Chapter 72

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With over twenty people from the Cheng family, the leading Cheng steward and Lai the old woman both unconscious, the servants all looked towards Hong the coachman.

Although Hong the coachman was terrified and his arms wouldn't obey him, he knew that if they returned like this, he would definitely lose his job and wouldn't be able to stay in Meizhou. After thinking it through, he had to muster his courage and say, "Since the master of this house is unreasonable, we don't need to waste more words. Let's go directly to the Su family and take the person!"

The servants, seeing the large banner that read "Kill Without Mercy," felt a chill run through their bones, and no one dared to take a step forward.

Fortunately, Hong the coachman didn't dare either. He cleverly changed his approach, saying, "Let's go directly to the back street. We're just catching our own runaway woman, so it's not considered breaking into a private residence!" He then led the group to the back street. To their dismay, the onlookers also followed.

"Smash the door!" With so many people watching, Hong the coachman couldn't afford to tarnish the Cheng family's reputation. He gave a low command, and two servants ran up and rammed the Su family's door with their shoulders. However, the door was only slightly ajar... The two servants, caught off guard, tumbled into the courtyard and fell flat on their faces.

"Go in!" Hong the coachman, full of bravado, led the group inside. The next moment, they all froze in shock. The courtyard was packed with nearly a hundred men, all holding sticks and staring coldly at the intruding Cheng family members.

Hong the coachman's scalp tingled, and he inwardly cried out, 'Weren't they supposed to be a weak scholar family?' He quickly shouted, "No misunderstanding, no misunderstanding, we're not breaking into a private residence!" He first cleared his name, then continued, "We are from the Cheng family in Meishan, related to the Su family by marriage, and we've come to take the young lady back..." The term 'young lady' had been used since the Tianbao period of the Tang Dynasty and had been in use for a thousand years, showing how beloved it was.

"Hmph, hmph, hmph..." The crowd only sneered and began to flex their muscles, as if they were about to attack.

"Unless you don't believe us, please bring out our young lady," Hong the coachman quickly shouted, "Young lady, young lady, come out!" This scoundrel had a bit of quick wit and knew how to justify his actions.

"Stop calling!" A delicate voice rang out. Everyone turned to see Su's younger sister supporting the pale-faced Eighth Lady at the door.

"Young lady, it seems you are better now, so please come back with me," Hong the coachman said with a sly smile. "The lady and the eldest son are very worried about you."

"I will not go back," Eighth Lady said, her voice soft but resolute. "I have already written a complaint. I will tell my mother-in-law and the eldest son, and we will see each other in court."

"Young lady is joking," the Cheng steward, who had just woken up, said, holding his nearly split head. "Which official would dare to accept a complaint from the Jiang family?"

"Ha ha ha ha..." Su Xun, with his son, pushed through the crowd and laughed loudly. "What is the Jiang family? What a big mouth!"

"Father, the Jiang family is a noble and powerful family," Su Zhe said gently. "The Jiang family is a noble and powerful family."

"The Song Dynasty has been established for sixty years; where are there still noble and powerful families?" Su Xun attacked with the harshest words. "They are all fake!"

"Is that so?" Su Shi sighed. "That is indeed laughable."

"You, you..." The crowd burst into laughter. The Cheng steward, with a splitting headache, knew he couldn't afford to lose face any more. He held his head and said menacingly, "We'll see which government office will accept your complaint! Wait until you hit your heads and bleed, and then you'll know what the 'Jiang family' is!" He then left the Su family, supported by the servants.

On the street, the onlookers welcomed them with even louder laughter. The Cheng family finally realized that these damned people had followed them just to see their humiliation...

Amidst the laughter and the occasional tomato and rotten egg, the Cheng family retreated to the dock, hurriedly boarded the boat, and saw their three young masters there.

"Idiots, when you arrived in Qingshen County, why didn't you report to me first?" Cheng Zhiyuan scolded. "If you had given me a heads-up, we wouldn't have lost face for the Cheng family!"

"My elder brother didn't tell you," Cheng Zhiyi said, "that the Cheng family is a bully in Qingshen County? Even we have to... uh, be polite." He was too embarrassed to admit their miserable life in Qingshen County.

After being beaten by the Chen brothers, the arrogant Cheng brothers naturally wouldn't let it go. They spent a lot of money and found the local gang leader for help. The gang leader took the money and promised to help, telling them to come to the mountain at the appointed time. The three brothers excitedly went up the mountain and were knocked out.

When the family found them the next morning, they were stripped and tied to trees, covered in mosquito bites... Later, they learned that the local gang had long been subdued by the Chen brothers. Asking for their help was like walking into a trap.

The Cheng brothers then spent a lot of money to hire experts from Mount Qingcheng. However, when they saw Song Duanping, the experts turned and left, leaving the poor brothers behind. On that occasion, the three brothers were hung upside down in the water, forced to drink and vomit, and drank at least a hundred pounds of water.

The Cheng brothers realized they couldn't fight the Chen brothers, who kept them around just for entertainment... After that, they became obedient and never rode a horse again.

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On Wengxing Street, Chen Ke and the Su family father and son saw off their neighbors who had come to pay their respects. Chen Ke smiled and said, "The main hall of Laifulu is already reserved. Please go straight there, and we will join you shortly!"

"Thank you, Third Son, for your generosity," the crowd smiled, said some polite words, and headed to the restaurant.

Chen Ke then returned with the Su family father and son to the house. In the main hall, they saw Eighth Lady still sitting there, supported by her younger sister, who was wiping her sweat.

"Why did you let your sister go out?" Su Xun scolded his younger daughter.

"Father, don't blame Little Sister. I insisted on coming out," Eighth Lady said softly. "I can't bear to see you all worry and risk being beaten by the Cheng family... while I hide behind like a log."

"Don't think too much. Protecting you is my duty," Su Xun sighed. "Daughter, rest and recover. I will take care of it."

"It's also... our duty!" Chen Erlang quickly added, his face turning red.

"These matters must be handled by me personally," Eighth Lady shook her head. "When we go to court, I will have to appear in person."

"Sister, have you finally made up your mind?" The Su siblings were elated.

"Yes, what else is there to think about?" Eighth Lady held her sister's hand and Su Shi's hand, looking at everyone with tears in her eyes. "You are my family; the Cheng family is nothing..." She took a deep breath and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry for worrying you all. From now on, Eighth Lady will be strong."

"Great, it's about time!" Chen Ke felt a sense of relief and said happily, "Before, seeing you still consider yourself a Cheng family wife made me so angry! That was just too... too much..."

"Thank you, Third Son, and all of you," Eighth Lady covered her mouth and smiled. "You gave me the courage."

"It's not me," Chen Ke shook his head. "I didn't say anything to you."

Chen Erlang's face, which had just recovered, turned red again. Fortunately, no one was paying attention to him because Chen Ke continued, "However, I asked the magistrate a few days ago, and he said this matter is indeed complicated... Although there are no laws preventing the acceptance of a divorce petition from the Jiang family, since both the Su and Cheng families are from Meishan, the case must be handled by the Meishan County Magistrate's Office or the Meishan Prefecture. The magistrate and the prefecture governor of Meishan have deep ties with the Cheng family, so they might use precedent to avoid the case."

"Yes, I know that," Su Xun, being an experienced man, nodded. "I consulted with Lord Lei from Yazhou, and he gave me a strategy."

"What strategy?" The crowd asked in surprise.

"Ha ha..." Su Xun stroked his beard and changed the subject. "The day after tomorrow is the grand ceremony for the completion of the 'Su Clan Genealogy.' I have also been commissioned to carve a stele for this event. You all must come to the ceremony."

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Leaving Eighth Lady in the care of her younger sister, the men from the Su and Cheng families went to Laifulu for the banquet.

The banquet was lively, and Chen Ke was toasted countless times. When he went to the restroom, Li Jian followed him.

Li Jian, the now wealthy businessman, had expanded his orange groves in Qingshen County fivefold and increased the sales of Huangjiao wine fivefold. He was now known as the richest man in Meizhou.

"Third Son," despite his success, Li Jian never put on airs in front of Chen Ke, possibly because he was used to being scolded. Seeing Chen Ke, he instinctively lowered his head. "We have thoroughly offended the Cheng family today. The next ghost gate will be impossible to pass."

"What do you mean? Do you think we weren't already enemies?" Chen Ke, nonchalant, pulled up his pants. "Magistrate Song and Official Bi are the younger brother and cousin of Lady Song. They suffered a great loss here; do you think they won't seek revenge?"

The "ghost gate" Li Jian referred to was the license for the wine factory, which would expire in two years. If the government didn't renew it or decided to nationalize it, there would be nothing they could do. This was how famous wines in Sichuan were swallowed up one by one.

Given the Cheng family's behavior, seeing the rapid success of Huangjiao wine, they would certainly try to take action, even without encouragement from Official Bi.

Li Jian quickly fetched a bucket of water for Chen Ke to wash his hands. "Yes, that's why I didn't hesitate today and brought my men." He smiled and said, "I was really prepared to beat up the Cheng family and vent my anger." With his wealth and expanded horizons, Li Jian was no longer the same.

"Ha ha," Chen Ke nodded and laughed. "Who wouldn't? Unfortunately, the Su family is too cultured; they would never stand a chance."

"Yes, being too kind invites bullying. I have experienced this too much," Li Jian said. "By the way, Third Son, what do you plan to do?"

"What can I do?" Chen Ke sneered. "Of course, we'll just have to deal with it!"

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