Chapter 27: I’m Blackmailing You!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

With Zhou Xiaoli’s words, everyone looked at the scene again and saw a few torn packets of medicine scattered on the cart.

Compared to Old Madam Ma’s dry howls of nothing, Zhou Xiaoli’s tears attracted more sympathy from the villagers.

Immediately, many villagers felt that Old Madam Ma and her daughter-in-law had indeed gone too far.

“Madam Ma, this is your fault. Why were you so curious about the medicine she bought? Why do you have to go and take a look?”

…

Old Madam Ma and her daughter-in-law felt ashamed and resentful after being criticized by the villagers, but they still did not feel that they were in the wrong.

Zhou Xiaoli snorted coldly and insisted on reporting the matter to the police. In the end, even the village chief was alarmed.

He always had a good impression of this little girl, Zhou Xiaoli and so, even before he knew what had happened, he had sided with Zhou Xiaoli unconsciously. He was worried that her family would be bullied because there was no man in charge.

Now that he heard what had happened, he became angrier. He pointed at Old Madam Ma and scolded, “You old woman, what should I say?!”

“It’s a fact that you and your daughter-in-law spoiled someone else’s medicine. Now that the Zhou family’s daughter wants to report you to the police, it’s reasonable. Why are you crying?”

Hearing the village chief’s words, Old Madam Ma and Mdm Cui were completely flustered. They said repeatedly, “Village chief, you can’t report it to the police. We really didn’t do it on purpose. We thought that it was food. We know our mistakes now.”

“You thought that it was food? Do you think you can open other people’s things just because it’s food?” The village chief maintained his poker face. “Besides, what’s the use of apologizing to me? It’s not my medicine that was spoiled,” he then said in a matter-of-fact tone.

The two of them quickly turned to apologize to Zhou Xiaoli.

Zhou Xiaoli listened, but remained unmoved.

At this moment, the village chief spoke again. “Since ancient times, it’s only right and proper to repay a debt. Madam Ma, your daughter-in-law spoiled the Zhou family’s medicine, so it’s only right that you compensate her for it.”

Seeing that the topic has changed to compensation, Zhou Xiaoli immediately said, “Uncle Village Chief is wise. That’s true. If Auntie Ma is willing to compensate me for the medicine, I’m willing to let it go too.”

Hearing that Zhou Xiaoli had finally relented, Old Madam Ma heaved a sigh of relief and agreed readily. “Alright, alright, compensate. We’ll compensate. Tell me, how much does this cost?”

Zhou Xiaoli looked at it and said, “One dose of the medicine costs 3 taels and 71 copper coins. You’ve ruined four doses of medicine in total. Hmm, how about this? I’ll suffer some losses, and you can give me 12 taels and 200 copper coins.”

As soon as these words left her lips, Old Madam Ma almost jumped up. Her eyes widened as she pointed at Zhou Xiaoli and shouted, “You’re extorting me on purpose! What kind of medicine is that? It’s so expensive!”

She turned around and ran to look for the village chief. “Village chief, you saw it too. It’s not that I don’t want to admit my mistake, but this girl from the Zhou family is black-hearted. She wants to force me to my death!”

The village chief was also conflicted, but he did not say anything. Instead, he looked at Zhou Xiaoli.

“Hmph!” Zhou Xiaoli snorted coldly and said loudly, “What kind of medicine? Let me tell you, there’s 10 grams of ginseng in this medicine! This medicine was put together by the doctor in the county and even the lowest-grade ginseng costs 30 taels of silver per kilogram. 10 grams of ginseng would be 3 taels of silver!”

“The other medicines add up to 71 copper coins. I asked you for 84 copper coins less, but you turned around and accused me of extortion instead. Who was the one forcing the other party to their death?”

When she heard that there was ginseng inside, Old Madam Ma felt guilty for a moment, but then she became firm in her stand again. “Don’t try to trick me. Do you think you can get ginseng just because you say so? With your family’s conditions, would you be willing to buy ginseng? You’re lying! I think you’re just trying to extort money!”

Thinking that she had exposed Zhou Xiaoli’s lie, Old Madam Ma was extremely smug.

“Heh, that’s right! I’m blackmailing you!” Zhou Xiaoli sneered in her heart.

She was confident that Old Madam Ma could not differentiate between ginseng and codonopsis, so she straightened her back and fired back in a righteous tone. “This medicine is to save my mother. I’m willing to spend any amount of money to save her. I sold the wild boar for 21 taels of silver today and I used all of it to buy medicine for my mother. Can’t I?!”

“Since you’ve said so, let’s report it to the police. There must be someone in the government office who recognizes this medicine. When the time comes, we’ll know if it’s real or fake. Just wait to be taken to jail!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Wei Chiyu grabbed Old Madam Ma and started running. “Let’s just drag her to the police.”

As he spoke, he pulled her out of the village.

Old Madam Ma was completely flustered. She cried and shouted that she did not want to go to the police. Madam Cui pulled on Old Madam Ma’s other hand to stop her from being pulled away and cried uncontrollably.

Wei Chiyu acted as if he didn’t see them cry. He said coldly, “If you don’t want to see the police, compensate the Zhou family with money then.”

“Yes, we’ll give it to you, alright?” In order not to see the police, Old Madam Ma gritted her teeth and finally agreed.

But then she said, “But, my family doesn’t have that much money. Can we take it slow? I’ll gather the money slowly.”

Slowly?

How was that possible? With Old Madam Ma’s character, she would not believe that she would return it all if she allowed them to pay slowly.

Zhou Xiaoli immediately refused. “No, you have to give it to me now. My mother is still waiting for the money to use the medicine!”

Old Madam Ma sat on the ground and slapped her thighs as she cried. “But my family really doesn’t have that much money. Aiyo, is she trying to take my life?!”

Madam Cui was also extremely flustered. She stood beside Old Madam Ma and cried. “Mother, what should we do?”

Old Madam Ma, who had nowhere to vent her anger, immediately found an outlet to vent when she saw her daughter-in-law. She got up from the ground and slapped Madam Cui’s face. “You jinx, you prodigal. You know that it’s medicine just by opening one bag. You opened four bags in a row. Do you want to die?! I’ll beat you to death, you prodigal,” she scolded.

As she spoke, she slapped Madam Chui’s body repeatedly.

Old Madam Ma did not hold back at all. She hit Madam Cui until she hugged her head and begged for mercy.

The scene was chaotic.

“Alright, alright!” At this moment, the village chief frowned and stopped Old Madam Ma. He said impatiently, “If you want to discipline your daughter-in-law, go back home and do it behind closed doors. What are you doing on the streets right now?!”

Old Madam Ma was indignant after being criticized by the village chief again, but she did not dare to scold Madam Cui anymore.

The village chief then said, “Your family must compensate. If you don’t have money, then compensate with your valuables!”

Old Madam Ma wanted to stall for time and not not want to pay at all. She cried and said, “But, but my house doesn’t have anything valuable.”

At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded from the crowd to expose Old Madam Ma. “Hey, that’s right, Madam Ma, didn’t your family just buy a donkey two weeks ago? If you really can’t pay cash, use the donkey to repay the debt then.”

Domestic animals like donkeys, horses, and cows were usually very expensive. Ordinary families could not afford them at all and in their village, only the Lu family had a donkey.

Two weeks ago, Old Madam Ma’s family had also bought one. They often flaunted it on the streets and were extremely arrogant.

Old Madam Wang was the one who exposed her. Two days ago, she carried a small bag of rice to Old Madam Ma’s house as a gift, in hopes of borrowing her donkey.

At that time, Old Madam Ma and her daughter-in-law felt that the rice she had brought was too little. Not only did they not lend their donkey to her, but they had also mocked her for it.

It was obvious that she had now exposed her on purpose.

When Old Madam Ma heard someone mention her donkey, her eyes widened and she had a bad feeling.