Lily Evans Shows Her Power
"Arthur..." Helen Parker's lips trembled, her face burning with embarrassment. She called out to him softly, clearly lacking confidence.
"Why aren't you going home yet? How long do you plan to keep disgracing yourself here?" Arthur Evans clenched his fists tightly, feeling the contemptuous stares of countless villagers. At this moment, he hated more than ever that he was the son of this shrew.
"I—I was only doing this for you..." Helen Parker glanced weakly at her son. If she weren't desperate to scrape together fifty taels of silver for Arthur Evans's betrothal gift, she wouldn't be obsessed with money-making schemes to the point of madness.
"Enough!" Arthur Evans had reached his limit. His eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was twisted and frightening.
Helen Parker was startled by her son's fury and didn't dare say another word. She hunched her shoulders and dragged Grandma Evans out with her.
But just as they took a few steps, Lily Evans's cold voice rang out: "You hit my mother and think you can just walk away?"
"So we hit her a few times—it's not like we broke her arms or legs. What's the fuss? Are you trying to extort us for medical expenses?" Helen Parker snapped to attention, determined not to give Lily Evans even a single copper coin.
Lily Evans spat in disdain. Extort money? As if everyone was as shameless as them!
Grandma Evans was fuming, her temper flaring. She glared at Margaret Evans and snapped, "So what if I hit you? My son married you, I'm your proper mother-in-law—can't I hit you? Margaret, I'm your mother-in-law. Lily, I'm your grandmother. Even if you cut ties with the Evans family, if I want to beat you, you’d better kneel and take it! You’re lawless, disrespectful—do you have any sense of filial piety left?"
Margaret Evans trembled at Grandma Evans’s shouting. Back home, she’d often been beaten by her mother-in-law. In ancient society, filial piety reigned supreme—a mother-in-law could beat her daughter-in-law as long as it wasn’t fatal, and no one would dare say a word.
But Lily Evans wasn’t about to let it go. Who did Grandma Evans think she was, daring to hit them!?
"Lucky!" Lily Evans whispered a few words into Lucky's ear. Lucky immediately rushed over and grabbed Arthur Evans with one hand.
"What are you doing! You brute!" Arthur Evans was caught off guard by Lily Evans's move and struggled desperately.
But as a frail scholar, Arthur Evans couldn't break free from the strong Lucky, who lifted him up like a chick.
Lily Evans kicked Arthur Evans in the knee, making him fall to his knees. She grabbed his hair with one hand, and with the other, pressed a plum-blossom hairpin against his face.
Arthur Evans turned pale with fright, trembling. His legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground.
"You damned brat, what are you trying to do! Let go of our Arthur!" Grandma Evans screamed when she saw her precious grandson grabbed by Lily Evans.
Helen Parker's face instantly lost all color. "Don’t hurt my Arthur! Lily Evans, if you kill him, you’ll pay with your life!"
Everyone present was stunned by Lily Evans's action. No one expected the gentle-looking Lily Evans to have the nerve to order Lucky to seize someone in public.
"Lily, your grandma and aunt were wrong, but don’t do anything foolish!" The Village Chief grew anxious—if someone died, things would get out of hand!
Wu Caiwei also urged, "Lily, don’t be impulsive! It's not worth ruining yourself over a few scoundrels! Think of your mother—and Lucky!"
Lily Evans swept her gaze over the crowd, her smile as warm as spring—but the chill in her eyes made everyone’s bones ache. She lightly traced Arthur Evans’s face with the hairpin and laughed softly, "I know killing is a crime; I’m not that stupid. Village Chief, you’re knowledgeable—let me ask you: if I don’t kill him, just leave a few shallow cuts on his face, not even touching bone, would the county magistrate bother with such a minor case?"
The Village Chief instantly understood what Lily Evans was getting at and thought, This girl is truly clever!