The steward ordered his men to seize the people, and immediately the sounds of shoving, crying, and chairs toppling over mixed together.
Knowing she couldn't count on the useless Elder Brother Zhan, Old Madam Zhan threw herself to her knees before the elder patriarch and the others,
"I beg you all to help me," she cried, bowing her head to them. Old Madam Zhan's hair was already white, and at her age, kneeling on the ground and wailing, she was truly pitiable.
"This..." the villagers hesitated. They had dared to intervene before because the village had always been united and they couldn't be bullied by outsiders.
But now that the situation was clear, Elder Brother Zhan had harmed Madam Zeng for money, nearly causing a double death. The wronged party had come seeking retribution, so how could they interfere?
Yet, looking at the crying Madam Yao and Old Madam Zhan kneeling and about to kowtow, the villagers could only look to the village head and the elder patriarch for guidance. They would do as the elder patriarch decided.
"Father, please don't arrest my father!" Zhan Sanlang cried out in fear, stumbling towards Elder Zhan, "Grandfather, please tell them not to arrest my father, I'm scared..."
Elder Zhan stared blankly at the chaotic scene, his body stooped, and he murmured in a hoarse voice, "What a sin!"
The elder patriarch turned his head away. He couldn't speak. He couldn't let Elder Brother Zhan's actions endanger the villagers. If they intervened now, it would lead to death or injury. Elder Brother Zhan had to bear the consequences of his own misdeeds!
"Seventh Uncle, you watched the second one grow up, and he calls you grandfather too!" Old Madam Zhan truly panicked now, wailing as she lunged towards the elder patriarch and grabbed his leg, "Seventh Uncle, the second one is my life."
"Why are you crying? He committed such a heinous act, he deserves to pay with his life!" Elder Zhan roared in exasperation, his eyes also turning red.
Old Madam Zhan was stunned by the shout and fell to the ground, looking blankly at the indifferent elder patriarch, village head, and villagers.
Then, seeing Elder Brother Zhan being restrained by the strong men, and Elder Zhan holding the wailing Zhan Sanlang, Old Madam Zhan's tears gushed out. With no one to help, Elder Brother Zhan's arms were already twisted and he was being dragged away by the strong men.
"Second one, you're going to kill me! I don't want to live either..." Grief overwhelmed her, and Old Madam Zhan cried out, banging her head on the ground, frantically trying to get up to save Elder Brother Zhan, "My second one, my son..."
Just as everyone thought Elder Brother Zhan would be taken away by Steward Zeng, Zhan Feiyu smiled reassuringly at Madam Li and then stepped forward, "Steward Zeng, why don't we go inside to discuss this?"
Steward Zeng looked at Zhan Feiyu with arrogance, not wanting to deal with her, but he also knew this young girl was not to be trifled with.
"Enough, everyone stop. Young Miss Zhan, what do you want to discuss with me? Debts must be repaid, and murder must be punished. Even if we go to the yamen, Elder Brother Zhan will be sentenced to immediate execution!" Steward Zeng threatened fiercely.
The villagers looked at the captured Elder Brother Zhan with fear and pity. He was going to be beheaded! But thinking that he had almost caused Madam Zeng's death and the death of her child, they didn't know what to say.
Madam Yao and Old Madam Zhan seemed to have their throats choked, suddenly losing their voices.
Elder Zhan and Elder Brother Zhan's faces were grave and ashen. Unable to bear the blow, father and son both put their heads in their hands and crouched down. How had it come to this?
"Steward Zeng, please!" Zhan Feiyu was not intimidated and led the way into the main hall.
Steward Zeng looked with displeasure at the short, plump figure, but finally followed. He wanted to see what this young girl had to say!
"What?" The villagers craned their necks to look into the main hall, but dared not be too bold, only asking in low voices, "Village head, what is Xiao Yu saying to Steward Zeng?"
"Everyone be quiet! Wait," the village head glared impatiently at the curious villagers.
How would he know what Xiao Yu would say? But to resolve Elder Brother Zhan's situation, they still had to rely on Xiao Yu. It was truly a matter of education!
The elder patriarch was also tired and sat down on a chair. He glanced coldly at Elder Brother Zhan, who was kneeling on the ground, pressed by the strong men. A fierce look flashed in his slightly cloudy eyes. Regardless of the final outcome, he would not let Elder Brother Zhan drag Xiao Yu down.
The silence in the courtyard was unnerving. Old Madam Zhan wiped away her tears and said in a hoarse voice, "Seventh Uncle, you cannot stand by and do nothing."
The elder patriarch paid no attention to Old Madam Zhan, only addressing Elder Zhan, the head of the household, "Changshun, that day your second son was injured, you forced Xiao Yu to compensate five hundred taels of silver. You threatened and attacked her, not treating Xiao Yu as a Zhan family member. But now, it is Xiao Yu who is stepping forward to help her uncle who framed and pressured her."
The elder patriarch's voice was not loud, but slow and deliberate, stripping Elder Zhan of all his dignity.
Elder Zhan, crouching on the ground, opened his mouth. Seeing the contemptuous looks of the villagers, his old face was utterly disgraced, and he remained silent.
The elder patriarch was not expecting an answer from him. His gaze then turned to Elder Brother Zhan.
"And you, as Xiao Yu's father, you only abet evil. You have repeatedly tried to hit Xiao Yu and your wife. At thirty, you should be established, but do you have no brains? Your mother cries a few times, and you become muddled!"
"I..." Elder Brother Zhan's face turned ashen as he was reprimanded. Had he done something wrong? But Xiao Yu didn't obey discipline, causing his mother to threaten suicide with a cleaver.
However, thinking of Elder Brother Zhan's situation, Elder Brother Zhan lowered his head, listless like a frost-bitten eggplant.
Hearing the elder patriarch's unsparing scolding of the Zhan father and son, Madam Li felt as if the grievances of the past few days had dissipated. She looked towards the main hall with concern. No matter how clever Xiao Yu was, she was still just a seven-year-old girl.