CHAPTER 654: CHAPTER 653: SUPPRESS

If one were to speak of the three sons of the Lu Family, the one with the fiercest and most violent temper would be none other than the youngest, so when he glared at her, Madam Zhou was frightened into retreating a step, with Qiu Xiang quickly supporting her.

"Stop right there." Madam Zhou steadied herself, took a deep breath, and said to the few people, "I won’t make things difficult for you, so please don’t make it difficult for my daughter and me. Leave at once, or don’t blame me for not being polite!"

"Who exactly is making things difficult for whom?" Old Lady Lu straightened her back; she had lost a front tooth, which made her speech slightly slurred.

Lu Da also stepped forward, his face grave as he said, "Sister Zhou, out of consideration for our kinship, we, with good intentions, came looking for you, but how have you behaved? Getting physical and hitting people! My mother is of advanced age, and to be assaulted like this, how do you explain yourself!"

Madam Zhou saw the blood in Old Lady Lu’s mouth and was somewhat panicked, yet she still said, "Lu San was protecting her, none of our people laid a finger on her. Besides, it’s not uncommon for the elderly to lose teeth due to looseness."

Qiu Xiang, listening, glanced at Madam Zhou and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly, surprised that Madam could come up with such an evasive excuse.

In fact, Madam Zhou was also out of options, and she felt quite guilty saying this.

"That’s sophistry!" Lu San said fiercely.

Madam Zhou glared at him, "Whether it’s sophistry or not, if you have evidence that we did it, you’re welcome to present it." Then, without waiting for Lu San to respond, she turned to Lu Da, her face grave, "As for your so-called good intentions in seeking us out? I fail to understand. Is labeling and slandering us in front of my home what you call good intentions?"

She thought of Old Lady Lu’s words, stepped down a notch, and said icily, "I heard the vulgar insults from the old lady, as did you. Such is your good intention? Forgive me for not accepting this ’kindness’!"

"You!" Old Lady Lu, supported by her son, pointed at her, "Ah, now that Fu Gui is more prosperous, refusing to acknowledge poor relatives is it, using indirect insults. I won’t waste my breath on you, just one thing, let your daughter release my daughter and son-in-law. Otherwise, this matter is far from over!"

Madam Zhou looked back indifferently and said, "How is it far from over? What ability does my Wufu have to decide on this release? The case has been tried, and it’s for the County Magistrate to judge how things should be ruled."

Old Lady Lu’s eyes widened, "Don’t play dumb with me, everyone knows that you and the County Magistrate are in cahoots!"

"Impudence!" Qiu Xiang exclaimed sharply, "The old lady must be out of her mind to slander the County Magistrate’s reputation. Tongzi, go to the government office to report, claim that someone here is defaming his honor."

Ji Tongzi acknowledged the command and turned to run.

Lu Da and the others were shaken by this move, and Lu Da immediately stepped forward, "Sister Zhou, my mother is distressed and spoke out of turn, please forgive her this once, and we will take our leave."

Madam Zhou did not respond, and Qiu Xiang said, "This gentleman speaks lightly, but your mother’s ’speaking out of turn’ amounts to cursing the official in charge of the entire county. We are but humble citizens; how can we bear such a thing!"

"You, what do you want, are you trying to scare me? You dare say you don’t know the County Magistrate? Isn’t it on purpose to implicate my Zhen Zhu in jail?" Old Lady Lu still tried to be composed, though her voice quivered slightly.

"Mother, enough!" Lu Da silenced her, bowing to Madam Zhou, "We are in the wrong. Please forgive us, Sister Zhou. We will leave now!"

Lu Da, have you gone mad? Zhen Zhu is still in the prison!" Old Lady Lu jumped up.

Lu Da gripped her hand tightly and said solemnly, "Mother, do you want all of us to go to jail to keep our sister company?"

Old Lady Lu was stunned and immediately deflated; before she could speak, Lu Da and Lu San, flanking her, led her away.