Tenfold Payback

Mei Xiaofang's expression stiffened at his words, and the male servant immediately snatched the silk from her hands.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, Mei Xiaofang stumbled forward when he yanked too hard, heading straight toward the female servant. But the woman merely sneered and moved aside without hesitation.

Just as Mei Xiaofang was about to fall, a strong arm caught her. It was Sikong Jing.

Then he passed his mother-in-law to Su Yuexi behind him and glared at the servants around them. Clenching his fists, Sikong Jing turned his furious gaze on the male servant. "Give it back."

His voice was cold and domineering. The male servant suddenly felt as though a ferocious beast had fixed its gaze on him and instinctively took a step back.

But the female servant wasn't afraid. She cried out, "What gives you the right? Mei Xiaofang owes us half a month's wages. Why should we give it back?"

Her outburst emboldened the male servant. "Exactly! You owe us money and still have the nerve to complain?"

The other servants behind them chimed in one after another.

"Madam Su is trying to starve us to death. What's wrong with taking a few things from her?"

"This is what we're owed."

As more and more of them spoke up, the servants felt they had strength in numbers and stopped fearing Sikong Jing's imposing manner.

Just then, Mei Xiaofang's voice sounded from behind Sikong Jing. "It's wrong of me to owe you wages, but how can you just rob us? And it's only been half a month!"

With Su Yuexi supporting her, Mei Xiaofang walked out, her face pale.

"Half a month isn't long enough?" The male servant rubbed the silk in his hands and sneered. "Besides, given your situation, even one day's delay is too much. Who knows how much longer you'll live?"

The female servant joined in with vicious insults. "You're nothing but a shrew, Mei Xiaofang, a deadbeat who won't pay her debts."

Mei Xiaofang's eyes reddened at once. When had the First Madam of the Su Clan ever been insulted like this?

They were calling her a deadbeat, too. She had never once withheld their wages before. This was the first time.

Su Yuexi couldn't help speaking up urgently. "Aunt Li, my mother has always treated you well. Is there any need to be so cruel?"

These servants had all been with her father back when he was successful.

Even after the family fell on hard times, her mother had never mistreated them. Twenty whole years, and all they had earned in return was the label of shrew and deadbeat.

Aunt Li in particular had been her mother's dowry maid.

But Su Yuexi's words only drew sneers from the servants. Aunt Li narrowed her eyes and snapped, "I don't care. You owe us wages, and you have to pay us back. Right now."

Su Yuexi opened her mouth, then closed it again. They were in the wrong for owing money, and she didn't know what to do.

At that moment, Mei Xiaofang gave a bitter smile. "I understand. When the allowance from Su Mansion arrives tomorrow, I'll settle everything you're owed."

Mei Xiaofang trembled. Her mother must have been deeply hurt. Aunt Li and the others had truly chilled her to the bone.

Alas, the allowance from Su Mansion was already meager.

It had dwindled year after year, and the reason they couldn't pay the wages was that their allowance had been cut in half again over the past two months.

Her mother had planned to put them off for a little while and settle the wages after the red envelopes were handed out at Grandfather Su's birthday banquet ten days from now. She had always believed the servants would understand their predicament.

Yet after only half a month, they were already pressuring her and even trying to rob them.

"The allowance from Su Mansion? Mei Xiaofang, are you dreaming? What allowance do you think you can still collect?" Aunt Li sneered repeatedly.

Mei Xiaofang froze, then asked in bewilderment, "What do you mean?"

The allowance was small, and Su Xuefeng, that old bastard, had never thought much of her. But they still received one.

"Huh? You really didn't know?"

"Grandfather Su has already ordered that all financial support to your family be cut off. You won't get a single copper coin."

Mei Xiaofang's mind rang as Aunt Li's words landed. Their allowance had been cut off—what would her family live on from now on?

"How could he do this? Does Zheng Long's achievement of leading the Su Clan to become one of Yunye City's four great clans count for less than a few copper coins?" Mei Xiaofang cried out in anguish.

Twenty years ago, the Su Clan had been only a second-rate family in Yunye City. Su Zhenglong had built it up with his own hands.

Cutting off the allowance was as good as taking Su Zhenglong's life. He still needed to buy medicine to keep himself alive.

"Enough. Pay us back, or don't blame us for clearing out your home."

Aunt Li shouted, her face twisted with rage. All the servants stepped forward, looking ready to pounce.

Mei Xiaofang gave another bitter smile. "I used to reward you with plenty of things. Does none of that count toward half a month's wages?"

It counted for more than enough—enough to cover ten years' wages.

But Aunt Li was determined to press her advantage. She sneered, "You gave those things willingly. I never begged you for them."

Smack!

A sharp crack suddenly rang out across Aunt Li's face.

At the same time, Sikong Jing stepped forward and repeated in a commanding voice, "Give it back."

Aunt Li covered her cheek, furious and shocked.

But the next instant, she let out a shriek. "Help! They hit me! The First Master of the Su Clan's family owes us money and still hits people! Is there any justice? We've devoted our whole lives to Su Mansion!"

Her scream drew the sound of approaching footsteps. Servants began appearing at the courtyard gate from all around.

Su Yuexi had said this was the Su Clan's old residence, and the people living nearby were all servants of Su Mansion.

"Ali, what happened?" someone asked.

Aunt Li pointed furiously at Mei Xiaofang. "We got down on our knees and begged her to pay the wages she owes us, and then that shrew Mei Xiaofang sent her criminal son-in-law to beat me! I've wasted all these years serving her! Wuwuwu..."

Her outrageous distortion of the truth nearly made Mei Xiaofang faint with anger.

They hadn't begged on their knees. They had clearly been pressuring her and trying to rob her.

Even Sikong Jing was left dumbfounded.

His fury surged. He stepped forward and slapped Aunt Li across the face again.

This time, everyone saw it clearly. The onlooking servants took a step back, then began pointing and whispering.

"What a bunch of heartless people. They owe money and still hit people. Heaven will punish them."

"We're only servants. To them, we probably don't even count as people."

"Go to the Su Clan Enforcement Hall and report this to Second Master Su..."

Amid the clamor, dozens of servants denounced Mei Xiaofang and Su Yuexi.

Sikong Jing could bear it no longer. He took another heavy step forward.

"Criminal, stop right there!"

Mei Xiaofang suddenly shrieked, "You can't hit her again! Are you trying to put me on the fire and roast me?"

She was furious, too, and desperately wanted to beat Aunt Li to death. But she couldn't...

Otherwise, her whole family would be drowned in a sea of accusations.

With Aunt Li's talent for twisting the truth, if he kept hitting her, the whole family might become enemies of Su Mansion. Then they'd have no way to survive.

But Sikong Jing paused only briefly before charging forward anyway. He grabbed Aunt Li and said, "The first slap was for your ingratitude and for a servant daring to bully her master. The second was for twisting the truth. The third is for kicking us while we're down."

Smack!

The third slap sent Aunt Li flying. Sikong Jing's voice turned cold. "We never said we wouldn't pay you the half month's wages. Come find me in three days to collect. We'll pay you back tenfold."

"Now get out, all of you. Otherwise, you die!" Sikong Jing swept his furious gaze over them, his killing intent surging sky-high.