Liu Shiqi was once again amused by their shamelessness.
She didn't speak, just crossed her arms and looked at Zhuang Yan.
[Let me see if the future Shenwu Great Emperor will be so easily swayed.]
[Even after being bullied like this, would he still repay evil with kindness and forgive these scoundrels?]
[If the big shot chooses to forgive them, then I can only laugh it off.]
[In that case, I'll respect his fate and stay away from idiots!]
Zhuang Yan could clearly sense that Liu Shiqi was extremely angry.
He stood in front of Liu Shiqi, glaring coldly at Zhuang Lao San, Mrs. Huang, and Mrs. Li.
"Hmph, do you think I'll still listen to you like before?"
"You're wrong! From today onward, I have nothing to do with you!"
Zhuang Lao San anxiously said, "Zhuang Yan, even if we were momentarily blinded, we didn't actually sell you!"
"Aren't you still perfectly fine right here?"
Mrs. Li also looked angry and said, "How can a junior speak to elders like this?"
"Even if we did something wrong, you shouldn't get angry!"
"Do you even understand filial piety?"
"All those books you read were a waste…"
Zhuang Lao San continued playing the good guy, "Alright, alright, Zhuang Yan has indeed been wronged today."
"I'll have your third aunt cook for you!"
Mrs. Huang quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, third aunt will make your favorite glutinous rice balls and clear noodle soup for you. I'll even add a poached egg!"
The emotions in Zhuang Yan's eyes gradually calmed down.
"Miss Liu bought me, she is my benefactor."
"So from today onward, I belong to Miss Liu!"
Liu Shiqi looked completely bewildered.
[Belong to me?]
[What does 'belong to me' mean?]
[Doing laundry, folding quilts, warming the bed, having babies…]
Mrs. Hao covered her face.
Old Man Zhong chuckled.
Zhuang Yan's neck, face, and ears—
everything that could turn red did.
Zhuang Lao San frowned, looking at Zhuang Yan, then at Liu Shiqi.
"Miss Liu, you can give me the remaining ninety taels of silver. I'll keep it for Zhuang Yan!"
"And also Zhuang Yan's indenture contract and severance of kinship deed!"
Liu Shiqi crossed her arms and looked at him, snorting coldly.
"Oh, why should I give it to you?"
"Who are you to him?"
Zhuang Lao San gritted his teeth, "I'm his third uncle!"
Liu Shiqi waved the severance of kinship deed, "It's written here in black and white—you've severed kinship!"
"You're not his third uncle anymore. All of you Zhuang family members have nothing to do with him now!"
Mrs. Huang interjected unhappily, "Even if bones are broken, the tendons remain connected. No matter what, we're still family!"
Before Liu Shiqi could speak, Old Man Zhong angrily cursed, "What kind of bullshit is that?"
"Zhuang Yan was picked up by Zhuang Yu. What tendons connect him to your family?"
Mrs. Hao also spoke up.
"And this money belongs to my daughter!"
"It wasn't sent back by Zhuang Yu!"
Jiang Cuihua was completely confused.
Mrs. Hao quickly explained Liu Shiqi's situation to her, not avoiding others either.
Now everyone knew that Liu Shiqi wasn't the eldest daughter of the Liu family, but rather Liu Changying's daughter who had been switched at birth.
She had just returned today.
The most bewildered were still the Zhuang family members.
Zhuang Lao San looked incredulous, "Didn't you say? My second brother, he… he works for the Crown Prince…"
Liu Shiqi snorted coldly and said indifferently, "Brother Zhuang's father? Sorry, I don't know him!"
Everyone…
Mrs. Li gritted her teeth, "But you just said…"
"Just acting!"
"Learned it from you on the spot!"
"How about that, quite the spectacle, isn't it!"
The crowd…
Zhuang Laoda breathed a genuine sigh of relief. He had truly feared that Zhuang Yu might still be alive and would return to settle scores with them.
Zhuang Lao San was still struggling. "After all, Zhuang Yan is one of our Zhuang family…"
Liu Shiqi raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so I bought him with my money. If you want to buy him back, fine—twenty taels in total!"
Zhuang Lao San was taken aback. "But it was just ten taels a moment ago!"
Liu Shiqi was unperturbed. "Hmm, I don't like the look of you, so I'm raising the price on the spot!"
"What? Not happy? Bite me then!"
"Weren't you just saying it was all a misunderstanding and asking Brother Zhuang to forgive you?"
"Then show some sincerity now—hurry up and buy Brother Zhuang back!"
Zhuang Lao San…
The Zhuang family fell silent. Naturally, they wouldn't spend money to buy him back.
Liu Shiqi smiled brightly. She shook the indenture contract and severance of kinship deed in her hand, speaking earnestly to Zhuang Yan.
"Brother Zhuang, I've spent money to buy you now, along with your severance of kinship deed!"
"So, from now on, Brother Zhuang belongs to me!"
Zhuang Yan nodded. "Yes, I am yours."
Liu Shiqi's expression suddenly turned cold.
"Since you're mine, you must obey me!"
"From now on, you have no ties whatsoever with the Zhuang family!"
"You're not allowed to speak to any of their family members in the future!"
"Of course, if they shamelessly seek you out, just beat them back directly!"
"Understood?"
Zhuang Yan was momentarily stunned, then nodded. "Alright, I'll listen to you."
The faces of the Zhuang family grew increasingly grim.
"Zhuang Yan, you…" Before Mrs. Li could finish, Zhuang Yan picked up a stone and hurled it at her.
Though his aim was poor, it still frightened Mrs. Li badly.
[Sometimes, dealing with scoundrels really calls for direct action!]
[If you can't beat them to death, beat them until they wish they were dead!]
[Indeed, the big shot is no pushover…]
Liu Shiqi was very pleased with his actions.
Zhuang Lao San was furious. "Zhuang Yan, she's your aunt…"
Zhuang Yan immediately picked up an even larger stone and threw it at him.
Zhuang Lao San was startled and quickly dodged.
The spot where he had been standing was now marked by a crater from the large stone.
Just as Zhuang Laoda's third son was about to speak up, he too was struck by Zhuang Yan.
Zhuang Yan finally vented the anger pent up in his heart.
His body swayed unsteadily, his face flushed red.
Liu Shiqi sighed helplessly and quickly supported him.
He looked at Liu Shiqi, his eyes sparkling with vitality, clearly overjoyed.
Throwing stones at people felt so satisfying—no wonder she liked it!
Seeing that they hadn't returned home for a long time, Liu Changying finally came looking for them.
"It's getting late, let's go home for dinner first!"
"I've prepared a whole table of delicious food!"
Mrs. Hao nodded gently, in excellent spirits. "Alright, husband, let's go home together for dinner."
Old Man Zhong walked cheerfully at the front, followed by Liu Changying and Mrs. Hao.
Liu Shiqi was about to leave when she noticed Zhuang Yan standing still.
Liu Shiqi raised an eyebrow at him. "Brother Zhuang, why aren't you leaving?"
Zhuang Yan hesitated. "I… I have nowhere to go now."
He could no longer return to the Zhuang family, so where would he go now…
Liu Shiqi supported him. "I spent ten taels of silver to buy you—you're mine now!"
"Then naturally, you're coming to my home!"
Mrs. Huang felt a pang of jealousy and couldn't help but mutter, "Hmph, at such a young age, not learning proper behavior. A girl, casually saying a man belongs to her!"
"Such shamelessness!"
"Seems like she won't be well-behaved…"
Before Liu Shiqi could say anything, Zhuang Yan had already picked up a stone and hurled it.
He snarled, "Shut your mouth!"
This time, it struck Mrs. Huang's arm.
Mrs. Huang cried out in pain and threw herself to the ground, wailing, "Murder! Murder!"
"That little beast is killing someone!"
Zhuang Lao San gritted his teeth, "Zhuang Yan, you…"
Zhuang Yan had now shed all traces of his earlier timidity, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"If I hear you dare speak of Miss Liu again, I'll kill you!"