The Slender Waist-Chapter 600 - 433 Formidable Eloquence_2

Lady Chen, of course, did not want to bother with any village regulations.

Yet amid the collective outrage, since Huaxi was Feng Yun’s territory, she had no choice but to suppress her anger, dismiss her attendants, and then let out a cold laugh.

"Occupying the nest like a dove taking over a magpie’s, and being so proud of it. It seems you really want to rely on the Prince of Yonghuai to seize the Feng Family’s property. Not so easy!"

Her voice was loud, immediately drawing the attention and onlookers of passersby.

During this time, Feng Jingteng had done quite a bit for Feng Yun in order to improve relations. Lady Chen saw all this, and it rankled in her heart, often feeling that Feng Jingteng’s affections had changed.

Wherever he went boasting to people, not to mention other things, he always had to say his daughter was the Princess of Yonghuai, how incredibly powerful she was...

It was as if Feng Yun was his pride and joy.

This made Lady Chen deeply uncomfortable, and fights between the couple had not been infrequent because of this.

She had cried, made a fuss, but Feng Jingteng no longer indulged her as before, no longer coaxing her, often slamming the door as he left, giving her the cold shoulder...

Especially a recent incident had thrown Lady Chen’s entire heart into chaos.

Not long ago, Feng Jingteng helped Hou Zhun to bring his blind mother from Jiangxia to Huaxi Village. In thanks, Hou Zhun gifted him a young and beautiful concubine, and he actually... did not refuse, secretly taking her back to Bingzhou to settle.

After she found out, Feng Jingteng said that he merely intended to complete the formalities, not wishing to reject the offer, nothing more.

But Lady Chen could not swallow this grievance, and in her anger and resentment, she had brought the land deed documents from years ago to Huaxi Village.

Lady Chen suppressed the bitterness in her throat, putting on a confident façade, raising her eyebrows in a cold laugh.

"Not allowing me into the village, it seems you’re feeling guilty. Fine, we might as well talk at the entrance of the village..."

She raised her voice once again.

"I am the mother of the Village Chief’s wife here in Huaxi Village, surely some among you still recognize me. I used to come often to the estate to settle accounts; the tenant farmers all used to call me Lady Chen..."

She patted the sandalwood box, her mouth twitching, and let out a heavy snort.

"I have the land deeds in my hands; the estates and land here were originally owned by the Feng Family. Feng Shi Er Niang claims to have severed ties with the Feng Family yet refuses to hand over the Feng Family’s property, wrongfully occupying it; it’s utterly outrageous..."

"Today I came intending to negotiate in good faith with Shi’er Niang. But you’ve all seen what happened; she sent people to stop me at the entrance of the village, not letting me confront her. If this isn’t the act of a guilty conscience, what is?"

"You all be the judge."

The entrance to the village was on the road leading to Changhe Dock; there were also quite a few stalls here. The crowd, upon hearing Lady Chen’s words, immediately ceased their activities to watch, whispering among themselves.

Awan’s pancake stall was at that intersection.

She had noticed when the Village Guard stopped the carriage.

Feeling indignant, the prudence and good temper she had cultivated in Changmen flew out the window. She wiped her hands on her apron and walked to the front of the crowd, pointing at Lady Chen and cursing loudly.

"Where did this shameless lowlife come from, spouting nonsense as soon as her mouth opens? Which of your eyes saw it was the Village Chief’s wife who sent people to stop you?"

Filial piety is as weighty as a mountain.

Awan did not want the Lady to give others leverage against her in public; after speaking, she gave another cold laugh.

"Madam, would you please open your dog eyes and look carefully. The one stopping you was a Huaxi Village Guard, by the villagers’ own initiative."

Someone echoed, "Right, it was voluntary."

Awan, born into poverty, had often heard women in the village fiercely scolding each other. She put that to practical use; when she cursed someone out, each word was harsher than the next.

"Lady Chen, surely you must be gravely ill to let a commoner speak on your behalf? Heaven above, earth below, if you want to sue, find the bailiff; if you wish to pray, go to the temple; if you desire to beg like a beggar, just kneel down, no one will laugh at you. Don’t create problems where there are none, embarrassing yourself here. In Huaxi Village, nobody cares to see your bare behind riding a donkey, reeking of sour defeat..."

Lady Chen’s eyes bulged at Awan, too furious to speak. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The atmosphere grew tense for a moment, then a restrained laugh erupted from within the crowd.

Then, one laughter followed another, and the crowd burst into laughter.

"Lady Wan usually doesn’t make a peep or show any spirit, but who would have thought she could be such a formidable character..."

Those who ran stalls at the entrance of the village all called her "Lady Wan." Usually, this young lady was prim and proper, not speaking much or making a fuss. Who could have expected that she had such a talent for scolding people?

The laughter continued.

Lady Chen’s cheeks were inflamed with a deep red, as if her ears were about to catch fire.

Feng Liang, terrified, shrank his neck and hid in her embrace.

Feng Zhen pouted her little mouth even more and burst into loud sobs.

For a moment, laughter, crying, and cursing all mingled into one chaotic noise.

Then a genuine out-of-towner asked, "Is this lady really the mother of your Village Chief’s wife?"

The locals hurried to reply, "At most, she’s a wicked stepmother..."

Feng Yun’s private matters might not be known to everyone under the sky, but anyone who came to Huaxi Village would usually have inquired about them. As soon as they heard ’wicked stepmother,’ they understood the whole story, and thus, they were disdainful.

"A lady of the Chen Family, with her thousands of acres of fertile land and numerous shops, and the Feng Family is also rich and noble. Yet have they become so impoverished? The lady brings her young son to the village to snatch her stepdaughter’s possessions... Tsk, tsk, what an eye-opener."

When someone made a mockery, Awan promptly fanned the flames.

"Indeed, who in this village doesn’t know how destitute the Lady of the Village Chief was when she first came to the estate? Every brick and tile was earned by the lady herself. Some people are truly worse than pigs and dogs, the older they get, the more shameless they are."

As soon as she spoke, there were those who couldn’t help but laugh.

Lady Chen was so angry her chest heaved as she forced herself to remain calm.

Arguing with a lowly village maid was just inviting ridicule.

"I have the evidence." She patted the precious box again, "The deed is written clearly. There’s no denying this matter."

Awan mocked, "Aren’t you the joke? Look where you’re standing. This is Jin Country, not Qi Country. Thieving shrew, acting like a cuckoo spitting in a magpie’s nest. Isn’t it foul, isn’t it embarrassing?"

Lady Chen didn’t want to listen to her talk.

There were many servants and old nannies around her who would speak peculiar things, but she had never heard something so unpleasant...

She didn’t look at Awan but lifted the curtain to look at the crowd of onlookers.

"Jin and Qi are allied countries; that’s a signed deed."

Awan: "Yo, look at that, she comes bearing an incense burner with a bowl, using paper money from a past life to chant scriptures for this life."

"Hahahaha."

Whenever Awan spoke, there were those who echoed her.

Lady Chen was provoked until she was fuming, pressing her palm heavily on the box.

"If Feng Shi Er Niang refuses to see me, I must find her today and demand an explanation. My attendants, break in for me."

The attendants answered and were about to draw their swords and enter.

Sun Xiaolang and the others saw this and, furious, stepped in the way to block them. People from the village also surged forward to help, and there were out-of-towners persuading them, causing such a commotion at the entrance of the village that it was completely congested and chaotic.

"Everyone, stop!"

In the midst of the clamor, Feng Yun’s voice suddenly rang out.

Gentle, soft, with a hint of a smile, it instantly quieted the noisy scene.

Feng Yun slowly turned her head to look at the Chen Family, "Since the lady says she has proof and must seek justice from me, then let’s sit down and discuss this calmly."

She parted the crowd and walked leisurely to Awan’s side, looking at those sword-bearing attendants with a cold sneer.

"Someone, please escort Lady Chen to the Great Pagoda Tree. We’ll first enforce the village rules, then talk about everything else."