Clara looked around at the large crowd encircling them. She closed her eyes with a soft sigh, then beckoned to Billy Lin, Old Man Liew, and Mdm Martha Zhang.
"Let's talk somewhere private."
Old Walter and Martha exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement. They had seen enough to know—this third daughter-in-law was no pushover. She wasn't even afraid of Billy Lin. Maybe she really could handle him.
Billy was internally panicking, but with all his men watching, he couldn't afford to lose face. He tilted his chin up at Clara and followed her to the side.
The four of them walked behind the house, away from the prying eyes of the villagers. Clara was the first to speak.
"Father, Mother, I asked you both here to serve as witnesses."
Old Walter frowned. "Witness to what?"
Clara gave him a look that said you'll see soon enough, then turned her gaze to Billy Lin. "This debt—I'll treat it as a personal favor I owe you. Tell me, how much do you really expect me to pay?"
"As for the full fifty taels?" Clara gave a small, cold laugh. "Let me be clear—that is not happening."
Her eyes dropped to the knife in her hand, then to the hoe Billy Lin was gripping tightly.
She understood perfectly well—Billy was just the middleman. The loan may have been in his name, but the silver didn't belong to him.
Just a moment ago, if Clara had said she'd owe him a favor, Billy would've scoffed outright.
But now? Now he found himself hesitating.
In the underworld, who doesn't get cut eventually? Who's to say he wouldn't need to call in that favor someday?
That martial arts of hers—it was real. Could be useful.
Billy weighed his options. Clara didn't press. She simply waited, calm and composed.
Old Walter and Martha stood by the corner wall, hearts pounding like drums. The wait was excruciating. Seconds stretched like hours, though in truth only a few heartbeats had passed.
Finally, Billy exhaled heavily and looked at Clara with resignation. "Madam Qin, what if you vanish one day? What then?"
Clara's lips curled in a chilly smirk. She said nothing.
Billy got the message loud and clear.
He had no choice.
If he refused, he wouldn't get a single coin back—and might not walk away with his life, either.
And he was right. Clara didn't care one bit about Lester Liew's fate. Live or die—it meant nothing to her.
What she did care about was staying in Liew Clan Village and keeping her place and identity intact. She didn't want to end up wandering with no name, no standing.
That's the only reason she was even bothering to negotiate.
Fifty taels? Not worth losing what she had built.
So, if a deal could be made, she'd make it.
Billy inhaled deeply, mind racing like mad as he ran through mental calculations. Finally, he gave a number.
"Thirty-eight taels. That's the lowest I can go. If you can't even manage that, then there's no point in talking."
He was firm. That was the bottom line. Any lower, and he'd have trouble with the ones above him. He'd be a dead man anyway.
The thought made Billy want to cry. All the years in the trade, and he had to run into a monster like Clara. Just his rotten luck!
"Fine," Clara said crisply. "Bring the IOU. You have paper and ink, right? We'll write a new one—clearly stating that Lester Liew's debt is now settled."
Relief washed over Billy. He had paper and ink, sure—but couldn't write a single character.
Clara gave him a look full of disdain.
Flushed with embarrassment, Billy barked at one of his men to fetch the ink, brush, paper, and seal paste, shoving them all toward Clara in a huff.
A silent challenge: Let's see if you can even write.
To his surprise—she could.
There was a chopping block nearby, and Clara used it as a makeshift desk. Her handwriting wasn't exactly elegant—about on par with Lester's chicken-scratch—but it was legible.
With a few quick strokes, she drafted two receipts, both clearly stating that the debt between Lester Liew and Billy Lin was fully repaid. One copy for Billy, one for the Liews. As Lester's lawful wife, Clara had the right to sign on his behalf.
But after finishing Billy's copy, she paused—she didn't sign hers.
Old Walter and Martha had just been celebrating Clara's generosity in their hearts. They were thinking maybe Lester was finally saved.
Then came Clara's next words:
"Father, Mother, there's one condition. Unless you both agree to it, I won't sign this."
Old Walter nodded eagerly, feeling that whatever she asked was surely reasonable. "Speak freely."
Clara said flatly, "I'll pay this debt for Lester. But from this day on, his life belongs to me. From now on, I run this household. Every decision is mine. You both must stand with me, and not interfere—no matter what I decide. Otherwise, I won't sign. Let Lester die out there like a dog."
Their faces changed instantly. Not signing—that was unacceptable!
Old Walter sighed deeply and said with some guilt:
"Clara, I know my son is a mess. You married beneath yourself. And today, you're still willing to help him—that shows your character. I see now you're a good person."
"As for your condition—of course, your mother and I agree. From now on, this family follows your lead. If after all this Lester still doesn't change, keeps messing around… even if you beat him to death, we won't blame you."
Clara raised an eyebrow slightly. She hadn't expected Old Walter to be so reasonable.
"Good. With your word, I'm at ease."
She signed the document, then pulled two silver ingots from her waist pouch. Each was worth twenty taels. She handed one to Billy, then held the other up and snapped off a corner with her bare hands.
"Take this. Now it's eighteen taels," she said, passing him the larger piece. "Weigh it. See if I'm right."
Billy stared at the chipped silver in disbelief. He gulped hard, pulled out a tiny travel scale, and measured it.
"It's still a little short."
"How much?"
"Three coins."
Clara calmly snapped off another small piece and handed it to him.
Breaking small pieces was the hardest. Her casual display of strength made Billy completely submit.
"Mdm Clara, then we'll take our leave. Thank you kindly. I'll stop by to chat another time."
He gave Clara a shallow bow, pocketed the silver, then quickly rounded up his still-masked men and left in a hurry.
The villagers were all buzzing. Billy Lin just… left?
Brandon and Caleb turned to their father and stepmother. "The debt's paid?"
The elders nodded. Then looked back at Clara—somewhat in awe.
The brothers could hardly believe it. Clara actually had that much silver?
But now wasn't the time to marvel—Lester was still lying on the ground.
Earlier they hadn't dared move with Billy and his thugs looming. But now that the debt collectors were gone, the family rushed to his side.
Brandon patted Lester's cheek. "Brother, wake up. You alright?"
Still unconscious. The slap grazed his injuries, and he groaned in pain.
Clara unlocked the main house and turned around to find the whole Liew clan panicking over Lester's limp body.
"It's just some bruises. Get him inside," she said calmly. "I'll find a doctor later."
Then she glanced up at the nosy villagers still hanging around.
Time to build that courtyard wall, she thought. Otherwise, every day's just another circus show for the whole village.
(End of Chapter)