The wooden door was pulled open, and six eyes met.
The old woman was a bit embarrassed, but she recognized Wang Shoucheng. Seeing that her husband was not with him, she immediately became anxious, "Why did you come here? Where is my old man?"
Wang Shoucheng braced himself and said, "Old woman, there was a problem with the transfer, and the old man was arrested."
The old woman's vision went black, and she swayed twice.
Lu Nianfu, afraid she would fall, quickly helped her up. "Elderly one, please don't rush. The old man just cried out twice at the yamen. It's not a big deal, and he'll surely be home soon."
"How could he possibly come back? That beast has been eyeing my shop for more than a day. Now that he's finally arrested the old man and hasn't gotten the shop, he won't give up. If I had known this, we might as well have given him the shop earlier." The old woman beat her chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
At this moment, a heavy thud was heard from inside the house.
The old woman's sobbing stopped, and she rushed into the house with her small feet.
Lu Nianfu and Wang Shoucheng hurried to follow. When they entered, the old woman was embracing a young man and crying bitterly. An old woman and a disabled man sat on the ground crying, the wheelchair beside them making their plight even more tragic.
Even Lu Nianfu, who had guessed that there was a story behind the shop, was stunned.
Wang Shoucheng righted the wheelchair. After they had cried enough, he quietly stepped forward and helped the man on the ground back into the wheelchair. "Alas, please don't cry. Let's think about how to get the old man back first."
The old woman wiped her tears. "I'll take the land deed and find that beast. Doesn't he just want the shop? I'll give it to him."
"Why, Grandma? He killed sister. I'd rather die than let him succeed."
"Don't talk nonsense. You're the only descendant of our Fan family left. If anything happens to you, how can your grandfather and I face your parents and ancestors with honor? I'll go and appease him, and perhaps we can get a doctor to look at your leg. If we delay any longer, your leg will be truly crippled."
They had planned to secretly sell the shop today and flee with their grandson, but something like this had happened. The old woman was truly scared. Now that they had only lost a granddaughter, if they resisted further, they feared they would all end up dead.
Lu Nianfu couldn't help but ask, "What happened to your leg?"
"I was hit by a carriage a while ago. It's hateful that Jian Shizhao, to force us to comply, sent people to guard our door, not allowing any doctors to come and treat my grandson."
"Old woman, this is the capital city. How dare he be so arrogant? Have you never thought of reporting it to the authorities?"
The Qi Ying Marquis's mansion had considerable influence, but to say it could cover the sky with one hand was probably a stretch.
The man in the wheelchair snorted, "What's the use of reporting to the authorities? I filed a lawsuit at Shun Tian Prefecture this morning, and I was hit by a carriage this afternoon. I couldn't even get a doctor, so how can I sue anyone?"
Lu Nianfu said, "This is all very vague, and I can't understand it. Why don't you tell me in detail? Perhaps I can help."
The old woman sighed, "Forget it. This is probably our Fan family's fate. Miss, I appreciate your kindness, but... alas, you should go back. I still have to go to the Qi Ying Marquis's mansion. It seems this shop is not meant for you."
"Grandma, don't go."
The old woman stroked his face. "Grandma doesn't want to either, but my foolish grandson, don't you see? We have no other options left."
The two were immersed in their own desolate world and no longer listened to Lu Nianfu.
Lu Nianfu, helpless, raised her voice and stated plainly, "My husband is the newly appointed Minister of Justice. If you truly have a grievance, go to the Ministry of Justice. He will surely bring you justice."
The grandmother and grandson both looked at her. After a while, the old woman tentatively asked, "Really? You will really help us?"
"Of course, after all, I genuinely want to buy this shop."
Fan Zizhou said, "However, the Vice Minister of Justice is the eldest young master of the Qi Ying Marquis's mansion."
Lu Nianfu: ...
No wonder they could not find justice.
She said, "I don't like to force others. Although I like this shop, it's not the only one. Think about it carefully. If you need help, come and find me at the Guangling Marquis's mansion. I can't promise anything else, but your petition will absolutely reach the Minister of Justice safely."