CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45 GENDER CRIMES 45

Mrs. Bai, somewhat resistant, said to Aunt Hao, "What is the matter that requires Shuangshuang to go? We have already severed ties with that family!"

Aunt Hao sighed and reassured Mrs. Bai, "Sister, don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. It’s just that Shuangshuang gave the madam who came to buy people and those thugs a beating, didn’t she? Shuangshuang is in the right, and that madam wouldn’t dare to make trouble for her. Even if she dared, we wouldn’t let Shuangshuang suffer."

Aunt Hao then soothingly patted Qin Shuangshuang’s head and continued, "That madam and a few thugs got injured and are causing a fuss, demanding Uncle Qin’s family pay up. They claim it’s fraud as Uncle Qin’s family sold the girl without informing about Shuangshuang’s immense strength, which injured them. They demand Uncle Qin’s family cover their medical expenses and an additional ten taels of silver."

Mrs. Bai frowned slightly. Having finally severed ties, she hoped never to interact with that family again, unwilling for her daughter to go there, so she complained, "What does that have to do with our Shuangshuang? Why should she have to go there?"

Aunt Hao sighed, "Originally, Shuangshuang wouldn’t have needed to go. But you know what kind of people they are after all these years of dealings. They refused to bear responsibility, claiming Shuangshuang was the one who injured them, so she should pay!"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Bai was instantly furious, her face turning red with anger. She retorted, "How outrageous! If their family hadn’t tried to sell my daughter, would she have fought back?! Should I have let my daughter be sold into a place like that without resistance?!"

Mrs. Bai was very emotional, not just angry at that family, but also disgusted and sad, as those people were once their own flesh and blood.

Aunt Hao hurriedly said, "Sister, don’t worry, everyone understands there’s no reason to say such things! Not just you, but none of us would allow it.

Even the madam said it was Old Chen who urged her to quickly capture you without mentioning your immense strength, deliberately deceiving her. Therefore, it’s Uncle Qin’s family who should pay. Asking Shuangshuang to go there is just to confirm the madam’s words."

Just as Aunt Hao finished speaking, a few elderly of the clan, respected figures in the village, arrived. Everyone promptly stood, a bit puzzled, until one elderly explained, and suddenly everyone understood.

It turned out that the village chief originally intended for Qin Shuangshuang to go. However, concerned about the Qin Family’s morals, he worried they might scapegoat her. So, he had the respected elders come to inquire directly, sparing Shuangshuang from going.

Qin Shuangshuang was naturally grateful for the village chief’s thoughtful actions and quickly recounted everything that happened, including Old Chen and Little Chen’s parting words.

Until nightfall, the village chief’s family hadn’t returned. That night Aunt Hao brought food, a large communal meal, as the entire village was embroiled in debate over the punishment for the Qin Family, with no consensus. Some clan elders, whose families were learned, insisted on expelling the Qin Family from the clan.

Expulsion was too severe a punishment, and most villagers were ambivalent. Though the Qin Family’s actions were frowned upon, they hadn’t directly affected others, leaving people hesitant to drive them to such an extreme!

Despite heated debates, Qin Shuangshuang knew the outcome would be only a punishment and not expulsion. In her previous life, her mother actually died, and she went mad for three years, yet the final punishment was only for the Qin Family members to take turns hulling rice for ten years.

Ultimately, the issue with the madam was resolved, with her extracting fifty taels of silver from the Qin Family!

Old Chen, heartbroken, lay in the courtyard cursing and sobbing, calling Qin Shuangshuang a wretched child deserving of divine punishment and the madam a vile, heartless creature, using unspeakable words...

The language was so vile that no one could repeat it. Even the village chief and clan elders couldn’t tolerate it, repeatedly scolding with no effect. Those fifty taels taken by the madam were like a dagger to Old Chen’s heart!

Qin Shuangshuang felt a bit of malicious joy, calculating that amount was about a third of the Qin Family’s wealth, explaining Old Chen’s breakdown.

In the dead of night, the village chief’s family returned. After washing with hot water prepared by Qin Shuangshuang, the village chief spoke with Mrs. Wang about the final decision regarding the Qin Family’s punishment.

As Qin Shuangshuang expected, the result was the same as in her past life, with the Qin Family members taking turns hulling rice for ten years, plus an additional year for Old Chen’s punishment, totaling eleven years!

It was already very late, so Qin Shuangshuang, the eldest lady, and Mrs. Bai stayed overnight at the village chief’s house.

Early the next day, Mrs. Bai, along with Qin Shuangshuang, spoke to the village chief about establishing a separate household for Mrs. Bai, registering the eldest lady and Qin Shuangshuang as her daughters, and their plan to find a house and move out.

The village chief was quite supportive of registering a separate household and marking the eldest lady under Mrs. Bai’s name, saying the eldest lady’s character was just like Mrs. Bai and Qin Shuangshuang, inherently righteous and naturally meant to be family.

Regarding their intention to move out, initially the village chief and Mrs. Wang were opposed, unconcerned for their safety as the village had no real troublemakers, and Qin Shuangshuang’s reputation for immense strength was well-known, deterring anyone from making an issue.

The main concern was they had nothing—only clothes on their backs without even more to change. Moving out without solutions for eating, sleeping, and cooking would be impractical!

It wasn’t until Qin Shuangshuang showed them the thirty taels of silver she earned from selling deer, that the two agreed. In these times, many families’ savings amounted to only thirty to fifty taels, so her savings weren’t too meager!

Though the move was approved, the village chief and Mrs. Wang didn’t allow them to move immediately, instead planning to help acquire necessary living items like pots, pans, clothes, and bedding before them moving.

Knowing they would soon be managing their own household, the mother and daughters were full of energy, hiring Uncle He’s ox cart to visit the town, spending nearly seven taels in one sweep gathering all required items! The most expensive purchase was a large iron pot, costing as much as 800 coins!

Buying things was the easy part, just a matter of spending money, but finding a rental proved tough. Many places didn’t meet their standards. Aunt Hao’s home had ample space but was too close to the Qin Family, which both Qin Shuangshuang and Mrs. Bai staunchly refused. Finally, Mrs. Wang had a flash of inspiration and remembered a place!