“Jiao Jiao!”
After much effort, Second Master Cheng and his wife finally managed to get through the Zhou family’s doors. Fuming with anger, they stormed into Cheng Jiao-niang’s hall, where they immediately spotted First Master Cheng seated inside. The sight made their eyes burn with even more rage.
“It’s them! They’re trying to seize your property!”
“What a joke! If I were seizing property, would it be clearly stated in writing under my name?” First Master Cheng sneered coldly.
“Even though it’s written under my name, Jiao Jiao and we had already agreed upon it,” Second Madam Cheng argued anxiously. She hurried over to sit in front of Cheng Jiao-niang, her expression a mix of grievance and fury. “Jiao Jiao, both you and I know very well – this belongs to you.”
“Belongs to me?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
Second Madam Cheng nodded eagerly.
“Of course it belongs to you. Didn’t we explain it to you back then? It was to prevent anyone from finding grounds to impeach your father, and to avoid others like Feng Lin from accusing you again. That’s why it was written under my name,” she said.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“Did you hear that? This belongs to Jiao Jiao! Brother, first you seized her dowry, and now you come to snatch her property?” Second Master Cheng reminded with a dark expression. “How can you have no shame in your heart for acting this way?”
First Master Cheng looked at them, his expression unchanged.
“I was in the wrong about the dowry. I shouldn’t have forcibly kept her mother’s dowry,” he said.
“It’s good that you know it!” Second Mistress Cheng said indignantly.
“But the dowry is one thing, and her property is another. They cannot be treated as the same. Her refusal to incorporate it into the family assets is simply wrong,” First Master Cheng continued.
This man actually dared to say such things right in front of Cheng Jiao–niang!
Second Master Cheng and his wife stared at him in astonishment.
Had his past poverty truly driven him to such desperation? Was he now throwing himself at any property like a moth drawn to flame, regardless of the consequences?
“Is that wrong?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
Look! She’s questioning you!
The girl is angry!
Second Madam Cheng watched First Master Cheng with a mix of resentment and excitement.
First Master Cheng nodded.
“Yes, it is wrong,” he said. “Jiao-niang, while grandparents and parents are alive, children should not hold private assets. Moreover, our Cheng family follows the ancestral teaching that forbids dividing the family estate. Even your father cannot possess private property.”
“You can say whatever you want, but our Jiao Jiao’s–” Second Madam Cheng began with a scornful tone, but before she could finish, Cheng Jiao-niang interrupted her.
“I see. I wasn’t aware of this and didn’t pay it much mind,” Cheng Jiao-niang said. “But since it’s wrong, then let’s do what is right.”
What?
Second Master Cheng and his wife stared at her in astonishment, while First Master Cheng showed a hint of relief.
Just as he had thought – his gamble had paid off.
“Jiao-niang, have you gone mad! How could you just give it to him!” Second Madam Cheng shrieked.
“He said it should go to him, so I gave it to him,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, looking at her. “Just as you said it should go to you, and I gave it to you too.”
What kind of reasoning was this? Giving to whoever claimed it should be theirs? Was she a fool?
Second Madam Cheng was dumbfounded.
“It’s your property – how can you be so careless? If you say you won’t give it, then don’t! Why are you afraid of him?” she exclaimed.
“Jiao-niang, you don’t need to fear him. As your father, I will protect you. It’s your property – if you refuse to give it to him, what can he possibly do?” Second Master Cheng declared, his eyebrows furrowed in anger. For the first time, father and daughter stood united against a common foe.
First Master Cheng let out a hearty laugh.
“You unfilial child!” he barked, his laughter ceasing as he rose to his feet. “Let’s see what you can do to stop me!”
With that, he flicked his sleeve and strode away.
Second Master Cheng was left glaring, seething with rage.
“Jiao Jiao, look at him! Look how arrogant he is!” Second Madam Cheng shook Cheng Jiao-niang’s arm indignantly, wiping her tears as she spoke. “He even came to attack us.”
Second Master Cheng felt this wasn’t the time for complaints.
“Jiao-niang, tell us, what should we do now?” he said.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked up at him.
“I’ve already said it,” she replied.
Said it?
Second Master Cheng and his wife stared at her.
“If it’s wrong, then we must do what is right,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Do what is right?
“What is the right way?” Second Master Cheng asked, bewildered.
“That will be determined by the authorities,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
Determined by the authorities?
While Second Master Cheng was still lost in confusion, Second Madam Cheng snapped back to reality.
“Jiao-niang, are you agreeing to let First Master sue?” she exclaimed sharply. “This is a family matter – how can we air it in public?”
“It’s not something that cannot be spoken of. Since we cannot reach an agreement, let the authorities decide,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Second Master Cheng and his wife stared at Cheng Jiao-niang, and after a moment of stunned silence, the truth finally dawned on them.
They were indeed maintaining separate households and hiding private assets.
This was not a matter of unresolved debate or ambiguous right and wrong – the facts and principles were crystal clear. If brought to court, the case would be decided against them without a doubt.
What Cheng Jiao-niang should have done was prevent First Master from filing the lawsuit, not encourage him to do so.
But now, it appeared she was genuinely suggesting that First Master take the matter to court…
Let the authorities decide!
Cheng Jiao–niang!
“You!” Second Madam Cheng rose to her feet. “Are you toying with us?”
Was her earlier agreement to hand over the property all a lie?
Had she let them rejoice in vain all this time?
“You wretched girl! What benefits did First Master and the Zhou family promise you? How dare you conspire with them against us? You unfilial child!” Second Master Cheng finally understood as well, roaring in fury.
Hearing these words, Master Zhou, who had been waiting outside with growing impatience, charged in with his men as if answering a battle drum.
“You’re the unfilial one!”
He threw a punch as he shouted,
“How dare you hide private assets and then shift the blame onto your daughter! I’ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your elder brother!”
Second Master Cheng was knocked to the ground by the blow, and his wife rushed over with a scream.
Without waiting for a struggle, Master Zhou ordered his men to drag the couple out.
When Second Master Cheng and his wife arrived at the gate, the Zhou family servants blocked their way. After much arguing, only the two of them were allowed inside, with no aides to support them. How could they possibly resist the Zhou family’s retired soldiers and sturdy servants? In just a few moments, they were seized and forcibly dragged out.
As the sounds of crying and cursing faded into the distance, Master Zhou straightened his robes.
“Did they frighten you, my dear Jiao Jiao?” he asked with a kind, concerned smile. “Don’t be afraid. With your uncle here, in our home, the Cheng family won’t be allowed to cause trouble.”
Overhearing this in the courtyard, Madam Zhou turned away.
“Frighten her?” she murmured, curling her lips. “She’s killed people before – what could possibly frighten her?”
She then looked toward the gate, listening as the shouts and curses of the Cheng couple grew fainter in the distance. Clasping her hands together, she whispered a prayer, her heart still trembling with residual fear.
Poor Second Madam Cheng…
Hadn’t she warned them long ago that that girl was a she-devil, not to be trifled with?
“Master! That wretched girl! That wretched girl has ruined us!”
Pushed out of the Zhou residence, Second Madam Cheng watched as the door slammed shut before her eyes. She shoved aside the flustered maids trying to support her and grabbed onto Second Master Cheng, weeping bitterly.
Second Master Cheng could barely stand, propped up by two young servants. His robes were disheveled from the struggle, his hair disheveled, and fresh injuries now marked his face and body atop old bruises, leaving him in a wretched state.
“Master, Master…” Second Madam Cheng cried anxiously, seeing his condition.
Surprisingly, Second Master Cheng remained composed – such humiliation was not entirely new to him.
“That wretched girl, I will never let her get away with this!” he hissed furiously. Noticing the stares from passersby on the street, he hurriedly called for his servants and climbed into the carriage. “We’ll discuss this further when we get home.”
Second Madam Cheng covered her face with her sleeve and followed.
“Don’t worry. The magistrate’s office will certainly not accept this case.”
Stepping into their home, Second Master Cheng declared with a face as dark as iron.
“How could they not accept it? That wretched girl is deliberately accusing us!” Second Madam Cheng sobbed.
“Even if she’s doing it on purpose, would she dare to openly instruct the magistrate’s office?” Second Master Cheng sneered through gritted teeth. “If she dares, I’ll charge her with impiety first and have her beaten to death. Who would dare to stop me? Who could stop me?”
“If she doesn’t show her face, and someone else accuses me – her own father – every official in the magistrate’s office will think twice. Feng Lin, who accused me last time, hasn’t been gone for long. If anyone wants to join him, they’re more than welcome!”
Hearing this, Second Madam Cheng felt slightly reassured, though her resentment did not lessen.
“I always knew she was up to no good…” she wept. “And after we treated her with such genuine sincerity!”
A scoff came from inside the room.
“Treated her with genuine sincerity? Do you even believe that yourself?”
The voice startled Second Madam Cheng. She looked up and saw First Master Cheng sitting in the main hall, leisurely sipping tea.
“How are you here? This is my home!” Second Madam Cheng shouted.
First Master Cheng shot her a disdainful glance.
“This residence bears the Cheng name. Anything that belongs to the Cheng family is mine,” he said.
Heavens! For the first time, Second Madam Cheng realized just how shameless First Master Cheng could be!
“Brother, you should know when to stop,” Second Master Cheng said, his face dark with anger.
“Actually, I was about to say the same to you,” First Master Cheng replied with a faint smile. He straightened up from his cross-legged posture and added, “But it’s too late now. Even if you want to stop, you no longer can.”
Second Master Cheng’s expression turned even uglier. He opened his mouth, about to spit out a curse, when a commotion erupted outside.
“Master, Master! Something terrible has happened!” The steward rushed in, frantic and breathless.
“What is it now?” Second Master Cheng snapped, turning sharply and unleashing his pent-up fury. “Has someone else come to storm our gates?”
“Master, it’s… it’s the magistrate’s office. They’ve come to our door… Ah, no, I mean -officials from the magistrate’s office are here,” the steward stammered.
Second Master Cheng froze.
“Why are officials from the magistrate’s office here?” he asked.
“They said they’ve come to summon the plaintiff and the defendant,” the steward explained, his gaze shifting toward First Master Cheng in the main hall.
What?
Second Master Cheng turned around in shock and saw First Master Cheng rise to his feet.
“Let’s go. We’ll fight this case properly,” he said, flicking his sleeve as he strode forward. “Let the world see what an unfilial son you are—incapable of even managing your own conduct!”
What?
How could this be?
Second Master Cheng turned to the steward, his face filled with disbelief.
“The magistrate’s office has gone mad! How could they accept this case?” he shouted.
This is impossible! Absolutely impossible!
“Nothing is impossible,” First Master Cheng said as he passed by, his expression impassive. “I told you long ago not to come to the capital. This is no good place, but you refused to listen.”
Watching First Master Cheng stride away, Second Master Cheng’s face turned ashen with rage.
“Damn it!” he finally cursed loudly, pointing at First Master Cheng’s retreating figure. “But I never expected that the mountain of blades in the capital would be my own brother, and the one placing me on the chopping block in the capital would be my own daughter!”
“You treacherous villains!”
“Villains!”
Meanwhile, Second Madam Cheng, having snapped out of her daze, clapped her hands and burst into loud sobs.
“Swindlers! They even tricked me into pouring in so much more money! That was my money!”
