Chapter 73

"Song Siniang, come out!"

Just as the last horseshoe was about to be nailed, a commotion was heard from outside. A sharp, high-pitched voice rang out, and the chestnut Tujue horse seemed to be startled, neighing loudly and rearing up, almost kicking Yang Qinnu, who was squatting beside Yang Shouwen watching the scene. Despite this, Yang Qinnu fell on her bottom and started crying loudly.

"Old Hu, grab the reins."

Yang Shouwen was also startled and hurriedly ran forward to pick up Yang Qinnu.

On the side, Old Hu had already firmly grabbed the reins. Fortunately, the chestnut Tujue horse was only slightly startled and not truly panicked. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for Old Hu to control it with his strength.

"Song Siniang, come out... Song An, if you block me again, don't blame me for being impolite."

The noise outside grew louder, and it sounded like there were quite a few people.

"Brother Sizi, I knew you would protect me."

Yang Qinnu quickly calmed down in Yang Shouwen's arms. She even poked her head out to make a face at You Niang, but Yang Shouwen didn't see this.

At this moment, he was extremely angry, signaling Old Hu to calm the horse and then putting down Yang Qinnu.

"Who is making all this noise?"

"It's probably that Third Auntie again."

Before Yang Qinnu finished speaking, the bedroom door opened, and Song Shi came out. Hearing the noise outside, her face turned grim. "Sizi, go and stop them... they really don't know their place."

Yang Shouwen nodded and patted Yang Qinnu's head.

"Yang Molili, come with me."

"Okay."

Yang Molili immediately stood up and replied in a simple manner.

The two of them walked through the long corridor to the front yard, where they saw Song An desperately trying to block several women, speaking good words non-stop.

Looking at his appearance, he indeed looked quite pitiful. His face was covered with scratch marks, and his clothes were in disarray.

"Song An, what's going on?"

Yang Shouwen, with his hands behind his back, came down from the porch and looked at the women.

The leader was a robust woman in her forties, looking quite fierce. Behind her were several strong women, all broad-shouldered and thick-waisted. Although Song An was a man, he seemed at a loss against these women.

Hearing Yang Shouwen's voice, he immediately felt relieved.

"Third Auntie, the eldest son is here. You can discuss your issues with him."

The robust woman glanced at Yang Shouwen and sneered, "I thought the eldest son was someone else, but it's just Yang Achi... Song Siniang, do you think you can stop me by sending out a fool? I want an explanation today. My Third Brother is your elder, and you've not only seized his goods but also locked him in jail for many days. Is this how a sister treats her brother? Have you forgotten how Third Brother used to care for you?"

She stretched her neck and shouted loudly towards the back yard, completely ignoring Yang Shouwen.

Yang Shouwen's eyes narrowed, and he looked out the gate, seeing that a crowd had already gathered, pointing and gawking.

"Song An, close the gate."

"Don't close it. I want everyone to know what a heartless person Song Siniang is, even to her own brother."

The robust woman shouted loudly and grabbed Song An's sleeve.

Before she could finish, Yang Shouwen suddenly stepped forward and slapped her across the face.

The loud slap echoed in the courtyard, accompanied by the robust woman's screams. Although she was physically strong, Yang Shouwen's strength was even greater. The slap left her mouth full of blood, and she fell to the ground with a thud.

The other strong women saw this and rushed forward to tussle with Yang Shouwen.

"Yang Molili."

At Yang Shouwen's shout, Yang Molili darted forward.

Yang Shouwen didn't want to fight, but Yang Molili had no qualms about it. This simple-minded boy had incredible strength, even surpassing Yang Shouwen. He pushed one of the women to the ground and kicked another over.

Taking advantage of the robust woman's daze, Song An quickly ran away and closed the door.

"Did you dare hit me?"

The robust woman looked at Yang Shouwen, covering her face and crying.

However, she didn't dare to act recklessly, only pointing at Yang Shouwen and saying, "You fool, you actually dared to hit me?"

"Yang Molili, stop."

Yang Shouwen ignored her cries and stepped back, sitting on the porch.

"Third Auntie, you can cry and curse all you want... but remember, every cry you make, Song Sanlang will receive a beating; every curse you utter, I will have someone beat him. Although I am not an official, it's not difficult for me to do this. If you don't believe me, try it... I guarantee that when you see him tomorrow, there won't be a single unbruised spot on his body."

Yang Shouwen called back Yang Molili and then smiled at the woman.

His voice was calm, but the woman's cries and curses stopped abruptly.

"Yang... Eldest Son, how can you be so heartless?"

Yang Shouwen smiled and said, "Why shouldn't I be heartless? You came to my house, crying and making a fuss, disgracing my father. Although the Yang family is not a prominent clan in Changping, my father has been the county magistrate for over a decade. Have you considered the reputation of the Yang family? If you haven't, why should I care about Song Sanlang's life?"

After speaking, Yang Shouwen stood up.

"Listen, my mother recognizes you as a relative, but I do not. This is the Yang residence, not the Song residence... if you dare to cause trouble in my house, are you implying that my mother is easy to bully? If you are smart, leave immediately and never come back to make a fuss. As for Song Sanlang, when the time is right, my father will release him. My father put him in jail for his own good! If you continue to cause trouble, don't blame me for being truly heartless. Believe me, it's very easy for me to make someone die in the Changping jail."

Yang Shouwen finished speaking and stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the woman.

The woman's face turned pale, and she looked at Yang Shouwen, lowering her head after a moment...

Song Siniang sat in the hall, gently rubbing her temples, a bitter smile on her face.

"Sizi, it's fortunate you were at home, otherwise... but Third Sister had no ill intentions, she must have been desperate. Third Brother has been in jail for a long time. If there are no major issues, perhaps we should release him. What do you think?"

Song Sanlang's family left in a hurry, and Song Siniang came out.

She also felt helpless. Her third brother had been in jail for so long, and she would be anxious too if it were her.

However, she knew that Song Sanlang was put in jail by Yang Shouwen and needed his approval to be released.

After all, the family was different now.

Since Yang Shouwen regained his senses, he was gradually taking control of the household, and even Song Siniang did not want to conflict with him.

"Mother, if you had said this a few days ago, I would have discussed it with Father and released Song Sanlang."

Yang Shouwen stood beside her, also with a bitter smile.

"But now, we can't release him."

"Why?"

Song Siniang was taken aback and looked at Yang Shouwen in surprise.

She had thought Yang Shouwen would give her this face, but...

Yang Shouwen sighed and said, "Mother may not be aware of Father's current situation, and Father doesn't want you to worry."

"What's wrong with Father?"

Yang Shouwen said, "In the past, Father and Lu Zhubu got along well, so many things didn't require too much caution. But now, Lu Zhubu seems to want to sideline Father and control the three classes of constables... Father's every move is being secretly monitored. If he makes a mistake, Lu Zhubu will be waiting to bring down our Yang family."

"Hiss!"

Song Siniang gasped, staring at Yang Shouwen in shock.

She truly didn't know about Yang Chenglie's current predicament. As Yang Shouwen said, Yang Chenglie's difficulties were only known to Yang Shouwen and no one else. It wasn't that he didn't trust Song Siniang, but telling her would only add to her worries and concerns.

"Sizi, your father..."

"Father has already started to counteract, but it will take some time to resolve. Mother, to be honest, I've been thinking carefully these past few days, and I find it very strange that Song Sanlang's goods have issues. I suspect Song Sanlang is a pawn in the other party's plan to target Father... I'm not saying Song Sanlang is in league with them, but he might be unaware. The more I think about it, the more cautious we need to be."

---

Song Siniang sat in the hall, gently rubbing her temples, a bitter smile on her face.

"Sizi, it's fortunate you were at home, otherwise... but Third Sister had no ill intentions, she must have been desperate. Third Brother has been in jail for a long time. If there are no major issues, perhaps we should release him. What do you think?"

Song Sanlang's family left in a hurry, and Song Siniang came out.

She also felt helpless. Her third brother had been in jail for so long, and she would be anxious too if it were her.

However, she knew that Song Sanlang was put in jail by Yang Shouwen and needed his approval to be released.

After all, the family was different now.

Since Yang Shouwen regained his senses, he was gradually taking control of the household, and even Song Siniang did not want to conflict with him.

"Mother, if you had said this a few days ago, I would have discussed it with Father and released Song Sanlang."

Yang Shouwen stood beside her, also with a bitter smile.

"But now, we can't release him."

"Why?"

Song Siniang was taken aback and looked at Yang Shouwen in surprise.

She had thought Yang Shouwen would give her this face, but...

Yang Shouwen sighed and said, "Mother may not be aware of Father's current situation, and Father doesn't want you to worry."

"What's wrong with Father?"

Yang Shouwen said, "In the past, Father and Lu Zhubu got along well, so many things didn't require too much caution. But now, Lu Zhubu seems to want to sideline Father and control the three classes of constables... Father's every move is being secretly monitored. If he makes a mistake, Lu Zhubu will be waiting to bring down our Yang family."

"Hisss!"

Song Siniang gasped, staring at Yang Shouwen in shock.

She truly didn't know about Yang Chenglie's current predicament. As Yang Shouwen said, Yang Chenglie's difficulties were only known to Yang Shouwen and no one else. It wasn't that he didn't trust Song Siniang, but telling her would only add to her worries and concerns.

"Sizi, your father..."

"Father has already started to counteract, but it will take some time to resolve. Mother, to be honest, I've been thinking carefully these past few days, and I find it very strange that Song Sanlang's goods have issues. I suspect Song Sanlang is a pawn in the other party's plan to target Father... I'm not saying Song Sanlang is in league with them, but he might be unaware. The more I think about it, the more cautious we need to be."