Old Woman Liu was momentarily stunned, "Wh-what dowry?"

Old Man Liu reacted faster; noticing the Lizheng (village headmen) from both villages had arrived, he quickly ushered them in, though the Wang family clearly remained unreceptive.

The Old Mistress, hearing Old Woman Liu’s muddled words, flared up, "What dowry? You dare deny it? Our daughter married into your Liu family bringing a considerable dowry. Now that she’s been cast out by your Liu family, she hasn't taken a single penny back. Hasn't your family pocketed that dowry?"

"Don’t talk nonsense here. Wasn't Guiying’s dowry used by herself? How could anyone else use it? She’s been married here for over a decade; she used up her own dowry, and now your Wang family tries to pin it on us," Liu Song argued, feeling a touch guilty.

Hearing her son, Old Woman Liu immediately snapped back to her usual self, "Exactly! It was clearly your own daughter being profligate, spending money recklessly, and yet you try to blame us! Is there any justice left in this world!"

As soon as Old Woman Liu finished speaking, the Wang family members angrily advanced, eager to beat her. Old Woman Liu shrank back behind her son in fright. Liu Song, after taking a beating from the three Wang brothers, felt a genuine tremor of fear seeing their rage. Fortunately, the three brothers were held back by the Old Man.

Wang Guiying, standing amidst the crowd, upon hearing the Lius slander her reputation so thoroughly, couldn't help but rush out, weeping, "Since I married into your Liu family, when have I ever squandered money? Have I bought anything extravagant, or ruined any household items? Why do you Lius speak without conscience? Don’t you clearly know what kind of life I lived under your roof all these years?"

Wang Guiying stepped forward a few paces more, "The day I first married into your home, your entire family told me how difficult things were, forcing me to hand over the fifteen taels of silver from my dowry. Later, seeing that I was weak and easily bullied, my mother-in-law snatched the jewelry and fine silks my own family had given me. Don’t you dare deny it; the hairpin my mother-in-law wears on her head today is from my dowry! Now, you are destroying my reputation in front of everyone. Are you trying to drive me to death? I will not tolerate your Liu family smearing our Wang family today. I will end my life right here at the Liu family gate to prove my integrity!" With that, Wang Guiying lunged her head towards the doorpost.

"Ah…" Everyone present gasped in alarm.

Luckily, Liu Song reacted quickly, blocking Wang Guiying’s momentum, "Guiying, let’s talk this through properly. Isn't it better if we discuss this reasonably!"

Wang Guiying looked up, her eyes filled with hatred, "Every word your Liu family utters is a slander against me. What else is there for me to say? After suffering and toiling for so many years, this is the result I get. Today, I will die before your very doors. Let everyone see whether they believe your Liu family or our Wang family. Let go of me quickly, let me die cleanly..."

Seeing Wang Guiying’s suicidal intent, the Wang family members were instantly frightened; none of them had anticipated she would go this far.

The Old Mistress was the quickest to react, hurrying over, "My dear daughter, why must you do this? If you die, what will your mother do? Can you bear to see your mother bury you, a white-haired person burying a black-haired one? You will be taking my life! Anyone with eyes can see what’s truly happening here. I refuse to believe the Liu family can turn black into white!"

Upon hearing her mother’s words, Wang Guiying’s body softened, and she stopped trying to kill herself, instead breaking into loud sobs, as if releasing all the grievances she had suffered in the Liu household.

Old Man Liu grew anxious seeing Wang Guiying like this. If she truly died here in front of their gate, it would become a monumental disaster. He immediately roared at Liu Song, "You wretched boy, what are you still standing there for? Hurry up and take Guiying to her mother!"

"Oh, oh, yes..." Liu Song was also rattled by Wang Guiying’s earlier actions and scrambled clumsily.

The Old Mistress took Wang Guiying, quickly supporting her as they moved toward the Wang family contingent. Tian Shi, Yang Shi, and Zhang Shi, recovering from their shock, rushed over to comfort their sister-in-law.

The onlookers in the crowd began whispering amongst themselves.

"The Old Man Liu’s family is truly heartless. They cast out their wife and then try to ruin her name. They are leaving her with no way to live."

"Yes, they even confiscated her dowry! Who would dare marry into such a family now?"

"Indeed. The Wang family's daughter was such a good woman, and they’ve ruined her like this. I heard they plan to find a new bride soon."

"Oh, after this scene, who would dare step foot in their house? Wouldn’t that be equivalent to courting death..."

Old Man Liu’s expression darkened as he overheard the murmuring. He shot Old Woman Liu a furious glare. Why couldn't she have chosen any other hairpin but the one snatched from their daughter-in-law? That was handing the Wang family an open-and-shut case! Moreover, looking at the pointed fingers all around, how could his family ever hold up their heads in the village again? He had initially planned to have his son fetch Wang Shi back in a few days, but now it seemed he had to advance the timeline.

After some thought, Old Man Liu adopted a conciliatory tone, "In-law, this..."

"Don't... don't try to claim kinship. Our family can’t afford to be associated with your Liu family," the Old Mistress hissed hatefully.

"That’s right. Return the dowry, and we’ll be clear," Wang Youliang stated.

"Heh heh... This is what I was thinking. Isn't this just a small quarrel between our children? It shouldn't be taken seriously. Guiying is a good woman; we Liu family know that clearly. I was already planning for Song'er to go fetch Guiying back. Guiying will remain our Liu family's wife. Whether he claims to divorce her depends on whether I, his father, agree or not," Old Man Liu fawned obsequiously.

"They are already this old; do you still treat them like children? Besides, can a divorce letter be dismissed so lightly?" the Old Mistress countered.

"Well... Song'er is just having second thoughts now..." Old Man Liu stammered awkwardly. He hadn't expected the Wang family to be so unyielding, nor did he see any sign of gratitude toward his proposal. Did the Wang family truly not care about their daughter being cast out? That would put him at a disadvantage.

"Second thoughts? When Liu Song and his mother were singing the same tune earlier, I failed to notice any regret from him?" Wang Youfu pointed out.

"Yes..." the rest of the Wang family agreed.

Seeing that the time was right, the Old Man walked over to the Lizheng, "Esteemed Lizheng, our entire family is here today solely to help our daughter reclaim her dowry so she has something to rely on for the rest of her life. As you have witnessed, the Liu family first denied everything, and now they claim the divorce letter is invalid. Although our Wang family is not wealthy, we cannot tolerate being toyed with like this. We ask that you deliver justice." With that, the Old Man bowed respectfully to the Lizheng.

It was clear the Old Man knew how to speak strategically; every word he uttered was a visible fact that cornered the Liu family into having no defense.

The two Lizheng conferred briefly. Although it was a discussion, the Lizheng from the Liu family's village knew his own villagers were in the wrong and scarcely offered an opinion; the decision was essentially made entirely by the Lizheng from the Wang village.

The two Lizheng ordered the Liu family to return Wang Guiying’s dowry. The Old Mistress produced the dowry manifest and began checking off each item being demanded. The Lius were cornered; they couldn't claim they didn't have the items, especially since everyone knew they had just received fifty taels from selling their daughter. For items they couldn't produce—such as furniture, silks, or utensils—the Wang family demanded compensation in silver. In the end, the Wang family recovered the dowry items plus twenty taels in compensatory silver, along with the jewelry, which was worth another ten taels or so.

Instantly, the way the surrounding people looked at Wang Guiying changed. This was no longer a woman cast out; she was practically a shining, wealthy matriarch.

After reclaiming the dowry, the Wang family treated the two Lizheng to a banquet at their home. The Lizheng politely declined at first, but they were secretly pleased; the Wang family certainly knew how to handle matters appropriately.

The Old Man and Old Mistress gave the entire recovered dowry to their daughter. While the eldest son’s wife had some complaints, the second and third sons’ wives felt it was appropriate, as their little aunt needed that money for her future. The elderly couple also insisted that Wang Guiying live in the old family house, relying on them for support. Tian Shi was so furious she nearly tore the handkerchief in her hand to shreds; not only did she fail to gain any benefit, but now she had to support another person. How could Tian Shi be happy? However, Tian Shi quickly devised a plan: since the little aunt now possessed so much money, she must be persuaded to hand it over.

Despite Wang Guiying’s visibly poor spirits, Zhang Shi secretly advised her, "Sister-in-law, I’m going to say something you might not like, but the hardships you endured in the Liu family weren't just because the Lius were cruel; it was partly because you had no money. Think about it: if you give all this money away to others, and you have nothing substantial to show for it, won't they just turn hostile? Now that you're back, you can’t repeat the same mistakes. You must hold tightly onto the money you have now; don't lend it to anyone, not even as a loan. Think about it: if you lend money and they don't repay it, and you're too embarrassed to demand it back, what will you do for the rest of your life? Do you want to live looking up to others? Didn't your own daughter have to live by the Liu family’s whims precisely because you, her mother, had to defer to the Lius?"

Hearing about her daughter, Wang Guiying burst into tears again, "Qian'er’s situation is all my fault as a mother; I couldn't protect her."

"That’s why I'm telling you to guard your money fiercely, otherwise, if something similar happens again, can you bear it?" Zhang Shi insisted.

Wang Guiying wiped her tears, "I understand, Third Sister-in-law. Thank you for warning me."

"It’s good that you understand," Zhang Shi smiled with relief.

When Wang Qingchen returned from school and learned that the little aunt’s dowry had been recovered, he was also very happy; at least with this sum, his aunt's later years would be secure.

Little Aunt Wang Guiying settled down in the old family residence from then on. Because her health had been severely damaged while she was with the Lius, the Old Man and Old Mistress doted on her, never assigning her heavy chores, and constantly trying to replenish her strength. The Old Mistress even killed several of her prized laying hens for her sake, which filled Tian Shi with bitter resentment. But remembering the money in her little aunt's possession, she could only feign indifference.

However, having suffered so much hardship under the Lius, where Old Woman Liu constantly hurled vicious words at her, Wang Guiying had become intensely guarded. She immediately noticed Tian Shi’s forced pleasantries. Recalling Zhang Shi’s admonishment, she began to keep Tian Shi at arm's length.

Meanwhile, Yang Shi had been genuinely distressed for her little aunt for a few days over the divorce. But after the matchmaker came calling, she became cheerful again. She had already asked the matchmaker to inquire about the daughter of Old Man Luo the Second. After extensive inquiries, although Old Man Luo the Second’s wife was rumored to be a bit irresponsible, the daughter herself, Luo Qing, was said to be excellent: filial, polite, gentle, and hardworking, skilled even in needlework. Delighted by this news, Yang Shi began planning to settle the marriage agreement as soon as possible.