Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 18: The Tooth Woman Comes Calling

Just at that moment, an old-fashioned carriage approached and stopped at the entrance of Qiao Hai’s courtyard.

The coachman immediately set down the footstool, and then out stepped a plump woman in her forties, wearing a deep purple gauze skirt.

She walked to the door, twisting a silk handkerchief in her hands, and shrilled, "Yo! Granny Cao, why is your house so lively?"

As soon as she spoke, Old Mrs. Cao felt her heart skip a beat, oh no.

She walked past the group of rugged men, disdainfully using the handkerchief to cover her nose, and stood in front of Granny Cao. She took out a pouch from her bosom and extended it, "The money is all here, bring out your granddaughter!"

Someone who recognized her immediately shouted, "Isn’t this the famous Granny Liu from our town, specializing in this kind of trade? I heard that any girl with a bit of beauty who falls into her hands ends up in the brothel."

"Yes, yes! I heard that a little girl from Lin Family Village was sold last time."

"Looks like the rumors are true; Granny Cao is really going to sell her granddaughter."

The crowd began to buzz, and the scene quickly became noisy.

Granny Cao looked utterly shocked!

"You, you, weren’t you supposed to come tomorrow?"

Granny Liu looked baffled, "Wasn’t it you who sent someone to inform me to come today?"

"I, I didn’t, I didn’t do that." Granny Cao was flustered, not knowing what to say; something seemed off, but she couldn’t pinpoint what.

"Whether it’s today or tomorrow, it’s all the same. Take the silver and bring out the person. I don’t have all day to waste here," Granny Liu said impatiently.

The village chief was in disbelief; he had previously wanted to defend this person since she was from Qiao Village, but now there was both testimony and evidence.

"Qiao Village folks, see for yourselves, we’re not falsely accusing her, look! She’s indeed trying to sell my niece," Cheng Qiang said loudly.

Cheng Rong and Cheng Hao stepped forward, blocking the temporary room where their aunt was sheltered. Previously, Qiao Dalan had been locked in the west room but had been released, and the mother and daughter were in the room with Doctor Huang doing his utmost to save Qiao Chudong.

Seeing this, Granny Liu understood that today’s deal might not be easy! "Old Mrs. Cao, can’t you decide over your granddaughter? You did accept the deposit and put your fingerprint on the agreement." She said as she pulled out a document.

Caught in this situation, Granny Cao dared not admit it, though the fingerprint was undeniably hers. She was at a loss for words and stammered, "Sister, see if you won’t buy my granddaughter. I’ll return the deposit to you."

She then took out two taels of silver from her pocket, trembling as she handed it to Granny Liu.

Granny Liu laughed angrily, "Old Mrs. Cao, you say yes and it’s sold, no and it’s not? You’ve got some nerve. I’m telling you, I must take the person today. If you stop me, you’ll be getting a beating." She raised her hand, and two strong men entered, each holding a long stick.

She had been in this business for years, met all sorts of people, and those who dared to toy with her were long gone.

Seeing the situation, this Granny Liu was no easy opponent! Cheng Xiaoxiao pondered.

Granny Cao looked at the village chief, "Village chief, see, it’s not the old woman wanting to sell. See, there’s no way out, right?" At the sight of the two strong men, her legs went weak, and she dared not act tough.

"I don’t care about your grudges. My black-and-white agreement is crystal clear. I’m taking the person, and how you resolve it afterward is none of my business."

She was about to take the person.

"Dare you!" Several men from the Cheng Family stepped forward to block the entrance, and the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

Cheng Xiaoxiao took a step forward, standing between the two sides, and said, word by word, "As I understand, human trade requires mutual consent from both parties, right? Since the seller doesn’t consent now, your forced buying and selling is illegal, and we can report you to the government office."

Granny Liu sneered; she had connections and wouldn’t be afraid of this bunch of mud-legs, "I don’t care whether she agrees or not. Granny Cao is her grandmother and has the right to decide for her."

Cheng Xiaoxiao remained unafraid and continued, "The Qiao Family caused my aunt’s death, and now they’re potentially murderers. Do you think murderers can make decisions?"

"Do you know why so many of us are here? They harmed my aunt, and we’re about to settle this matter privately. If you insist on taking the person, we don’t mind escalating the issue a bit more."

"Do you think the two men you brought can beat over twenty men from Qingshan Village?" Saying this, she scanned their group.

A group of men took half a step forward, tightening their grips on various farming ’weapons,’ ready to fight.

Granny Liu saw the situation was unfavorable and was still considering whether this deal was worth it, facing potential embarrassment and high costs.

Seeing Granny Liu’s hesitation, Cheng Xiaoxiao pressed a bit more.

"Moreover, our village chief is a scholar; he doesn’t have to kneel before the magistrate. If this goes to court, you might not win since the magistrate is busy with important matters. Do you think he would allow over 200 villagers to cause a ruckus at his government office over such a trivial matter, risking damaging his reputation..."

Granny Liu dared not think of it, though she had connections, and some money greased the county government’s wheels to help her, but damaging the magistrate’s reputation was not something she could afford.

With a cold snort, "What a sharp-tongued girl, I can leave without taking the person, but you’ll have to compensate double."

"It was originally ten taels, now pay me twenty, and I’ll leave immediately."

Granny Cao came to her senses, "No, I don’t have twenty taels, only two. Take it, take it. If you want compensation, ask the Cheng Family; it’s them who won’t let you take the person. It’s not my business."

Cheng Xiaoxiao’s mouth twitched slightly; this old woman passed the blame quickly, but it wouldn’t be so easy.

"Oh! Is that so? You killed my aunt, how about this, we go official then!"

Qiao Hai suddenly got anxious, "Go official for what? She’s not dead yet!"

"My aunt is barely on her last breath; she might not make it through the night. How is that any different from being dead, and your imprisonment is inevitable."

Granny Cao and Qiao Hai were feeling guilty, not willing to go to jail, wasn’t it just about getting a divorce?

Cheng Xiaoxiao looked at Granny Liu, "The money and the contract were taken by Granny Cao. You can ask her for it, but two people going to jail, can they pay you twenty taels?"

Village Chief Qiao came out to mediate, "Twenty taels is too much; even selling both of them wouldn’t be worth that much. How about this, let them pay you five taels, what do you think?"

Granny Liu refused to go along, "Trying to dismiss me with five taels of silver, no way!"

Village Chief Qiao choked, not expecting this so-called toothless granny to show no face, leaving him a bit embarrassed.

"At least ten taels, not a penny less."

The two sides were at a stalemate for a while, and no one dared to speak. Granny Liu grew impatient, "Hurry up and decide, or I can take the person away."