They Volunteered to Let Me Help

Sun Shi vividly recounted how she had quarreled with Auntie Hua, embellishing the story for Su Li, implying that the Hua family held a grudge against her and wanted to trip her up.

"That Hua family must be jealous that our Li has money and wants to drive a wedge between Li and her Third Uncle's family. We mustn't be fooled!" Sun Shi acted affectionate, sitting beside Su Li, holding her hand with a flattering smile: "Li, you know how much Third Uncle cares for you, right? He's honest and wouldn't do bad things, don't you agree?"

In the adjacent room, Uncle Hua and Auntie Hua strained their ears, hearing every bad word Sun Shi said about them.

Auntie Hua wiped her tears angrily, and Uncle Hua's face darkened. Both were anxious, fearing Su Li would side with her relatives and believe Sun Shi's words.

If Su Li turned around and sold them out to Sun Shi, with her temper, they probably wouldn't even keep their remaining land.

In the hall, Su Li looked coldly at Sun Shi: "Third Uncle is honest and kind; he wouldn't do something like forcibly taking others' land. But as for Third Aunt, well..."

Su Li paused, frowned, and nodded to Qing Mu.

Qing Mu understood immediately and called in two maids and two young servants from outside.

"Third Uncle, Third Aunt, Shi Rong, today I invite you to watch a little play," Su Li smiled faintly, calmly pulling her arm out of Sun Shi's grasp and said to Qing Mu, "Qing Mu, let's begin."

Then one young servant played a vegetable seller, and a maid played the vegetable seller's young wife. They began bargaining with Qing Mu.

Qing Mu pinched his throat and imitated a woman's voice.

Su Sanyun watched with a puzzled face, while Sun Shi's expression grew worse and worse. By the end, cold sweat dripped from her forehead, large beads rolling down her cheeks, her body trembling uncontrollably.

The play clearly depicted the scene of her and the Hua couple fighting over business. Even the dialogue was almost exactly the same as theirs, performed by Su Li's servant!

After the play, Qing Mu dismissed the servant and maid, standing quietly and cupping his hands: "The play is over."

Su Sanyun and his son lowered their heads, looking thoughtful. Sun Shi appeared restless and extremely guilty.

She hadn't expected Su Li to know everything!

Su Li nodded and said to Sun Shi, "Third Aunt, what do you think of this play?"

Sun Shi wiped the sweat from her forehead and forced a smile: "It's, it's okay."

"Then, Third Aunt, explain to me what that play was about," Su Li stared at Sun Shi.

Sun Shi felt as if that gaze could see through everything, exposing her greedy little thoughts with nowhere to hide.

"I, Li, this..." Sun Shi's eyes darted around, then she boldly twisted the truth: "You don't know the full story. Actually, the Hua couple asked me to help them sell vegetables. They didn't have enough hands, but they occupied such a large area and couldn't deliver all the vegetables. They were afraid the customers would be unhappy, so they begged me to help. Our business was already busy, but since we're neighbors, I reluctantly agreed and even brought my maternal cousin to help. I'm helping out neighbors, not forcibly taking their land. Li, if you don't believe me, you can ask the Hua couple tomorrow. They know best; it was their idea to have me help sell vegetables!"

Sun Shi quickly calculated that it was already dark outside and most villagers were asleep. Su Li probably wouldn't drag the Hua couple out of bed for such a small matter. She planned to visit the Hua family later to scare them into giving a consistent statement. Tomorrow, when Su Li questioned them, they could brush off the matter smoothly.