Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Unexpected Complications
Ever since Zhang Jinhe appeared, Yue Qingqing could sense that something wasn’t right.
The sinister aura about him was too obvious to ignore.
She didn’t let on that anything was amiss and just wanted to see what he was up to.
She continued to watch with some confusion even after the two men had run off into the distance.
After all, not even she could imagine that someone would be malicious enough to harm a young child.
Before she could react, the sound of disordered footsteps rapidly approached.
“Alright, there’s no one around, let’s get on with it quickly.”
“Lucky it’s the Yue Family’s third child; if it had been the eldest, it would’ve been more troublesome.”
Recognizing the familiar voices, Yue Qingqing turned her head and saw Niu Lihua and her husband coming into view.
As they got closer, they faced Yue Qingqing’s grape-like big eyes.
Zhang Tieniu, seeing the child’s delicate features, suddenly felt a wave of reluctance.
“Lihua, are you sure you didn’t make a mistake the other day? Who in the village would put valuable things on a child?”
Niu Lihua replied impatiently, “Absolutely impossible. That jade was shining brightly, and the Yue’s fondness for this ‘wild child’ is well-known throughout the village.”
Zhang Tieniu rubbed his hands, wanting to say more.
Niu Lihua, with a greedy look, grabbed Yue Qingqing and violently yanked a red cord from around her neck.
The valuable mutton-fat jade was suddenly exposed to the air.
At the sight, Zhang Tieniu’s eyes lit up.
“Goodness, there really is something.”
His momentary soft-heartedness and hesitation were gone in a flash.
Niu Lihua barely suppressed the urge to burst out laughing and reached for the cord to take it off.
Unexpectedly, Yue Qingqing’s small hand grabbed the cord tightly, and for a moment, Niu Lihua couldn’t pull it free.
“This damn girl has quite the grip.”
Niu Lihua wished she could slap her a few times, but she was afraid that Yue Jiannan would come back and notice something was wrong.
Zhang Tieniu urged her, “Hurry up, Jinhe can’t hold them off for long. We can’t afford to be seen.”
As long as they weren’t caught in the act, even if the Yue family suspected anything, they wouldn’t have evidence.
Niu Lihua, growing desperate and sweating profusely, struggled fiercely to pry Yue Qingqing’s hand open.
Yue Qingqing clenched her fist, puffing her cheeks, stubbornly resisting Niu Lihua.
Zhang Tieniu, now stomping his feet in anxiety, could only see the piece of jade in his eyes.
Niu Lihua, angry and frantic, felt a surge of rage well up within her.
Suddenly looking up, she saw the pond not far away.
Zhang Tieniu panicked, “Lihua, you… what are you thinking?”
“With such a small child, sometimes they can roll out of their carts, and if they accidentally fall into the pond, who knows which mud pit the jade will end up in.”
As she muttered to herself, Niu Lihua walked towards the pond, holding Yue Qingqing.
If the damn girl won’t let go, let’s see if she keeps holding on once she’s drowned.
Zhang Tieniu was greedy, but he still couldn’t bring himself to kill.
“Forget it, let’s think of another way for the dowry. Put her down.”
“Shut up!” Niu Lihua turned and glared at him, her eyes red with rage.
“If it weren’t for your worthlessness and your daughter! If only the Yue family was willing to pay, would I have to do this? It’s all your fault!”
Years of repressed habit made Zhang Tieniu dare not speak, and he could only watch the scene unfold helplessly.
“In the end, you’re just an unwanted bastard; you deserve to die.”
Standing at the edge of the pond, Niu Lihua was one step away from stepping in.
She suddenly lifted Yue Qingqing high.
Yue Qingqing’s eyes fixed on her, the pupils reflecting a twisted face.
“What are you looking at.” Niu Lihua grew even angrier, wanting to gouge out those eyes.
She pushed down with her arms, forcefully pressing Yue Qingqing towards the water.