Sure enough, the village chief, who had intended to take them to the ancestral hall, hesitated.
Several grown men prying open a young married woman’s door in the dead of night—it didn’t take much thought to know it was nothing good.
If they went to the ancestral hall, only Liu Wangcai’s family and a few Liu clan elders would be present. Even if they heard something they shouldn’t, no one would spread it around. But if they were questioned publicly in the courtyard, there were many women from other villages who had married into this one watching from outside.
If that happened, the scandal could no longer be contained, and it might damage the reputation of Bailiu Village.
Tang Qing’er saw the village chief’s hesitation at a glance and knew she couldn’t wait any longer.
She stepped forward in one swift motion, yanked the cloth gag from one of the men’s mouths, her eyes icy and her tone fierce: “Speak! What did Liu Jian send you here to do?”
The man clenched his lips tightly, putting on a defiant, unyielding expression.
Tang Qing’er sneered and continued, “You can choose not to speak. But my parents’ spirits are watching from above, and they’ll take away anyone who bullies me.”
She paused, her voice carrying an undeniable threat. “Besides, I’ll go to the County Office right away and sound the drum to seek justice. Do you really think your filthy deeds can stay hidden?”
Hearing this, the man’s face instantly paled.
People in ancient times already held a deep reverence for ghosts and spirits, let alone these petty thieves and ruffians who were far from clean themselves. Once this reached the authorities, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Panicking immediately, he pleaded, “Spare me, ma’am! I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything!”
Ignoring Liu Jian’s frantic struggles beside him, he spilled everything like beans pouring from a bamboo tube:
“Liu Jian… he sold you to the Wang family in town, to be a borrowed womb to bear a child for their live-in son-in-law! He also… promised your daughter to the Cuixiang Pavilion in town! He said he’d suffered losses at your hands and was afraid he couldn’t control you, so he hired us to help. He promised each of us two hundred wen once the job was done, and also…”
“And also what?” Tang Qing’er pressed sharply, her anger nearly boiling over.
Liu Wangcai and Liu Lishi finally snapped out of their daze upon hearing this, realizing that letting him continue would lead to disaster. They rushed forward to cover his mouth, but by the time they reached him, the man’s final words had already escaped:
“He also said… once we had you under control, he’d let us have our fun with you!”
The onlookers outside the courtyard erupted in an uproar, chattering and condemning the family.
Tang Qing’er walked over to Liu Jian, who was still lying on the ground, and began searching him. Under the puzzled gazes of the crowd, she pulled out three taels of silver and two crumpled indentures from his chest.
However, the indentures weren’t fully completed—the other party had only paid a deposit. It seemed they were afraid of paying the full amount upfront without receiving the person, while Liu Jian worried that once he signed and delivered the person, the other party might renege on the remaining payment.
Understanding this, Tang Qing’er felt a wave of relief wash over her.
She knew that in this era, a husband and his family had the power to sell their wife and children. As long as it didn’t reach the authorities, the worst they’d face was gossip behind their backs, with no serious consequences. Of course, if it did reach the authorities, such actions would still violate the law.
Liu Lishi tried to rush forward and snatch the items, but several aunties and older women, unable to stand by and watch, blocked her from getting close to Tang Qing’er.
Tang Qing'er walked up to the village chief holding the indenture contracts:
"Uncle Chief, look at this! That beast Liu Jian is trying to sell me and my daughter!
I want a divorce—I'm taking my child and leaving this den of wolves!"
The village chief took the two indenture contracts and examined them carefully. Though he couldn't read many characters, he pieced together the meaning through context and guesswork.
One contract was for selling Tang Qing'er, clearly stating she was to be sold to the Wang family for five taels of silver, with a deposit of two taels. The remaining payment would be made after she was delivered, and her life or death would thereafter have nothing to do with Liu Jian.
The other contract was for Liu Daya, with a selling price of two taels of silver and a deposit of one tael. Similarly, the remaining payment would be made after she was delivered.
The village chief trembled with rage, his beard quivering. But if such a matter were to spread, it would make it difficult for both boys and girls in Bailiu Village to marry in the future.
Just as he was pondering a solution, he heard Tang Qing'er say she wanted a divorce.
His expression softened as he said, "Liu Jian's wife, what Liu Jian did was wrong. I will certainly warn him, and if he offends again, he will not be spared."
Liu Wangcai and Liu Lishi naturally recognized the village chief's attempt to gloss over the matter and show favoritism.
They looked at Tang Qing'er triumphantly: "Pah, you cheap woman! Still dreaming of a divorce?"
The village chief also despised this family's behavior, but he was the village chief. He absolutely could not let this incident tarnish Bailiu Village's reputation, affecting the marriages of all the village's young men and women. Besides, as the saying goes, it's better to tear down ten temples than to break up a marriage.
So, if he could persuade them to reconcile, he naturally wouldn't help Tang Qing'er get a divorce. If a woman was divorced, it was considered her fault, but if it was a mutual separation, people would say it was the man's problem. That would also damage the village's reputation. Just as he was about to speak again to persuade her, the two indenture contracts were snatched from his hand.
He looked at Tang Qing'er with surprise and displeasure: "Liu Jian's wife, what are you doing?"
Tang Qing'er sneered, "Since you're unwilling to handle this matter, I have no choice but to go to the magistrate's office and beat the drum to appeal for justice."
Liu Wangcai spoke with a dark expression: "Tang Qing'er, think carefully. If you insist on accusing my son, I'll swallow my pride and ask the clan for help. Do you think you can leave Liujia Village? Don't forget, our entire village is surnamed Liu. Are we afraid of a mere woman?"
The village chief remained silent, his face cold. It seemed he shared Liu Wangcai's sentiment, the threat unmistakable.
Tang Qing'er declared loudly, "I married into your Bailiu Village—I wasn't sold to your village! And which family hasn't married women from other villages? Is this how you treat the wives who bear your children and manage your households, inside and out? Do you have no conscience?"
Most of the women watching outside, upon hearing that Liujia Village treated those who married in from outside as less than human, were immediately displeased. The village chief's wife took the lead, charging in with the other women from outside and pointing at the village chief as she began to scold:
"You old fool! Today, you Liu clansmen can gang up to bully Qing girl. Tomorrow, you'll bully us women who married into this village the same way. Do you have no conscience?"
Her words spurred several young wives who had been hesitating outside to rush in as well, standing beside Tang Qing'er and glaring fiercely at the village chief and the Liu Wangcai family.
Village Chief Liu never dreamed that Tang Qing'er could incite so many women with just a few words. If he didn't speak up to stop this now, the situation was likely to escalate.
He shot Liu Wangcai a sharp glare and forced a difficult smile: "Liu Jian's wife, it's not that your uncle won't stand up for you."
You're just an orphan girl. If you take your child and divorce, returning home, where would you find a way to survive?
Have Liu Jian apologize to you, write a letter of guarantee, and stay with the Liu family—then you'll have a chance at life, won't you? Uncle is only thinking of your best interests!