"Being called a 'fox spirit' is just another way of saying someone's beautiful. These days, if you aren't pretty, who would even bother calling you that? Take you, for example—you’ve probably never been called a fox spirit in your life, how pitiful. But don’t worry, just try to be reborn prettier in your next life. No chance in this lifetime doesn’t mean no chance in the next."
After saying this, she gave Old Lady Liu a once-over, then wrinkled her nose in disdain, as if to say, "You’re ugly, but that’s not your fault."
"Shameless! Absolutely shameless!" Old Lady Liu was furious, pointing a trembling finger at her, stuttering "you—you—you" without managing to form a complete sentence.
A faint glimmer of amusement flashed in Zhou Yueshen's eyes, though his expression remained dark and unreadable. "Since when did the Zhou Family’s affairs require the Liu family’s interference?"
Old Lady Liu’s face flushed red. "I—I didn’t mean it like that."
"Then what did you mean?" Zhou Yueshen pressed.
"I—I just meant..." She scrambled for an excuse before suddenly remembering her original purpose. That little vixen had rattled her so much she’d nearly forgotten why she came.
Regaining some of her composure, she glared at Si Nian and jabbed a finger at her. "She deliberately framed Aunt Liu! How could you be so heartless, Xiao Zhou, letting your Aunt Liu suffer such injustice?"
Zhou Yueshen’s eyes flickered with mockery. "Framed? Then whose belongings were those that fell from her pockets?"
Old Lady Liu immediately retorted, "That must’ve been part of the setup! She probably slipped those things into Aunt Liu’s pockets herself, then set the dogs on her to make it look like she stole them—all to ruin the relationship between the Zhou Family and our Liu family!"
"And Aunt Liu watched you grow up, known you for decades—how could she ever stoop to stealing from the Zhou Family? Someone must’ve planted those things on her!"
She shot a pointed look at Si Nian.
"Fine." Zhou Yueshen nodded, then turned to Zhou Yuehan, who had been peeking from the sidelines. "Little Second, you were home with your brother that day. Tell me what really happened."
Zhou Yuehan shrank back slightly, casting a fearful glance at the two elders before mustering his courage. "Granny Liu promised me treats if I let her in... Then she went into Stepmom’s room and accused me and Brother of stealing, but we didn’t take anything..."
Old Lady Liu choked, stammering, "Y-you can’t trust a child’s word!"
Zhou Yueshen scoffed. "Should I trust outsiders over my own family?"
"If she didn’t steal, why did she run?"
Old Lady Liu was left speechless.
"There—there must be some misunderstanding. Aunt Liu isn’t that kind of person."
"What kind of person she is, you should know better than me," Zhou Yueshen said coldly.
"Before, I gave her fifty a month for groceries and wages. Where did all that money end up? Should we settle the accounts?"
Zhou Yueshen wasn’t a fool. Since Si Nian returned, the children had visibly gained weight.
Yet despite the hefty sum he’d given Aunt Liu every month, they’d been as thin as sticks before.
He’d turned a blind eye to a little embezzlement as long as the kids were cared for.
But Aunt Liu’s greed ran far deeper than that.
The two elders gaped. "Fifty? Not forty?"
Their stunned expressions made it clear they hadn’t known about Aunt Liu’s secret stash.
Realizing the truth, their faces darkened.
That wretched woman! She’d been skimming extra to line her own pockets—probably funneling it back to her worthless relatives!
Ten extra a month meant over a hundred a year.
The thought made Old Lady Liu’s heart ache. She wanted nothing more than to slap her daughter-in-law silly right then.
Ungrateful wretch.
Still, for their grandson’s sake, they couldn’t admit fault. And they refused to believe Si Nian was innocent.
After all, since she came, they hadn’t even gotten their forty.
They had to get the Zhou Family to drop the charges and release Aunt Liu.
Their earlier bravado gone, they adopted a pleading tone.
"Xiao Zhou, your Aunt Liu didn’t mean any harm. Please, for the sake of us two helpless old folks, let this go. We’re family—why make such a scene?"
"Grandpa Liu, Granny Liu, whether it was intentional or not, wrong is wrong. If apologies fixed everything, why would we need the police?"
If they excused this, what would stop her from hurting Si Nian again?
Just because the injury wasn’t severe didn’t make it forgivable.
Zhou Yueshen’s expression remained icy, unmoved by their pleas. Si Nian thought, Good. This man isn’t like those who cave for the sake of appearances.
At least he wouldn’t be easily swayed.
Where did these people get the nerve, acting so entitled just because they were relatives?
Did they not realize Zhou Yueshen himself had called the police?
Si Nian hadn’t even considered reporting it—in this remote village, petty theft was common, and the police might not bother. Too much hassle.
But she hadn’t planned to let Aunt Liu off easy, either.
Still, she’d underestimated their shamelessness.
She’d thought Zhou Yueshen’s stance would make them back down, but instead, they turned on her with venomous glares.
"You’d really choose some woman you’ve known for days over the Liu family?"
Si Nian: "..." Is your family some kind of royalty?
Zhou Yueshen’s voice was low and cold. "Why should I side with outsiders over my own wife? Give me one reason."
Si Nian’s admiration for him skyrocketed.
She nearly clapped. Well said!
The old couple’s faces twisted in fury.
"You—you..." They trembled, pointing at Zhou Yueshen and Si Nian, their expressions alternating between rage and shock.
Zhou Yueshen moved slightly, shielding Si Nian as he guided her past them. "The police will handle this. Take your grievances to them, not here."
With that, the two walked into the Zhou Family’s courtyard without a backward glance.
The elders tried to follow, but the massive guard dog inside rose to its full height—taller than a man—and fixed them with a predatory stare.
Their legs gave out, and they scrambled back.
Seeing they’d been ignored, panic set in.
"What do we do? Zhou Yueshen’s completely bewitched by that Si Nian!" Old Lady Liu fretted.
Grandpa Liu took a slow drag from his pipe, his expression sinister. "Wasn’t Little Zhangqian close with Zhou Tingting? Do they still keep in touch?"
Zhou Tingting was Zhou Yueshen’s younger sister.
After marrying into the city, she rarely visited.
Little Zhangqian was the granddaughter of Old Lady Liu’s cousin. She used to play with Zhou Tingting often.
"I'll go have Little Zhangqian call Zhou Tingting right away and ask for her help in teaching that little vixen... that shameless hussy a proper lesson!"
