Chapter 5: Conspiracy Theory
“Wah wah wah, Young Madam, I’m so scared!”
Xiao Huan hugged Shang Wan, and all the grievances and fears that had been suppressed in her heart surged up. She cried with tears and snot streaming down, sobbing as she said, “Can I castrate them?”
“Of course you can.”
Shang Wan dodged back into the kitchen and took out the kitchen knife that had been sharpened to a snowy brightness, handing it over. “As long as you don’t leave any psychological trauma, you can chop these three scum into minced meat.”
Chop, chop into minced meat?
Xiao Huan’s crying stopped abruptly. She lifted a pair of tear-reddened eyes and stared blankly at Shang Wan.
Shang Wan raised her eyebrow. “Want me to help you? Sure.”
She picked up the kitchen knife and walked off. Xiao Huan was frightened and quickly grabbed her arm, not even bothering to wipe her tears, anxiously saying, “Young Madam, wait! Murder is against the law!”
Murder means paying with one’s life; these three scum don’t deserve it!
Shang Wan turned back to look at her, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I have plenty of ways to keep the government from finding out. Just tell me if you want these three scum dead or not?”
Of course she wanted it.
Xiao Huan twisted her hands tightly. The fear from almost being bullied still lingered in her body, making her shiver all over. If Young Madam hadn’t come back in time, she probably would have…
But thinking about how it would implicate Shang Wan in a murder case, she started hesitating again.
For a moment, her mind was at war, unable to make a decision.
Shang Wan didn’t rush her. She reached out her finger for Yuan Yuan’s little meat hand to grip.
The little baby girl’s thick long lashes were wet with tears, her crying-reddened little face still streaked with tears, her rosy little mouth pouting as she called out for Mama one after another. Her delicate little throat was hoarse from crying earlier, sounding extremely aggrieved.
Shang Wan could only gently rock the swaddling clothes to comfort her.
Xiao Huan took a deep breath and finally made her decision. “Young Madam, let’s wait for Shi Tou to come back and send them all to the officials.”
She couldn’t implicate Young Madam in a murder.
“Alright.” Shang Wan respected her decision. Anyway, that long-bearded one had already been crippled by her kick. Even if he lived, he’d spend the rest of his life paralyzed in bed as a breathing piece of trash.
She handed the swaddling clothes to Xiao Huan to hold, took a bundle of hemp rope from the cellar, tied the short man and the bamboo pole man to the stone mill in the courtyard, then dragged the bearded man into the courtyard and casually tossed him in the corner.
The short man had passed out from the intense pain in his legs, leaving only the bamboo pole man still conscious.
Shang Wan paced over to the bamboo pole man and coldly asked, “Who sent you?”
They had only moved in last night, and today three ruffians showed up at the door. How could it be such a coincidence?
“No one.” The bamboo pole man hunched his shoulders. “We just heard someone was living in this rundown thatched hut and came out of curiosity to take a look.”
“Just to take a look?”
“I, we…” The bamboo pole man stammered.
Shang Wan had no patience for it and slapped him hard. The bamboo pole man felt like his head was nearly knocked off, tears and snot flowing uncontrollably from the pain.
How did this woman’s strength surpass a man’s?
Seeing Shang Wan’s slap about to fall again, he shrank his neck in fear, begging for mercy with his swollen red cheek, “Don’t, don’t hit! I’ll talk, alright?”
Shang Wan shook her wrist and gave him a cold sidelong glance.
The bamboo pole man honestly confessed the whole story.
It turned out the short man and the bamboo pole man were both local good-for-nothings from the village: one was Luo Si from the Luo Family, the other Liu Er from the Liu Family.
The bearded man was Chen San from the Chen Family, from the neighboring Willow Tree Village. Relying on his sturdy build and some martial arts skills, he was a notorious bully in the area who had done plenty of bullying.
The three of them hung out together all day, idle and up to no good, stealing chickens and touching dogs.
This time coming to the door was somewhat related to Shang Wan—or more precisely, to the silver hairpin she had given Shi Tou to exchange for grain.
Last night, Shi Tou went to several households, but none were willing to trade with him. Finally, he knocked on the Village Chief’s door, explained the situation, and they agreed to trade some things.
Coincidentally, Chen San’s second sister Chen Guifang was the wife of Lin Family’s Second from the Village Chief’s family. Today, when Chen San visited the Village Chief’s house, he spotted the silver hairpin in Chen Guifang’s hair at a glance.
Lu Chengjing was, after all, the Third Young Master of the Lu Family. Even if he wasn’t favored at home, the Lu Family’s foundation was there—what kind of betrothal gift could they send that was shoddy?
Though it was just a silver hairpin, the workmanship and carving were exquisite, different from the ones Chen Guifang usually wore.
When Chen San asked, Chen Guifang told him right away. He immediately got ideas, called over Luo Si and Liu Er, originally intending to collect a protection fee.
But the three squatted far away for a while, seeing only a woman and a baby in the little courtyard, no man in sight, and that Xiao Huan was pretty and delicate-looking, so they immediately got crooked ideas.
Taking advantage of Xiao Huan turning her back to wash the diapers, they approached, grabbed her, and used the child to threaten, forcing Xiao Huan to submit.
They’d done this kind of thing plenty of times and were quite practiced at it, but they didn’t expect to flip the boat today.
After hearing the whole story, Shang Wan raised her hand and slapped Liu Er again.
Liu Er felt a bit aggrieved. Hadn’t they agreed that an honest confession meant no beating?
Shang Wan asked, “Is Chen San on good terms with Chen Guifang?”
Liu Er didn’t dare not answer and nodded honestly. “Chen San is the Chen Family’s sole heir. The Chen Family pampers him with all the good stuff. Before Gui Fang Sis married, she doted on this youngest brother the most.”
Hearing this, a dark glint flashed in Shang Wan’s eyes.
She didn’t want to think the worst of people, but with the mother-in-law still alive and a big sister-in-law above, how could the silver hairpin end up in the hands of her, the second daughter-in-law?
Besides, unless villagers were visiting relatives or friends, who would wear gold or silver hair ornaments on their head?
It was right in the middle of spring planting season, with every household working in the fields—no way they’d wear them. What if they lost them?
Yet the silver hairpin had appeared on Chen Guifang’s head, precisely when Chen San was visiting.
Chen Guifang clearly knew Chen San’s rotten character but still let it slip in front of him. Wasn’t that deliberately encouraging Chen San to come make trouble?
If they succeeded this time, there’d definitely be a next time, and the time after that.
The thatched hut was backed by the mountain. Though far from other village households, it was still within Elm Tree Village’s bounds, under the Village Chief’s jurisdiction.
If they really were a helpless family with a child, repeatedly bullied, the only option would be to seek the Village Chief’s protection, follow the village rules, and inevitably offer some bribes.
So, was this a deliberate show of strength, or some kind of test?
Shang Wan pondered carefully. Maybe she was being conspiracy-minded, but in unfamiliar territory, she preferred to overthink rather than be schemed against without knowing who did it.
She thought it over and changed her mind, looking up at Xiao Huan. “Pack up the things in the back basket. Keep the two wild ducks for hatching eggs. I’ll go to the Village Chief’s house.”
After giving instructions, she grabbed Chen San and headed out.
Whatever it was, one trip would reveal it.
The Village Chief’s house was the only one in Elm Tree Village built with green bricks, standing out conspicuously among the rammed-earth houses. Shang Wan found it without much effort.
The small courtyard was enclosed by a red brick wall, with several large shady trees planted on the east and west sides, branches thick and leafy—perfect for hiding.
Shang Wan heard people in the courtyard. She tossed Chen San over the wall, then lightly tapped her toe and leaped into the tree. Her slender figure was completely concealed by the layers of branches and leaves.
