What Right Do You Have?
Zhao Chuchu said calmly, “Give a detailed list of what you have taken over the past year. Also, I’m a timid person. You may scare me if you shout again. If my hand trembles, this dagger may pierce your throat by accident. I don’t know if I can save you then.”
Madam Yang’s voice went hoarse. “Don’t kill me…”
“Have you forgotten what I just said? Just tell me what you have taken.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t take anything.”
“Oh, that’s strange. Is it possible that our family’s rice, flour, oil, and salt sprouted legs and ran off by themselves?”
Zhao Chuchu smiled menacingly as she inched closer to Madam Yang. She whispered, “If you don’t tell me, I will slit your throat in slow motion. Over time, you will bleed to death. Do you want to give it a try?”
Madam Yang was scared stiff and pushed Madam Ma out to the front. “It’s all Madam Ma’s fault. It has nothing to do with me! She’s the one who said your family had rice and flour. She slipped into your house when no one was around and took those stuff home. I never took them.”
“Is that so?” Zhao Chuchu looked to look at Madam Ma.
Madam Ma’s heart skipped a beat. “I-I didn’t…”
“Madam Ma, admit it if you’re in the wrong. Aren’t you afraid of punishment from the gods if you let your mother-in-law take the blame for you?” Madam Yang was furious. She wished she could trade places with Madam Ma now.
Once again, the Zhao family members went numb with fear at Zhao Chuchu’s viciousness.
Zhao Chuchu turned to Niu Tongsheng and asked, “Chief Niu, what is the punishment for stealing?”
It was only then that Niu Tongsheng realized why Zhao Chuchu made a big fuss about building a wall.
She wanted to make Madam Yang and her family return all the things they had stolen from her.
Otherwise, why would she bother to blow up the matter?
“According to the village rules, we need to bring this case to the court. However, if word about this gets out, the sons and daughters of Mister Zhao’s family would not be able to marry.” Niu Tongsheng turned to look at Mister Zhao. “You are the head of the family. Tell us, how do you intend to deal with this?”
Mister Zhao immediately looked at Madam Yang.
He was a coward by his own admission. Madam Yang always decided on everything. He did not know what he should do now.
Madam Yang cried out loud, “Let Madam Ma pay for it! Madam Ma, how much have you stolen? Pay them back. Otherwise, I’ll get my son to divorce you!”
Zhao Baogen hurriedly said, “Mom, I…”
“Shut up, you unfilial child!”
“It was you who asked me to steal them. All of us reaped the benefits. Why should I bear the brunt of it alone?”
There was an air of defiance in Madam Ma’s voice.
Niu Tongsheng found himself in a difficult predicament.
Zhao Chuchu let out a soft chuckle. “It’s fine if you don’t want to pay for them. We can all go to court. You have the cheek to steal from a scholar. Are you tired of living?”
Mister Zhao finally spoke up. “Chuchu, we are all family. Let’s forget about the whole matter. At most, we won’t ask you for anything in the future. You are my granddaughter. Isn’t it right to show some respect for your grandfather?”
Zhao Chuchu retorted, “When my parents died, you took away everything that belonged to them. When I got married, all of you chased me out of the house. You even announced publicly to the entire village that you were severing all ties with me. Now, what right do you have to make me respect you?”
She continued, “My parents were willing to risk their lives for you. But what have you done? You ill-treated the only family member they have left in this world. You have never treated me as a human. What right do you have now to ask me to be filial to you? A benevolent father breeds a filial child. I’m not afraid of going to court to sue you. I will fight you to the end. Do you think a person who was dead once will be afraid to die? Shall I drag you to hell with me?”
Zhao Chuchu sounded so heartless that a cold shudder ran through Mister Zhao.
“The word filial piety doesn’t intimidate me. No one knows if there will be another round of plague. I cannot tell for sure if the imperial court will kill me because of you. I dare all of you.”