Chapter 38
Take My Life if You Wish
Everyone was taken aback by what she said.
Niu Tongsheng tried to intervene. “Chuchu, we are all from the same village. Let’s be bighearted. We’ll let this matter rest after they return the stuff to you.”
“Chief Niu, I was thinking of doing that too. But these people are pushing me to a corner. As soon as they stop harassing me, I will consider letting them off.”
Zhao Baogen stared hard at Zhao Chuchu. “You are such a vicious woman. Aren’t you afraid of retribution?”
“If there’s really such a thing as retribution, then my parents in heaven will know how you’ve been treating me. They will kill you for sure in the middle of the night!”
“You…”
“Cut the crap here. You should do your sums now and let me know how much stuff you’ve taken from my family.”
Madam Yang had frozen with terror, conscious of the dagger pressing on her neck. “Madam Ma, quick, return all that you have taken from her.”
Everyone looked at Madam Ma, who was also petrified with fear.
“Wait a minute. You don’t decide how much you should return to me. The first time, you took ten catties of grain, a catty of common salt, and a bowl of rice. The second time…”
Zhao Chuchu made up a whole list of items solemnly. The numbers were all exaggerated.
The villagers were astounded by the list. It amounted to around 500 to 600 catties of grain, 200 catties of flour, and 40 to 50 catties of salt and sauce. They wondered how much silver would it cost the Zhao family to pay Zhao Chuchu.
“Nonsense. We didn’t take so much!” Madam Yang started to feel jittery. If they had to pay Zhao Chuchu according to her list, it would cost them at least 20 pieces of silver.
“Zhao Chuchu, you know very well what the conditions of the Xie family are like. Don’t try to con us. I’m warning you, don’t dream of getting a single cent from me, unless I’m dead. I’m giving you eight pieces of silver. Take it or leave it!”
Zhao Chuchu raised her eyebrows, thinking, “Wow, Madam Yang is a tough nut to crack!”
The truth was, Xie Heng had not allowed the Zhao family to take things freely from his house.
He figured that the things they had taken cost eight pieces of silver at most. So the Zhao family did remember how much they had taken from his house.
Unwilling to antagonize the Zhao family, Niu Tongsheng tried to persuade Zhao Chuchu to accept their payment. “Since they are willing to pay eight pieces of silver, Chuchu, just take it. Forget about this matter after that.”
Zhao Chuchu went along with him. “Okay, I’ll listen to Chief Niu this time. I won’t let you off so easily the next time. Give me the money quickly. I don’t want to waste any more time on you.”
Madam Yang snapped at Madam Ma. “Madam Ma, what are you waiting for? Go and get the money now!”
Madam Ma was on the verge of tears. “I don’t have any money. All the silver earned by our household has been turned over to the central fund. Where can I find the money to pay her?”
“That’s your problem. If anything happens to me, you can crawl back to your parents’ house.”
“It’s not like we are the ones who took all the stuff. The money should be paid from the central fund.”
Madam Yang’s second daughter-in-law shot back angrily. “You are the one who stole the stuff. Why should we pay from the central fund? You should pay for it yourself since you are the thief. Do you think our money dropped from the sky?”
“You…” Madam Ma was breathless with anger.
Zhao Baogen’s face darkened. “Mom, do you intend to let my household pay for everything? Are you not taking any money from the central fund to pay for it?”
“Do you want to take our money to help that greedy wife of yours?” Madam Yang was choking with rage but she did not dare to move too much, afraid that the dagger would pierce into her throat.
“Those things were not meant for only our household. There is no money. Take my life if you wish.” Zhao Baogen refused to back down.
Zhao Chuchu said nonchalantly, “What kind of act are you putting up here? You don’t wish to pay? All right then. Let’s go to the court. I’ll play with you til the end.”