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Chapter 412: Chapter 415 The Greatest Benefit_1
"It’s the Tan Family that deserves retribution, not me!" Widow Xu cried out. "You killed my child, slandered me for adultery, and nearly beat me to death. Are all these things I’ve said fabrications?"
Widow Xu took a sorrowful stance, tears falling like pearls off a broken string.
Her younger sister consoled her, "Sis, don’t cry. We’re all here for you, no one will dare to bully you."
Whilst speaking, she cast a glance at Qiao Duo’er.
As a mother herself, she had endured the pain of losing a child and sympathized even more with Widow Xu.
Qiao Duo’er, impatient, said, "Whoever caused the death of the child knows it in their heart, and if you committed adultery, you know it yourself. As for being beaten, take it up with the person who beat you. These things have nothing to do with us. If you continue to harass us without reason, don’t blame me for being rude."
Having said that, she pulled Tan Zhenghong and headed outside. If the matter couldn’t be cleared up, she wouldn’t mind settling it with her fists.
The Cao Family had the numbers, but they were no match for her and Tan Zhenghong.
"Hold on!"
Cao Changgeng extended his hand to block their path.
Tan Zhenghong coldly replied, "My wife has made it very clear. Whoever has wronged your sister should be the one you seek."
"You misunderstand. I just want to clarify things. Third Boss, Fourth Boss, go bring Tan Zhengyuan here," Cao Changgeng signaled his two younger brothers with a look, and they immediately went to do so.
Qiao Duo’er clapped her hands and brought two small stools from inside the house.
She sat down, ready to watch the drama unfold, thinking it a fair trade to clear her own name in the process.
Before long, Tan Zhengyuan was dragged out.
Li Clan stirred up trouble fearlessly, "Big brother, it wasn’t Fourth Boss’s child that Widow Xu bore; do you expect him to take the fall for you?"
"Shut up! Go inside and take care of the child!" Wang Clan glared at Li Clan.
How could she have the energy to gossip when she has a son constantly ill?
Li Clan said sarcastically, "It’s always nice to be a man. Even at the worst of times, there’s still a mother to shield you. Unlike women, once they’re in their husband’s home, they become nothing but beasts of burden."
Wang Clan gritted her teeth in anger, but thankfully Xiao Fu began to cry just in time, preventing Li Clan from spouting more nonsense.
Cao Changgeng, with a darkened face, queried, "What’s this about you and my sister?"
"My father said whoever bears a son would get an extra twenty taels. She coveted the silver, seduced me, and claimed she could bear me a son," Tan Zhengyuan stated, even fabricating a lie about a prophecy of having a noble child.
Xu Changgeng then asked, "Did you hit her?"
"I’m not to blame for that. She herself committed adultery in the third month and lost the child. She didn’t even know if the child was mine. Even if I had beaten her to death, it would have been justified," Tan Zhengyuan stuttered through his account, managing to finish despite tripping over his words.
"Brother, he’s lying! He forced himself into my yard and took advantage of me. Only after I discovered I was pregnant did I reluctantly accept him. He didn’t care about our child during the first three months, and when the baby was lost, he beat me. I’m still not fully healed, but he made me work..."
Widow Xu tearfully recounted her ordeals, some of which she fabricated, while the aftermath of the miscarriage was undeniably true. At the heart-wrenching parts, she was overwhelmed with sobs.
Like when Tan Zhengyuan kicked her to the ground or when he seized her land deed and private savings of silver.
Although Cao Changgeng resented his sister’s lack of propriety, he was very clear about where to draw the line.
There was fault on both sides in this affair, but neither had evidence, nor could either recount a clear version of events.
In such a case, he had to secure the greatest benefit for his sister.
