The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 445 - : Compensation? Life in Exchange?

Chapter 445: 445 Chapter: Compensation? Life in Exchange?

As Zhang Shijiang was pushed to the front, he immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.

Feeling his scalp tingle under their gazes, he struggled to force a smile, cupped his hands towards Wang Yongzhu and gave her a bow, "Miss Wang, we both know the truth about yesterday’s incident. We gave Song Chongjin two options, and he chose to take that pill himself, how can you blame us for it? Miss Wang, bringing your family here today to make a scene, isn’t this making trouble without reason?"

Wang Yongzhu sneered, addressing the onlookers, "Since Shopkeeper Zhang has come out today, let’s clarify things in front of everyone!"

"Yesterday, you gave two choices, one was to slave away for you for a lifetime, and the other was to take that pill which, you claimed, would just blur his vision. But shortly after Brother Song took the medicine, his vision started to blur, and I suspected there was something amiss with the pill. With a life at stake, I rushed Brother Song to see a doctor."

"The doctor said that the pill was outright poison, capable of not only blinding a person but also slowly destroying their body. After taking this pill, within ten years, the one who took it would suffer torment and die!"

"To think you are a learned man, with the words of Saints and sages always on your lips, yet you commit such filthy, despicable, shameless, and vicious deeds! Song Chongjin has served you for over a decade, all for refusing to be your slave, you resorted to such a poisonous scheme!"

"And now, you have the audacity to accuse us of making trouble without reason? Let’s have the public judge this, is there any master in the world like you? If all masters were like the two of you, who would dare to send their children into your hands, to learn skills from you?"

Wang Yongzhu’s eyes were practically spitting fire.

Zhang Shijiang was at a loss for words; neither he nor Old Qin could have imagined that such a capable doctor would exist in this rural area.

They had miscalculated!

The onlookers also showed their indignation. These two masters were too heartless. Thankfully, their own children had not apprenticed under such people. Apprenticeship was meant to acquire skills to provide for one’s family, but instead of making a living, the apprentice nearly lost his life. It was terrifying.

The families who once considered sending their children to learn under Shopkeeper Zhang and Hunter Qin felt a cold sweat break out on their backs.

They were grateful for the previous rejection by Shopkeeper Zhang and Hunter Qin to take on apprentices, which now felt like a blessing in disguise!

Shopkeeper Zhang knew it was not advisable to prolong the dispute in public, fearing that the longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for them.

He gritted his teeth, "Miss Wang, what do you say we discuss this matter inside?"

Wang Yongzhu eyed Shopkeeper Zhang but before she could speak, Old Granny Zhang firmly objected, "My girl, don’t listen to this old bastard’s sweet talk. Who knows what schemes they’re plotting? They dared to attack openly in front of so many villagers just now, intending to kill. Once they lure our entire family inside and close the courtyard door, who knows if they will wipe us all out!"

Shopkeeper Zhang wanted to say that he wasn’t foolish enough to do anything to their family at this juncture. He shouldn’t do anything but rather, should mollify them with kind words to settle today’s trouble.

But he couldn’t say that and instead managed a strained smile, "Auntie, you jest. We are law-abiding citizens; how could we do such things? Isn’t that right, Old Qin?"

He shot Hunter Qin a look.

With a sullen face, Hunter Qin nodded reluctantly, "Rest assured, I won’t lay a hand on you!"

"Your words are as good as farts. You said you wouldn’t harm my son-in-law, yet you poisoned him at the first opportunity! Smiling to our faces, yet behind our backs you take aim with a slingshot at this old lady. I’m not a three-year-old child, don’t think you can fool me! Today, our family isn’t going anywhere, we’ll stay right here at this doorstep!" Old Granny Zhang spat at Hunter Qin.

Fury tightened Hunter Qin’s fists with a crackling noise, and his face turned livid.

"See? Do you see that? With that attitude, who would believe they wouldn’t trick us inside to murder us in cold blood? They’re already looking at us like they can’t wait to devour our family..." Old Granny Zhang’s eyelids flipped, and she immediately burst into wails.

Shopkeeper Zhang glared at Hunter Qin, vexed by his incompetence that jeopardized their situation.

As the crowd of spectators grew, those who loved a spectacle shouted from amidst the crowd, "Right, don’t go in! Make things clear in front of us all!"

"Exactly, clear it up! We in Shiqiao Town can’t have such black-hearted and vile murderers! If it’s true that they’ve harmed someone’s son-in-law, we should report them to the officials. People like that can’t be allowed to roam free and harm others!"