Little did she know, her glare merely earned her another slap.
Madam Zhou, who had been holding onto the carriage, lifted her hand to cover the other half of her face that had been struck.
"You’re lucky that I even looked twice at those two little maids by your side, and you dare show me disdain? What do you think you are, daring to invoke the name of the Magistrate? Even I would not dare to do so."
The leader sneered at Madam Zhou once more.
"Brothers, since this old woman is so ungrateful, show her what she’s asking for."
He glanced sideways at his two companions, who immediately understood and stepped forward to drag Madam Zhou out from between her two maids.
The two maids, fearing they would be beaten to death upon their return for failing to protect Madam Zhou, tried to snatch her back, but how could they compete with two young men? They were pushed aside in an instant.
The next moment, Madam Zhou, who had thought herself above others, was flung onto the ground by the two men.
Her clothes were smeared with mud beyond recognition, and one side of her face was pinned down by a man’s shoe sole, while the other side touched the muddy ground, her eyes welling with tears from pain.
The other man was kicking her body and legs forcefully, as if wanting to beat her to death.
"Help, save me, please save me..."
While wailing, she cried for help from the people on the official road.
But who, upon witnessing such a scene, wouldn’t quickly avoid getting anywhere near, let alone dare to intervene with such misfortune?
Just when she felt overwhelmed by shame and rage, suddenly, a carriage passed by on the official road. The curtain was lifted, and she saw two incredibly familiar faces.
"Sangsang, what’s happening over there?"
Lin Changfeng was sitting in the carriage; because the carriage was moving slowly, and Lin Caisang had opened the curtain, he naturally saw what was happening under the big tree.
Without delay, he turned his head towards his sister,
"Should we do something? In broad daylight..."
"In broad daylight, there are people who want to kill you. Brother Changfeng need not bother with such trivial matters," Lin Caisang’s voice cut in before Lin Changfeng could finish, cold as frost in the deep winter.
Startled, he looked again toward the person under the tree and suddenly realized she looked very familiar—it was... Madam Zhou of the Zhou family!
"Sangsang, did you do this?"
His eyes conveyed disbelief and understanding as he asked his sister.
Lin Caisang did not deny it and turned to look at Madam Zhou one last time before closing the curtain and settling herself.
"She who starts the trouble must pay the price. She deserved it!"
Lin Changfeng said nothing more, just the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth as he sat in silence.
Sangsang was right; if people like Madam Zhou did not receive the punishment they deserved, there would be no justice in this world. It was time for her to learn what she should not do.
On the other hand, seeing those two familiar faces, especially receiving Lin Caisang’s icy glance, Madam Zhou dared not wail any longer, merely clutching the soil tightly with both hands.
After a long while, the three men, feeling they had their fill of fun and having spat at Madam Zhou, finally turned and left without truly harming the two maids.