The butler was also infuriated by Zhuang Lao San's shamelessness, nearly staggering backward in anger.
"You… you are truly shameless…"
Zhuang Lao San raised an eyebrow, unperturbed, and said, "We're all the same!"
"My second brother works by the Crown Prince's side. If you know what's good for you, take your people and get out of here now!"
The butler's face turned ashen. "No way. We'll leave only after you return the money…" His arrogance had clearly diminished considerably.
Liu Shiqi stood to the side, watching the drama unfold and waiting for the right moment.
Zhuang Laoda, Zhuang Lao San, Mrs. Li, Mrs. Huang, and their children all glared fiercely at the butler, refusing to return the money and only telling him to leave quickly.
The butler was so angry that he began cursing loudly.
Decades of cultivation learned at the Pan family were all thrown away today.
The butler was now in a difficult position—ten taels of silver was, after all, no small sum.
It could buy twenty maidservants.
Moreover, if he didn't bring anyone back and also lost ten taels, he would have no way to explain himself upon returning.
Since he was doomed either way, he decided to stay right there and wait it out. He wouldn't leave until he got the money back.
The situation reached a stalemate, with neither side willing to back down.
It was already noon, and the July sun was scorching.
Liu Shiqi felt as though she was about to suffer heatstroke.
Old Man Zhong felt sorry for her.
"Shi Qi, why don't you go home first?"
Liu Shiqi refused. "No, we're almost there! We can't let all our efforts go to waste now!"
Old Man Zhong sighed. "You're right!"
Mrs. Hao, seeing Liu Shiqi's face reddened from the sun, also felt deeply concerned.
"Why don't you go rest under that tree for a while?"
Liu Shiqi shook her head. "I'm fine. Let's wait until this is over."
Zhuang Yan pursed his lips, also feeling uneasy.
"Miss Liu, you…"
Liu Shiqi smiled at him. "Oh, what does Brother Zhuang want to say?"
Zhuang Yan blushed and shook his head.
He quickly withdrew the handkerchief from his sleeve.
His handkerchief was dirty—how could he take it out for her to use…
He really must be going mad…
Old Man Zhong suddenly whispered in Liu Shiqi's ear, "Girl, why don't we pay to buy Zhuang boy back?"
"This stalemate isn't getting us anywhere!"
Liu Shiqi felt dizzy from the heat.
But she still asked, "Will Grandfather pay?"
Old Man Zhong choked. "I didn't bring any money!"
He glanced at the hundred-tael banknote in Liu Shiqi's hand, wanting to say that she had plenty of money.
But then he remembered that this was Liu Shiqi's money.
So he changed the subject. "Maybe your mother has some?"
The two of them then looked expectantly at Mrs. Hao.
Mrs. Hao looked embarrassed. "I only have one tael of silver!"
Indeed, in the countryside, some people never even see silver in their entire lives.
One tael of silver was roughly equivalent to tens of thousands in modern currency.
It wasn't something just anyone could have.
Zhuang Yan also overheard their conversation. He looked up at them gratefully.
"Thank you, Auntie and Grandfather Zhong. I have no way to repay you!"
"But please don't spend money on me for my sake. I… am not worth it…"
Because he also believed that his adoptive father, Zhuang Yu, was already dead and would never return.
He could hear her inner thoughts, so he knew Liu Shiqi was lying to everyone just to save him.
He didn't expect her to spend so much money to buy him.
After speaking, he glanced at Liu Shiqi.
That one glance nearly melted Liu Shiqi's heart.
[How tragic it is for a tiger to be bullied by dogs when down on its luck!]
[The future big shot is so pitiful right now!]
Jiang Cuihua was also nearby, looking suspiciously at Old Man Zhong, then at Mrs. Hao.
Finally, her gaze fell on the hundred-tael banknote in Liu Shiqi's hand.
She frowned in confusion and asked, "Doesn't Miss Liu have a hundred taels in hand?"
"Since Zhuang Yu sent this as living expenses for Zhuang Yan, why not just use this money to buy Zhuang Yan back directly!"
Old Man Zhong…
Mrs. Hao…
Zhuang Yan…
That was Liu Shiqi's own money.
Not Zhuang Yu's gift to Zhuang Yan!
The Butler overheard this as well.
His eyes immediately lit up as he looked at Liu Shiqi.
"That's right! Young Master Zhuang has a hundred taels!"
"He can buy his own freedom!"
Liu Shiqi… was speechless.
[Dammit, I slipped up!]
[My hundred taels seems like it's about to no longer belong to me!]
[No wonder they say even doing good deeds requires money!]
To be honest, Liu Shiqi felt a tiny bit of regret at that moment.
Mainly because it was too expensive, wuwu.
Ten taels could support an ordinary family for several years.
Zhuang Yan felt somewhat awkward, this…
[Ah, well, money is lifeless, but people are alive]
[Consider it an early investment in a future big shot!]
The Butler looked at Liu Shiqi eagerly, directly handing Zhuang Yan's indenture contract to her.
Liu Shiqi…
The Butler was quite meticulous in his work.
He also handed over a severance of kinship deed.
He was afraid that the Zhuang family might cause trouble for the Pan residence in the future.
"Miss Liu, it's all yours!"
"Just give me ten taels! Young Master Zhuang will be free!"
"You can also report back to your father, Eunuch Zhuang in the capital!"
"Our Pan residence truly had no idea of Young Master Zhuang's identity."
"This was all a misunderstanding!"
"The Pan and Liu families have been friends for generations, we must not let this create a rift between us!"
Liu Shiqi stared at him expressionlessly.
[Dammit, using my own words to trap me!]
[And I have nothing to say in return!]
[It really feels like lifting a rock only to drop it on my own foot!]
Liu Shiqi forced a smile and tentatively asked, "Can you make change, Butler?"
After all, what she had was a hundred-tael banknote.
Who would carry that much money when going out!
The Butler nodded obsequiously, "Yes, yes! I can make change! I happen to have some with me!"
As he spoke, he quickly pulled out a pile of broken silver.
Counting it, it was exactly ninety taels!
Liu Shiqi…
Money exchanged hands, goods delivered.
With a pained heart, she took the pile of broken silver, along with Zhuang Yan's indenture contract and severance of kinship deed.
The Butler held the hundred-tael banknote, grinning from ear to ear.
"Miss Liu, we'll take our leave now!"
"Until we meet again!"
After saying this, he quickly scurried away with two servants in tow.
Leaving the crowd staring at each other.
Liu Shiqi was still mourning her silver.
Zhuang Lao Da and Zhuang Lao San immediately gathered around.
Zhuang Lao San looked apologetically at Zhuang Yan and said, "Zhuang Yan, today's incident was just a misunderstanding!"
"Family shouldn't speak like strangers. Today, it was your uncle and my fault. We apologize to you!"
"After all, we are family, and Zhuang Yu is my own second brother."
"You must forgive us!"
"Our family is just struggling to get by, that's why your uncle and I resorted to such measures!"
"Please don't blame us!"
"We had no other choice!"
Mrs. Huang quickly chimed in to support her husband, "That's right, Zhuang Yan, we've all suffered so much!"
"We were all forced by circumstances!"
"Your two brothers are about to get married, but the bride prices demanded are more than we can afford…"
Mrs. Li also hurriedly added, "But now it's better, with the hundred taels Second Uncle sent back…"
Suddenly remembering that Liu Shiqi had already spent ten taels, she felt somewhat displeased again.
"Miss Liu, I'm not trying to criticize you!"
"You shouldn't have given that butler money earlier!"
"If we had stalled a bit longer, he would have definitely given up and left without the money!"
"Now look, we've wasted ten taels of silver for nothing!"
Liu Shiqi's face darkened.
Zhuang Lao San quickly smoothed things over, "Ah, what's done is done. We still have ninety taels left! That's enough for the brothers to get married!"