Chapter 380: Human Society
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
She felt disgusted just by looking at it.
“Oh? Do you think Xu Xiaoxiao is that impressive?” Zhou Hengyang’s gaze locked onto Su Wen, his words barely more than a whisper.
“He’s still far from being able to compare to you in terms of words.” Su Wen had strong self-preservation instincts.
“Humph!” Zhou Hengyang could tell Su Wen was just padding his ego and snorted in dissatisfaction. However, he did not pursue the matter. “Just wait and see. Investigations into this matter will take time. That doesn’t mean the Tian family will leave unscathed; they are finished. There is no place in Clear Water County where they’ll be welcome ever again. You should hear the retribution the public is demanding.”
Zhou Hengyang had gone with the villagers tasked to hand over Shi Caiyue to the police. Shi Caiyue confessed, and those villagers present had heard it all. It had caused quite a stir, with several wanting the honor of tearing the Tian family from limb to limb.
Before returning, he had heard that the Tian family’s house had been surrounded. Su Xuefang’s parents-in-law took their grandchild, and her sister-in-law hid at home, not daring to step out. As soon as they did, they would be pelted by rotten vegetables and loamy mud.
It had not even been a day, yet the word of the family’s nefarious associations had already come to light. When the news was given a few more days to spread, more people would certainly show up at their doorstep.
In the eyes of the common folk, there was nothing more heinous than the kinds of acts which would tear apart families. In the future, no one in Clear Water County would be willing to interact with the Tian family. All their relatives and friends would sever ties, denouncing them for being worse than the rats that called the streets and back-alleys their homes. Such was the bond that held their tight-knit community together.
“That’s great. I’m glad they’ll be brought to justice.”
“What about Su Xuefang?” Su Wen suddenly asked.
“Su Xuefang should be released soon. She didn’t participate in the raid or knew what they intended to do.”
“Hah.” Su Wen was unsurprised to hear that Su Xuefang would be released. “I suppose there are other ways to get back at her. I know she’s guilty but smart enough not to associate with unscrupulous actors or actions that would jeopardize her position in Trinity Village. I doubt she’ll find another eligible bachelor in the village, though. She’s dragged the family’s name through the mud.”
Who would dare take her on as a wife? They would be courting death.
Su Qing spoke up nervously, “Her age aside, none of the girls in Trinity Village bearing the surname Su will be looked upon favorably because of her relationship with the Tian family and Shi Caiyue. Our mothers and sisters-in-law will bully all of us.”
“That’s right; you’re right.” Su Wen agreed.
People were like that. While the criminals were caught, those closest to them would bear the brunt of the consequences. The ripples caused the action of those criminals would echo for a long time. Society is built on human relations; no one can escape from it. Unless one chose to become a hermit, living in seclusion on some lonely mountain, one would never be able to escape the stigma fostered by ‘human relations.’
“By the way, Wenwen, you have to go to the police station tomorrow to give a statement. I’ll go with you tomorrow,” Zhou Hengyang said.
“Thank you.”
The others busied themselves as the conversation petered out. However, Zhou Hengyang did not leave and stayed in the hall to talk to Su Wen. There were still things they needed to discuss. Meanwhile, Su Qing and Su Xiu took care of dinner. They prepared a sumptuous feast celebrating their good fortune of surviving the night’s ordeal. It was also a way for them to express their gratitude for the help their guests had rendered by putting out the fire. Plates of stir-fried dishes crowded the table, and they even procured a bottle of white wine and some champagne from Sister Chrysanthemum.
The white wine was for Zhou Hengyang and his relative, Xu Xiaoxiao. The rest of them enjoyed small flutes of champagne that were far weaker.
Everything in the courtyard had been burned; not even the chickens had survived. Hence, they had no choice but to buy a rooster from another family, while Zhou Hengyang supplied the spare ribs he had gotten on his trip to town..