Chapter Four: Punishing the Wicked

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Old Zhao sighed, "Who else could it be? The two little brats from the Su family's third branch. Heaven have mercy—since their parents just died, those two kids better not lose their lives up in the mountains again."

Su Eldest and Su Second exchanged a glance, their eyes darkening with malice.

Those two little bastards actually ran away!

Speak of the devil.

Su Jinyu and her younger brother Su Jinxiao, having filled their stomachs, had been gathering medicinal herbs on their way down the mountain when they happened upon Old Zhao and the others.

“What are you two little brats doing here?” Su Eldest snarled.

Su Jinyu gave a contemptuous smile, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Uncle and Second Uncle, your words are truly laughable. If Jinxiao and I aren’t here, where else would we be?”

Su Eldest and Su Second glared fiercely at her, but words caught in their throats.

“We haven’t eaten for two days. After our parents died, your Su family has been trying to wipe us out. If I don’t go up the mountain to find something to eat, we might as well wait to die.”

At that moment, several villagers who had just finished gathering wild vegetables passed by. Hearing the commotion, they gathered around, whispering among themselves.

“Su Eldest went to the frontier to serve in the army for the country. His wife runs a tofu stall there, and I heard the young couple sends a good amount of silver home every year. Yet the Su family treats their own children this cruelly—what ungrateful wolves!”

“Exactly! A few years ago, the whole Su family lived in thatched huts. Now they’re wealthy, renovating their houses yearly, and the two sons of the second branch even wear robes made of brocade. Yet they treat the two kids of the third branch so harshly! It’s a sin!”

Hidden beneath her sleeve, Su Jinyu clenched the flesh of her thigh tightly, then immediately raised her voice, quivering with tears.

“Grandpas and grandmas, uncles and aunts, you must help us! Jinxiao and I wake up before dawn every day to work like beasts for the Su family. They see that we have no one to protect us, and this morning they even called a matchmaker to sell us off for silver!”

“We’re Su family too! My brother and I wear old clothes discarded by the first and second branches, sleep under their cast-off quilts, and while they feast on meat, we don’t even have leaves from wild vegetables to eat!”

“We’re starving to death! Please, dear villagers, stand up for us!”

Su Jinyu tugged on her little brother’s shirt, signaling him to put on a show.

Su Jinxiao’s round eyes widened in shock but he quickly understood, bursting into a heart-wrenching wail.

The siblings’ cries grew louder and louder.

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The other villagers, moved by their plight, instantly felt sympathy, spitting curses at Su Eldest and Su Second.

Some kind-hearted villagers even brought out wild vegetable cakes, but since Su Jinyu and her brother had just eaten a stewed chicken leg, their bellies were too full to eat more.

Seeing the villagers pointing fingers at them, Su Eldest and Su Second grew embarrassed, their faces darkening as they tried to drag Su Jinyu and her brother back by force.

“Uncle, Second Uncle, are you trying to silence us for good?” Su Jinyu deliberately raised her voice to accuse.

Old Zhao immediately stepped forward, shouting, “Hold on! If what this girl says is true, then all of us in Qingyuan Village won’t just stand by and watch you bully these two kids!”

Old Zhao was well-known in the village for his kindness and compassion. His son’s family worked far away and rarely came home, so he had grown fond of Su Jinyu and her brother, often secretly slipping them sweet potatoes and dried cakes.

“Our village has always been simple and honest. If anyone here sells off their children, the village’s reputation will be ruined. Who would dare marry their daughters into our village? The Su family truly deserves divine punishment!”

The other villagers unanimously stood with Old Zhao.

Su Jinyu’s plan was to make a big fuss. None of the Su family were decent people, and she intended to live with her brother far away, severing ties with those bastards.

In ancient times, family trees were vast and tangled, making it difficult to break away from relatives, but she was determined to try.

She bent down and whispered in her brother’s ear, “Jinxiao, go get Magistrate Yang right away. Tell him someone in the Su family has died. It must be quick.”

Su Jinxiao looked up at his sister, understanding her plan. His heart was both excited and nervous.

He whispered, “Sister, be careful. I’ll bring him here soon.”

As the crowd of villagers grew larger, Su Jinxiao, small and nimble, slipped away like an eel unnoticed and hurried towards Magistrate Yang’s house.

With her brother gone, Su Jinyu felt free to act, ready to deal with the Su family.

The villagers gathered outside the Su family courtyard, chattering, while inside, Old Su and Madam Sun listened silently, hiding without a word.

Playing the coward?

Su Jinyu snorted coldly, then kicked the Su family gate open with a loud bang. Everyone inside and outside stared at each other in surprise.

“Oh! Granny Sun, you’re all home? We’ve been talking outside for ages and you just hide in there playing mute?” Neighbor Liu, who had always been at odds with Madam Sun, saw her shame and was eager to step on her.

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“You little bitch! Always causing trouble! You even broke the gate! Eldest, Second, catch her! Today I’ll make sure to break her legs!”

Madam Sun’s yellowed eyes flashed with fury as she gripped a wooden stick and stormed toward the door.

Su Eldest and Su Second flanked her from behind.

Seizing the moment, as the three closed in, Su Jinyu threw a handful of itching powder at them, then leapt backward, flipping effortlessly out of the powder’s reach.

Instantly!

Madam Sun dropped her stick and began furiously scratching her ears and arms.

“It itches! It itches so much! Where did these damn bugs come from?! Ahhh, bugs, die!”

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