"Little sister, let's not bother the two elders and get straight to the point." Jiang Tanyue glanced at Lu Jingzhi, who returned an helpless look. She couldn't help it; her stomach was rumbling in protest, and she didn't want that either!
Jiang Tanyue spoke indifferently, "If possible, please listen carefully to what I have to say without interrupting me. Otherwise, it would waste both your time and mine. I won't marry into the Zhang family. The fifty taels of silver that you gave are not with my mother, but with my grandmother."
The couple wanted to speak, but Jiang Tanyue silenced them with a look.
"My grandmother took the money without consulting us. This is not marrying a granddaughter but selling one."
"My suggestion is that whoever took your money should be the one to deliver the bride."
"There are more than just one granddaughter in the Jiang family."
Zhang Qin opened her mouth, "You shouldn't talk like that; she's your grandmother. How could you speak ill of her? Besides, our Dabao has taken a fancy to you..."
"Can't you understand what my sister is saying? Whoever took your money should be the one to get the girl." Lu Jingzhi's voice was lazy because she was hungry and thinking about the chicken in the pot, but her saliva was flowing, and her temper naturally rose slightly.
Her tone was slightly irritable, carrying a hint of murderous intent, "Enough! Doesn't my grandmother also have daughters? Why are you targeting our family? You're not angry that I hit Zhang Dabao? That's good, one less troublesome matter!"
Vaguely, Zhang Qin and Zhang Xiong felt that the situation was gradually escaping their understanding.
Lu Jingzhi didn't care about their expressions and continued, "You can't take my sister away, and don't even think about plotting anything. My Aunt Qian said I'm a bit crazy, and I think she's right. Just glance behind us... what does our home look like? As the saying goes, the barefoot are not afraid of those wearing shoes. If you push me to the corner..."
Behind her, the door to the thatched hut was open, and the inside was pitch-dark.
Even the poorest old lepers in Lake West Village didn't live in such a shabby house.
The story of Qian Zhenzhu being beaten until her head was bleeding had spread throughout Lake West Village.
Anyone with ears had heard this gossip.
Although many people hadn't seen it with their own eyes, it didn't stop them from graphically recounting Qian Zhenzhu's miserable state.
They even mentioned that her brain was almost flowing out.
The eleven-year-old girl was very thin, and the blood on the gauze wrapped around her head was eye-catching. She spoke carelessly, carrying a hint of rascality. Due to her voice, there was also an unconscious sense of childish innocence.
But Zhang Qin's back couldn't help but feel cold.
Her eyes were so dark, like the sky on the coldest night of winter.
Zhang Qin's smile couldn't hold up, "Jiang Caier... that's your little aunt, she's your elder..."
"Oh..." Lu Jingzhi laughed lightly, "I know that."