Shu Yu’s lips curved slightly, "Actually, if you don’t want to involve the authorities, there’s another way." Fubao asked dryly, "What, what way?" She had an ominous feeling that Brother Lianger seemed like he was going to swindle someone. Or was it just her imagination? Shu Yu spoke calmly, "In this past year, all the grain, oil, silver coins, if you add it all up, how much did you take from us? Now, just return that amount. And if you can repay this debt in full, perhaps, we might let you off the hook?" Involve the authorities? What’s the fun in involving the authorities? At most, one would get a few beatings or be locked up for a while, but the past losses cannot be recovered. Shu Yu remembered when Dong Dabao first came to the Liang family. That year, things at home were very difficult. Although he was haughty, he knew right from wrong, good from evil, had a sense of proportion, and was not as pretentious as the usual scholar caring only about face. Those who achieve great things do not obsess over trifles. Had they received the help of the Dong family back then, maybe, just maybe... Shu Yu looked towards her elder brother, a pain tinged with sourness flickering through her eyes. Back then, her elder brother took risks for her sake, and later, he became the accountant at a tavern in town. But it was after Dong Dabao arrived at their home, after Dong Dabao crippled his right hand, that her elder brother did something significant. And that act was not the one at Black Wind Camp. Even Shu Yu had to probe multiple times before she gradually understood a bit of the situation. Aunt Wang balked at the idea of repaying money, clamoring her disagreement. Fubao, usually subdued by her Old Lady’s bluster, erupted in defiance today. She knew this was the best outcome, better than being taken to the Government Office. But Fubao was clearly thinking too simply. The Wang family had taken so much from others over the past year. Fubao and her mother had no idea how much, neither did Dong Huiying nor the brothers of the Liang family, but Dong Xinyuan had some knowledge of it. When she revealed a figure, it left the mother and daughter dumbfounded. "Oh Heavenly Lord, just let me die!" Aunt Wang wailed and carried on, bitterly complaining that the Liang family was pushing them too far, that they were trying to drive her and her daughter to death, etc. But Dong Xinyuan had no patience for such words. "Paths are made by walking—who else can you blame? If you had known this day would come, why did you do as you did in the past!" Afterwards, Dong Xinyuan took her elder sister and headed out, issuing a final ultimatum before leaving. "Whatever methods you consider, I’ll give you a grace period of three days at most. If you don’t repay the debt in three days, don’t blame me for not showing mercy!" After all the commotion in the middle of the night, she was quite exhausted. But Dong Xinyuan, this plump little chili pepper, had one demeanor on the outside, and another when dealing with her elder sister. "Elder sister, let’s go back to sleep, shall we?" She grinned obsequiously, then hooked her elder sister’s arm and returned to the Liang family’s house next door. The brothers of the Liang family exchanged glances, Liang Zhichen’s expression serene but his eyes darkened slightly. He watched Dong Xinyuan affectionately link arms with Baobao, his lips tightening slightly. At this moment, he felt a surge of jealousy. Even though she was a woman, even though she was Baobao’s blood sister, he couldn’t help the emotions coursing through him. Dong Huiying and Dong Xinyuan returned to the eastern room of their home. After washing their feet, the sisters climbed onto the kang bed.