"Uncle, don't worry about it. I'll handle this," Zhan Feiyu said with a smile to Zhan Laosan, reverting to her usual obedient and sensible demeanor.
However, when she looked at Old Madam Liu and her son Liu Wangcai, Zhan Feiyu's small, chubby face turned serious. She spoke expressionlessly, "If you don't give our Zhan family an explanation today, I will report you to the county yamen."
"I will write down your insults to scholars word for word, make a hundred copies, and take them to the county school and Qingya Academy. I want to ask all scholars in the world, what crime should be committed by those of low status who insult those of good status? Where do you place the Great Qing Laws?"
The laws of Great Qing were strict and clearly divided by status. Those who sold themselves into servitude were classified as low status, alongside prostitutes and actors. Ordinary farming households belonged to the good status. Although Zhan Feiyu's scholars had not yet participated in the imperial examinations to hold office, their status was slightly higher than ordinary good status.
"Little Yu is so formidable," whispered the old women supporting Old Madam Zhan. They had not expected the sweet-talking little girl who called them Grandma to have such a sharp side.
"The Zhan family has descendants!" the village chief exclaimed excitedly. Looking at the young Zhan Feiyu, the village chief seemed to see the county magistrate seated beneath the plaque "Bright Mirror Hanging High." This presence was clearly extraordinary.
Standing outside the courtyard, Master Lin, who had been furious, laughed, "A golden dragon is no ordinary thing; it will soar to the heavens when it meets wind and clouds."
Old Madam Liu was even more formidable when she threw a tantrum than Xiao Yao Shi, but at this moment, her face was deathly pale, and her legs trembled so violently that she almost collapsed.
Precisely because she was a servant of Steward Zhao, Old Madam Liu understood the terrifying implications of Zhan Feiyu's words better than anyone present. If this spread, all scholars in the world, even for the sake of their reputation, could force their mother and son to their deaths.
Liu Wangcai had thought he could smoothly complete the task assigned by the young master, but he had unexpectedly run into a tough opponent. Looking at the imposing Zhan Feiyu, Liu Wangcai composed himself, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.
"Indeed, the prodigy praised by the county magistrate!" Liu Wangcai lowered his voice, his malicious intent and killing intent undisguised. "If we smash the Zhan family today and even if it escalates to the county yamen, Constable Ma is my brother. We'll at most receive twenty to thirty strokes and pay ten taels of silver as a minor punishment. But do you think I will let your Zhan family off?"
Liu Wangcai's vicious and cold gaze swept over the old and young members of the Zhan family. He raised his hand and made a throat-slitting gesture. How dare a lowly girl threaten him? She was tired of living!
Hmph! Xiao Yao Shi no longer dared to throw a tantrum, and Madam Ma shivered in fear.
Since ancient times, commoners did not fight officials, and the poor did not fight the rich. Liu Wangcai had the backing of Steward Zhao and the Zhu landlord's family. With the Zhan family targeted by him, they were doomed.
Old Master Zhan and Old Madam Zhan also wore solemn expressions. They glared at Zhan Feiyu with resentment, blaming her for the trouble that would implicate the entire family!
"You wretched girl, why don't you quickly kowtow to Master Liu and apologize!" Xiao Yao Shi, who had been frightened, glared at Zhan Feiyu and scolded her sternly. "If anything happens to my eldest son and third son, I will have you pay with your life!"
"Little Yu, your second aunt is right. Hurry and apologize," Madam Ma said. Madam Ma was usually just loud and boisterous, but in reality, she was weak and easily bullied.
Old Master Zhan, as the head of the family, was also afraid. He had been proud of this granddaughter before, but now he resented her for causing trouble. "Little Yu, what exactly did you do?"
"Father, why are you blaming Little Yu? It's clearly these people who are going too far!" Zhan Laosan said angrily, his resentful gaze fixed on the arrogant Liu Wangcai. "If you have the guts, kill me. Threatening my niece is nothing!"
Seeing the frightened Zhan family, Liu Wangcai grew even more triumphant. "You harmed my brother. I won't make things difficult for you. As long as you marry my brother, and we become in-laws in the future, today's matter will be forgotten!"
Liu Wangbao had only fallen and split his lip. Liu Wangcai was merely using this to control the Zhan family.
Zhan Feiyu watched Liu Wangcai in his triumphant posture with cold eyes and smiled leisurely. "I am a scholar. If you cripple my hands today, even if I don't participate in the imperial examinations, I can become a counselor. I still have my reputation. In the future, I won't seek a high marriage, but dealing with you will be as easy as crushing an ant."
Zhan Feiyu's talent for scholarship was her greatest reliance. Even if she didn't enter officialdom through the imperial examinations, with her intellect, she could easily become a counselor for a powerful figure. The Liu family trio would absolutely meet a terrible end.
To put it even more shamelessly, looking at Zhan Feiyu's beautiful features, it was not difficult to imagine her appearance in ten years. If she were to marry someone wealthy or noble, a word in their ear would make it effortless to deal with the Liu family mother and son.
Liu Wangcai's expression suddenly darkened. He felt as if the Zhan Feiyu before him was not a seven-year-old girl, but one of those cunning old foxes. They wouldn't act unless they did, and when they did, they would strike to kill!
Zhan Feiyu was in a very good mood and continued leisurely, "To cut the weeds and remove the roots, to avoid future revenge from me, you might as well kill me. But my teacher is a Xiu Cai. If I die unjustly in the future, he will present a complaint. The principal offender will be executed immediately, and the accomplice will be exiled a thousand li. Your three lives for my one life, it's worth it!"
"You!" Liu Wangcai had encountered desperate individuals at the docks, but they were all reckless thugs. He had never seen anyone like Zhan Feiyu, where no matter what they did, the Liu family mother and son would face a terrible fate.
The death of a village girl was not to be feared, but if Master Lin colluded with his former classmates to file a complaint, Zhu Kun, the young master of the Zhu family, might escape punishment. However, the Liu family mother and son would certainly be pushed out as scapegoats to appease the anger of scholars everywhere.