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

Chapter 95 The incident came to light
Ma Yujie pulled the maid behind her and glared fiercely at Madam Sang. "If my husband is really implicated because of this, I swear I will never let you get away with this! You, and the Sang family! You all deserve to die!"

Ma Rencai was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. He carefully recalled his role in the matter and realized that he was just a middleman, not even a guarantor. He breathed a sigh of relief and regained his composure.

Joining Ma Yujie in scolding Sang Shi, "Your family is a burden! You've ruined Yuqing's life! And all that talk about uncles and aunts is utter nonsense! I'll have someone bring Yuqing back later, and from now on, no one from the Sang family is allowed to enter our Ma family's gate."

Sang and Ma Xingfei both changed their expressions.

"Master! That's my elder brother, my nephew, your daughter's in-laws! You can't just stand by and watch them die!" Madam Sang cried out in desperation.

Ma Xingfei also knelt down, "Father, Uncle didn't know there was anything wrong with those fireworks and firecrackers. Even if we want to find the culprit, we should go to the firecracker workshop. What does it have to do with my uncle?"
Besides, he's the mayor of Fufeng Township, and he's helped our family a lot. You can't just discard him after he's served his purpose!

"Discarding a donkey after it has served its purpose? That's quite an interesting way to put it!" Ma Xingteng casually curled the corners of his mouth, his eyes full of mockery as he looked at the Sang family mother and son. "As far as I know, Sang Yong has been coming to our door to beg for money quite a few times over the years. It's possible that he has already emptied half of the Ma family's coffers. And you actually describe a hungry wolf that is eyeing the market as a donkey? What a ridiculous joke!"

These words reminded Ma Rencai, who immediately jumped up and hurriedly called the steward over to ask for the account books.

The butler's eyes flickered, and he lingered without leaving, glancing at Madam Sang several times.

Ma Xingteng suddenly stood up and roared angrily, "Butler! Don't forget who the master of the Ma family is? Now even my father can't order you around?"

Ma Rencai was already suspicious, and upon hearing this, his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, his eyes filled with hatred as if he wanted to devour Sang Shi and the steward.

The butler was terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat. His legs went weak, and he knelt down, repeatedly begging for mercy, "Master, young master, I could forget anyone but you, Master! Yes...yes!"

Sang lowered her head, trembling with fear.

Ma Rencai could no longer deceive himself. "Guards! Seize the madam and the steward! Bring over the account books and the storeroom contents. Today, I'm going to catch the thief in our house!"

"Master!" Madam Sang's face turned ashen, and she slumped to the ground.

The butler was so frightened that he wet his pants.

Even if Ma Xingfei was stupid, he knew that Sang Shi really had a problem, so he quickly pleaded for her, "Father, there must be some misunderstanding here. Father, don't be angry. Please listen to my mother's explanation. She must have her reasons."

"To hell with your excuses!" Ma Rencai angrily kicked Ma Xingfei to the ground.

Sang and her son huddled together, crying pitifully.

Just then, Zhou and Ma Yuqing rushed in from outside in a panic.

The sound arrives before the person arrives.

"Father, Mother! Help!"

"My dear in-law, help me!"

The two ran into the main room and saw a room full of angry-looking people. Then they looked at the disheveled Sang Shi and were dumbfounded.

"What's wrong with my in-laws?" Zhou was anxious, but she had to worry about Sang first. Ma Yuqing was already crying and tried to help Sang up. Seeing that Sang and Ma Xingfei were kneeling and wouldn't get up, she guessed that Ma Rencai probably knew that something had happened to the Sang family. She quickly knelt down and begged, "Father, my father-in-law and husband have been taken away by the town officials. Please help me! I really have nowhere else to turn!"

"Help you? How dare you say such a thing! If those people hadn't caused trouble, I wouldn't have known that your mother had connections everywhere and was using all of the Ma family's money to support her own family! Once I've checked the accounts, I'll see how much is missing, and the Sang family will make up the difference. If they don't have the money, they'll use their land to make up the difference!" Ma Rencai stared fiercely at Zhou Shi, his eyes like they were poisoned.

Zhou was so frightened that her whole body trembled, her hair stood on end, and she stammered, "My dear in-laws, no...it's not like that."

Seeing Zhou Shi trembling like a leaf, Ma Yuqing felt a surge of inexplicable anger. Stubbornly, she looked up to meet Ma Rencai's gaze. "Father! Are you trying to force our whole family to our deaths? What time is it now? All you care about is money, money, money!"

"What do I need money for? To house you traitors? Sang Yong better not take anything from the Ma family, or I don't know what terrible things he might do!" Ma Rencai squinted and looked around like a crow with its feathers ruffled, his eyes filled with hostility.

The atmosphere was anxious.

The servant led the accountant in, carrying boxes one by one through the door.

Under the watchful eyes of Ma Rencai and Ma Xingteng, the accountant dared not make any underhanded moves, and a considerable amount of materials and supplements were missing after only one page of calculation.

Ma Rencai was so angry that he was about to lose his mind.

When the inventory was finally taken, it was discovered that 1,500 taels were missing from the accounts. Of these, 700 taels had been embezzled over the years, and 800 taels were advance payments for next year.

Ma Xingteng was shocked and his eyes widened. He was both anxious and angry. Just as he was about to speak, Bai Shi pulled him back.

Ma Yujie also shook her head slightly at her.

Ma Xingteng had no choice but to endure it.

At this moment, the room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Ma Rencai held the account book without moving.

The more silent he became, the more frightened Madam Sang grew. Unable to suppress her inner fear, she broke down first, saying, "Master! I also had my own unavoidable difficulties! The reason I married you as your second wife was because my parents wanted me to marry into a higher social class and help my family."

When I first married into this family, I was all alone and helpless. The eldest son and daughter of the family didn't take me seriously, and my parents often came to make trouble. I could only secretly use my own savings to make ends meet. Life was tough, and I had to swallow all my bitterness. It wasn't until I gave birth to Fei'er that you gave me the power to manage the household, and my life became a little better.

Managing the household is difficult; money is needed everywhere. My parents' appetites are growing ever larger, and I simply have no money left to give them. That's why... Waaah... Master, I didn't want to do this, but I'm afraid! I'm afraid my parents will keep causing trouble, and you'll get tired of me. If I lose control of the household, my Qing'er and Fei'er's lives in the mansion will be even more difficult."

As she spoke, Sang glanced at Ma Xingteng and Ma Yujie, seemingly unintentionally.

Ma Yujie sneered, "Being a traitor is being a traitor. Don't try to make excuses for yourself. Father, even if we sell the Sang family now, they're not worth 1,500 taels of silver. I suggest we report it to the authorities! We have to recover the losses for our family. Otherwise, how can you face my mother in the afterlife?"

Ma Rencai was jolted, as if he could see his wife's reluctant eyes before she passed away, and the promises he had made.

He quickly shook his head to clear his mind, and then glanced at his eldest son, whose face was gloomy. He suddenly realized how troublesome this matter was.

The urgent task is not to punish the Sang family, but to appease the eldest son and daughter.