Chapter 96: Release

Before the old woman could finish speaking, Zhou Huailin chuckled and gently pulled Zhou Qing, shielding her behind him.

"Our girl is still young, no rush to marry her off. We'll keep her for a few more years. Would you like to pick out more Spring Festival couplets?" Zhou Huailin's clear rejection made the old woman shake her head regretfully.

"Such a good family though! The young man is good-looking, has a good temper, and the family is kind. Even though they live a bit far, in Yongchang County, it’s still..."

Zhou Huailin interrupted her again with a smile. 

"We can't bear to see our girl marry far away. Even if it's just outside the village, it feels too distant, let alone another county. But thank you, truly."

Having heard this, the old woman, despite her regret, gave up. She smiled at Zhou Qing, then squeezed out of the crowd, taking her Spring Festival couplets with her.

As soon as she left, Zhou Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

On the side, Cheng Wu was pondering Zhou Huailin’s words: "We can’t bear to see her marry far, even just outside the village feels distant..."

So, that means she’ll marry someone from the village. 

In that case, the young boss has no chance. 

I’m the best match.

Could it be that Zhou Qing and Zhou Huaishan had secretly set their sights on him all along? After all, in the entire Qingyang Village, only he is worthy of Zhou Qing.

It made sense. 

No wonder Zhou Qing often sneaked glances at him.

Now confident in his thoughts, Cheng Wu threw himself into selling Spring Festival couplets even more enthusiastically.

After selling out in one village, the three of them rushed to the next. They didn’t return to Qingyang Village until it was fully dark.

Before they even reached the house, Zhou Qing saw from afar that a large crowd had gathered, surrounding her house three layers deep.

Her heart suddenly sank. Could it be that while I was gone, my father caused trouble again?

Zhou Huailin also furrowed his brow. 

What’s happened now?

Cheng Wu’s house was at the village entrance, so they dropped him off there. Zhou Huailin and Zhou Qing hurried toward home with the mule cart.

Hearing the sound of the cart, the crowd quickly parted to make way.

Zhou Qing saw Old Zhou and Sun standing in front of Shen Li's courtyard gate.

Exchanging glances with her father, Zhou Qing frowned. Why are they here?

When they saw Zhou Huailin, Sun rushed over immediately, her face full of anxiety. Her lips were dry and cracked, bleeding slightly. Her eyes were red and bloodshot, and her hair was a tangled mess.

"Lin, thank goodness you're back! Quick, talk to your second brother. Get him to pack up and come with me to the county. Your older brother has been arrested by the prefect! I heard the prefect is familiar with your second brother!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing understood. So, Zhou Huaihai was arrested, and in their desperation, the old couple has come to ask for help.

Zhou Huailin’s face darkened as he yanked his hand away from Sun.

"Why was Zhou Huaihai arrested? You should know full well. And yet, you still have the nerve to ask second brother to intercede?"

Sun, who had been flung aside, suddenly let out a hysterical scream, "I am your mother!"

That scream was hoarse and filled with despair.

Zhou Huailin’s face remained cold. "You stopped being my mother the day we signed that severance agreement."

Sun sobbed, wiping her tears, her entire body trembling.

"I gave birth to you. No contract can change the fact that I’m your mother. I raised you. Is that nothing? Do I owe you?"

With that, Sun bit her lip and dropped to her knees, kowtowing three times so hard that her forehead bled.

"Lin, I’m begging you. I beg you."

Some villagers, moved by the scene, whispered, "Lin, she’s still your mother."

"That’s right, Lin. No matter what, you’re all family."

With red eyes, Zhou Huailin glared at Sun.

"My mother? When Zhou Bingde and Zhou Huaihai falsely accused me at Qingquan Temple, where were you then? Were you my real parents?

When my second brother was preparing for the imperial exams and Zhou Huaihai bribed the previous prefect to ruin his chances, where were you then? Were you my real parents?

If it weren’t for Zhou Huaihai plotting against my second brother and colluding with the former prefect, would he have been arrested?"

These were matters that Zhou Qing’s family had never publicly mentioned before. Now that Zhou Huailin had brought it up, the crowd erupted in murmurs.

Old Zhou’s face turned as black as a pot, his expression filled with both anger and humiliation as he stared at Zhou Huailin, his fists trembling.

"How dare you bring that up again! If you hadn’t forced your elder brother to sign that contract, none of this would have happened! 

Sure, your brother was wrong to get arrested, but aren’t you to blame too? If you hadn’t pushed him, he wouldn’t have resorted to such actions!"

Zhou Qing had long grown accustomed to Zhou Bingde’s shamelessness and wasn’t interested in arguing further.

Glancing at Zhou Ping, who had climbed onto the courtyard wall to peek out, Zhou Qing signaled him with her eyes.

Understanding, Zhou Ping jumped down and hurried to open the gate.

Taking the whip from Zhou Huailin’s hand, Zhou Qing cracked it at the mule, urging it into the courtyard.

Just as the gate opened, Sun abruptly stood up and rushed toward the cart.

Zhou Ping quickly slammed the gate shut.

Seeing she couldn’t enter, Sun turned and spread her arms, blocking the mule cart’s path.

Startled, Zhou Huailin quickly pulled on the reins.

The mule let out a loud bray, stopping just short of Sun.

The hot breath from the mule’s nostrils blew onto Sun’s face, causing her to tremble with fear, her legs nearly giving out beneath her.

At that moment, Sun was terrified the mule would trample her. But with her son Huaihai still in jail, she couldn’t afford to be afraid.

A mother’s determination.

As the cart came to a halt, Sun’s face turned deathly pale, beads of cold sweat dotting her forehead. She panted heavily, her eyes filled with pleading.

"Lin, I know you’ve always been the most filial. I beg you, save your brother. He’s your real brother, after all.

No matter what wrongs he’s done in the past, he’s still your blood. Blood is thicker than water. If anything were to happen to you, wouldn’t your older brother save you in return?

Please, Lin, please."

Zhou Huailin clenched his jaw, his eyes closed as he struggled with his emotions. When he opened them again, his voice was steady.

"I won’t let my second brother go."

If Zhou Huaishan refused to go, some people would surely accuse him of being cold-hearted. But second brother was on a career path and couldn’t afford such accusations.

I, on the other hand, can take the blame.

Gripping the reins tightly, Zhou Huailin spoke slowly, emphasizing every word: "I hold grudges. Even if my second brother wanted to go, I wouldn’t let him. Give up on this. If you want to save Zhou Huaihai, you’ll have to find another way."

Old Zhou let out a heavy snort and stepped forward, pulling at Sun.

"I told you it was useless. These ingrates won’t save our eldest. Why won’t you listen?"

Sun shoved him away and dropped to her knees again.

"Lin, are you really this heartless? If you don’t save your brother, I won’t get up. If you want to go inside, you’ll have to roll over my body!"

"You..."

Zhou Huailin’s face twitched with anger.

Zhou Qing jumped down from the cart, grabbing a rope.

Why waste words? Just tie her up and move her aside. Problem solved.