At that point, Ms. Liu Juniorâs mother and brother had heard about these rumors.
They were furious. Their family might be poor, but since when were the Liu daughters unworthy?
That very day, Madam Ye had paid lip service to the idea that the engagement wouldnât be about status or social position, and now sheâd turned around and scorned the Liu family. What kind of behavior was that?
Alright, in a very short time, the rumor spread so widely that nobody even knew who had started it anymore.
The relatives of Ms. Liu Junior didnât even consider that it might have come from their own people. Their first thought was that it had either come from Land Officer Yangâs family or the Ye Family. Of course, they were more inclined to believe it had come from the Ye Family because Land Officer Yangâs family and theirs were relatives by marriage; surely they wouldnât spread such rumors without cause.
"The Ye Family is really going too far. As if being rich gives them the right to do anything," said Ms. Liuâs sister-in-law, pretending to be indignant but secretly delighted inside. Let the rumor spreadâmore people knowing about it was exactly what she wanted.
The bigger the scandal, the better. Eventually, when everyone started gossiping about the Ye Family, they would have to agree to the marriage to save face.
If the Ye Family continued to disagree, they could even accuse them of ruining a young ladyâs reputation. The current Lord County Magistrate was a man of integrity and would surely intervene in such an affair.
Ms. Liuâs sister-in-lawâs calculations were not too shabby.
Ms. Liu Juniorâs mother was also enraged, slapping the table so hard it shook.
"I am going to Yangshu Village to ask your second sister, to ask the Ye Family what they mean by this. They owe me an explanation. Do they really think the Liu family is so easily bullied?"
Ms. Liu Juniorâs brother was also fuming at that moment; it was his daughterâs reputation being tarnished, after all. How could he not be distressed?
Grinding his teeth, he said, "Mother, Iâll go with you. I have to see for myself what they have to say. This engagement, if they really didnât want to proceed, they couldâve just backed out; whatâs with all this deceitful behavior afterward?"
"Right, letâs go! I refuse to believe that thereâs no justice left in this world."
Thus, the Liu family borrowed an ox cart from the village in high dudgeon and hurried toward Yangshu Village.
They werenât entirely cluelessâthey knew to visit Land Officer Yangâs residence first.
But once they arrived at Land Officer Yangâs home, they banged on the door as if they were there to rob the place, making a racket.
Land Officer Yangâs wife, hearing the relentless knocking, hurried to open the door while muttering, "Who on earth is it, banging so hard? What if you break the door?"
When she opened the door, she had intended to scold the visitors, but upon seeing that it was Ms. Liu Juniorâs relativesâand quite a few of them at thatâshe was taken aback, especially because each one of them looked furious.
Land Officer Yangâs wife immediately sensed trouble, recognizing the likelihood of a confrontation.
"Relatives, whatâs the meaning of this??" She still managed to ask politely before knowing the full extent of the situation.
"Pah, what relatives." Ms. Liu Juniorâs mother was still seething with anger and shoved Land Officer Yangâs wife aside. If Dayong hadnât heard the commotion and come out in time to catch her, she would have fallen to the ground.
Instantly, Dayongâs face darkened. What were his in-laws doing here?
His aged mother couldnât withstand such rough treatment. What if sheâd fallen to the ground? Would that have been alright?
"Mother-in-law, Uncle, is this a visit or what?"