Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 107 - 107: 105: Clouds of Suspicion – The Death of Big Mouth Li!

Looking at the half-covered hickey on the base of his neck, he couldn’t help but think of the enchanting little demon from last night. The thought of her involuntarily lifted his spirits.

Outside the hall, his attendant Xiao Shitou hurriedly jogged in.

“Old Master, the carriage is ready, and we can leave at any time.”

“Good! Xiao Shitou, how do I look in these clothes?” Zhang Shixin stretched out his arms and proudly turned around in a circle.

Witty Xiao Shitou knew exactly what his Old Master had in mind.

“Old Master, your appearance is like a jade tree exposed to the wind, with an impressive appearance and a face that rivals Pan An. This time, you will undoubtedly make the young wife from the Liu Family swoon under your power, surrendering to you as you pluck that bright flower…”

“Haha!… You sure know how to talk, kid. Let’s go!”

Zhang Shixin laughed loudly, then suddenly stopped and picked up a folding fan. He swung it leisurely in his hand while taking large, confident strides toward the outside, saying: “Let’s go! We’re leaving the manor!”

“Yes, Old Master.”

Xiao Shitou hurriedly followed.

As the two walked one before the other, heading toward the gate of the mansion, Zhang Shixin couldn’t help but be relieved. It seemed he wouldn’t meet that despicable person today.

“Old Master Businessman, where are you going today?”

Suddenly, a delicate female voice came from behind.

The voice made Zhang Shixin’s entire body shudder. He exchanged bitter glances with Xiao Shitou before turning to face the person who called him.

In the blink of an eye, a pleasing smile had appeared on his face: “Madam, you have a weak constitution. Why don’t you rest in the inner courtyard instead of coming out here and catching a cold? That would really be distressing.”

“Old Master Businessman, have you forgotten? It’s July now. The weather outside is nice and refreshing. Naturally, I want to come out and enjoy the fresh air, stroll around the streets, and relax!” Madam Zhang Shen Qiu replied with a charming smile.

Zhang Shixin’s smile disappeared, and he desperately worried if the woman had found something out.

He then quickly stepped forward and supported Shen Qiu’s waist, saying: “Madam, it’s the July sun, and it’s strong and poisonous. If it harms your delicate skin, it will be my sin! Please listen and let your maids help you back to your room to rest.”

“Old Master, I want to accompany you on your journey outside. I can enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounding us. With you by my side, I’m not afraid of a little sunlight.”

Shen Qiu spoke in a delicate tone: “Old Master, with your outstanding appearance, I can’t be sure that you won’t be captivated by some enchantress from the Yihong Courtyard such as Shan Shan or Sisi, and then I’ll have lost such a wonderful husband.”

Trying to get rid of Shen Qiu? Hmph! That won’t be so easy!

Zhang Shixin’s eyebrows twitched!

Could it be that the despicable woman really knew everything?

“Stop messing around! I’m going out for business, and it’s not appropriate for a married woman like you to show her face in public! What does that say about you?”

He spoke with indignation, putting on an air of authority: “Hong’er, Greeny, what are you standing around for? Quickly help the Madam back to her room! If there’s a mistake like this again next time, I won’t let you off easy!” After finishing, he turned around and hastily left.

“Yes, Old Master!” The two maids hurriedly came forward, supporting Shen Qiu on both sides.

“Old Master! Old Master–”

Shen Qiu cried out repeatedly, but she couldn’t stop Zhang Shixin’s footsteps. She forcibly broke free from the support of the two maids.

“Get out of the way! Who asked for your help? All of you are so useless!”

Shen Qiu’s face was full of fierceness, completely different from her previous gentleness. She suddenly turned her head and glanced around at the several maids, immediately lowering her eyelashes to cover her thoughts deep within her eyes.

“Hong’er, you must quickly find out what happened to that wretched girl, Liu Sisi. Didn’t they say it was already dealt with? How could she still appear before the Old Master?”

Hong’er hurriedly took a few steps forward, “Madam, initially, Nanny Wang was the one who handled this matter. Should I… bring Nanny Wang to see you and inquire about it?”

Shen Qiu’s gaze moved, and a fierce light flashed across her eyes. “Fine! Make sure to investigate carefully! If someone has taken my silver and not done their job properly, there’s no need to be polite!”

“Yes, Madam.”

Meanwhile, in Upper Village.

Liu Sisi and Di Yelei blended in with the crowd, listening to the questioning of several officers.

“So the dead man is Big Mouth Li! We all thought he had run off somewhere, but he was actually killed. This is no surprise, considering the other party was notorious for petty thefts. It’s common for him to disappear for three or five months at a time, and everyone was hoping he’d die soon. Isn’t it obvious? He must have been killed by one of his own partners in crime…” Miao Cuihua, a plump and round woman, squeezed in beside Liu Sisi and spoke in a mysterious tone.

Liu Sisi glanced at her but didn’t engage in conversation, continuing to crane her neck to observe the center of the scene.

The constable who referred to himself as I from the Zuo Family stood behind the accountant, carefully watching their accounts. In front of the accountant, several village residents recalled the last time they saw the deceased.

“Oh my heavens! How can an old cripple like me go on now that you’re dead? You were my only support… A white-haired man sending off a black-haired one, what am I going to do from now on! Oh heavens—”

Big Mouth Li’s father wept bitterly, wailing nonstop.

Suddenly, he seemed to be filled with energy and jumped up. He reached out, grabbing the collar of a nearby married woman. “It must have been you who killed my son! You wicked woman, I want you to compensate for his life!”

The woman whose collar Li’s father grabbed was none other than Pockmarked Face, the married woman who had an affair with Big Mouth Li.

“Let go! What are you doing? My relationship with Big Mouth Li was innocent, don’t you dare falsely accuse me!” Pockmarked Face retorted sharply.

“It was you! The last time someone came to my home for silver, it was you! I saw it with my own eyes!”

Soon, the two started fighting in the center of the scene.

Just as the situation was getting out of control, the constable standing in the background suddenly stepped forward and yelled, “Quiet down! This is an official matter. If you keep fighting like this, I’ll have you both arrested for obstructing justice and locked up in jail. Let’s see if you still want to fight then!”

His words fell, and the two people who were fighting gradually let go of each other, both continuing to sob uncontrollably.

Seeing that the situation was getting worse, Liu Sisi quietly leaned in towards Di Yelei. “Yelei, Pockmarked Face couldn’t have been the one who killed Big Mouth Li, right? She doesn’t have that much strength. What do you think, Yelei? Yelei! Yelei—”

After calling out several times, Di Yelei was still lost in his own thoughts, looking pale and sweating profusely.

Liu Sisi curiously tapped him a little. “Yelei? What’s wrong?”

“Ah? Sisi- You just said what?” Di Yelei was very nervous.

He suddenly grabbed her arm and quickly squeezed through the crowd, heading back home.