Chapter 483: Chapter 251 Division of Responsibility_1
Lian Shouren led some people to the town to seize a house, and the ensuing events caused quite a stir. Lian Manman and others stayed at home, not having witnessed the scene with their own eyes, they only heard about it from others.
It is said that when Lian Shouren and his group arrived, Lian Shouyi was moving things out of the house with Erlang, Sanlang, Si Lang and Zhao Xiue, planning to take everything to the Zhao Family. As Lian Shouyi knew there was a problem with the wine, he was naturally very afraid, and his first thought was to avoid the trouble. He hid in the home of an acquaintance, and also told Erlang, Sanlang, and Si Lang not to return home for the time being.
When the initial fear subsided a little, Lian Shouyi’s mind started to work. He thought that the buyer, upon turning up at the door, would either take someone or demand money from them. The Lian Family was in limited position to squeeze out money, so he naturally thought of the house in the town.
The house could not be saved, but there was also Zhao Xiue living in it. Although he was fighting with Zhao Xiue and the Zhao Family, they were still family when faced with outsiders. Zhao Xiue had a considerable dowry, and also the betrothal gifts from the Lian Family which, it was said, were in her possession. As Zhao Xiue was carrying Erlang’s child, she was a member of the Lian Family, and naturally, Zhao Xiue’s possessions were also part of the Lian Family Second Wife’s. If they were destitute, Zhao Xiue couldn’t just clench her money and not offer a penny, seeing them starve. She naturally had to reveal her funds for everyone’s living expenses.
They couldn’t save the house but had to preserve Zhao Xiue’s money and belongings!
Having figured this out, Lian Shouyi immediately summoned his sons to rush to the town, explained the situation to Zhao Xiue, and despite her anger, she joined forces with Lian Shouyi and the others.
They began moving things out, with the destination being the Zhao Family. The Zhao Family and the home of Officer Zhou of the County Yamen were neighbors, and the two families had good relations. Not to mention that there was no reason for the newcomers to search the Zhao Family’s home, and even if they did, with the Zhao Family’s wealth and power, plus the Zhou Family’s backing, they were not as easy to manipulate as the Lian Family.
All of this was said by Zhao Xiue.
They did not only pack up Zhao Xiue’s belongings, but also, seizing the opportunity to grab anything they could, they packed everything valuable from the house.
It was precisely this that caused the delay, and just as they were leaving, they were blocked by the approaching Lian Shouren, the constables from the County Yamen, and the clerks from the Xu Family.
Originally, Lian Shouren had some reservations about speaking harshly to Zhao Xiue, but now that they had caught the main culprit, Lian Shouyi, everything was easier.
What followed was complete chaos.
Lian Shouyi and He Laoliu came to blows. The Xu Family’s clerks insisted on taking over the house according to the house deed and demanded sixty-two taels of silver from Lian Shouyi, Erlang, and Zhao Xiue, or else they would seize the belongings as compensation. Lian Shouyi and Erlang had no money. Hence, the constables and the Xu Family’s clerks threatened Zhao Xiue, saying if she didn’t pay up, they would take Lian Shouyi and Erlang to the County Yamen to be beaten and wear the cangue.
Zhao Xiue claimed she had no money.
The two constables and the Xu Family’s clerks then tried to snatch Zhao Xiue’s parcels and trunks.
At this moment, the Zhao Wencai family also arrived and mentioned their good relationship with Officer Zhou, asking the others to spare Zhao Xiue and her belongings considering Officer Zhou’s face. Officer Zhou had considerable influence in the County Yamen and was also Grandmaster Sun’s son-in-law in Riding the Dragon fast. The Zhao Family and Zhao Xiue thought by mentioning his name, the constables would definitely show respect.
Contrary to their expectations, the constables responded that they had orders from above to administer affairs according to the law.
The Xu Family’s clerk took possession of the house and, together with the two constables, turned Zhao Xiue’s wardrobe upside down. Had it not been for Zhao Xiue, her mother, and her sister-in-law desperately fighting back, it is possible that all the valuable items would have been thoroughly looted.
Finally, the Xu Family’s clerk and the two constables left satisfied, while Lian Shouyi and He Laoliu were left with bruised faces from their fight, Erlang, Sanlang, and Si Lang were also injured by the constables, and thereafter were beaten up by Zhao Xiue’s family. Zhao Xiue, with her still unnoticeable pregnancy, stood with her mother and sister-in-law at the street corner, and lambasted Lian Shouyi, Lian Shouren, Erlang, He Laoliu, and all the Lian lineage for a full chinese hour.
Lian Shouren took the opportunity to slip back home as the constables left and recounted the whole incident to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou.
"This scourge, I want to see if he has the face to return home!" Old Master Lian cursed Lian Shouyi.
"What a treacherous and inhuman creature, holding onto the money in her hands—money that belongs to my Lian Family—yet watching as her own father-in-law and husband are taken away by government officers? The Old Lian Family has really been struck with bad luck, how did we end up with such a dishonorable woman." Lady Zhou was very resentful of Zhao Xiue’s behavior, valuing her finances over the welfare of Erlang and Lian Shouyi. "How did the Old Zhao family raise such a daughter, without any manners, and moreover, harboring ill intentions, if it had been..."
