Divorcing your wife might feel good for a moment, but seeing me make money will make you regret it f

Xu Qing didn't dare tell Hui Niang the whole truth at once, so she slowly told her about the trouble that Old Man Cao had caused some time ago.

After speaking, Xu Qing carefully looked at Hui Niang and said:

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I have a way to deal with him. For the sake of the baby in your belly, please don't be sad!"

Hui Niang remained calm, gently stroking her belly and murmuring softly:

"That family is like a persistent ghost; why didn't they all die back then...?"

Looking at the overly calm Hui Niang, Xu Qing asked somewhat nervously, "Sister-in-law, what are you saying?"

Hui Niang looked up at Xu Qing and smiled gently, "It's nothing, little sister. Don't worry about me, I'll go out with you."

At this moment, Xu Jian had already called everyone and returned to find his wife had come out.

He immediately ran to Hui Niang's side: "Wife, why did you come out? Go back and lie down to rest, it's time for your nap!"

Hui Niang gave Xu Jian a reproachful glare:

"What, you still want to hide it from me? I know everything. You all think too little of me."

For the sake of the child in my womb, I won't risk my health to upset them.

They're the ones who did wrong, and they're the ones who should be punished. I'm not that stupid.

Hui Niang's expression was open and honest, without the slightest hint of pretense, which put Xu Qing and Xu Jian at ease.

Just as the three of them reached the door, Old Cao and his group arrived, followed by a long line of menacing villagers.

With so many outsiders coming to the village, what if some thieves sneak in and take advantage of the chaos to steal from homes?

Even if it's just for our own sake, we still have to keep an eye on things.

Old Cao looked at Hui Niang, who was standing at the door with a happy expression on her face, with some surprise.

He couldn't help but take a closer look at her.

She's fatter than before, her skin is whiter, and she's dressed just as well as the city's wealthy ladies.

It seems he was right; Hui Niang did indeed marry well. Since that's the case, what's wrong with giving them a hand?

It was only 50 taels, nothing to her, but for his Cong'er, it could change Cong'er's life!

Old Cao greeted her warmly, "Hui Niang, I'm your uncle. Why do you look like you don't recognize me?"

Hui Niang glanced at Old Man Cao and said indifferently:

"So you are my late husband's elder brother. I remember that my late husband had just died, and you couldn't wait to come to my house."

They said I didn't bear a son or daughter for your nephew, and therefore I'm unworthy to continue occupying the Cao family's property.

You seized all my land and house, and I was driven out penniless and almost starved to death.

Why didn't you come up to me and say you were my uncle back then? Anyone can add flowers to brocade.

Now you're rushing to claim kinship again, but I can't accept being called your niece. Please forgive me, I cannot agree.

Old Mrs. Cao was struck dumb; she never expected that Hui Niang would so frankly tell everything.

He had originally hoped to use his nephew to threaten her!

After all, what man wants to hear about his wife's past relationships with other men?

After a long pause, Old Lady Cao chuckled dryly:

"That's all a misunderstanding. I was just worried about you, a woman, without a child to rely on."

What if those scoundrels in the village bully you? I'm just keeping it for you temporarily.

Alright, those things are all in the past. I'm here today because my nephew owes me 50 taels of silver.

My nephew had a hard life and died young. The sins of the father must be paid by the son. He had no son. You are his wife. Even a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness.

You're doing so well now, 50 taels of silver is nothing to you, so just pay it back for me.

When I last came here, this Mrs. Xu said that she would only admit it if someone could prove that the handwriting belonged to my nephew.

Today I brought the village chief with me, along with more than a dozen brothers from the village; they can all testify to this."

As soon as Old Man Cao finished speaking, Cao Zheng, the village chief of Cao Family Village who was standing behind him, stepped forward:

“I am the village chief of Caojia Village. The signature on the IOU that Old Man Cao wrote is indeed his nephew’s.”

After Cao Zheng finished speaking, the other dozen or so men also chimed in:

“We can all attest that it is indeed the handwriting of Grandpa Cao’s nephew.”

Repaying debts is justified.

They've made so many trips just to get this little bit of money.

Your family doesn't seem to be short of money, so please don't make things difficult for an elderly person.

Afraid that Hui Niang would be angered by these shameless people, Xu Qing quickly took over the conversation:

“You have witnesses, and I have witnesses too. Brother, go and invite the magistrate out.”

Xu Jian walked into the house with a sullen face.

Old Cao and his group stared in disbelief at Xu Jian's retreating figure, as if trying to confirm whether what Xu Qing had said was true or false.

Cao Zheng hurriedly tugged at Old Man Cao's clothes and whispered:

"What's going on? Didn't you say you just needed me to make a certificate? Why is the magistrate here?"

Let me tell you, if the magistrate really comes, don't blame me for turning against him!

The other men chimed in, "The village chief is right. We just want to make some money; we don't want to risk our lives."

Old Cao was in a panic. He remembered what his son had said: the more panicked you are, the more you need to calm yourself down.

Otherwise, they'll just be exposed even faster.

He lowered his voice to reassure everyone: "What are you panicking about! Who is the magistrate? She's not someone you can just invite at will."

Besides, he didn't know we were coming today, and he even invited us from her house. Could it be that the magistrate is staying at her house?

She's definitely lying to us, trying to make us give ourselves away!

The crowd was persuaded by Old Man Cao's words and gradually calmed down.

A short while later, Xu Jian brought out a middle-aged man from the house; he was the advisor.

Since the county magistrate broke up with Xu Qing because of Zhou Chenggong's matter, they have not had any contact for a long time.

Upon receiving the Emperor's decree to assist Xu Qing in planting rubber trees, he felt ashamed to face Xu Qing and had no choice but to send his advisor.

So during this period, the clerk basically ran back and forth between the yamen and Xu Qing's place. Sometimes when he couldn't make it, he would stay at Xu Qing's house.

I happened to run into it today.

When the villagers came to inform Xu Qing, Xu Qing came up with this idea.

She was certain that the IOU was forged, and that these so-called witnesses were hired by that old man Cao to help them deceive them.

With the advisor here, let's see if these troublemakers dare to talk nonsense again.

After the clerk came out, he stroked his goatee and asked in an air of superiority, "Who is causing trouble here?"

The people of Caojia Village had never seen the county magistrate and his advisor, but the village chief, Cao Zheng, had.

He saw that it was indeed someone from the county magistrate's entourage who came out, and he couldn't help but tremble.

He knelt down with a thud: "M-Sir, I was blind and offended you. I'll leave now!"

After saying that, he turned and ran.

"Wait a minute," the clerk snapped. "You come and go as you please? What do you take this place for?"