Only now did Ms. Zhu remember that all the family’s belongings were in that room!

"My money, my money... my money! Somebody come, put out the fire... put out the fire!"

The remaining thugs desperately tried to put out the fire, but the raging flames couldn’t be stopped.

Everyone watched helplessly as that room was turned to ashes!

Ms. Zhu squatted on the ground, looking ashen-faced, and, like Gao Tiezhu, her eyes were devoid of any spirit!

It’s over, all over...

The money is gone...

The IOUs are gone...

The chickens are gone, the pigs are gone...

In Gao Tiezhu’s courtyard, the atmosphere was utterly gloomy, but outside, people were celebrating with exuberance.

Someone said that all the IOUs and account books of Gao Tiezhu’s family were burned.

Those who owed money to his family wouldn’t need to repay it...

Women with debts could be relieved, no one would force them to sell their daughters again!

Everyone went wild, jumping and cheering, forming a sharp contrast with Gao Tiezhu’s household!

Mu Shuangshuang, Lu Yuanfeng, and Xing Beichen hid in the shadows for two whole hours. Once they confirmed that the fire wouldn’t spread to other houses or hurt anyone, the three of them left Gao Village!

Everyone let out a sigh of relief on this trip.

"Haha, this is the first time I find it so fun to punish someone!" Xing Beichen was the first to laugh out loud.

It was clear that he was very satisfied with the outcome.

"Shuangshuang, Fengzi, did you see the expression on Gao Tiezhu and Ms. Zhu’s faces? I almost laughed out loud!" Xing Beichen continued.

"Even though I had to pretend to be a Taoist and deceive people, although the setup took a long time, the result was good!"

Lu Yuanfeng nodded: "Indeed, not only did we teach Gao Tiezhu a lesson, but we also prevented many decent women from falling into misfortune!"

"What misfortune? By the way, Fengzi, what did you and Shuangshuang see inside? Did you find the money?" Xing Beichen asked.

Mu Shuangshuang nodded.

"Five hundred taels, I plan to use some to do good deeds in the town, and the rest to take to the barracks for you and Fengzi. Whether it’s buying food supplies or winter clothes for the soldiers, it’s all fine. Of course, you can take your share from it!"

Mu Shuangshuang didn’t force Xing Beichen to do the same as her.

But Xing Beichen wasn’t greedy for money either.

He shook his head directly: "No need to leave any for me. It’s better to use it in the barracks. After all, it’s ill-gotten gains!"

The three of them discussed how to use the money.

Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng also told Xing Beichen about the IOUs they saw inside and their contents.

Upon hearing all that Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng described, Xing Beichen’s face instantly darkened!

Originally, Xing Beichen was the kind of refined gentleman, not with stunning looks, but his temperament was always gentle.

But now, his gentleness was replaced by hatred and resentment.

"That scoundrel, he actually did so many bad deeds. If I had known... if I had known, we should have killed him!"

"We’ve done enough. Let’s leave the rest for heaven to handle!" Mu Shuangshuang said.

"Shuangshuang, will you let your grandfather and grandmother repay the fifty taels of silver they borrowed?" Xing Beichen suddenly asked.

"I won’t interfere with this. If my grandfather maintains his integrity, he should repay it. After all, he genuinely borrowed fifty taels of silver!

Of course, if he doesn’t repay, it’s okay. But this matter did benefit my fifth uncle; he doesn’t have to marry Gao Cuihua!"

Mu Shuangshuang shrugged helplessly.

To be honest, she actually hoped her fifth uncle would marry Gao Cuihua.

That Gao Cuihua is not easy to deal with. If she married into the Old Mu Family, she definitely wouldn’t let her grandmother have an easy time.

In this way, the Old Mu Family would surely have a good show to watch!

"Haha, actually, making your fifth uncle marry Gao Cuihua isn’t so difficult. Just let them consummate the marriage!" Xing Beichen interjected again with nonsense.

Mu Shuangshuang shook her head, "How is that possible? You don’t understand my fifth uncle; he has nothing himself, but his standards for finding women aren’t low, especially for a wife.

The women in our village involved with him either have a figure or looks, and Gao Cuihua is simply not in consideration!"

Xing Beichen said nothing, but instead smiled mysteriously!

The three sat in the carriage, this time speeding along.

When they reached Er Gui Village, it was already the first crow of the rooster!

...

The news of Gao Tiezhu’s incident spread throughout the entire area by noon the next day!

Everyone said that Gao Tiezhu had done too many bad deeds, so he was punished.

God even sent a Taoist to enlighten him, but unfortunately, he didn’t grasp it well, not only offending the Daoist, but also burning his own house down to ruins.

Some who borrowed money from Gao Tiezhu, knowing that their IOUs and account books were burned, quickly went home to burn their own IOUs.

Thus, all old debts vanished completely.

The people of the Old Mu Family, upon receiving the news, were particularly happy.

Especially Mu Danian, lying on the kang.

He didn’t have to marry that ugly woman, and he didn’t have to repay the money!

But the pain throughout his body still led Mu Danian to curse Mu Dashan out loud.

"Damn thing, to hit so hard, better not fall into my hands!"

After cursing, Mu Danian recalled Chen Hong who left him at the critical moment—

Mu Danian vowed that once he achieved great things, he’d make them pay!

In the back courtyard, the Old Mu Family wasn’t as lively as everyone expected.

Old Mrs. Mu was injured, lying on the kang.

Mrs. Lin ran away and hadn’t returned. Mu Dazhong was mining!

None of the chatterboxes were around, so how could the Old Mu Family be lively?

In the yard, Mr. Mu sat by the courtyard, smoking his dry tobacco on and off!

Mr. Mu always felt that the Old Mu Family was getting worse day by day!

Who knows when it will collapse!

In contrast, the third branch, separated from the Old Mu Family, was getting better...

A while later, Mr. Mu finished a pipe of tobacco, and just as he prepared to smoke the second pipe.

The back courtyard door suddenly crashed open—

Mu Dajiang rushed into the yard, without even catching his breath, he hurriedly said, "Dad... Big Brother... Big Brother... is back!"

"What?" Mr. Mu stood up abruptly.

Staring at Mu Dajiang with a face full of shock.

"Old Four, what did you say? Who’s back?"

"Big Brother, Big Brother is back. His carriage is at the village entrance, handing out wedding candy to the villagers!"

Mu Dajiang calmed his breath and told what he knew in one breath.

In an instant, Mr. Mu’s eyes filled with tears.

"He’s back... he’s back, my son is back!" Mr. Mu murmured.

Because of the excitement, he almost lost his footing.

Fortunately, Mu Dajiang supported him in time, preventing him from falling.

"Quickly, Old Four, take me to the village entrance. I want to see the eldest!"