In truth, Magistrate Cheng had no right to annul a marriage. Madam Cheng said this deliberately, partly to frighten Madam Su, and partly to let the Su family know that the Jiang family was not to be trifled with.
This tactic proved effective. Upon hearing this, Madam Su turned pale, and her mother was also thoroughly scared.
Madam Cheng waved her hand, "Out of consideration for the Jiang family, I will not pursue this matter further today. If such a thing happens again in the future, your Su family can await a stint in prison! Guards, escort this mother and daughter out!"
Madam Su and Su Lian were driven out of the Cheng residence.
Jiang Wan said to Madam Cheng, "Auntie, I've caused you trouble today."
Madam Cheng smiled, "It was merely a few words exchanged, hardly any trouble."
As she spoke, she glanced at Madam Su again, "Think carefully about what I've said. If you have a brain, you should use it more. You take your maternal family seriously, but do they consider you their own kin?"
"Knowing they have ill intentions yet helping them at every turn is not filial, it's foolish!"
"Have you considered that if I were to help today out of consideration for the Jiang family, and my husband's rivals found out, they could easily lodge a complaint, and neither my husband nor the Jiang family would escape! If it came to that, even death would not absolve you of responsibility!"
Madam Su was so terrified her legs went weak. She was merely a woman from a farming family and understood none of these matters. How could she have known the consequences would be so severe?
Seeing her so frightened, Jiang Wan, fearing she might have a breakdown, quickly stopped Madam Cheng, "Auntie, my sister-in-law is just too soft-hearted. She didn't actually want to come, but was forced. She definitely won't make such a mistake again in the future."
Madam Cheng tapped her forehead, "You, you always protect her!"
After speaking, she turned back to Madam Su, "Tell me yourself, do you deserve Jiang Wan's protection? One side tries their best to protect you, while the other disregards your life or death. Even a fool would know which is more important! Alright, I'll arrange for someone to escort you back to the Jiang family. It's no use for you to be uncomfortable here!"
Jiang Wan quickly said, "Auntie, then I'll head back too."
Madam Cheng was displeased, "What, I spoke to your sister-in-law, and you're unhappy?"
Jiang Wan chuckled, shaking her arm, "How could that be! I'm afraid that if the Su family doesn't get their way with you, they'll go cause trouble for my parents. Auntie knows my parents' temperaments; they'll be lenient with the Su family out of consideration for my sister-in-law, so I need to go back and handle things for them!"
Madam Cheng affectionately stroked her cheek, "You little girl, you're truly a thoughtful little padded jacket. If I had a daughter like you, I'd probably wake up laughing in my dreams at night."
Jiang Wan covered her mouth and laughed, "Auntie's wish will surely come true! I'm just afraid that once Auntie has her own little padded jacket, she won't care about me anymore."
Madam Cheng hugged her, laughing, "Don't worry, even if I have a dozen daughters, I'll still cherish you."
Jiang Wan giggled, "Then I'm relieved. Auntie, I'm going home now. After I've dealt with the troublesome matters, I'll come to play with you again."
Madam Cheng arranged for a carriage to send Jiang Wan and Madam Su back to the Jiang family.
Upon alighting from the carriage, Madam Su saw Chen Yuezhi and Da Lang rushing over with concerned expressions, "Wan Wan, A'luo, why are you returning in a Cheng family carriage? Did the Su family bully you?"
After being lectured by Madam Cheng, Madam Su now faced the solicitous gazes of her mother-in-law and husband. She couldn't hold back any longer.
"Mother, Husband, I am not a good daughter-in-law. I have wronged the Jiang family."
Chen Yuezhi and Da Lang were startled, "Why are you saying such things all of a sudden?"
Seeing Madam Su only crying, Chen Yuezhi quickly looked at Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan pulled Chen Yuezhi aside and explained the entire situation.
"Auntie Cheng's words were a bit harsh when she was lecturing her, so my sister-in-law is feeling upset. However, I think Auntie Cheng made quite a valid point. My sister-in-law is indeed sometimes unclear in her thinking. I hope she truly takes Auntie Cheng's words to heart and doesn't make foolish mistakes for the Su family again."
Chen Yuezhi felt grateful to Madam Cheng. After all, those were words she found difficult to say herself, and saying them might have caused resentment in Madam Su. Madam Cheng's willingness to play the villain and speak these words had been a great help.
"I'll send some food to your Auntie Cheng later to thank her for her help today."
Jiang Wan nodded, "Mother, shall we go to the Su family to get the carriage back!"
Rather than waiting for the Su family to come and disgust them, it was better to take the initiative and ensure the Su family would never dare to eye their family again!
Besides, the carriage was needed for the elder brother to get to school; it had to be retrieved!
Chen Yuezhi thought this made sense, so she called for Jiang Pan, Er Lang, and San Lang, and the family of several drove a carriage to the Su family.
The reason Da Lang wasn't included was twofold: he needed to stay to comfort Madam Su, and as the son-in-law of the Su family, it was somewhat inappropriate for him to demand things from them.
The Jiang family drove their carriage to the Su family's dwelling, where a commotion was already underway.
Madam Su and Su Lian were so terrified that after returning, they collapsed in the shed and couldn't get up. Madam Tian and her sisters-in-law, knowing the matter hadn't been resolved, were crying and scolding. They had been agitated all night and morning, yet gained nothing, so it was only natural for them to be angry.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Chen Yuezhi lifted the curtain and sniffed, "Oh, what a lively scene."
The Su family members were taken aback. Seeing the Jiang family arrive, they quickly ran over, their faces filled with hope, "In-laws, Auntie, Uncle, are you here to help us?"
Jiang Wan poked her head out, "Help you? What are you thinking? We're here to get the carriage! Where's our carriage? Return it to us quickly!"
Madam Tian's expression changed instantly, "That... the carriage hasn't been returned yet, you'll have to wait a bit longer..."
Jiang Wan sneered, "Is that so? Then tell me, who borrowed the carriage? We'll go get it ourselves."
Madam Tian stammered, unable to answer.
Jiang Pan said with a cold face, "You still refuse to tell the truth even now! I give you half an hour to return our carriage, otherwise, I'll report you to the yamen for illegally seizing my Jiang family's property!"
Madam Tian, terrified, dropped to her knees with a thud, "In-laws, please be merciful and don't do this. We are already trying to find a way, and we will definitely get the carriage back."
Chen Yuezhi looked at her coldly, "Where exactly did you take our carriage!"
This matter had to be stated by Madam Tian herself, so that no one could later accuse the Jiang family of bullying them.
Madam Tian dared not speak.
Jiang Wan slapped the carriage shaft, leaving a handprint on the wooden board, "You still dare to conceal it!"
Madam Tian trembled in fear, "I'll say it, I'll say it, the carriage... was... was secretly sold by us..."