Chapter 232: A Way to Sort Them Out

Chapter 232: Chapter 232: A Way to Sort Them Out

Ji Huan had originally planned to go to Cao Family Village with Widow Xie, but Widow Xie refused no matter what.

Ji Huan hadn’t even been there for the big scene in town today, yet Granny Cao and Mrs. Wang were still trying to pin the blame on her.

If Ji Huan went to Cao Family Village now to stand up for the Hu Family, it would be even harder for her to clear her name.

Ji Huan thought about it and didn’t insist.

She went into the inner room, wrote at the desk for a while, then came out with two sheets of paper. She handed them to Widow Xie and whispered some instructions in her ear.

Widow Xie tucked the papers away safely and left without a moment’s rest.

As dusk fell, the Hu Family returned, including a bruised and swollen Hu Liang.

It looked like he had suffered quite a bit of retaliation during his half-day at the Cao residence.

Ji Huan paid him no mind and first asked Widow Xie if she had gotten the marriage contract back.

Widow Xie showed her the marriage contract and recounted what had happened.

"I did as you said. I found Village Chief Meng, and when we arrived at Cao Family Village, he called for Village Chief Cao, and we went to the Cao residence together. Just as you expected, Granny Cao and Mrs. Wang refused to reconcile. The two village chiefs were so angry their faces turned black. In the end, I took out the two sheets of paper you gave me. They had someone read them. They weren’t happy at first, but after talking it over, they agreed. Both sides pressed their handprints on the document, and that was the end of it."

Although Widow Xie had done as she was told, she didn’t really understand why Ji Huan had insisted on involving both village chiefs.

"I had you call Village Chief Meng because only he could summon Village Chief Cao of Cao Family Village. As for why we had to involve Village Chief Cao..."

’With the marriage falling through, there’s no way Village Chief Cao’s family wouldn’t hold a grudge against Mrs. Wang, the matchmaker.’

According to the customs in the Northern Pass region, the matchmaker’s fee was non-refundable, whether the marriage happened or not. Seven taels of silver was no small sum, and given Mrs. Wang’s greedy nature, she certainly wouldn’t offer to return it.

And with a prize like the hot and spicy soup business right in front of them, they wouldn’t listen to reason, not even if the village chiefs—or the emperor himself—tried to mediate.

It was almost certain that the two village chiefs would be publicly slighted.

Village Chief Meng would be fine; it wasn’t his village, so there was no real loss of face.

But it was different for Village Chief Cao. Being snubbed by his own villagers in front of a peer from another village? It would be strange if he didn’t hold a grudge.

’Old grievances plus new resentment... The Cao Family will have a hard time ahead of them.’

’Besides, neither side is any good. It’s best to let them have at each other, an eye for an eye.’

"Besides, with both of them present, this agreement becomes legally binding. If anything happens in the future, the Cao Family won’t be able to stir up any more trouble."

Widow Xie looked at the agreement she held, a copy of which the Cao Family also had. Logically, the contents were disadvantageous to them. Wouldn’t it be better if the Cao Family refused to honor it?

’Could there be some hidden trick to it?’

In truth, there wasn’t much of a trick. The Cao Family wasn’t stupid; they would never have put their handprints on it if they knew there was a trap.

Ji Huan had simply listed the general reasons for the Hu Family breaking off the engagement, the cause and effect of the recent conflict, and the terms of the Cao Family’s agreement to return the marriage contract and not pursue the matter further. She had just been a little... particular with her wording.

The Cao Family’s initial reluctance was likely because of that.

But after some discussion, they still agreed.

It wasn’t surprising.

Their only goal was to make the Hu Family give up the hot and spicy soup business completely. That way, they would have no competition in all of Juyong Town.

With endless money to be made, other unpleasant details could be overlooked.

"So we’re just letting them off that easy? What if Village Chief Cao doesn’t give them trouble..."

Widow Xie thought that this one move was the entirety of what Ji Huan meant by "dealing with them."

Ji Huan smiled.

This step was just to get the marriage contract back smoothly and take out some insurance in advance. The real operation hadn’t even officially begun.

She looked at Hu Liang.

From the moment he’d returned, Hu Liang had kept his head down, not saying a word.

Now, seeing both Ji Huan and Widow Xie looking at him, he dropped straight to his knees.

Ji Huan and Widow Xie were standing together, so when Hu Liang knelt, it looked as if he were kneeling to her.

She discreetly shifted to the side.

For the past half-day, Widow Xie had been consumed with worry that Hu Liang would be thrown in jail; she hadn’t had the mind for anything else.

Now that the crisis was averted, all her suppressed anger erupted.

She turned and left the main room. When she returned, she was holding a stick as thick as a child’s wrist. Without a word, she swung it and brought it down on Hu Liang’s back.

Hu Liang couldn’t stop himself from lurching forward, his face contorting in pain.

Ji Huan’s eyes widened, but she didn’t intervene.

’The Cao Family caused this trouble, but Hu Liang is the root of it. He needs to learn a hard lesson.’

Hu Liang was tough, though, gritting his teeth and refusing to cry out in pain.

But the more he endured, the more Widow Xie was overcome with rage.

"Our family’s good fortune has been ruined by you! Are you happy now?! Didn’t you like their daughter so much? Go ahead, try and marry her now! Let’s see if she’ll still want a poor farmer like you now that you don’t have the hot and spicy soup stall!"

The more Widow Xie spoke, the more hateful she became, and the harder she swung.

"How did I give birth to a brainless thing like you! It’s not like Wuan didn’t warn you before! How could you let a woman... I’ll beat you to death!"

Widow Xie didn’t stop, landing more than ten blows in one go until she herself was panting from exhaustion. Hu Liang was sprawled on the floor, unable to get up.

Seeing that things would get serious if the beating continued, Ji Huan finally spoke up to stop her.

The Hu children had been waiting in the courtyard, too scared to enter. But now they couldn’t hold back any longer. They swarmed into the room, grabbing their mother’s arms and legs.

"Mother! Stop! If you keep hitting him, you’ll kill Second Brother!"

"Mother, Second Brother didn’t mean for this to happen..."

"Grandma, don’t hit Uncle..."

The raised wooden stick CLATTERED to the ground. Widow Xie collapsed onto the floor, covered her face, and began to wail.

"Oh, Liangzi, Liangzi... Things were just starting to get better! Why couldn’t you be more careful! What are we going to do now? Look at your younger siblings! Look at your nephew and niece! What are they going to do..."

Widow Xie’s sobs were heart-wrenching; even someone with a heart of stone would feel a pang of sorrow hearing them.

Hu Ximei threw herself into Widow Xie’s arms, crying with her. Xiao’an and Hua, not understanding the situation, also joined in, crying in a heap.

Even the usually carefree Hu Dacheng had red-rimmed eyes and was uncharacteristically silent.

As for Hu Liang, he hadn’t shed a single tear no matter how hard he was beaten. But now, he lay sprawled on the ground, face streaked with tears and snot, fiercely pounding his fists on the floor.

"I’m worthless! I’m worthless..."

Ji Huan felt a knot in her stomach, but she knew that a proper emotional release was necessary. So she didn’t say anything, just watched quietly from the side.

Only when the tense atmosphere had finally eased did Ji Huan call over Hu Dacheng. The two of them helped Hu Liang to the kang bed in the west room to lie down.

Ji Huan asked Hu Dacheng to go fetch a basin of water. After Hu Dacheng left, Hu Liang turned his head to face the wall.

The person he was most ashamed to face was Ji Huan.

If he had only listened to Ji Huan back then, things never would have reached this point.

"Trading a hot and spicy soup stall to see a person’s true colors? It’s worth it."

Hu Liang turned his head back and stared blankly at Ji Huan.

When he realized she wasn’t just saying it out of anger but was actually serious, he felt even worse.

"What’s the use of seeing their true colors? The Cao Family has already taken the hot and spicy soup business..."

Without the hot and spicy soup stall, the Hu Family had nothing else to rely on. His mother was right; the entire family’s hope had been crushed in his hands.

’I deserve to die! I’ve let my family down, and I’ve let Ji Huan down even more!’

"They may have taken it, but whether they can keep it is another matter entirely."

Ji Huan’s calm words made Hu Liang’s eyes go wide.

"Don’t get excited yet. Let me ask you, do you still feel you owe anything to the Cao Family, or to Cao Yunyun?"

Hu Liang’s face turned cold in an instant. "I owe them nothing."

Ji Huan nodded. "Then this will be easy."

Hu Liang grew excited. "You really have a way?"

Ji Huan leaned down and whispered in his ear for a moment.

When she came out of the west room, Widow Xie was still in a daze.

It was as if her backbone had been ripped out. After her outburst, she was left feeling utterly empty.

Ji Huan walked over and, with Hu Ximei’s help, pulled her up from the floor.

"Aunt Xie, you can’t fall apart now. I still have something I need you to do."

As soon as she heard Ji Huan needed her help, Widow Xie forced herself to rally. "Just tell me. Whatever you need, Aunt Xie will get it done for you."

Ji Huan smiled. "There’s no rush on that. For now, let’s wait for some good news from Brother Liangzi."