The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 1936 - 1911: Throwing a Tantrum

"Don’t even think about it, didn’t you see earlier? She’s on good terms with the Zhou Family, and those two brothers behind her, the younger one is called Wulang, which means she has at least five brothers above her. How could she have the spare time to help us out?"

"Not to mention that old Xia Xia already saw her early on and probably spoke ill of us behind our backs. If she’s heard those crazy words from Xia Xia, it’s good enough if she doesn’t hate us."

Patriarch Xia nodded as well, "I never intended to ask her for any favor. It’s enough if she doesn’t hinder Wulang and Qilang."

The clan elders listened quietly. To say they didn’t initially wish to have some leverage over her would be impossible; otherwise, why did they bring up the idea of Zhou Man changing her surname?

The people of Xia Family, with complicated feelings, followed them to Songhua Alley.

The door of Xia Family at Songhua Alley was tightly closed. After the guards knocked for a long time without any response, Manbao lifted the curtain, jumped down from the carriage, and turned to ask a curious neighbor who was poking her head out, "Big sister, is nobody home?"

Although her daughter was almost the same age as Zhou Man, hearing her call her ’big sister,’ she didn’t feel offended. Instead, she felt a bit of pride, touched her face, and smiled, "I haven’t seen anyone from their house go out today."

A door next to them also opened, and Aunt Fan’s mother-in-law came out, with Aunt Fan following behind with bright eyes.

Aunt Fan’s mother-in-law glanced at Xia Xia first, then looked at Zhou Man. Finally finding a resemblance to an old acquaintance in her face, she said, "They’re at home, probably didn’t hear it from the back courtyard."

It’s not possible that they didn’t hear; the knocking was loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear. How could they not?

Manbao frowned and stood there for a moment, thought for a bit, and simply handed the property deed over to County Magistrate Zhai.

County Magistrate Zhai accepted it with a puzzled expression, "This is..."

Manbao said, "Have a look, sir."

County Magistrate Zhai looked and realized this was the same property deed he’d examined yesterday; there was nothing different about it.

Seeing no objections from him, Manbao turned to Daji and said, "Go open the door."

Daji stepped back a few paces, ran forward, and with a leap over the wall, landed in the courtyard.

Even Patriarch Xia and the clan elders, let alone County Magistrate Zhai, widened their mouths in surprise. Then, within their amazement, Daji opened the door from the inside.

Manbao went in first, looked around at the clean and tidy courtyard with satisfaction, then turned sideways and said, "County Magistrate Zhai, Patriarch Xia, please enter, and everyone else, come in too."

Bai Shan also smiled and invited County Magistrate Zhai to enter first.

County Magistrate Zhai looked at Zhou Man, then at the property deed in his hand, silently folded it, put it back into his sleeve, and went inside.

Inside, Patriarch Xia felt a mix of emotions. Indeed, she was cunning just like her father, that smile on her face was fake.

The clan elders of Xia Family finally recognized someone else in Zhou Man’s demeanor. After a long silence, they silently followed her inside.

Aunt Fan watched with great interest, whispering, "This lady really resembles her father."

Her mother-in-law said, "Of course, father and daughter should look alike."

"No, I mean the temperament," Aunt Fan said. "It’s one thing to look alike in appearance; even their temperament is similar."

Her mother-in-law glanced at her without commenting and followed inside to watch the excitement.

Daji had already opened the doors of the main house. Manbao invited County Magistrate Zhai and Patriarch Xia to sit down and had the servants of the Xia Family carry Xia Xia to a seat below the head seat. Only then did she let her parents sit down, taking on the air of a hostess despite not ordering anyone to serve tea.

The people hiding in the back courtyard, hearing the unusual noise and secretly peeking forward, saw many people sitting or standing in their main house. Since there weren’t enough chairs, the guards even brought several stools from the courtyard and side rooms.

Xia Yi was shocked, then hurriedly rushed out with his wife and children, gaping at them and demanding, "How did you get in here?"

Manbao turned her head, gave him a slight smile, and called out "Uncle Yi," then said, "We came in through the open door. We knocked for a long time, but no one answered. We thought Uncle Yi had moved out."

Xia Yi, like a rooster with its feathers fluffed, shouted sharply, "This is my house! Who allowed you to enter? Who said I was moving out? Get out, all of you!"

Manbao said nothing but turned to look at County Magistrate Zhai.

County Magistrate Zhai slapped the table and shouted, "How dare you!"

The shout startled Xia Yi, who shivered, and County Magistrate Zhai sternly yelled, "Do you have any idea who these people are? Are you asking this official to leave, or your own Patriarch?"

Xia Yi trembled and couldn’t utter a word.

Seeing him quiet down, County Magistrate Zhai withdrew his voice, returning the scene to Zhou Man once more.

Zhou Man, however, remained silent, looking at Patriarch Xia.

Patriarch Xia met her eyes and after a moment’s hesitation, he braved himself and said to Xia Yi, "Xia Yi, clean up the place and return this house to the lady."

Xia Yi shouted, "Why? This is my house!"

County Magistrate Zhai produced the original property deed from his sleeve, expressionless, and said, "But the original property deed of this house is in Lord Zhou’s hands."

Patriarch Xia, embarrassed by Xia Yi’s disgraceful behavior in front of everyone, impatiently said, "This house originally belonged to Lady Xin. It was temporarily given for your use because the couple didn’t return for a long time. Now that Lady Xin’s daughter has come back, the house naturally should be returned to her."

"I disagree. I’ve lived here for twelve years. The neighbors all know this house is mine. Why should I move just because you say so? Based on what?" he shouted, "She has a property deed, and so do I!"

After shouting, he pulled a property deed from his bosom, waved it deliberately in front of Manbao, and said, "See, it’s written plainly, this house was mine twelve years ago."

Manbao looked up at him and calmly said, "Uncle Yi, without the original owner’s agreement, that property deed is void."

"You’re lying!" Xia Yi looked around at everyone, his confidence faltering, and shouted, "You claim my deed is invalid, and yours is valid? Do you think just anyone can claim to be Lady Xin’s daughter?"

In short, Xia Yi stubbornly refused to budge.

Patriarch Xia had a headache, stood up to apologize to County Magistrate Zhai, and then pulled Xia Yi outside to talk some sense into him.

The people in the house watched them leave, relaxing and quietly waiting, occasionally hearing loud shouts from the courtyard.

After three-quarters of an hour, just as Manbao was getting thirsty, Patriarch Xia returned with Xia Yi, whose eyes were red and face full of resentment, saying, "Xia Yi agreed."

Xia Yi’s wife, who had been glaring at Zhou Man, immediately looked up at Xia Yi. Seeing him lower his head without speaking, she spat at him angrily and directly sat on the ground, slapping her thigh and wailing, "Oh, this is sinful, we’re being bullied, bullied, they’re ganging up on us, a perfectly good house is being taken away..."

Her cries were so loud that they drew in the neighbors to crane their necks in at the doorway.

Patriarch Xia’s mind almost exploded, his body swayed and nearly fell. Fearing he might have a health issue due to anger, Manbao had to step in to support him and press an acupoint on his body.