Berserk God of War

18: Chapter 018: Return Tenfold 18: Chapter 018: Return Tenfold Mei Xiaofang’s expression froze upon hearing the words, and the silk she was holding was immediately snatched away by a male house servant.

“Ah!”

Taken aback, Mei Xiaofang fell forward due to the excessive strength of the man, right in the direction of a female house servant.

However, the latter just sneered and stepped aside without hesitation.

Just as Mei Xiaofang was about to fall, a strong arm supported her—it was Sikong Jing.

Then, he handed his mother-in-law over to Su Yuexi behind him, glared around at the house servants with his eyes wide and, clenching his fist, he scowled at the male house servant, “Return the item.”

His voice was cold and domineering.

The male house servant felt as though he had been targeted by a ferocious beast and subconsciously took a step back.

But the female house servant was not intimidated and shouted, “Why should we return it?

Mei Xiaofang owes us half a month’s wages.

Why should we give anything back?”

Emboldened by her words, the male house servant said with full confidence, “That’s right, owning debts and still acting righteous?”

The other house servants behind them started to speak up as well.

“Lady Su wants to starve us to death.

What’s wrong with taking a little something from her?”

“This is what we’re owed anyways.”

As person after person began to speak, the servants felt their numbers gave them an advantage and they were no longer intimidated by Sikong Jing’s assertiveness.

At that moment, Mei Xiaofang’s voice rose from behind Sikong Jing, “It’s wrong of me to owe you wages, but who robs outright?

And it’s only been half a month!”

Supported by Su Yuexi, Mei Xiaofang, with a pale face, came forward.

“Half a month isn’t long enough?” The male house servant sneered, playing with the silk in his hand: “And given your current situation, even delaying for a day is unacceptable.

Who knows how much longer you’ll survive?”

The female house servant was also vicious with her words: “You, Mei Xiaofang, are nothing but a shrew, a deadbeat debtor.”

Suddenly, Mei Xiaofang’s eyes reddened.

As Lady Su, when had she ever been so insulted?

Being called a deadbeat debtor, she had never defaulted on wages before.

This was the first time.

Su Yuexi could not help but urgently say, “Aunt Li, my mother has always treated you well.

Is there really a need to be so harsh?”

These servants had all been with them since her father’s glory days.

Even after they had fallen on hard times, her mother had never treated them poorly.

Twenty years of faithfulness rewarded with being called a shrew and a debtor.

Especially the female house servant Aunt Li, who was her mother’s bridal maid.

But what Su Yuexi got in response to her words was the cold laughter of all the servants, with Aunt Li narrowing her eyes and saying spitefully, “I don’t care.

The wages you owe us must be repaid, and right away.”

Su Yuexi opened her mouth but closed it again.

Being in debt was indeed being in the wrong, and she did not know what to do.

That’s when Mei Xiaofang gave a wry smile: “I understand.

Once the Su Residence’s stipend comes in tomorrow, I will pay everything we owe you.”

Her spirit shook; her mother must have been deeply hurt.

Aunt Li and the others were too cold-hearted.

Sigh, the stipend from the Su Residence was already meager.

It was getting less each year, and the reason the wages couldn’t be paid was that the stipend had been cut in half again over the last two months.

Her mother had intended to delay for a while, waiting to pay the servants after distributing red packets at Grandfather’s birthday banquet in ten days.

She had always believed the servants would understand their hardship.

But after just half a month, they were pressuring her and even trying to take their things by force.

“The Su Residence’s stipend?

Are you dreaming, Mei Xiaofang?

What stipend do you still think you have?” Aunt Li scoffed repeatedly.

Stunned, Mei Xiaofang asked blankly, “What do you mean?”

Despite how little the stipend was, despite being looked down upon by that old ungrateful Su Xuefeng, it was still something they had.

“Oh, it seems you’re not aware?”

“Old Master Su has already ordered to cut off all financial support to your family, not even a copper coin.”

Wham!

As Aunt Li’s words settled, Mei Xiaofang’s head buzzed incessantly.

With the stipend cut off, what would their family eat from now on?

“How can this be?

Could it be that Zhenglong’s efforts to raise Su Family into one of Yunye City’s Four Great Families are not even worth a few copper coins?” Mei Xiaofang’s shrill cry rang out.

Twenty years ago, Su Family was just a second-rate family in Yunye City; it was built up single-handedly by Su Zhenglong.

Withholding the allowance was like taking Su Zhenglong’s life, for he still needed to buy medicine to preserve it.

“In any case, pay back the money, or don’t blame us for emptying your home.”

Aunt Li’s face twisted as she yelled, and all the house servants took a step forward, looking eager to start.

Mei Xiaofang then said in a tone of agony, “I’ve given you quite a lot in the past, are those not enough to cover half a month’s wage?”

More than enough, enough for ten years even.

But Aunt Li wouldn’t let it go, scoffing, “The gifts were your choice, I never asked for them.”

Smack!

Suddenly, a crisp sound arose from Aunt Li’s face.

At the same time, Sikong Jing’s figure stepped forward, commanding authoritatively, “Return everything.”

Aunt Li covered her face in shock and anger.

But in the next instant, she let out a piercing scream, “Assault!

Master Su’s family owes money and now they assault people!

Is there no justice in this world?

We’ve given our whole lives to the Su Residence!”

As she screamed, footsteps approached, and servants dressed in household garb appeared at the entrance of the courtyard.

Su Yuexi once said that this was the old Su Family house, and the surrounding area was inhabited by the servants of the Su residence.

“Ali, what happened?” someone asked.

Aunt Li angrily pointed at Mei Xiaofang, “We were kneeling, begging for the wages they owe us, and then this shrew, Mei Xiaofang, ordered her criminal son-in-law to hit me!

I was so blind to have followed her all these years, boo hoo hoo…”

Such blatant distortion of the truth nearly caused Mei Xiaofang to faint from anger.

They weren’t begging, they were clearly coercing and robbing.

Even Sikong Jing was dumbfounded.

With rage burning in his heart, he stepped forward and slapped Aunt Li’s face again.

This time, everyone saw it clearly, the watching servants stepped back, and then they started whispering among themselves.

“That’s inhumane, owing money and assaulting people, they’ll be cursed by the heavens.”

“We’re just house servants, we probably don’t even count as human beings in their eyes, do we?”

“Go to the Su Family Law Enforcement Hall and lodge a complaint with Second Young Master Su…”

Amidst the various voices, dozens of house servants verbally attacked Mei Xiaofang and Su Yuexi.

And Sikong Jing, unable to bear it any longer, took a firm step forward.

“Criminal, stop right there!”

Mei Xiaofang suddenly screamed, “You can’t hit her anymore, do you want to roast me on the flames?”

She was driven mad with anger too and wished she could beat Aunt Li to death, but she couldn’t…

Otherwise, her entire family would be drowned in spit.

With Aunt Li’s ability to twist the truth, any more violence would turn her family into public enemies of the Su Residence, leaving them with no way out.

However, Sikong Jing paused in his step but continued forward, lifted Aunt Li by the collar, and said, “The first slap was for your ingratitude and maltreating your superiors, the second for your distortion of the truth, the third for kicking us while we’re down.”

Smack!

The third slap sent Aunt Li flying, and Sikong Jing then stated coldly, “The half month’s wages you’re owed, we never said we wouldn’t pay.

Come find me in three days to collect, and I’ll return it tenfold.”

“Now, get out, all of you, or face death!” Sikong Jing’s furious gaze swept over them, he was radiating a murderous intent.