m out. He also asked for the names of the craftsmen, planning to have them engraved on the stone tablet.When it came to Young Master Yan's turn, the village head intended to give Young Master Yan eigh...r/>

The husband of the portly woman, also surnamed Zhou, was a relative of Director Zhou. In fact, he should call Director Zhou "Fifth Uncle."

But he doesn't go out much in his daily life, it's just for face.

The head wife was having a maid prepare tea and refreshments, because her husband had just acquired a fine flower. Elated, he wanted to show it off.

Just now, the bookboy has gone out to invite several gentlemen friends who also love flowers.

As the guests were about to arrive, the hostess had to prepare for their reception.

Thinking of her husband's earlier joy, like a child, holding her and twirling her around half a circle, she couldn't hide the blush on her face.

As an old married couple, it's embarrassing to have the servants watch this.

Just at this moment, the stout matron arrived. She wouldn't allow the doorman to announce her, and she cried from the doorway all the way into the courtyard, as if the sky were falling.

Mrs. Zhou was filled with sweetness and joy, her heart completely cleansed.

It was just like this, she still had to patiently invite the stout woman into the room and inquire with a soft voice, “Fifth Aunt, what happened Why are you crying so miserably”

The portly woman became even more distressed, turning her face to Lady Zhou and showing her swollen cheeks. She cried with utmost sorrow.

"Niece, you have to help me out here! That Li family is just too much! They took over the canteen and now they're using their own people to mistreat all of us who were here before. They can't stand us!"

"They've been making things difficult for us these past few days, and we've endured it. But today they actually attacked me! They pinned me to the ground and beat me up! I barely managed to escape and run here for help. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't be alive right now."

Mrs. Zhou frowned, unwilling to believe the fat woman's words, but the palm print was so clear. She poured tea for the fat woman and softly persuaded her: "Fifth Aunt, take your time and tell me everything. We're home now, there's no need to rush."

As she spoke, the maid serving her gave a discreet wink. The maid immediately withdrew.

The stout matron, thinking that Mrs. Zhou had already believed her words, became even more aggrieved and cried, tears streaming down her face while she continued to complain.

"They knew very well that I was from the Zhou family, yet they deliberately targeted me and bullied me. Out of all four of them, they picked on me, beating me almost to death! They simply don't take our Zhou family seriously!"

"But why don't they think about it Whose academy is this They came to our home, bullying our family!"

Mrs. Zhou listened without interjecting throughout. During this time, several gentlemen arrived, and she went out to greet them with a few words.

The stout woman had cried her fill and was slowly starting to feel that something was amiss.

It seemed that Mrs. Zhou kept nodding in agreement but didn't say anything to support her.

She could no longer contain herself and tugged at Zhou's sleeve, asking, "Niece-in-law, did you send someone to drive the Li family away How can people like that be in charge of the canteen"

Mrs. Zhou nonchalantly pulled her sleeve back and replied evasively, "Letting the Li family take over the canteen was the Dean's decision, I don't have the authority to dismiss them. We have guests today, why don't you wait until they leave and speak to the Dean yourself"

The stout woman instinctively lowered her head.

The head of the Zhou clan was highly respected and intelligent among her people. This little trick of hers might fool Madam Zhou, but before the Head Physician, it would immediately be exposed.

Unfortunately, she didn't know that Mrs. Zhou had also never lied to her.

Soon, the maidservant came back from outside. She glanced discreetly at the stout woman and reported: "Madam, I went around the dining hall entrance and inquired nearby. The Li family did indeed beat someone up and drove away all the laborers."

The stout woman seemed to have been injected with chicken blood, instantly becoming energetic. But before she could speak, the maid continued, "It is said that because the laborers were too lazy, four of them spent three days cleaning only one basin of dishes, and they were still dirty. The Li family was furious and drove them away."

"That basin and bowl are still by the canteen entrance. I took a close look, it seems they were never washed at all. The leftover food stuck to them has already dried out, looking like it's been there for ten days or half a month."

Mrs. Zhou turned cold, her gaze fixed on the stout woman.

The fat woman's heart trembled, and she whispered in defense, "I have diarrhea, I don't feel well, so I missed that job..."

The maidservant, however, mercilessly ripped away her cover-up and said, "Even if you have diarrhea, it's not possible for all four of you to have it at the same time. And for three days straight! If it were this serious, you would have been lying in bed long ago, unable to get up. You wouldn't be so energetic."

The stout woman, incensed, retorted, "Yes, I haven't been working hard! So what The workload has increased four or five times compared to before. Am I wrong for asking for a raise Besides, even if they disagree with the raise, they can't hit people!"

The maidservant secretly smirked and said, "I found out, it was the fourth wife of the Li family who hit you. And you were the one who insulted her first by calling her a vile woman!"

"Don't say that Mrs. Four's husband is an official, just say that the Li family also has a title, not just anyone can scold them! Let alone slapping you, even if they beat you with a board, you have to bear it!"

Mrs. Zhou nodded and said, "Fifth Aunt, originally I thought you were being mistreated, since we are family, I certainly couldn't just stand by and watch. But now it's you who doesn't work and wants a raise, and when the raise isn't given you start yelling at people, that's why you were fired. There's nothing to be done about it."

"You'd better find another job. If this gets out, the Dean will know and you'll disgrace the Zhou family. There might be other punishments too, and by then, even your fifth aunt won't be able to regret it."

The stout woman was speechless. Before she could retort, Madam Zhou brought up her son again, “Chang’er is quite talented in his studies and might even pass the imperial examinations someday. Fifth Sister-in-law, you should be more restrained in your actions and not jeopardize your child's future prospects for a moment of pleasure.”

The stout woman immediately shut her mouth, not daring to utter a word.

The son of a reader is her Achilles' heel....

At the entrance of the canteen yard, the three handymen had waited for more than an hour and still hadn't seen the plump woman return. Even a fool could tell there was no hope left.

They wanted to go into the dining hall to beg for mercy, but Da Zhuang and Sun Er Ge glared coldly at them, their axes chopping down viciously. The wooden pillar, as thick as a human head, burst open with a loud crack.

They dared not pester him any longer, and they turned and ran.

We can't afford to slow down, they might be the next ones to get decapitated.

In the courtyard, Sun Erge and Dazhuang couldn't help but burst into laughter. Dazhuang whispered, "These cowards thought they were tough, but they ran away as soon as we scared them."

"People like them, if they were sent into the woods, would probably wet themselves at the sight of a single wolf hair."

"That's right," Sun Erge also shook his head in agreement, "They only dare to be so arrogant because they have someone backing them up. In reality, they don't have any real ability."

In the house, Grandma He, Shui Ling, Wu San's wife, Da Zhuang's daughter-in-law, Sun Er's sister-in-law, as well as Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru were all busy.

Seeing that the sun was about to be at its highest point, Tao Hongying started to prepare a meal. Today, she had promised to let all the children come here for dinner, so she needed to prepare more.

Zhao Yuru seeing her sisters-in-law busy with sweat on their heads, and about to cook, felt uncomfortable, so she said, "Hongying, you rest for a while, I'll cook."uldn't protect her brother. She lay on the ground, her son’s head and one arm were exposed.A man let out a cruel laugh and stomped on the boy's hand, driving him to the ground.The boy woke up in pain,...