In fact, the effects of the drug had long worn off for the two people inside, but with this kind of thing, since it had already happened, once or twice didnât make much of a difference. That was the mindset of both, so after they sobered up, they just carried on.
They didnât bother thinking about why they had ended up together.
Just then, Ms. Liu Junior heard the door and instinctively looked up, catching her own wifeâs eye perfectly.
Her wife then screamed, "Ah... caught in the act of adultery..."
Hearing her scream, the two of them immediately separated. Seeing that it was their sister-in-law, anger flared up, and without letting the other dress, they started fighting.
Ms. Liu Juniorâs brother was planning to sneak away during the commotion but was caught red-handed by his elder brother who heard the noise and got out of bed.
Then the two brothers began to fight.
The sisters-in-law were fighting, the brothers were fighting, and the old man of the house was still in bed, ear backward, his hearing wasnât good, and he couldnât hear the commotion outside.
The neighbors had already heard Ye Yiâs voice, and by now, they all rushed in. Seeing Ms. Liu Junior and her sister-in-law bare and undressed, and watching the group grappling with one another, what more did they need to understand?
"This is just shameless, I never expected this family to be like this!"
"Whatâs so surprising about this? Iâve long sensed that something was going on between this brother-in-law and the sister-in-law. Didnât you see the way they talk to each other? Even their glances werenât proper."
"Tsk tsk, youâve got it all wrong," chimed in a later arrival. "This is a case of âlike mother, like son.â You breed what you are."
"Whatâs that supposed to mean?"
That person, all animated, said, "You guys donât know yet, do you? The matriarch of the Liu Family has hooked up with the old bachelor of our village. Early this morning, people were shouting about catching them in the act. Now, our Land Officer and the clan elders have all gone to catch them."
"Tsk tsk, does this mean both of them are going to be caged and sunk?"
"Who knows?"
The villagers were discussing so intensely, their voices loud, that the people involved in the scuffle heard them.
"What are you saying?" The Liu Familyâs eldest son stood up first.
Ms. Liu Junior took the opportunity to run inside and dress, but his wife didnât care about such things and continued to attack Ms. Liu Juniorâs sister-in-law relentlessly.
Therefore, by the time the Land Officer and Liu Family elders arrived with Ms. Liu Juniorâs mother, they saw Ms. Liu Juniorâs sister-in-law stark naked, which outraged the clan elders.
"This is utterly obscene, utterly obscene, caging and sinking is a must!" declared one of the clan elders.
But before he could finish his sentence, a group of menacing-looking men barged in from outside.
"Is this the home of Liu Family?"
"Yes, what is this about?" asked the Land Officer of Liu Village, approaching them.
"Hmph, weâve come to collect a debt." The leader, looking imposing, glared fiercely which startled the Land Officer, "This familyâs youngest son has racked up a debt of five hundred taels in our gambling house. Today is the final deadline. Either he pays up, or we take goods, or we drag someone off to sell. You decide!"
Upon hearing it was five hundred taels, everyone was dumbstruck. In an era where five or six taels could sustain a yearâs living, five hundred taels was an astronomical sum.
What ordinary household could afford to repay that?
The Liu Family was stunned!
Ms. Liu Juniorâs brother couldnât believe it even more â how did he owe money to the gambling house? He only went there once, and werenât the five taels he owed paid back? Where had the five hundred taels come from?
"Pay up, quickly!"
"Impossible, I havenât borrowed five hundred taels from you!" Ms. Liu Juniorâs brother burst out.