The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 444: About to Fall

Chapter 444: Chapter 444: About to Fall

At this point, Old Granny Zhang lifted her skirt to wipe away her tears, and Lady Lin beside her was also covering her face and crying, "My poor sister-in-law, who had just gotten engaged, has suffered such a fate. Last night, she cared for my brother-in-law all night long, and we all listened to my brother-in-law suffering in the room, unable to sleep."

"Fellow villagers, tell me, my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law are both good people, but good people do not get rewarded, do they? They’ve encountered these two heartless bastards and have lost their futures and possibly their lives! My sister-in-law is sensible and capable; such a good girl, but because of them, we don’t even know how she’ll get by in the future? How can we, as parents and siblings-in-law, turn a blind eye to this? If we don’t stand up for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, with their tender hearts holding onto past affection, they’ll eat this huge loss for nothing..."

Jindou and Jinhu couldn’t perform the difficult act of crying like their mother or kin; they just squatted there, heads bowed and faces covered, looking utterly defeated.

Wang Yonggui, who had ample experience with scamming, had seen all sorts of situations. Like now, when the focus was not on him, he was common, and he lay there very calmly. He even took advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention to him to stealthily remove two small stones he had hidden under his buttocks, then lay down comfortably and listened to his own mother’s performance.

Inwardly, he couldn’t help but judge and finally concluded that experience trumps all; his own mother was simply born for this. Look at how she took control as soon as she opened her mouth, while that Qin had been suppressed all along.

There was also a Zhang who had not yet appeared; they must have been too afraid to show themselves.

Wang Yonggui couldn’t help but fantasize that, if only he had brought his mother, Old Granny Zhang, to scam others from the beginning, they probably would have become rich long ago...

At that moment, no one was paying attention to what Wang Yonggui, still lying on the ground, was thinking.

They were all moved by Old Granny Zhang’s tearful speech, along with Lady Lin’s crying appeals.

Especially the more tender-hearted women, several of whom couldn’t help but wipe away their tears, seeing Wang Yongzhu as such a talent, with such beauty, being such a good girl, yet ruined by Old Qin and Old Zhang.

All being parents themselves, if their own children went through such an ordeal, they would probably be desperate to fight too.

The kind-hearted people couldn’t hold back and stepped forward, "Old Qin, what you’ve done is really too mean, isn’t it? We’ve seen your apprentice a few times; he’s a handsome young man who often brought you game and treats like wine and pastries. It wasn’t like he wasn’t supporting you in your old age, why are you so ruthless? You’ve ruined two children in one fell swoop, why did you do it?"

"Yeah, Old Qin, you don’t seem to be this kind of person on ordinary days. Could there be some hidden troubles?"

And then there were those who enjoyed the commotion, pretending to be fair and asking questions.

What could Hunter Qin say at this point? He couldn’t say anything, just nodded to the person who had just spoken, and said coldly, "The innocent has nothing to hide, the medicine was voluntarily drunk by Song Chongjin, nobody else is to blame! Besides, there are many complications here that are not meant for outsiders. Anyway, Zhang and I have clear consciences!"

"Nonsense! What ’innocent’ or ’nothing to hide’? And what complications are inside? Have the nerve to explain things clearly to me face to face, instead of muttering like a mystic. I’m telling you, today, if you don’t give me a proper explanation, don’t blame me for..." Old Granny Zhang might not have fully understood Hunter Qin’s literary words, but she got the gist of it.

Enraged, she stood up abruptly, pointing at Hunter Qin’s nose and starting to scold.

Before she could finish her words, there was a dull thud as something hit something else, and then everyone saw Wang Yongzhu suddenly reach out and catch something in mid-air, showing a look of pain.

Jindou and Jinhoo were startled and rushed to help, but Wang Yongzhu waved them off, saying, "Don’t come over, stay with your grandma!"

Then she slowly opened her palm to reveal an iron marble spinning around, while a few of her fingers were grazed and bleeding.

"Hunter Qin, what is it? Are you afraid that my mother will reveal the true reason why you wanted to blind Brother Song? So you wanted to silence her? In broad daylight, in front of so many people, you dare to commit violence. Is this secret so important to you that to keep it hidden, you would rather be stained with blood?" Wang Yongzhu looked coldly at Hunter Qin.

Hunter Qin’s mind went blank; he had finally found an opportunity to strike at Old Granny Zhang, but it was thwarted by Wang Yongzhu?

He immediately became sharply aware that Wang Yongzhu was truly unfathomable, actually able to catch his Iron Marble with his bare hands. This was his signature skill, honed over decades and never once failing him.

He was going to fall today!

With alarm, Hunter Qin stared at Wang Yongzhu, unsure of how Yongzhu planned to deal with him.

But considering that Yongzhu had grasped the critical point involving his own mother’s life, it seemed unlikely that he would let Qin off easily.

What to do? Hunter Qin couldn’t help but turn his gaze toward the courtyard.

Where was Zhang Shijiang? Why hadn’t he come out yet? Did he really think that by hiding and not showing his face, he would be safe?

When Old Granny Zhang stood up, Zhang Shijiang thought he finally had his chance and was about to step out of the courtyard when he saw what happened.

He immediately knew things were about to get worse!

Indeed, these martial men were unreliable, believing they could resolve everything through force!

As expected, upon hearing Wang Yongzhu’s pressing questions and seeing Hunter Qin’s hopeful look toward the courtyard, Zhang Shijiang knew he had to show himself.

He straightened his clothes, ready to slowly step out from behind the courtyard door when he looked up, "Bang—" a sound struck, and the door hit Zhang Shijiang in the face.

A surge of intense pain overwhelmed him, and he couldn’t help but hop on one foot.

The door had been pushed open by Jindou. The old aunt had instructed him and Jinhu to protect their grandmother, so they immediately ran to Old Granny Zhang’s side. Feeling that the outside was unsafe and too close to Hunter Qin, they decided to hide in the courtyard where Qin couldn’t see them and, therefore, couldn’t harm anyone.

The door was previously half-open, allowing only one person to pass through, and now neither Jindou nor Jinhoo dared to immediately approach Old Granny Zhang’s side, they naturally went to push the door.

Who knew Shopkeeper Zhang was hiding behind it?

It gave Jindou and Jinhoo quite a scare: "Old aunt, there’s someone behind the door!"

Without mentioning Wang Yongzhu, everyone turned their gaze toward the back of the door.

Jinhoo, mustering his courage, went behind the door and dragged out Shopkeeper Zhang, who was covering his nose.

"Let go! Who are these country bumpkins, let go of me at once! Don’t dirty my clothes..." Zhang Shijiang, realizing that these boys’ hands had just touched the door which that country old lady had wiped her nose on, felt extremely uncomfortable all over. Unfortunately, he couldn’t break free from Jinhu’s grip, so he could only grumble verbally.

Jinhu dragged Zhang Shijiang out and pushed him toward the door.

Zhang Shijiang staggered a few steps before steadying himself, looked up, and saw that the street was packed to the brim. Three layers inside and three outside, it looked as if half of Shiqiao Town’s population had come to enjoy the spectacle.