Chapter 10: Turning the Tables

Village Chief Huo’s words filled Elder Huo with pride, his face radiating kindness as he patted Huo Shancheng’s shoulder. “This boy may not have many talents, but he’s earnest and lucky. Otherwise, my wife and I wouldn’t be living such a good life now.”

Van Tang, who had been about to enter, paused at those words, her expression growing colder by the moment.

The whole family was leeching off Huo Yanxiu, yet they dared to claim it was all thanks to Huo Shancheng.

Shameless.

Without hesitation, Van Tang pushed open the Huo family gate with a loud noise, drawing everyone’s attention in the courtyard to her.

She stood on the steps with calm poise, towering above them all, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on her lips. “Oh? What’s all the commotion? Everyone’s gathered here—why not tell me what’s going on?”

Seeing Van Tang, Huo Shancheng’s heart jolted. Huo’s mother, who had never taken a liking to Van Tang, scowled. “What are you doing here?”

Ever since Huo Yanxiu suddenly brought home a losing asset and stopped listening to her, she had grown deeply dissatisfied with him. And to make matters worse, he had forcefully married this vixen right before her eyes, igniting a storm of resentment in her heart.

Originally, the bride-to-be Huo Yanxiu had chosen was a girl from a respectable family named Zhao Yingyun, whom she was very pleased with.

She had only hoped that once they met, she could control Huo Yanxiu and make him dutifully support their family.

But now, with Van Tang suddenly intruding and stealing that place, how could she not hate her? She had never shown Van Tang a kind face.

Van Tang chuckled lightly. “What nonsense is that, Mother? Someone in my family lost something, so naturally we’d find the village chief. It just so happens he’s at our house, so we figured we should come over.”

Her gaze flickered faintly over Huo Shancheng, causing his face to pale.

The village chief, upon hearing that someone had come looking for him, immediately straightened his expression and asked seriously, “What was lost? Was it valuable?”

Van Tang crossed her arms, tapping her fingertips with feigned nonchalance. “Not valuable—a diamond watch. Just bought it today, left home for a bit, and when I came back, it was gone.”

This statement sparked strange looks from everyone present, including those who knew the Huo family’s situation.

Hearing this, the village chief instinctively glanced at Huo Shancheng, cleared his throat, and asked again, “What does the watch look like? The more details you give, the easier it will be to find.”

How strange—Huo Shancheng had just gotten a diamond watch, and now Van Tang’s family had lost one. What a coincidence.

The village chief’s heart raced, silently praying that Van Tang wasn’t describing the watch on the table.

After pretending to ponder for a moment, Van Tang’s eyes brightened as she spotted the watch on the table. She pointed at it. “It looks exactly like the one on the table!”

All eyes immediately turned toward the watch and Huo Shancheng.

Alarmed, Huo Shancheng quickly snatched the watch and stuffed it into his pocket, his face full of anger. “What do you mean, Van Tang? Greedy enough to accuse me? I know all about your father’s hundred-yuan debt and how you severed ties with him, ungrateful and heartless!”

“What? Van Tang cut ties with her own father?” someone exclaimed.

At these words, the village chief’s expression darkened. He despised such things. No matter how bad parents were, they were still blood relatives. Even if reason failed, one had to show mercy. Forgiving their wrongdoings was what a filial child should do.

But now, hearing Van Tang had severed ties with her father?

The village chief’s sympathies shifted entirely to Huo Shancheng; he wouldn’t listen to another word from Van Tang.

He said impatiently, “You didn’t make this up, did you? Just to get your hands on that diamond watch Huo Shancheng has!”

Unfazed, Van Tang glanced at the village chief with a hint of mockery in her eyes.

“Since ancient times, no thief ever willingly admits to stealing when accused. Only when presented with solid evidence will they begrudgingly confess, still without remorse.”

Her tone was measured, her faint smile gradually fading into an icy, expressionless chill.

She slowly descended the steps and beckoned to Wang Binghuan behind her. “You tell them.”

Wang Binghuan felt almost captivated by Van Tang’s presence. Snapping back to attention, he solemnly declared, “I’m Wang Binghuan from the Wang family next door. I can testify—it was Huo Shancheng who stole Van Tang’s diamond watch. I saw it with my own eyes!”

Van Tang lifted her chin, her eyes cold as ice.

Wang Binghuan’s testimony ignited a huge commotion. Outsiders watching the scene now looked at Huo Shancheng with gloating expressions.

Huo Shancheng’s face changed, anxiety flooding his heart. He cursed himself for not leaving earlier; he wouldn’t have been caught red-handed.

The village chief wanted to protect his own clan, the Huo family, while Van Tang, an outsider, was insignificant in his eyes.

Justice only manifested when both parties hailed from the same village.

That was why everyone had voted for him as village chief.

“Don’t make a fuss. Are you sure it was Huo Shancheng? Then what color was the jacket he wore today? What color were his shoes? His pants?”

The village chief’s face was stern, resembling a judge interrogating a case.

Wang Binghuan was momentarily stumped but, glancing at Huo Shancheng with shifting eyes, finally said with forced confidence, “He was wearing this outfit!”

Huo Shancheng’s furrowed brow finally relaxed. It seemed Wang Binghuan hadn’t seen him clearly—that lying Van Tang had fabricated the testimony.

He had already changed clothes upon returning; it wasn’t the same outfit he wore earlier that day.

Van Tang watched Huo Shancheng’s expression closely. When he smiled, she knew she had lost this confrontation.

Sighing inwardly, she began to consider her next move.

Huo Shancheng looked triumphant and declared loudly, “No! I wasn’t wearing this outfit today! You’re lying! You and Van Tang are trying to frame me, deceive the village chief, and steal my diamond watch!”

His words rang with confidence and certainty, convincing those around him.

Hearing this, many felt deceived, their eyes filled with anger as they stared at Van Tang, as if willing to see right through her.

Elder Huo and his wife, once hesitant, now stood tall, joining Huo Shancheng in berating Van Tang. “You two wicked conspirators! You schemed against our Shancheng! I should never have agreed to let you in!”

Their words escalated the incident to a climax. One by one, the onlookers cast Van Tang and Wang Binghuan cold, hateful glances, as if they were unforgivable villains.

“I always wondered why Wang Binghuan, who usually keeps to himself, would suddenly testify for Van Tang. Now I see the connection,” someone chuckled knowingly, as if they had uncovered the whole truth.