Chapter 434: Chapter 421: An Unwelcome Visitor

“Zhuang Sifu works at your workshop. You ought to involve yourself with this. Reparations to be made, punishments to be meted out, shouldn’t you, as the manager, step in and mediate?”

Zhuang Qingning had gotten a sense of the matter from Zhuang Yonghe’s narrative on the road, and from observing the scene now, she had a rough idea of what had been going on. Her piercing gaze swept across the ten-odd people from Zhaojiazhuang, finally resting on Zhao Qiancheng at the very front.

“Village Chief Zhao.”

The girl spoke, her voice pleasant yet sharp. “Indeed, I am the workshop’s manager, and Brother Sifu works here. However, as for how to handle this matter, I’ll have to ask you to wait a moment while I investigate, then provide a response.”

“Since you, Manager Zhuang, have said thus, if I didn’t allow you to inquire, it would seem as if we from Zhaojiazhuang are unreasonable. But your inquiry can’t go on indefinitely, I’ll give you the time it takes to brew a pot of tea.”

Zhao Qiancheng smirked venomously. “In the time it takes to brew tea, if you cannot explain the issue, then I either take him away, or have you break one of his legs in front of us, or I’ll overturn this workshop of yours.”

“Choose one!”

As expected, their intentions were hostile.

Though they were ostensibly targeting Zhuang Sifu, in every sentence, the workshop feeling inescapable.

Zhuang Qingning felt a sinking feeling in her heart, her tone became more assertive. “In that case, please wait here for a while, Chief Zhao.”

Having said that, she pulled Zhuang Sifu into the nearby workshop.

The workers in the workshop were naturally curious about the situation outside, but without Zhuang Qingning’s instructions, they continued their work as usual.

Zhuang Qingning brought Zhuang Sifu to a corner and asked quietly, “Brother Sifu, what’s going on?”

Zhuang Sifu lowered his head, remaining silent.

“Brother Sifu, no matter the reason, you must tell us why,” Zhuang Qingning persisted.

“Exactly, Sifu, there are no outsiders now. Just tell us what happened. If it was Zhao Ziping who caused the trouble first, it’s not a problem – we can fight back. But if you don’t say anything, we can’t defend ourselves and can’t confront the people from Zhaojiazhuang,” said Zhuang Jingye, after all his incessant chatter, seeing Zhuang Sifu keep his head down without saying a word, he couldn’t help but slap Zhuang Sifu’s forehead. “What’s the matter with you? Are you mute? Why are we rushing us to death?”

“Didn’t you hear what that bastard Zhao Qiancheng said earlier? If things aren’t clear, they’ll break your legs in addition to threatening to overturn the workshop. Even if you don’t care about your legs, shouldn’t you consider the consequences for Little Sister Ning’s workshop?”

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Sifu suddenly raised his head, his eyes red as he stared at Zhuang Qingning.

His lips moved a few times, but in the end, he did not utter a single word, instead falling to his knees before Zhuang Qingning.

“Little Sister Ning, don’t worry. I promise not to bring trouble to the workshop. I’ll go out now and say I have nothing to do with the workshop. Even if they break both my legs, it’s okay!”

A matter he would rather have his legs broken than speak of.

Zhuang Qingning touched her nose.

The more it was like this, the more she wanted to know the reason…

“Zhuang Sifu!” Zhuang Jingye was instantly enraged, raising a foot to kick him, “Do you think that by telling people from Zhaojiazhuang that you have nothing to do with the workshop, that will solve the problem? Didn’t you hear them bringing up the workshop time and again? They were aiming at the workshop from the start! Right now, even if you gave them your legs, I’m afraid it’s no use!”

“You better tell me what the hell is going on, or else…”

Zhuang Jingye, in his anger, turned around on the spot, took a bamboo pole used to dry tofu skins from the side, swayed it in the air, “Or else before Zhaojiazhuang’s people do anything, I’ll be the first to break your legs, you little rascal!”

Despite the threat, Zhuang Sifu still kept his mouth shut, refusing to even utter a word.

Zhuang Jingye was so furious that he threw the bamboo pole to the ground with a loud crash.

Zhuang Qingning, on the other hand, rubbed her nose, glanced at Zhuang Sifu, a playful smile on her lips. “Brother Sifu, if you don’t want to tell us, I’ll have to ask someone else.”

Zhuang Qingning turned around and called out to the tofu workshop, “Where’s Sister Zhou?”

Whatever it is that could make Zhuang Sifu this tight-lipped must involve someone he is close to.

Zhuang’s father is sick in bed and obviously would not have gotten into trouble with people from Zhaojiazhuang. His sisters had long been married and would not be involved in such affairs. The only person Zhuang Sifu would care this much about must be Zhou Daya.

Yet up till now, Zhou Daya was nowhere in sight…

Zhuang Qingning decided to use this matter as a test.

As expected, as soon as Zhuang Sifu heard Zhou Daya’s name, he became extremely agitated. He immediately stood up and grabbed Zhuang Qingning’s sleeve. “Little Sister Ning, don’t ask her. She is …”

“This issue concerns the entire workshop, I need to get to the bottom of it. Since you won’t speak, I’ll have to ask Sister Zhou.” Zhuang Qingning pretended to be very angry, looked around, not seeing Zhou Daya in the workshop she said, “Sister Zhou seems not to be in the workshop, perhaps she is at Aunt Wen’s house. I’ll go find her and ask.”

Having said that, she strode out of the workshop.

“Little Sister Ning!” Zhuang Sifu hurriedly stopped Zhuang Qingning. “I… she…”

“We need to get to the bottom of this, if you, Brother Sifu, won’t talk, then I’ll find someone who will.” Zhuang Qingning’s voice was cold. She stepped forward, intending to walk past Zhuang Sifu.

“Little Sister Ning!” Zhuang Sifu gritted his teeth, his eyes turning red again. “Don’t ask her! Daya is… still unconscious!”

Zhuang Qingning was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

“This thing…”

Zhuang Sifu clenched his fist, his expression pained as he began speaking.

“Yesterday, when I returned to the village after making a delivery to the shop in the town, I saw Zhao Ziping harassing Daya near the entrance of the village. I could tell Daya was about to cry, so I went over, restrained Zhao Ziping, and told Daya to leave first.”

“Zhao Ziping, that scoundrel, flaunts his status as a scholar, hoodwinks any young girl with a bit of beauty. I was afraid he would harass Daya, I stepped in to teach him a lesson. Yet, Zhao Ziping claimed that Daya would inevitably be his wife, and there was nothing wrong with his flirting, telling me to mind my own business.”

“I went to find Daya to question her and wanted to persuade her not to fall for such a rogue. But then Daya said… ”

Zhuang Sifu choked up, “Then Daya said, when she went to the field to pick cabbages that day, she came across Zhao Ziping. Zhao Ziping started making advances, and even stole the silver bracelet she had worn since childhood.”