However, Yang Chuxia had no intention of telling them. The two children were still young, and she didn’t want this dirty matter to stain their innocent hearts.
"As long as you have good food to eat, why do you need to ask so many questions?"
"I’m just asking." Yang Qingrui murmured.
After each person finished eating dinner, Ms.Wang busily cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks. The Qingrui brothers took Ye Zi’an to their room to study and do their homework.
Yang Chuxia then returned to her room, took out her sleeve-arrow, and decided to make a trip to the ancestral hall.
"Are you going out?" As she was about to leave, Ye Zi’an came out from the room.
"Yes, I’m going to the ancestral hall for a bit." At this critical moment, she wouldn’t feel at ease even if someone was watching her.
As they talked, the two of them went to the ancestral hall together. Luckily, they did because when they arrived, they found Yang Da’an pacing in front of the hall. When he saw Uncle Dayong, who was guarding the ancestral hall, go to the restroom, he prepared to approach and open the door.
Fortunately, Yang Chuxia and Ye Zi’an arrived at the ancestral hall in time. Yang Da’an saw someone coming and left.
To prevent Yang Da’an from coming back in the middle of the night, Yang Chuxia decisively stayed at the ancestral hall to guard it. Ye Zi’an saw that she wasn’t going back, so he voluntarily stayed with her. Along with Yang Dayong, the three of them lingered in the ancestral hall for the night, preventing Yang Da’an from making any move.
That day, the people of Yangshu Village got up early. Everyone seemed energized, having eaten their breakfast and gathered outside the ancestral hall.
What they were all looking forward to was seeing someone sinking in the river. They had heard from the elderly in their families that this was the first time in decades that such an event had taken place in Yangshu Village, so how could they miss it?
Many people looked at the ancestral hall, thinking that this could not be attributed to their lack of compassion, but rather to the sheer evil of the old woman. Not only did she try to kill her own granddaughter and harm her stepson, but she also stole one thing after another in the village, corrupting the atmosphere and affecting the village girls as well. This was even more hateful than a petty thief.
"Bring them both out!" ordered Land Officer Yang. A group of young men and a few women from the village stepped forward, holding Old Lady Hua and Old Sun.
"Wait, leave Old Sun for now." One of the village elders said, "Old Sun is not good, but compared to Old Ms.Hua, he did not harm anyone’s life. His crime is not punishable by death, but it’s different for Old Ms.Hua. In order to cover up her evil deeds, she repeatedly harmed Xiaxia and even harmed Da’an for money. We should just expel Old Sun from our village and sink Old Ms.Hua in the river."
Upon hearing this, Land Officer Yang pondered for a moment and turned to ask Old Yang for his opinion, but he did not see any trace of Old Yang.
After thinking about it, he said, "Then let’s do as you suggest."
Yang Chuxia didn’t have much to say about this. Although Old Sun was not a good person, he had not directly harmed them. Instead, he had even helped her get rid of Old Lady Hua. Yang Chuxia figured that she might as well let him go.
So, a group of people took Old Lady Hua and set off in a mighty procession. Of course, due to Yang Chuxia’s suggestion, they did not go to the small beach but to a river near the mountains, which was connected to the sea. If they threw someone into the river, the person would likely be carried to the sea.
Along the way, Old Lady Hua’s mouth was stuffed, preventing her from speaking. But the closer they got to the river, the more fear and panic filled her eyes, and the more fiercely she struggled.