Just as he was lost in thought, a sound came from outside the courtyard gate.
Su Zhen glanced at him smugly, only to see Su Li push open the door and enter.
In an instant, Su Zhen's smile froze, her eyes filled with disbelief as she stared blankly at Su Li, unconsciously clenching the handkerchief in her hand.
"Why would she come back at this time? The shop should already be..."
Su Li felt the piercing gaze on her back, paused, and turned to look at Su Zhen.
The moment their eyes met, Su Zhen felt as if she had been burned; her eyes darted around in panic, and she quickly looked away, her heart pounding.
She actually escaped unscathed?
Su Li didn't linger and turned to leave.
Su Zhen watched her retreating figure, gritting her teeth, her nails digging deep into her palms.
"You're lucky this time. Even if it didn't kill you, the shop burning down must have taken half your life..."
Soon after, news came that the shop had been burned down.
Su Li's expression changed drastically, and she rushed to the dock with great anxiety.
Feeling stifled, Su Zhen went outside for some fresh air, leaning on her cane, when she found no one at home.
She limped to a slope not far from the village and sat down, still plotting how to trip up Su Li again.
Suddenly, she noticed a dark figure on the riverbank.
"what is that?"
Su Zhen was puzzled. After hesitating for a moment, her strong curiosity drove her to stand up, lean on her cane, and walk unsteadily toward the riverbank.
Upon closer inspection, they found a ragged man lying on the ground, his fate unknown...
When Su Li arrived at the shop at the dock, the fire had already been completely extinguished.
The backyard was mostly burned, and the house was in a mess, but fortunately no one was injured.
"I was just passing by, there's nothing like what you're saying, don't wrong an innocent person!"
When the men hurriedly brought the old woman to Su Li, she still had her neck stiff and looked defiant, vehemently denying any involvement in the arson.
"Do you think we're easy to fool? Before the shop caught fire, someone saw you loitering around suspiciously nearby. Now you want to deny it?"
Su Li's mother rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Her expression changed drastically at first glance; she pointed at the old woman, her voice trembling.
"This...isn't this Granny Cai? Li'er, do you remember? This old woman came to our house last time about your second uncle's house. What's she doing here?"
"Could she really have committed arson? But we have no grudge against each other..."
Upon hearing this, Granny Cai's eyes widened in shock. She struggled desperately and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Don't make false accusations! I haven't done anything wrong!"
An older woman stepped forward, glared at her fiercely, and shoved her hard, almost causing Granny Cai to fall.
"Hmph, it's no use being stubborn! Once we send you to the authorities and subject you to severe torture, you'll have no choice but to talk!"
Granny Cai panicked instantly. She couldn't be sent to the government office. How could her old bones withstand that?
She lowered her head, her mind racing with calculations.
If he admits to arson, he will definitely go to jail, but what will happen to his grandson?
No, no matter what, we have to find someone to rely on for our grandson first.
Granny Cai's eyes darted around, and she knelt down with a thud, clasped her hands together, and cried out in remorse:
"I was wrong, I was really wrong! It was all because I was confused for a moment, instigated by others, and blinded by greed that I did such a wrong thing!"
Su Li frowned, her eyes sharp as two knives, staring intently at Granny Cai, and said coldly, "Instigated by someone? Who is it? Was it my second uncle's family who instructed you?"
Granny Cai bit her lip, hesitated for a long time, and remained silent.
I just searched around and couldn't find any solid evidence.
Su Li knew in her heart that if Granny Cai insisted on her own doing the deed, the government would indeed be powerless to do anything to her second uncle's family.
But she couldn't swallow her anger at letting them go like that.
"Take her back to the Su family!" Su Li waved her hand and said decisively.
As soon as Su Zhen entered the Su family's gate, she saw Granny Cai. The smile on her face froze instantly, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes.
She instinctively clenched her fists, then forced herself to remain calm and limped towards him.
Su Zhen walked up to Granny Cai and, taking advantage of the crowd's inattention, lowered her voice and said viciously, "If you dare to expose me, your precious grandson will be left to wander the streets!"
Granny Cai trembled with fright and hurriedly whispered, "Young lady, don't worry, I didn't say anything! As long as you agree to help me take care of my grandson, I'm willing to take full responsibility for it."
Su Zhen gritted her teeth, her facial muscles twitching slightly. Although she hated him to death, she could only nod helplessly.
Su Li walked straight to the main hall. "Our shop was burned down by Granny Cai. Grandpa and Grandma, as you both know, Granny Cai is usually close to Second Uncle's family. In my opinion, Second Uncle's family is probably behind this!"
Upon hearing this, Old Master Su's face darkened.
Old Mrs. Su couldn't wait any longer and stepped forward, launching into a tirade of curses.
"What nonsense are you spouting? You come back and start causing trouble! Your second uncle's family has always been law-abiding; how could they do such a heinous thing?"
Su Li's eyes were icy cold as she took a step forward, showing no fear whatsoever.
“Grandma, how could I make wild guesses? Back then, someone saw Granny Cai loitering near the shop, looking flustered. Now she herself has admitted to being instigated. Who else could be behind this, besides her second uncle's family who are close to her?”
"You brat, why are you making such a mess of things at home? You've ruined the reputation of the Su family! I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!"
Grandma Su put her hands on her hips, her face full of anger, and made as if she was about to step forward and attack.
Su Xiangyang quickly pulled his younger sister behind him to protect her, and frowned as he said:
"Grandma, Granny Cai is here now, why don't we just let her explain herself in front of everyone? Why should we wrong Uncle's family for no reason?"
"Grandma, it's not that I want to cause trouble, but our shop was burned down, and the losses were enormous. That's a fact. If the truth isn't found out and the culprit isn't severely punished, how can our Su family ever have peace again?"
Su Li took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
“It’s not that I don’t care about the family. But if I turn a blind eye to wrongdoing just to protect my so-called reputation, what’s the point of that reputation?”
“If you insist on taking sides, then I will have no choice but to send Granny Cai to the authorities. If the authorities find out that Second Uncle’s family was behind it, even if we forgive Second Uncle, the authorities will probably still arrest him.”
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Su slumped into a chair and burst into tears.
"Oh dear, this is unbearable! My granddaughter is going to send her own uncle to jail. If word gets out, what will people think of us!"
At this moment, Su Zhen and Granny Cai walked in. Su Zhen avoided eye contact, not daring to look at the crowd.
Granny Cai lowered her head and huddled to one side.
The old man looked at Granny Cai, then at his second son's family, and knew perfectly well that his second son must have done it.
But if Xiang Ming were to send his second son to the authorities for punishment, how would he be able to participate in the imperial examinations?
The Su family's future is completely ruined.
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