Chapter 23: Yan Ziyue Was Forcibly Taken Away

Yan Ziyue’s expression was indifferent. "If the Yan family isn't plotting against me, would they take the initiative to come find me?"

Miao Lanlan slapped her thigh upon hearing this. "You're absolutely right!"

"Every time the Yan family comes to you, it's either to get something from you or to scheme against you." She urged, "Mrs. Xiao, you must not go to the Yan family home."

"Judging by the situation this time, there's no telling how the Yan family intends to harm you."

Yan Ziyue’s eyes were like deep, bottomless pools. "If I don't go, that beast will destroy my mother's grave!"

"What?!" Miao Lanlan was shocked, her anger surging. "That beast Yan Zhuangshi—that's his own first wife's grave! He’s worse than an animal!"

"That brute..." She was so furious she wanted to find something to beat Yan Zhuangshi to death with. "I have never seen anyone more vicious or less human than Yan Zhuangshi!"

Yan Ziyue held her back, her tone unusually calm. "Sister Miao, I need to ask you for a favor."

"Just say it; I will definitely help you this time." Miao Lanlan patted her chest and said viciously, "Once I uncover the true relationship between Zhang Juhua and Yan Zhuangshi, and whether Zhang Qingqing is actually his daughter, just watch how I deal with that wretched family!"

Although there were rumors in the village that Zhang Juhua was Yan Zhuangshi's mistress, there was no concrete evidence, and the gossip would eventually fade. If there were sufficient proof, they could nail Yan Zhuangshi and the mother-daughter duo to the pillar of shame for the rest of their lives.

Yan Ziyue’s gaze was icy. "Sister Miao, please help me gather the village chief and the clan elders... no, the more people you can bring to the Yan house, the better."

"Make the scene as big as possible. In short, I want to ensure the Yan family has no peace."

Miao Lanlan agreed that this was easy enough. "I’ll go find the village chief and the others right now."

"Mrs. Xiao, it would be best if you didn't go to the Yan house yourself."

"As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?"

Yan Ziyue nodded. "Thank you for the trouble, Sister Miao."

After Miao Lanlan said it was no trouble, she hurried off to find Village Chief Luo and the others. Yan Ziyue turned to Xiao Heshuo and lowered her voice: "Husband, will you do me a favor?"

Xiao Heshuo, who had been watching quietly, could tell she had a plan. "What do you need me to do?"

Yan Ziyue narrowed her sharp eyes. "If I’m not mistaken, the Yan family has made some kind of deal with those outsiders from another village."

"The subject of that deal is me."

"When we get to the Yan house, watch for my signal and lure Zhang Qingqing to follow me, alright?"

Xiao Heshuo was hesitant. "Can't we just expose them directly?"

Yan Ziyue shook her head, explaining, "Do we know exactly what the Yan family intends to do?"

"Besides, if the Yan family denies it and claims they are just distant relatives of Zhang Juhua, who would know otherwise?"

"That is why we need to catch them red-handed to properly deal with them."

She had considered direct confrontation, but without knowing their specific plan or having evidence, it wouldn't work.

Xiao Heshuo frowned, clearly disapproving. "It's too dangerous."

Yan Ziyue was not one to take unnecessary risks. She smiled, "I will be with Sister Miao and the others."

"I will pretend to be alone, but in reality, Sister Miao and the others will be waiting for me there."

She detailed her plan. In short, she would pretend to leave the Yan house alone, and Xiao Heshuo would use money and gifts to lure Zhang Qingqing to follow her; she would handle the rest. Yan Ziyue was confident because she knew Zhang Qingqing would take the bait, and her scumbag father and Zhang Juhua would definitely seize the opportunity of her leaving to let those men abduct her. She knew that family all too well.

After some deliberation, Xiao Heshuo filled in the details and potential contingencies, such as dealing with someone like Xu Lecheng. Once they had finalized the plan, Yan Ziyue estimated that the time was right, and they headed to the Yan house.

When they arrived, they saw Village Chief Luo and the others standing in the yard.

"Hello, Village Chief, hello, elders," Yan Ziyue greeted them politely.

Village Chief Luo’s gloomy expression softened slightly. He managed a smile. "Ziyue, what brings you here?"

"My father forced me to come." Yan Ziyue’s eyes reddened, but she remained strong and didn't cry. "My father said that if I didn't come, he would destroy my mother’s grave."

"I didn't dare not to come."

Upon hearing this, Village Chief Luo raised his pipe and struck Yan’s father hard on the head. "You beast!"

"That is the grave of your first wife! How can you be so vicious as to threaten to destroy it just to force your own daughter?"

The villagers were disgusted by Yan’s father.

"Calling this thing a beast is an insult to beasts. I've never seen anything more wicked."

"You don't understand; Zhang Juhua knows how to coddle a man, and she’s so good in bed. Yan Zhuangshi, who thinks with his lower half, how could he not listen to her?"

"Ugh! I’m going to be sick because of Zhang Juhua. An old woman at her age acting so disgustingly—is she unable to live without a man?"

Yan’s father clutched his head, glaring hatefully at Yan Ziyue, but he didn't dare say a word.

The damned wretch!

Zhang Juhua and Zhang Qingqing hid behind him. One was terrified of the villagers talking about her being a mistress, and the other felt a growing resentment toward her parents.

"Xiao Luo," one of the clan elders said with a stern face, "keep an eye on the Yan family."

"If they truly destroy the first wife's grave, follow the rules and banish the Yan family from the village."

"Damu Village does not want such inhuman filth!"

Village Chief Luo agreed. He looked at the three members of the Yan family with utter loathing. "Did you hear the elder? If there is any issue with Yan Ziyue’s mother’s grave, the three of you will be banished from Damu Village!"

Yan’s father’s face turned pale, and he repeatedly promised not to touch the grave. Being banished from the village and leaving of one's own volition were two completely different things. Furthermore, those banished would be pointed at and gossiped about for the rest of their lives.

Village Chief Luo didn't believe him for a second, intending to keep a close watch on the grave to ensure this vicious family didn't destroy it.

"What is the deal with those outsiders in the main room?" he asked, puffing on his pipe. "Don't tell me they are distant relatives of yours or Zhang Juhua; these things are easily verified."

Yan Ziyue gave Miao Lanlan a signal. She tugged gently on Xiao Heshuo’s sleeve and quietly walked to the side.

Xiao Heshuo glanced at Zhang Qingqing. Coincidentally, Zhang Qingqing was watching him and Yan Ziyue. He realized that he didn't need to do anything; Zhang Qingqing would follow Yan Ziyue on her own.

Sure enough, as soon as Zhang Qingqing saw Yan Ziyue walking away, eager to see the show and witness Yan Ziyue’s misery, she exchanged a look with Zhang Juhua and followed Yan Ziyue discreetly.

A few minutes later, Miao Lanlan burst out from somewhere, looking panicked, and shouted loudly:

"It’s bad! It’s terrible! Yan Ziyue has been forcibly taken away by those outsiders!"