stingy landlady

Chapter 246 Gui Hong Breaks Off the Engagement (2)

Quite a few neighbors nearby knew the truth:

"That's right! I heard that the manager of Lirenfang is a young girl, and the Zhou family sends people to keep an eye on her all day long. They're just waiting to find something wrong with Manager Wang!"

"Then this Madam Zhou is no good either. Which girl's reputation doesn't matter? But she's here to ruin someone's reputation in such a grand way. She must be taking advantage of Manager Wang's small stature and the fact that his family isn't around."

"Exactly! It's just bullying! Even if the daughters of wealthy families really did have such a thing, wouldn't every family quietly break off the engagement?"

"Can someone really come to your door and yell at you like a shrew?"

Madam Zhou felt like vomiting blood upon hearing this, realizing she had acted rashly. However, with so many people around, it would be difficult to handle the situation. Just as she was caught in a dilemma, Zhou Shaoyu arrived after hearing the news.

He was filled with shame and said to Madam Zhou:

"Mother! What are you doing here? Go home quickly!"

He then bowed repeatedly to Gui Hong:

"Guihong, this is a family matter. We should discuss it behind closed doors. There's no need to talk about it in public and make ourselves a laughingstock."

Please, Guihong, go back to the shop first!

Young Master Du tapped Zhou Shaoyu lightly with his fan and said:

"Oh ho! Young Master Zhou! You've finally come out to smooth things over! Where were you before?"

Let me tell you! No way! I've already sent someone to the yamen to report this to the authorities. Your mother can just wait to be sued and flogged! This Lirenfang is doing a perfectly good business.

She dares to come to our door and bully anyone, and she dares to make baseless accusations against anyone!

This time, I'll teach her a lesson. I won't be satisfied until I give her a good spanking in public! Humph!

Madam Zhou was startled; this was no good news. This young master Du had quietly attracted the attention of the authorities. Madam Zhou quickly climbed into the carriage, intending to use Zhou Shaoyu's offer as an excuse to leave immediately, but was stopped by Steward Han's men.

Manager Han said:

"Madam Zhou! You think you can come and go as you please? Not so easy! You were so arrogant when you bullied a little girl, but have you ever thought about what you would do when someone else bullies you in return?"

"How can things in this world be done as your Zhou family wishes?"

Guizhi stepped forward and said to Madam Zhou and Zhou Shaoyu:

"Since you want to annul the engagement, then let's do it in front of everyone today. From now on, we'll have no further dealings with each other in our own marriages!"

Although my father and mother are not here, my eldest sister is. The three of us sisters can decide to annul the engagement!

The osmanthus branch looks towards the red osmanthus:

"Second sister! Exchange your engagement tokens back. The officials have already arrived and will dissolve your engagement."

Zhou Shaoyu shouted, his face flushed and his neck thick:

"Mother! Didn't your son say he wouldn't break off the engagement? How could you do this! Alas!"

Gui Hong had already returned the jewelry she wore during the engagement to Zhou Shaoyu. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhou Shaoyu had no choice but to take out the jade pendant he was carrying and return it to Gui Hong.

The constables had just arrived, and it seemed the farce was about to end. Guizhi had already called Guixiang and Madam Zhou to sign the annulment agreement.

"Officer! Please bear witness that Wang Guihong and Zhou Shaoyu will have no further relationship from now on. They will be separate individuals."

Jinxiu slipped a purse to the bailiff and then had him sign the agreement drafted by Steward Han. After all three parties signed to annul the engagement, Du Teng then said to the bailiff:

"Brother, this crazy woman has framed our army commander, Du Huaichuan, the centurion. How dare she, a mere commoner, falsely accuse her superior! Please arrest her and lock her up in jail for now, pending trial by the magistrate."

Zhou Shaoyu was taken aback and quickly stuffed a purse into the yamen runner's hand.

"Brother Cha! My mother is old and was misled by the servants, which led her to do something foolish! Please be lenient!"

Zhou Shaoyu then looked at Young Master Du and his servant, and bowed deeply:

"Young Master Du! My mother has been having trouble sleeping lately and is somewhat mentally disoriented. Please forgive her! It's all because of this ignorant servant who is so talkative!"

You have disturbed my mother's rest and damaged your reputation, young master! I am so sorry! Young Master Du! On behalf of my mother, I sincerely apologize to you!

Gui Hong sneered before she could even wipe away her tears:

"Young Master Du! You can never really tell who's good and who's bad! This time, Young Master Zhou really played favorites! I'm the one who's clearly the most hurt!"

The person who should accept the apology isn't me! Do they think I'm easy to bully, or that I'm a lamb to the slaughter?

Young Master Du also snorted:

"Hmph! Young Master Zhou can't even find anyone to apologize to! Fine, fine! Let's go to the government office and talk to them!"

Zhou Shaoyu stared at Gui Hong, his mouth agape.

"Sister Guihong! I believe I have never treated you unfairly, so why are you so relentless?"

Guizhi looked at Zhou Shaoyu and asked:

"Young Master Zhou! What's wrong with my second sister? Should she silently endure the injustice she suffered? Or should she just stand up for her and listen to your mother's slander?"

"Young Master Zhou! I used to think you were somewhat reasonable, but now it seems that with your muddle-headed parents, you're completely out of your depth!"

Madam Zhou couldn't bear to listen any longer, so she lifted the sedan curtain and said:

"Miss Wang! A sharp tongue is never a good thing for a girl! Your second sister is unfaithful, so how can you be any better?"

Guizhi smiled.

"Madam Zhou! Whether we uphold the virtues of womanhood or not is for the right people to judge. As for you! I won't budge! I bet you'll have your pants pulled down and be flogged!"

Hmph! By then, who knows whether it's us who are unfaithful, or some other woman who is unfaithful!

Madam Zhou felt a chill run down her spine. These barefoot people aren't afraid of those wearing shoes! The Wang sisters were really going all out; they were determined to take a bite out of her.

Madam Zhou hurriedly said:

"I won't stoop to your level! We'll have a proper talk when your father and mother arrive! Farewell!"

Madam Zhou signaled the coachman to drive off, but to her surprise, Steward Han's men held onto the horse's reins and wouldn't let go.

The stable boy, left with no other option, turned to Zhou Shaoyu for help. Zhou Shaoyu tried everything – offering bribes, pleading, even begging. Without Manager Han's approval, no one dared let them go.

Young Master Du began to put pressure on the yamen runners:

"My friend, why don't we go to the yamen together and report to the magistrate for a judgment as soon as possible?"

The constables, having accepted bribes from both sides, were caught in a dilemma, especially with this military officer being so unyielding! Alas! Circumstances always dictate actions!

Young Master Du persisted, while Madam Zhou sat in the carriage filled with remorse. Zhou Shaoyu pleaded with him for a whole carriage, but Steward Han's men steadily led the horse toward the government office!

Madam Zhou was so frightened that she lost all her beauty and burst into tears. The servant who had been beaten the night before was nowhere to be found.

Zhou Shaoyu's servant ran quickly back to the Zhou family to find Master Zhou and the eldest son of the Zhou family.

When Master Zhou heard that Madam Zhou's attempt to steal a chicken had backfired, he was so angry that he smashed the inkstone in his hand.

They then met with their eldest son to discuss a plan, but they couldn't come up with any ideas! It's said that even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake, but in the face of absolute power, the Zhou family in the county town didn't have the ability to stand up to the military commander.