After leaving the Princess’s mansion, Zhen Niang felt genuinely relieved. Although the problem wasn’t completely resolved, with Li Zhengping and Ge Qiujie still in prison, she had done everything she could. What happened next would be up to fate.
However, thinking about Li Zhengping and Ge Qiujie still being in prison, Zhen Niang’s thoughts inexplicably turned to Ge San’er.
The former Ge residence, now the Huang residence, was located in a side alley at the entrance of Official Street.
It was barely past the hour of the Snake, and after some consideration, Zhen Niang told the other delivery workers from Mo Manor to return first. Since she was already at Official Street, she could walk back on her own.
Just as she reached the alley entrance, she noticed quite a commotion, with people whispering among themselves while looking down the alley. Zhen Niang spotted Madam Yao from the neighboring fabric shop squeezed among the crowd and approached her. “Aunt Yao, what’s happening?” she asked while craning her neck to look down the alley.
“The Huang family has come to take possession of the house and evict Madam Cao and the others. They’re causing a scene right now.”
Madam Cao had previously used Ge Dana and Huang Lang’s positions as patrol officers to obtain goods on credit from Yao’s fabric shop multiple times, most of which were never paid back. Madam Yao would grit her teeth whenever Madam Cao was mentioned.
Now, seeing Madam Cao in trouble brought her no small amount of satisfaction.
The Huang family is coming to take the house? What rights do they have? Zhen Niang was initially puzzled.
But she soon understood. Although everyone in the Official Street area knew this house belonged to Ge Dana, Madam Cao had conspired with Huang Lang to expose Ge Dana’s tax evasion and embezzlement during his time as a patrol officer. Ge Dana was imprisoned as a result, and all his property was confiscated.
The house had also gone to the tax office, and it was said that Huang Lang had bought it from them. Of course, Huang Lang must have had some under-the-table dealings with certain people in the tax office, so whether the purchase was genuine or not remained unknown to outsiders.
Regardless, the house had become Huang Lang’s property. As for Madam Cao, although she claimed to have remarried Huang Lang, their improper relationship had caused quite a scandal in the Official Street area. While Huang Lang had married Madam Cao, he had kept it hidden from his family. They hadn’t even properly registered their marriage at the magistrate’s office to avoid suspicion. As such, the Huang family would never recognize this marriage.
Now that Huang Lang was dead, with his parents deceased and no offspring, his remaining property had become a piece of fat meat in others’ eyes. How could the Huang clan members give up such an opportunity?
In this world, all disputes come down to profit.
“Get out! This house belongs to my father, and none of you are allowed in!” At this moment, Ge San’er stood at the doorway wielding a kitchen knife, glaring fiercely at the group of Huang clan members outside.
Despite being just a fifteen-year-old stubborn boy, his single-minded determination made several Huang family members hesitate to approach him.
“You little bastard, Huang Lang couldn’t possibly have a son your age,” one of the Huang family members sneered, causing the onlookers to burst into laughter.
“My father’s surname isn’t Huang, my father is Ge Dana!” Ge San’er, being the simple-minded youth he was, didn’t understand their implied insult and continued to explain earnestly, which only drew more laughter from the crowd.
“But this house belongs to Huang Lang. If your father is Ge Dana and not Huang Lang, how can you say this house belongs to your father?” The Huang family members spoke in riddles, completely confusing Ge San’er.
After pondering for a while without understanding, Ge San’er simply became obstinate again: “My sister said this house belongs to my father, and my sister doesn’t lie. None of you are allowed in!”
“Your sister? The one who killed our Nephew Huang? Since you’re from the Ge family, I’ll settle accounts with you!” At this point, Third Uncle Huang stepped forward, coldly staring at Ge San’er.
No matter how fierce Ge San’er tried to be, he was still just a fifteen-year-old boy. Under Third Uncle Huang’s cold gaze, his demeanor weakened, and his eyes reddened: “I’ve told you before, my sister didn’t kill him!!!”
“You say that, but what’s your word worth? What proof do you have that your sister didn’t do it? Did you witness it? Or perhaps you’re the killer? Hmph, just wait until autumn – Ge Qiujie will lose her head,” Third Uncle Huang mocked.
“Nonsense! I won’t let my sister be beheaded!” Ge San’er shouted, though Zhen Niang, standing in the crowd, noticed a hint of panic in his fierce expression.
“Uncle, your words are inappropriate. The magistrate’s office hasn’t reached a verdict regarding Ge Qiujie killing Patrol Officer Huang. How can you so readily claim she killed him? Even the officials say there are many suspicious points in this case. Are you trying to override the magistrate’s authority?” At this point, Zhen Niang pushed through the crowd to speak.
This wasn’t just Zhen Niang meddling – Ge Qiujie’s case involved Li Zhengping, and she couldn’t let people form premature conclusions.
Moreover, Zhen Niang interrupted the conversation between Third Uncle Huang and Ge San’er for another reason. She suddenly felt that Ge San’er might be hiding something. His repeated insistence that his sister hadn’t killed Huang Lang didn’t seem like mere denial – it was as if he knew who the real killer was.
“That’s right!” Others in the crowd joined in. While many, like Madam Yao, were just enjoying the spectacle, some couldn’t stand seeing the Huang family bullying people. Of course, none of them were truly good people, but they couldn’t help but sympathize with Ge San’er a little.
“They’re all Patrol Officer Huang’s relatives, yet before his body is even cold, they’re doing such things. It’s truly unbearable to watch,” someone in the crowd commented.
“Where did these busybodies come from? Mind your own business!” The Huang family member snapped at the crowd.
“When the road is uneven, someone will level it; when matters are unjust, someone will speak up. We’re all neighbors here – shouldn’t we say something about what’s right?” Since Zhen Niang had taken the first step, she naturally had to stand her ground.
Most spectators enjoyed stirring up trouble. Hearing Zhen Niang’s words, they cheerfully agreed: “That’s right!”
Even Madam Yao, who had initially been laughing at Madam Cao’s predicament, now said: “Exactly! The case hasn’t been concluded yet – what right do you have to declare Ge Qiujie a murderer? And with Patrol Officer Huang just passed away, these women and children are pitiful enough. Instead of taking care of them, you’re adding frost to snow. What kind of relatives are you?”
“Well said, Aunt Yao!” Some young shop assistants chimed in, making Madam Yao beam with pride.
Seeing the crowd’s hostility, the Huang family members exchanged uncertain glances, unsure how to proceed. At this point, Third Uncle Huang said: “Everyone misunderstands. We’re not trying to evict them. We’re just concerned because they’re all women and young ones at that. Everyone knows how many ruffians there are on Yingtian Street. We’re worried they might be harassed, so we came to bring them back to the clan.”
“Nobody’s harassing us. Until my husband’s case is resolved, I won’t leave this place,” a voice called from inside the door – it was Madam Cao.
“That’s right, that’s right!” Two more heads poked out from the side – they were Huang Lang’s later concubines, Lu Zhu and Bai Rong.
“Since that’s how you feel, we won’t force the issue. We’ll send someone to check on you every few days. Don’t fail to recognize our good intentions,” Third Uncle Huang said threateningly. Then, with a wave of his hand, he led the Huang family members through the crowd, leaving somewhat sheepishly.
Seeing them leave, Madam Cao, Lu Zhu, and Bai Rong came out. Madam Cao watched until the Huang family members had disappeared into the distance, then let out a long sigh of relief. But when she turned to look at Lu Zhu and Bai Rong, she suddenly struck Lu Zhu hard across the face: “This is all your fault, you worthless thing! Why didn’t you come out earlier? Weren’t you the one who brought them here? Get out, you slut!”
“What right do you have to tell me to leave? Even as a concubine, I was properly carried into this house in a sedan chair!” Lu Zhu, stunned by the sudden slap, became furious. Ignoring her stinging cheek, she lunged forward and grabbed Madam Cao’s hair. Even if she had entered through the side door, she had still been carried in by a sedan chair.
Lu Zhu’s words struck a nerve with Madam Cao. She and Huang Lang hadn’t even held a proper ceremony – what woman would be content with that? But at the time, because of the scandal with Ge Dana, they couldn’t hold a ceremony without inviting more gossip. Now this had become ammunition for the two concubines.
“So what if you were carried in by sedan chair? A concubine is still a concubine, and what are concubines but servants? Never mind telling you to leave – I could sell you off and no one would say anything!” Madam Cao snarled.
“Sell me off? Do you have that authority? Are you the legitimate mistress of the house?” Lu Zhu wasn’t one to back down easily. Her face twisted in mockery before she continued viciously: “Keep pushing me, and I’ll go to the Huang family again. Heh, might as well end it all!”
The spectators who hadn’t yet dispersed were dumbfounded. What was the point of this performance by Huang Lang’s women?
“What else could it be about? It’s all about the property! Since Huang Lang died, Madam Cao won’t tolerate the two concubines, and the concubines won’t leave empty-handed. Earlier, it was Lu Zhu who brought the Huang family here, but they wanted to take everything for themselves. Heh, this is what happens when people create trouble!” An old woman from next door shook her head as she spoke.
These three women of Huang Lang’s household hadn’t known peace these past few days.
“Shut up! You’re too noisy!” Ge San’er suddenly roared, glaring at Madam Cao and the two concubines. Then with a clang, he threw the kitchen knife to the ground and shouldered his way through the crowd.
“Where are you going?” Madam Cao hurriedly asked.
“None of your business! I’m going to find my sister, and I’m not coming back. You’re too noisy!” Ge San’er replied angrily.
This statement amused the onlookers. Where did this foolish boy think his sister was? Did he think he could just go there for meals? Not coming back? She was in prison!
“That’s not a place you can go! You’re forbidden to go there!” Madam Cao became anxious.
But Ge San’er ignored his mother, swaying his arms like a duck as he walked away. The two concubines giggled, and Madam Cao, losing face, cursed viciously: “If you don’t come back, it’ll save me worry!”
Seeing some onlookers still hadn’t dispersed, she waved her hand: “Go on, get out! Doesn’t every family have its problems? Do you want me to list them out one by one?”
Several neighbors, stung by Madam Cao’s words, wore embarrassed expressions. In these times, whether it was incest, wastrels, or property disputes, every family had its share of problems – they just weren’t exposed to others’ eyes. So they gradually dispersed.