Madam Zhang's heart began to race as soon as she heard "making big money." She exchanged glances with the people she brought, and they all understood the smiles in each other's eyes. Then, she eagerly bid farewell to Nian Jiaojiao:
"Since that's the case, we won't bother you any further. If you ever visit our village, we'll treat you well."
After saying that, without waiting for Nian Jiaojiao's reply, she called out to her group, and they majestically departed again.
After everyone left, Xing Yun pouted, expressing her dissatisfaction:
"Wife Lord, why did you help her?"
Nian Jiaojiao smiled and said:
"I want to use magic to defeat magic!"
Xing Yun: ???
The atmosphere became a little awkward. Nian Jiaojiao felt like she had told a cold joke that no one understood. Nan Qing, who rarely spoke, suddenly opened her mouth:
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Third Brother, between Zhao Mazi and Madam Zhang, who is more detestable?"
"Naturally, it's Madam Zhang!" Xing Yun replied without hesitation.
"Exactly. Wife Lord means we should choose the lesser of two evils."
Xing Yun understood:
"Oh! We help one dog first, then let them fight like dogs. Is that what you mean?"
Nan Qing lightly curved her lips:
"Third Brother is correct."
The boss's thinking truly matched hers!
When she met Nan Qing's gaze, Nian Jiaojiao felt a sense of kindred spirits.
"Ahem, in that case, let's go back. Perhaps we can catch a good show."
Nian Jiaojiao and the others, shedding their previous silence, were all eager to see Zhao Mazi's predicament.
...
Night.
In the deep winter night, the sky was devoid of stars and moon, offering no light to the village.
Zhao Mazi, reeking of alcohol, finally arrived at her doorstep, holding a lantern, and couldn't help but grumble:
"This damn weather, this damn night! Once I'm well off, I'll definitely move to a brightly lit city!"
"Creak—"
The dilapidated wooden door was pushed open forcefully.
Zhao Mazi felt a sense of confusion.
Hadn't she forgotten to lock the door when she left?
She shook her slightly dizzy head.
It doesn't matter!
The silver is all on her, and no one can steal it! Hehehe...
Thinking of this, Zhao Mazi couldn't help but recall the "Yi Qing Courtyard" and the gentlemen there...
Oh, ho ho...
Zhao Mazi let out a lewd smile, her steps unsteady, and she hummed a song:
"Her beauty bloomed like a peach blossom, her eyebrows like painted willow leaves.
Her long lashes concealed her exquisite eyes, her lips like water caltrops bitten tight.
Three zhang of scarlet in a spring tent night, her seductive eyes like flowing silk, casting shadows.
Entangled with silver hair shining bright, her body bent, seen only by one."
Just as she reached the door, ready to push it open, Zhao Mazi suddenly noticed that the light inside the room was on.
Huh? It seems... Zhang Jie is back.
That's not right!
Zhao Mazi suddenly sobered up. Zhang Jie... he was dead!
A cold wind blew past, and Zhao Mazi felt a chill crawl up her spine. She mustered her courage and shouted with a trembling voice:
"Who! Who's playing tricks here? Get out!"
"Zhao Mazi, you're living quite a carefree life!"
The door was suddenly flung open. Zhao Mazi squinted towards the room, only to find seven or eight unfamiliar yet tall and mighty women sitting inside.
"Zhao Mazi, you've made us wait!"
The woman speaking stood behind the obvious leader, like a guard.
Zhao Mazi frowned and retorted:
"Ladies, Zhao does not recognize you. You are trespassing on private property. If I report you, you'll go to jail!"
The woman in the middle remained expressionless:
"Oh? What do you want?"
Zhao Mazi suddenly felt emboldened, chuckled, and rubbed her fingers together:
"Today, I'm in a good mood. Consider yourselves lucky. If you give me five taels of silver, it'll be fine!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Mazi was pinned to the ground by two stout and strong women who rushed at her.
The woman on her right forcefully slapped Zhao Mazi's face, making her see stars.
"Behave yourself, you idiot! Can't you see the situation yet! Report us? Believe it or not, we'll make sure you don't see tomorrow's sun!"
Zhao Mazi finally sobered up completely. She put on an expression of being greatly wronged:
"Oh dear, ladies, let's talk! Let's talk! Look, isn't there some misunderstanding? We've never met before, how could we have offended you?"
After waiting for the other party for a long time, the leading lady didn't want to waste any more time, so she got straight to the point:
"Was Zhang Jie your husband?"
Zhao Mazi was taken aback:
"Yes... but what does that have to do with you? As far as I know, he only had one relative, who passed away not long ago. Could it be..."
Zhao Mazi's eyes darted around.
Could these be Zhang Jie's lovers from outside?
Good!!!
She knew this bitch wasn't content!
She actually brought her so many green hats, and now they've come knocking!
This bitch truly deserved to be drowned!
Zhao Mazi cursed Zhang Jie in her heart, but due to the darkness, Madam Zhang and the others didn't notice her sordid thoughts.
Madam Zhang asked again:
"Do you know what my relationship with him is?"
Lovers!
Are these adulterous women and philanderers so brazen now? They've even come to her door!
Zhao Mazi thought this in her heart, but she shook her head and said:
"I don't know..."
Madam Zhang said word by word:
"He is my son, my biological son, understand?"
Zhao Mazi was stunned.
When she married Zhang Jie, she only knew he lived with his father. She didn't care about anything else and hadn't inquired. She never expected him to have so many relatives with whom she had never interacted.
Zhao Mazi didn't answer immediately. The hands of the two people holding her shoulders tightened, causing her pain.
"Ow ow ow! Gently! Gently!"
Madam Zhang waved her hand, and the two people holding Zhao Mazi eased their grip slightly, giving Zhao Mazi a chance to breathe.
"Alright, I won't say much else. Zhang Jie is my precious son, and now you've driven him to his death. Tell me, how should you compensate our Zhang family?"
Zhao Mazi finally understood.
So, they were here for her money.
Pah!
A mother who hadn't been in contact for eight hundred years had the nerve to call Zhang Jie her precious son?
This person's heart was even blacker than hers!
But it was impossible for her to spit out what she had already eaten, so she stubbornly said:
"Zhang Jie committed suicide, what does that have to do with me? Everyone in Qinghe Village knows this. Ask them if you don't believe me!"
Mother Zhang narrowed her eyes:
"Nothing to do with you? Why would a perfectly fine person jump into a river? Now you have two choices. First, you jump into a river yourself and accompany my Zhang Jie below. Second, pay with money."
She paused, staring into Zhao Mazi's eyes, and continued:
"You, how do you choose?"
Zhao Mazi didn't believe they would actually dare to kill someone, so she stubbornly said:
"I don't have money! I just don't have money! Killing me is useless!"
Madam Zhang was furious and slammed the table:
"Fine! Then I will fulfill your wish!"