"Sorry to me?" Beisitian asked for confirmation.
Zhang Lianqiao stood there with her head slightly lowered, hands wringing together, and said softly, "Yes..."
A glimmer of amusement flashed in Beisitian’s eyes, and she sighed deliberately, "Sister Lianqiao is also a righteous person. No wonder my husband always helped your family in the past. It’s no wonder that whenever he’s mentioned, you get a bit emotional."
Beisitian took the initiative to ’explain’ a bit for Zhang Lianqiao, always leaving room when handling matters. She never pushes things to a dead end. Perhaps Zhang Lianqiao really did covet her husband, but what does it matter now? He’s dead, and mentioning it without proof would only embarrass Zhang Lianqiao. It would be better to hold it over her as a small leverage.
Zhang Lianqiao nodded and lightly bit her lower lip. Zhang Shuncai, beside her, looked puzzled. When did Luo Xudong ever help the Old Zhang Family? The lad joined the army at sixteen.
Seeing Zhang Lianqiao’s shoulders slightly drop, Beisitian knew her words had relieved her. It seemed her guess was correct.
But if you don’t admit to this, you’ll have to admit to that, yet Zhang Lianqiao didn’t want to admit to anything!
Zhang Lianqiao tugged at her clothes hem with her head down. Zhang Shungui felt his sister was wronged and shouted fiercely at Beisitian, "Little widow, what nonsense are you saying? Who saw it was our Lian Qiao who pushed her? If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll... I’ll... sue you!"
Zhang Shungui wanted to say something harsh, but Zhang Shuncai quickly nudged him with his elbow, gesturing toward Director Xu with his mouth. Zhang Shungui immediately changed his tone.
Zhang Shungui was known for acting on his threats, and everyone in the village knew that. Saying such things in front of Director Xu would only cause trouble for himself.
Beisitian had to make Zhang Lianqiao admit today. Without a firm stance, the Zhang Brothers would only create more trouble in the future.
"Sister Lianqiao!" Beisitian called softly.
The call snapped Zhang Lianqiao out of her deep thoughts. She clutched her clothes hem, her lowered eyes darting about restlessly, but still, she remained silent.
Beisitian sighed and said, "Sister Lianqiao, I know you toward my husb..."
"It was me!" Zhang Lianqiao hurriedly interrupted her.
She was still an unmarried young girl. No matter how good Luo Xudong was, he was already dead. She just felt an unresolved resentment in her heart, so she pushed Beisitian to scare her, not expecting her to slip and fall.
"What do you mean it was you?" Beisitian refused to let it go, pressing on relentlessly. This kind of statement that holds possible future repercussions must not exist!
"I accidentally pushed you..." As Zhang Lianqiao finished saying this, her body trembled slightly, and tears began to fall as if she were the one who had been pushed.
The Zhang Brothers looked at her in shock; this wasn’t what she had said at home.
The murmurs around suddenly intensified, and fingers pointed at Zhang Lianqiao.
Mrs. Qin immediately placed her hands on her hips and scolded, "Did you hear that? You all heard it, didn’t you? This girl not only pushed our Little Tian’er down the hill, but her brothers also came asking for compensation. Isn’t that too much bullying? Director Xu, are they bullying our family of the old, weak, sick, and disabled this way?"
Mrs. Qin wiped her tears away.
People around changed their views on Zhang Lianqiao’s usual docile image, but with the Zhang Brothers around, no one dared say much.
"Sister Lianqiao, to be honest, after I fell down the hill, my mother scraped money together to treat my injuries. Don’t even mention the ongoing costs; even daily living expenses have become a problem." Beisitian’s face showed a look of distress.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lianqiao knew what Beisitian meant. She lightly bit her lower lip, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, appearing pitiable. But no matter how pitiful, she couldn’t compare to Beisitian lying on a wooden board.
Zhang Shuncai’s eyes widened as he heard this, shouting, "If your family’s living expenses are a problem, does that mean mine aren’t? My family has so many strong workers, and if one meal doesn’t fill us, no meal will!"
Whether it was his sister who pushed or not, giving things away was definitely impossible, and the same went for money!
Xu Youcai glared angrily, "What? You still want to deny it?"
Just now, he misjudged and had people apologize, even if it was a forced apology. Besides feeling somewhat guilty, he mainly felt ashamed. Now watching Zhang Shuncai daring to be so obstinate, his anger boiled over.
Zhang Shuncai no longer had his previous cheeky smile, his face stern as he turned his head away, not looking at Xu Youcai nor the Luo family’s mother and daughter-in-law. He said obstinately, "My family is poor; we have no money. If that’s not okay, you might as well kill me."
This rogue tactic of having no money and valuing one’s life above all has always been used by thugs throughout history, yet it’s the most effective against single, weak families like the Luo’s.
Mrs. Qin was so enraged she picked up a knife to chop at him, scaring Zhang Shuncai to retreat hastily, straight behind Xu Youcai.
Xu Youcai was also shocked. This Mrs. Qin was the village’s fierce woman. He couldn’t care for Zhang Shuncai, that fool, and quickly raised his hands in front of him, shouting, "Sister Qin, calm down! Calm down! Let me handle this, will you?"
Seeing this, Beisitian raised her voice and called out, "Mother!"
Mrs. Qin wasn’t truly trying to harm anyone; she was just furious. Hearing Beisitian call her, she glared at Zhang Shuncai with her red-rimmed eyes, as if trying to bore a hole through him.
Zhang Shuncai looked at her ferocious expression, her eyes shrouded in white, looking as terrifying as could be. He said nothing, feeling that he’d already offended Xu Youcai by hiding behind him earlier. Stirring up trouble again would only make people hate him more.
But wanting things or money was certainly out of the question!
Mrs. Qin stood beside Beisitian, trembling with anger, the knife in her hand waving.
Beisitian gently patted the back of her hand. This mother-in-law’s temper was too fierce; it was damaging to her health.
"Uncle Youcai, you’ve seen our family’s situation. Since you said you’d handle this, we, the Luo Family, trust you." Beisitian spoke softly, but with a forceful undertone that made Xu Youcai take an extra look at her.
In reality, Beisitian didn’t genuinely intend to get anything from the Zhang Family. She knew they wouldn’t give it, and Xu Youcai wouldn’t be able to get it either. This way, it’d be better for her. The Zhang Family would owe her one, and Xu Youcai would feel indebted for not delivering. In the future, he’d be more accommodating if something came up.
Beisitian had to think more long-term. She knew she probably couldn’t go back, and since she’d be living here in the future, she had to make more plans for herself.
"Mother, let’s go back." Beisitian turned her head and said to Mrs. Qin.
Xu Youcai quickly instructed two women to carry her back inside.
Zhang Shuncai had long slipped away while the two were talking, and Zhang Lianqiao was also taken away by Zhang Shungui.
Mrs. Qin, seeing everyone disperse, turned her head to look at Beisitian, her expression quite peculiar, as if she didn’t recognize her.