CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: EXTORTION

The room fell into silence, breaths grew rapid, and one could even hear someone grinding their teeth.

Talking about money... talking about money ruins relationships!

But how can you not talk about money? If you don’t make them feel the pain now, who can endure if they come back with more trouble later?

Long Yue smiled politely, "I won’t ask for much, just ten taels for the seeds planted in the fields, plus the time spent tilling and sowing, along with the delayed farming season... If you pay, you can take the person; if not..."

"Nonsense!" Before Long Yue could finish, Liu Dazhu angrily interrupted, almost giving her a slap. "This is a robbery, you wicked woman! That little land of yours, the burnt stuff isn’t even worth a few hundred cents, yet you want ten taels? Dream on!"

"Exactly! Do you really think our Liu family is easy to bully? Or do you think I won’t hit a woman?"

Liu Dazhu’s brother, Liu Erzhu, rudely rolled up his sleeves, glaring fiercely at Long Yue, with a ferocity that would make one’s heart shudder.

"Can Brother Liu say such things, doesn’t he know what we were growing in our fields?"

"What can you grow in your field, if not crops?"

Uncle Liu got curious hearing this, wanting to see what could be so valuable that burning a small area warranted a compensation of ten taels of silver.

If she doesn’t explain it properly, he’ll make her regret it!

Long Yue said, "Medicinal herbs! My field was planted with medicinal herbs! You should know how expensive they are, right? We mountain people can’t even afford to get sick, because the medication costs so much! The physician’s fee is not much, but the medicine costs are the highest. Visiting a doctor can easily cost several hundred cents!"

"Hmph, just a few hundred cents. You’re asking us for how much? Ten taels, you’re just being greedy!"

Uncle Liu flung his sleeves angrily.

"Uncle Liu really doesn’t understand! These medicinal herb seeds are very precious, you think they’re common like grain? Just mentioning Lingzhi... Do you know Lingzhi? Add a bit of Lingzhi to medicine and it can bankrupt a common family! You burnt a whole patch of Lingzhi, shouldn’t you ask me how much I’ve lost?"

Long Yue stood up suddenly, her gaze was frightening, as if someone had robbed her of hundreds of taels.

Uncle Liu was stunned by her fierce look, it’s as if they had really committed some grave wrong.

"Well... ten taels is too much..."

Realizing he had fallen into her trap, Uncle Liu’s beard quivered in anger. "Utter nonsense! You think your baseless claims can extort us? Let me tell you, there’s no way!"

"Right, don’t even think about it! Those things growing in her field, they’re herbs? They’re clearly just weeds! Trying to extort ten taels of silver with those weeds? Why don’t you go rob someone! Shameless!"

The youngest, Liu Xiaoliu, couldn’t help but spit and curse.

Long Yue coldly laughed at the Liu family members for trying to dodge accountability. So what if she’s being outrageous today? You’re going to pay that silver whether you want to or not!

"Oh? Accusing me of deceit? Then fine, let’s end this here. Anyway, our losses can’t be recovered, Mother, send Aunt Liu to the government later!"

"You dare!"

Seeing Long Yue about to send Aunt Liu to the government, the Liu family members grew furious, especially Liu Dazhu, whose eyes widened in anger. If Aunt Liu really went, they’d be at the mercy of the government’s cruelty, would they have any chance of survival?

Recalling stories from those who had been in jail, men treated like animals, women... no way!

Liu Dazhu felt a chill down his spine and then roared, "If you dare send my wife to the government, I’ll never let you off!"

"You don’t need to scare me."

Long Yue glanced at him indifferently; he thought looking menacing would make her afraid? Big mistake!

It’s only right to repay debts! No money to pay? Then pay with your life! Don’t think looking fierce can frighten me, I’m not afraid!

"Damn you, wicked woman, believe it or not, I’ll kill you?"

"Kill me?"

Long Yue laughed suddenly; it’s not about whether he had the ability, but does he have the guts?

"What? You don’t believe?"

Liu Dazhu couldn’t stand Long Yue’s contemptuous gaze, feeling belittled and deeply vexed.

Upholding a man’s dignity, he threatened as he approached her.

However, as he neared Long Yue, suddenly a dark shadow flashed before him, and the next moment, she swiftly pinned him down with his arms behind his back.

"What are you doing? Let go!"

The Liu family members saw this and were enraged, all approaching her aggressively.

"Stop right there! Anyone dares to take another step, I’ll crack his neck, believe it or not?"

Long Yue held one of his hands down, her knee pressed against his back to prevent escape, and her other hand clutched Liu Dazhu’s head like an eagle claw, truly looking as if she’d snap his neck in an instant if provoked!

"No!"

"No, don’t hurt my brother, we’ll give the money, alright?"

The ferocity of Long Yue scared both the Liu and Li family members, Mrs. Li Zhou screamed in terror, her legs shaking, fearing an accidental kill.

The Liu family, especially Liu Xiaoliu, even pleaded.

This scene left the Zhou family’s first and second rooms dumbfounded.

Long Yue was that capable? Even Liu Dazhu, such a strong man, was taken down by her? No wonder every time I compete with her, I end up in a bad state.

Zhang Meihua muttered internally, realizing how foolish she previously seemed.

"What do you mean give money? Who asked you to give money? It’s compensation! Your Liu family wife wrecked our Li family’s land, this loss must be compensated!"

Long Yue said this with a look of deep regret, pointing towards the medicine field, "What’s most important nowadays? Not money, but health! If one’s health fails, no amount of money can help! So these medicinal herbs are definitely good sellers, they’re life-saving!

I was planning to share this profitable business once the herbs matured, everyone with land could plant together and get rich, but your wife nearly destroyed the medicine field. If you don’t compensate and resolve this issue, when others gain benefits, your Liu family won’t lift your head high in Qingshui Village in the future!

So today I’m demanding compensation, also for your family’s consideration, but you fail to appreciate the goodwill, huh!"

Long Yue finished speaking and sat back angrily on the chair, while the Liu family was left dumbstruck.

Whoa, so there’s this aspect too?