After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 157 Shen Yi Seeks Justice
Su Tai chuckled, "Doesn't it smell especially fragrant and taste especially delicious, better than any pastry you've ever eaten?"

Ruan Xiaoyu nodded frantically, "That's right, that's it! It smells so good!"

Ruan Xiaoyu looked on with a lingering sense of satisfaction.

Su Zhan entered the room and saw this scene. He leaned over and took a bite of the bread in her hand, then jumped up exaggeratedly, "What is this? Is it something that gods eat?"

"Absolutely! I also think it's food for gods!" Ruan Xiaoyu hadn't recovered yet and didn't care that Su Zhan had eaten her food.

The commotion inside alerted the people outside who were carrying donkey carts, and they all rushed in and grabbed one each.

He ate without making a sound.

Su Chuan looked at Su Tai, his expression particularly excited, "Good cousin, could you spare some of these snacks for me?"

Su Tai knew what he wanted to do and agreed without thinking. "Come to my house later and I'll prepare it for you. But let me make this clear: we're not doing this kind of business. Don't let Young Master Zhu get his eye on it again."

"Hahaha," Su Chuan laughed, "Don't worry about that, I'll just secretly give it to my parents and cousin, without letting them know."

The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.

After finishing a piece of bread, Han looked at Shen Yi and asked, "Shen Yi, are you planning to sell these pastries? Will you sell them yourself or cooperate with the Ma family like with Guokui?"

Shen Yi and Su Tai exchanged a glance, then looked at Madam Han with a puzzled expression. "Mother-in-law, is there a problem?"

Han grumbled unhappily as she recounted how Cuilan had come to her door.

"That woman has been kicked out of the Bai family and has nowhere to go, so she wants to come and rely on us. She says she wants to apologize to us. Bah! If she had a choice, she would never bow down to me."

Su Tai asked in confusion, "What does this have to do with the Ma family?"

Madam Han said angrily, "I've inquired about it. It was that maid from the Ma family who secretly arranged for Cuilan to be taken to our house. It was that person who called a carriage to bring Cuilan to our house."

What does the Ma family take our Su family for? Do they think just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can walk in?

Han became increasingly agitated as she spoke, while Su Chuan, standing to the side, looked guilty. "Auntie, this whole thing started because of me. Don't worry, I'll handle it."

"No! Please don't!" Madam Han immediately stopped Su Chuan. "You've finally broken things off with Cuilan and now you have a wife and children. Why are you still entangled with them? I was just venting because I was upset. Also, I wanted to remind Xiaotai and her husband that the Ma family doesn't even treat us like servants, let alone our masters. Be careful when doing business with them, or you might get tricked!"

This is a typical case of generalizing from one example to condemn the whole group.

Su Tai looked at Shen Yi, her expression becoming more serious. "Why don't you go and sit with Young Master Ma, and ask him about the situation? I don't think Young Master Ma is the kind of person who repays kindness with enmity. There might be another reason behind this."

Han complained, "What secrets could there be? I haven't been happy since Cuilan came to our door! That woman is shameless! She's infuriating!"

Because Han was so angry, Shen Yi was worried that she would be upset, so he planned to go to town the next day to talk to Ma Xingteng before going back.

Early the next morning.

Su Tai secretly ran to the donkey cart and took out a bunch of freshly made bread and cakes, then went back to the house to continue sleeping with the children.

Seeing that things were almost done, Shen Yi immediately drove the donkey cart to town. He first went to the Liu family to deliver some snacks to Liu Tiechui, and then went to the Ma residence.

The gatekeeper received a piece of bread and his attitude towards Shen Yi changed drastically. He invited Shen Yi into the courtyard before reporting to the gatekeeper.

Ma Xingteng was dressed very neatly when he came over, indicating that he had just returned from outside.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Yi got straight to the point, "Young Master Ma, we've been working together for so long, you must know my character. There are some things I don't understand, so I've come to you today to clear things up."

"Looking for me? What's wrong?" Even if Ma Xingteng didn't know the details, he knew something was wrong, and his expression became more serious.

Shen Yi explained Cuilan's situation, saying, "Logically, this matter has nothing to do with me, but the Su family in Dongmen Village is my in-laws, and Shiliu is from your household. I can only come to you to ask for clarification on behalf of my mother-in-law."

Ma Xingteng was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table and apologized to Shen Yi, "I really didn't know about these things. To be honest, my brother-in-law looks down on our Ma family. He has only been to Moshi Town once in all the time since my wife and I got married."

As a result, it alarmed you and caused you to suffer injustice at the Bai residence. To be honest, I have been wanting to make it up to you, Brother Shen, ever since then, but I have been busy with many things at the end of the year and have to guard against some people causing trouble at home, so I have been unable to leave.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, I accompanied my wife to her parents' home. We planned to stay overnight and return on the second day at noon.

When we arrived at the Bai residence after dark, we knocked on the door for a long time but no one answered, so we had to stay at an inn. I was still holding a grudge! The next day, when we went to visit, only my father-in-law was somewhat friendly. The others ignored us and didn't give us a kind look despite my smiles all day.

They even made fun of me for selling guokui (a type of flatbread). Humph! Did my doing my business bother them? Why are they being so nosy!
If it weren't for putting on a show for my stepmother in the mansion, I wouldn't have wanted to make this trip! I never expected that my repeated forbearance would only embolden them!

That traitorous pomegranate, I will not let her off easily!

Seeing this, Shen Yi stood up to take his leave, saying, "In that case, I won't disturb you any longer."

Ma Xingteng saw Shen Yi out and immediately returned to the courtyard. As soon as he entered, he pulled a long face and shouted at Shiliu, who was standing next to Bai Shi, "Kneel down!"

Shi Liu turned pale and knelt down in a panic.

Madam Bai frowned. "Husband, what are you doing? What has Shiliu done wrong?"

Ma Xingteng laughed in anger, "You don't know what she did wrong?"

Bai was startled and quickly stood up, "Please enlighten me, my husband."

Ma Xingteng didn't intend to beat around the bush with them, and said, "You know about Cuilan, right? She's a shameless maid from the Bai family who climbed into the master's bed. She's clearly a married woman, yet she still has an improper relationship with her master. She's really despicable."

"How could Shiliu take in such a woman and even send her to Dongmen Village to disgust the Su family? Now Shen Yi is standing up for the Su family and coming to me for an explanation. What did she do wrong?"

Bai was stunned. She looked at Shiliu, who was trembling on the ground, in disbelief. Her voice changed as she spoke, "Shiliu! You really took in Cuilan behind my back?"

Shiliu was terrified and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy and crying, "Young Master, Young Madam, I was forced to do this! It was Young Master Bai who knew that I had some connection with Cuilan. After Cuilan was sold to a brothel, he secretly redeemed her."

But this matter absolutely cannot be known to the eldest young mistress of the Bai family, so the eldest young master of the Bai family sent the person to Moshi Town and handed her over to the servant, threatening the servant not to make a fuss, otherwise he would not let the servant off easily.

"I had no other choice but to send Cuilan to seek refuge with Su Chuan. Su Chuan isn't in Moshi Town, so I had to send her to Dongmen Village. I never imagined this would anger the Su family and alarm the Shen family. I deserve to die, I deserve to die!"