Seeing Zhan Feiyu step forward, Old Master Zhan and the eldest son Zhan were filled with joy. Although they were elders, they panicked when faced with the situation, their tongues seeming to tie up when they wanted to speak, and they feared these fierce-looking strong men even more when they wanted to act.
After Zhan Feiyu stood up, despite still being a child, the father and son inexplicably felt at ease.
Old Madam Zhan, with her eyelids drooping, was somewhat surprised, but felt no gratitude. If it weren't for the family's money sending her to private tutoring, could she have spoken these words?
Only the second son Zhan remained with a stern face, his eyes filled with hatred that was almost palpable. This wretched girl was stepping on him to gain fame!
"It's still good to study," an old lady who was reluctant to part with money sighed. Next September, she would definitely send the younger generation of her family to private tutoring. She didn't seek to bring glory to her ancestors, but at least with education, they would understand reason and be able to support the family in the future.
"What a sharp tongue!" Steward Zeng said with a dark, old face. He had some reservations about Zhan Feiyu but didn't take her too seriously. Frankly, she was just a young girl. Even if Magistrate Chen had praised her, she was still a commoner. It would be another matter if she passed the county examination.
But after hearing Zhan Feiyu's words, Steward Zeng knew the rumors were true; this young girl was not to be trifled with! If she didn't produce evidence today, Zhan Lao Er would absolutely not be taken away.
Zhan Feiyu's large eyes curved into a smile. "Thank you, Steward Zeng, for your praise. I believe many people passed by the haunted house that day. If the Zeng family is going to shout and kill and convict people based on such flimsy excuses, then why would the government need to investigate and collect evidence when handling cases in the future? And why would we need the 'Great Qing Law'?"
Steward Zeng was accustomed to bullying people with his authority, but he had only ever cursed or beaten people. He had never encountered someone like Zhan Feiyu who, in a few words, accused him of藐视官府 (disdain for official authority) and无视律法 (disregard for the law), which were capital offenses!
Steward Zeng could no longer sit still and hastily interrupted Zhan Feiyu, "Don't talk nonsense. I naturally have evidence!"
"If my second uncle is the perpetrator, there's no need for the Zeng family to speak. I will uphold righteousness and eliminate my own kin by sending my second uncle to the yamen!" Zhan Feiyu straightened her chest, her hands behind her back, and said with a serious expression, "If the Zeng family is framing us..."
Her words were not finished, but the warning was clear. At this moment, Zhan Feiyu, though a child with hair still unbound, her stern little face and sharp eyes inspired awe.
"Little Yu is right," the old clan elder also stood up and said to Steward Zeng, "If Zhan Lao Er is the murderer, I will definitely send him to the yamen to face justice. But if it is a frame-up, our Zhan clan will do everything in our power to seek justice from the Zeng family!"
Although the Zeng family of Baofeng Cloth Shop was wealthy and powerful, a clan was not to be underestimated.
The villagers and Zhan clan members present had solemn expressions. Although they were humble, they had their clan behind them as support, not rootless duckweed to be bullied at will.
"Zhan Lao Er took money to do things for people!" Steward Zeng no longer dared to put on airs. He had brought more than twenty strong men, but Jinlin Village had hundreds of people. He truly feared enraging these peasants and not being able to return to the Zeng family alive.
"The one who had an enmity with my young master is the eldest son of Landlord Zhu, Zhu Kun. The two of them had a big fight over a courtesan headliner back then. In the end, my young master won, and Landlord Zhu personally escorted Zhu Kun to apologize to my young master. Zhu Kun lost face and thus harbored resentment."
As Steward Zeng narrated, everyone understood. Zhu Kun was a reckless and dissolute young master. He wanted revenge but did not dare to act personally, so he spent money to find Zhan Lao Er. Zhan Lao Er, in turn, found the lame beggar and created the incident of the startled horse on South Street.
"This is the motive!" Steward Zeng said this to Zhan Feiyu. He took out a piece of paper from his sleeve. "This is what I copied from Jubao Money House. Zhan Lao Er deposited one hundred and fifty taels of silver at the money house. Humph, he's just a bullock cart driver. How could he possibly save so much money?"
"One hundred and fifty taels?" The people present widened their eyes in shock. This was not a small sum. The Zhan family had not yet divided their assets, and this more than a hundred taels was Zhan Lao Er's private savings!
The village head and the old clan elder's faces darkened, and an ominous premonition surged in their hearts.
Even more shocked were the Zhan family members. Old Master Zhan and the eldest son Zhan stared blankly at Steward Zeng, even suspecting that he had fabricated this false evidence.
Old Madam Zhan was startled. She knew that the second son had hidden money privately, which she had allowed. However, Old Madam Zhan did not expect there to be so much. This was one hundred and fifty taels, more than the entire Zhan family's savings.
"Husband, you've struck it rich!" Little Yao Shi excitedly grabbed Zhan Lao Er's arm. Thinking that all this money belonged to their family, she couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
Zhan Feiyu looked mockingly at the grim-faced Zhan Lao Er. The Zhan family was so poor, yet her second uncle had managed to save so much private money. A true rat, her second uncle deserved the title! It was a pity that his hidden wealth had been exposed by Steward Zeng.
"Lao Er, did you really accept money..." Old Master Zhan stammered, flustered and not knowing what to do. This involved Madam Zeng and the unborn young master. Would the Zeng family let this go easily?
Zhan Lao Er wanted to say that this money was his private savings from driving the cart. Although he hadn't divided the family and had hidden so much money, which might sound bad, at least he wouldn't be accused of harming Madam Zeng.
Zhan Lao Er opened his mouth, but he dared not speak. If Steward Zeng had further plans, and his lie was exposed, he would never be able to clear his name, even if he jumped into the Yellow River. After all, one hundred taels of it came from Zhu Kun.
"Steward Zeng, regardless of how my second uncle's money was obtained, you still cannot accuse my second uncle of harming Madam Zeng with this," Zhan Feiyu argued forcefully, her chubby face serious, refusing to back down in "defending" Zhan Lao Er.
How could such flimsy evidence seal a person's fate? Since action was taken, it was necessary to eliminate them completely, leaving no room for them to turn the tables!
"Zhan Feiyu, shut up!" Zhan Lao Er suddenly shouted sternly, his blood-red, hateful gaze fixed on Zhan Feiyu. This wretched girl was so cruel!
The sudden angry shout startled everyone present. Upon seeing Zhan Lao Er's undisguised hateful gaze, everyone was dumbfounded.
"Is Zhan Lao Er crazy? He's actually scolding Little Yu?"
"Ungrateful. He even asked the eldest branch to compensate five hundred taels of silver before. That's his own elder brother and niece. Zhan Lao Er's heart is black."
The village head had been at Huichun Hall that day. After returning, he told the old clan elder about the five hundred taels, and also told several respected elders in the village. Although not many people knew about it, the news had leaked out.
The village head and the old clan elder's expressions were also not good. They, the villagers, and Little Yu had all come to support Zhan Lao Er. He was ungrateful and even yelled at Little Yu, which was worse than an animal.
Steward Zeng had already determined that Zhan Lao Er was the murderer and naturally paid him no mind. He only feared the village head, the old clan elder, and Zhan Feiyu. "Of course, that's not all. I also found out that Zhan Lao Er had met Zhu Kun privately several times. If I remember correctly, your Zhan family also had some enmity with the Zhu family."
Zhu Kun had to bring servants with him when he went out. If the Zeng family really investigated, they could naturally find out.
"Lao Er, why did you go to see Zhu Kun?" the village head asked coldly.
Landlord Zhu's family was in Yujia Village. Although it was not far from Jinlin Village, the two villages were not in the same direction. Moreover, Zhan Lao Er was a bullock cart driver, and Zhu Kun was the young master of the Zhu family. It was impossible for the two of them to have any private dealings.
The villagers also whispered, looking at the increasingly grim-faced Zhan Lao Er with suspicion. No wonder Steward Zeng brought people to their door. Zhan Lao Er had really taken ill-gotten money and done bad things!
Little Yao Shi was no longer excited about the second branch having private savings. She cowered and shrunk behind Old Madam Zhan in fear and unease. Madam Zeng had almost lost both mother and child. Little Yao Shi's legs trembled.