Chapter 247: It’s Not Up to You

Chapter 247: Chapter 247: It’s Not Up to You

An old man, looking slightly younger than Granny Cao, stealthily tugged her sleeve.

"Sis, are we really going to the authorities? I’ve never even been to the county seat... I hear the bailiffs at the government office are as vicious as wolves. Anyone who files a complaint gets a beating with water and fire sticks first... I’m afraid if we go, we won’t be coming back alive!"

Before Granny Cao could speak, Ji Huan seemed to be lost in thought.

"That reminds me. Reporting this to the officials was your idea, so if anyone’s getting beaten, it’ll be you. I suggest you pick someone strong and sturdy. I hear the punishment is several dozen strikes, and some people are beaten to death on the spot. Oh, that’s right, the government office is a place where ’reason without money gets you nowhere.’ To make your reasoning a little more sound, I’d advise you to bring plenty of silver—at least eighty or a hundred taels... We’re all just seeking justice, aren’t we? And justice is priceless. You should forge ahead, even if it means losing your entire family fortune."

Ji Huan’s deadpan bluff scared the entire Cao family witless.

The common folk feared officials like they feared tigers. Besides, the Cao family’s actions couldn’t possibly withstand scrutiny, so how could they actually go to the government office? It was just a threat meant to scare the Hu family; they never expected to get entangled themselves.

’A magistrate can bankrupt a family, and a county magistrate can wipe out a clan. I’m afraid even losing our fortune won’t be enough.’

Mrs. Wang was the first to snap out of it.

’The sturdier one? Of all the Cao family members here, I’m the strongest. I’m not taking that beating!’

"Mother, let’s go! We’re not taking this to court!"

Granny Cao forced a smile. "Right, we... we won’t. We’ll be on our way."

"Hold it!" Ji Huan spread her arms to block their path. "Was I not clear? Whether or not you go to the authorities is no longer up to you."

Mrs. Wang was on the verge of tears.

Granny Cao struggled to appear calm, but her voice had lost its edge.

"Miss Ji, we didn’t mean to offend you. What will it take for you to drop this? We can kowtow and apologize..."

"Stop right there. You think a kowtow and an apology will solve everything? Am I a fool, or are you just that naive? It’s one thing for you to swindle the Hu Family, but I’ve lost money because of you. Do you really think a kowtow can make up for that?"

Granny Cao finally understood her implication, her expression turning foul. "Then how much do you want?"

Ji Huan replied amiably, "Thirty taels."

The moment Granny Cao heard the amount—not a tael more, not a tael less than what the Hu Family had paid them—she knew Ji Huan was being deliberate.

"But those thirty taels were from the Hu Family..."

"What does the thirty taels the Hu Family paid you have to do with the thirty taels you’re going to pay me?"

Granny Cao was rendered speechless.

Mrs. Wang watched from the side, growing frantic.

’She was terrified of going to the authorities, but she couldn’t bear to part with the silver.’

’Besides, a good chunk of the thirty taels from the Hu Family had already been spent—deducting the money for Cao Fugui’s medical bills, plus the things they’d bought, and other expenses...’

’But if they didn’t pay, she would be the one getting beaten!’

’She was the one who’d egged on Cao Yunyun to secretly learn the recipe, and acting as a matchmaker for Hu Ximei had been her idea too. If Cao Yunyun broke down and confessed everything in court, she herself might end up in prison.’

"Mother, just give her the thirty taels. Otherwise, I’ll... Yunyun is still an unmarried girl! If she really appears in court, she’ll be the subject of endless gossip. She’ll never be able to marry!"

Granny Cao knew full well that Mrs. Wang was just using Cao Yunyun as an excuse. But Yunyun was her own daughter; she had to consider her.

"We can agree to pay. But you have to promise you’ll never bring up the matter of the Golden Combination again."

Ji Huan gave a nonchalant nod. "Of course."

’They’d keep selling it even if I told them not to.’

’Once I have the silver, I can just sit back and watch the show. Given the current situation in town, I doubt they’ll be able to cause trouble for much longer.’

Granny Cao tried to use delaying tactics, but Ji Huan refused to back down until she saw the silver.

Granny Cao had no choice but to leave Mrs. Wang and Cao Yunyun behind as collateral while she and the other relatives returned to the village to fetch the money.

After Granny Cao left, a brief silence fell over the courtyard.

Suddenly, Cao Yunyun walked toward Ji Huan.

"If it weren’t for you, Liangzi wouldn’t have broken off our engagement."

Her voice was nearly a whisper, and the people busy gossiping by the gate didn’t hear her.

Despite this, Hu Liang’s expression darkened instantly. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Cao Yunyun stared blankly at Hu Liang, her eyes welling with tears that threatened to fall. "You’re yelling at me... for her?"

Hu Liang clenched his fists and hissed in a low voice, "Miss Cao, what happened between us has nothing to do with anyone else. Don’t drag others into this!"

But Cao Yunyun seemed to have become possessed. "It was her. If it weren’t for her..."

She suddenly lunged at Ji Huan, her hands shooting out to grab Ji Huan’s throat.

Fortunately, Ji Huan was already on guard. She sidestepped and seized Cao Yunyun’s wrists.

Before anyone could react, Ji Huan dragged Cao Yunyun into the kitchen, scooped a ladleful of water from the large cistern, and SPLASH—flung it in her face.

The struggling Cao Yunyun froze, stunned by the sudden shock of cold water.

"Sobered up? I used to think you were merely confused, but I never realized you were also stupid. You always blame your misfortunes on others. Why don’t you ever look at yourself for the cause? Was Hu Liang unkind to you? Was the Hu Family unkind to you? You hurt them time and again over baseless suspicions. You’ve brought all of this on yourself."

Cao Yunyun stared at her blankly for a long moment.

"You... you really don’t like Hu Liang? Then what about him? Does he like you? No, you’re lying to me. Why are you always in and out of the Hu Family’s home? You and Hu Liang must have been carrying on for a long time..."

"..." ’Does this woman have shit for brains?’

Ji Huan gave up trying to reason with Cao Yunyun but refused to let her leave the kitchen. If Cao Yunyun caused another scene in the courtyard, it would ruin Hu Liang’s future marriage prospects.

When Mrs. Wang saw her sister-in-law get dragged inside by Ji Huan and not emerge, she didn’t dare make a peep. ’As long as I’m not the one getting hit,’ she thought, ’it’s fine.’

When Granny Cao rushed back, her heart ached to see her daughter with drenched hair and clothes, wearing a dazed expression.

But when she heard that her own daughter had been the one to lunge at Ji Huan, she was at a loss for words.

Ji Huan took the pouch of silver, counted it, and smiled. "Miss Cao has a habit of spouting nonsense. You’d best go home and keep her in line, ma’am. After all, leveling baseless accusations can land a person in court, too."

Granny Cao’s face went pale, and she choked back her anger. "You’re right, Miss Ji."

Granny Cao clapped a hand over Cao Yunyun’s mouth and dragged her away. Mrs. Wang followed close behind. At the main gate, they were mobbed by the crowd and berated for some time before managing to escape.

With the matter settled, the crowd of onlookers began to disperse, chattering amongst themselves.

"See? I told you the Hu Family had it rough... Swindled and blackmailed by their own in-laws, who even stole their business idea..."

"In-laws, my foot! It’s a good thing they broke ties early, or that family would have dragged them down completely! But speaking of which, did Ji Huan really teach the Hu Family how to make the Golden Combination?"

"Of course. Wasn’t that the rumor all along? This time, she admitted it herself."

"Then it must be something Mrs. Wei left for her. The old Ji Family really lost a little goddess of wealth..."

Widow Xie overheard their chatter and grew uneasy. She whispered, "Wuan, now everyone knows. Will this cause trouble for you? I didn’t want you to step forward because I didn’t want you getting mixed up in this. Now look at the mess..."

Ji Huan shook her head, motioning for her not to worry.

She had only stayed out of it before because she found it a hassle. In truth, everyone already knew, so whether she admitted it or not didn’t really matter.

Besides, in another month or so, her own spice blends would be ready to launch. Once her business took off, it would be impossible to keep things under wraps anyway.

Besides, she had other plans in mind, but she wasn’t going to tell anyone about them just yet.