Chapter 31: with translation of chapter title

He beat Jiang Zongbao until he cried for his parents, wailing continuously. Cao Shi couldn't bear to watch, she screamed and threw herself in front of Jiang Zongbao, crying: "Don't hit my son! If you want to hit someone, hit me!"

Jiang Clan Head's cane struck the ground heavily: "When the beam is not straight, the rafters become crooked; it's all because you've spoiled him!"

He sighed in frustration, wishing iron could become steel, then turned to look for the victim.

Du Ruo smiled, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Grandfather Jiang Clan Head." She also politely greeted Lin You Tian.

Jiang Clan Head glanced, and his cane almost slipped from his hand.

"This, this is Jiang Li's wife? She's too... too indescribable in appearance. Alas, what a pity that the finest young man of the Jiang family married such a woman—truly a sin."

But after thinking about that plate of vegetable and meat dumplings... oh well, at least her cooking skills are top-notch, so Jiang Li can consider himself fortunate to have a good meal.

He pointed at Jiang Zongbao and asked: "Jiang Li's wife, what do you want me to do with this beast?"

Du Ruo respectfully: "Everything is up to you, Grandfather Jiang Clan Head."

Jiang Clan Head pondered for a moment: "According to clan law, those who commit serious theft shall be punished by expulsion from the clan..."

As soon as he said that, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

Expulsion from the clan is no trivial matter; being cast out means losing the family's protection and being permanently driven out of Longquan Village, becoming a rootless duckweed.

From then on, wherever they go, they will be looked down upon and even bullied.

Jiang Zongbao's eyes rolled back and he nearly fainted.

Cao Shi collapsed limp onto the ground.

"This punishment, old woman, I do not accept." Yan Pozi, supported by Jiang Dabo, walked in, her grim face making her look even more harsh, "Elder Brother Jiang Clan Head, you've been clan head for many years; matters should be handled fairly. If Zongbao truly stole from the second branch, not only you, but even I as his grandmother would not spare him. However, everything requires evidence; we cannot rely on one-sided accusations. You say Zongbao is a thief—where is the proof?"

Jiang Clan Head let out a speechless snort: "Sister-in-law, are you blind? Can't you see what your grandson has done?"

Yan Pozi smiled: "I may be old, but my eyes aren't that dim; I only saw the second branch's dog bite someone from the main branch; I didn't notice anything else."

"This is just picking a fight for no reason, isn't it? The Jiang Clan Head is furious."

"Then tell me, why does that dog bite only him and not others? Isn't it because he ran into someone's house to steal?"

Yan Pozi didn't respond further, but gave Jiang Dabo a look.

Jiang Dabo understood the signal, walked over and slapped Jiang Zongbao twice across the face, gnashing his teeth: "How many times have I told you, 'avoid even the appearance of impropriety'—don't go to the second branch unless necessary, lest outsiders say you're trying to get with Jiang Li's wife while he's away, but you never listen! Now look, you're being accused of theft—see if I don't beat you to death, you wretched creature!"

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Jiang Zongbao covered his face, staring blankly at his father: "Dad, I didn't..."

Although he is lecherous, he's not indiscriminate; how could he possibly take a liking to such an ugly woman from the Du clan?

Jiang Dabo didn't give him a chance to explain, and dealt another heavy slap, splitting the corner of his mouth.

"What do you mean, 'nothing'? Remember this lesson: next time stay farther away from the second branch, especially far from the Du clan—do you hear me?"

A flash of severity passed through Du Ruo's eyes.

As expected, the old ginger is still spicy; Yan Pozi and Jiang Dabo deliberately used this tactic of diverting blame, splashing dirty water on her to shift attention.

Who in the village doesn't know that Jiang Zongbao likes to play with women, disregarding propriety, climbing over walls in the dead of night; saying he came for her isn't impossible.

In that case, Du Ruo's reputation would be completely ruined.

A scandal of this sort is far more interesting than mere theft; the crowd immediately began to buzz, everyone chattering.

Most people don't believe it, but that doesn't stop them from enjoying the spectacle.

Jiang Cheng grew anxious and shouted: "Uncle, you ought to speak with conscience—my elder brother clearly came to steal, and has nothing to do with my sister-in-law!"

Cao Shi finally wised up, realizing that her mother-in-law and husband were putting on a double act to get the theft accusation off her son's head, and she immediately perked up.

"Hey, does stealing a person count as stealing goods?" she said triumphantly.

The youth instantly flew into a rage: "You!"

Seeing that words wouldn't settle it, Du Ruo furrowed her brows; just then, her skirt hem was tugged.

It was Tie Dan, the dog, with a bun clenched in its mouth.

Du Ruo had never made buns at home; where did this bun come from?

A flash of inspiration crossed her mind; Du Ruo's eyes lit up, and she immediately summoned the system to have it analyze the bun's ingredients.

"A meat bun laced with rat poison." The system gave the conclusion in one sentence.

So that's it.

Afraid the dog would cause trouble, they wanted to poison it first to clear the way.

Du Ruo sneered: "Fine, you like rat poison, then let you taste it too!"

"Uncle, since you say my cousin didn't come to steal, then I'd like to ask him what this is." Du Ruo raised the meat bun in her hand.

Jiang Zongbao's eyes flickered: "This..."

Cao Shi quickly interjected: "It's just a bun, perhaps you like eating it and had Zongbao bring it over for you?"

Even now, they didn't forget to push the blame onto Du Ruo, making it seem as if she had first seduced Jiang Zongbao.

Du Ruo smiled: "You mean it's for me to eat? Fine."

She turned to the Jiang Clan Head and said: "Grandfather Jiang Clan Head, I suspect Jiang Zongbao wants to seize our family's grain and poison me; this bun is the evidence!"

"What? The old man doubts his own hearing."

One could believe Jiang Zongbao capable of theft or philandering, but poisoning... that's impossible.

Jiang Zongbao doesn't have the guts for that.

"Jiang Li's wife, you can't just spout nonsense—murder is a capital offense punishable by beheading."

"Whether it's nonsense or not, we'll find out by trying it."

Du Ruo held the bun before Jiang Zongbao's eyes and said calmly: "Cousin, if you eat it now, I'll admit I invited you here and that you didn't steal anything. Moreover, I'll give you all our family's grain and some silver as well—how about it? Do you dare?"

Jiang Zongbao certainly didn't dare.

Inside was the rat poison he himself had placed, a deadly lethal dose—eating even a single bite could be fatal.

His face turned deathly pale as he shook his head frantically: "No, I don't want it..."

Du Ruo said: "You don't dare?"

Jiang Zongbao didn't make a sound.

Jiang Clan Head saw the clue, tapped his cane on the ground, and called two men from the clan over.

"Hold him down, let him eat!"

The two burly men, without a word, stepped forward like grabbing chicks, one pinned Jiang Zongbao's hands and feet, the other pinched his jaw, then took the bun and was about to shove it into his mouth.

Jiang Zongbao struggled desperately, his pupils dilated.

No, he doesn't want to die...

Help...

Unfortunately, his jaw was locked, and he could only utter whimpers.

Seeing this, Yan Pozi and Jiang Dabo's faces changed drastically.

Cao Shi was terrified out of her wits, could bear it no longer, and wailed: "Don't make my son eat poisonous buns! We admit it! We admit it! We came to steal things! The buns are for drugging dogs!"