USWHC -Chapter 354 Jumping Into One’s Own Trap (Part 4)

Zhu Laohan and Old Madam Zhu were indeed nowhere to be found—they had already staggered their way down the mountain. By the time they reached Yingchun House, it was already broad daylight, and the people inside were just about to close up and rest.

A servant saw them return and froze in surprise. “Huh? Why did you come back by yourself? Where’s Madam?”

Old Madam Zhu let out a weak sigh and pointed behind her. “She’s coming.”

Hearing that, the servant craned his neck to look back—but there was no one. “Did you catch her?” he asked, still looking, unable to hide his curiosity.

“We did. Your Madam told me to come pick up my daughter,” Zhu Laohan replied weakly.

Seeing his exhausted state, the servant actually believed him and pointed upstairs. “Oh, she’s on the second floor.”

Zhu Laohan’s heart stirred. He immediately went upstairs, while the servant stayed at the entrance waiting. He waited and waited… but no one came back.

Only then did suspicion arise. He hurried upstairs. “Oh no! They’ve escaped!”

Sure enough, the room was completely empty—the Zhu family had already slipped out through the window!

“Master, the Zhu family has been captured!” Shopkeeper Liao reported in a low voice.

Indeed, Zhu Laohan had thought everything was over. But before he could even leave the city, a sack had been thrown over his head. He had no idea where he was being taken.

Ji Yi merely glanced disdainfully at the sack on the ground and sighed faintly. “Have you found out what I asked you to investigate?”

“We have. It’s in the town ahead,” Shopkeeper Liao replied vaguely.

“Good. Send them there. I don’t want to see them again,” Ji Yi said with an impatient wave of his hand. It seemed he no longer intended to let Zhu Jie continue playing with them.

Without another word, Shopkeeper Liao waved his hand as well. Immediately, someone hoisted the sack and carried it away. Where exactly were they being taken?

Zhu Laohan, trapped inside the sack with his mouth stuffed, couldn’t speak or ask anything. All he could feel was the constant jostling along the way.

“Huh? Why is there a sack here?” someone suddenly exclaimed.

Zhu Laohan’s eyes widened. He let out muffled cries, “Help! Help!”

“Something’s moving inside!” another person said in surprise.

At last, sunlight shone on Zhu Laohan’s face again. He had thought he was about to be buried alive—but it seemed he might still live!

But in the very next moment, someone shouted, “It’s you!”

Zhu Laohan opened his eyes. Where was this? It looked like a farmer’s courtyard—but why didn’t he recognize anyone?

“Mom! Dad! The one who cheated our money has been found! Come quickly!” the man shouted even louder.

No way… they had been delivered straight into the hands of their victims?!

Zhu Laohan let out a wail as a group of people rushed out, carrying hoes and rolling pins. Wait—some even had kitchen knives?!

With a thud, Zhu Laohan fainted on the spot. At this rate, being buried alive might have been better!

Old Madam Zhu had it even worse. The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes to the sunlight was a gleaming kitchen knife. W-were they being sent to a slaughterhouse?!

With a loud shout, fists rained down like a storm. Some who arrived late hadn’t even seen her face clearly before she was already beaten beyond recognition.

“S-stop hitting!” Zhu Shishi cried out in agony again and again—but no one listened. The only response was a loud clang—the sound of a metal shovel striking her face.

In the next instant, Zhu Shishi’s entire face twisted out of shape, blood streaming down. From now on, there was no way she could ever pretend to be a noble lady again.

“Take them all to the authorities! Fraudsters—big fraudsters!” someone shouted. With that cry, Zhu Shishi finally collapsed. Yes… going to the authorities might actually be better—there was no surviving out here anymore.

No one knew how the madam and her thugs had managed to climb back up, but when they finally returned to Yingchun House, her once gorgeous floral dress was torn into ragged strips. She looked like a dried-out catfish—dirty, smelly, and completely wilted.

“Madam, why did you only just return?” the servant asked cautiously, his voice tinged with fear.

“Where is that Zhu brat? Drag her out here!” the madam shouted angrily. Huh? Her voice sounded strange—why was it leaking air?

The servant glanced up—and sure enough, two of her front teeth were gone. No wonder her speech whistled. He immediately started trembling.

Seeing this, the madam’s eyes widened. “Where are they?” she barked.

“They… ran away,” the servant said softly, knowing there was no escaping the truth.

The madam nearly fainted from rage. She kicked him hard in the backside. “Useless trash! You couldn’t even keep an eye on a single person!”