Seeing the nervous and uneasy expressions of everyone, Pan Yu said coldly, "Don't worry, I'm only here today to seek justice for my brother, not to kill indiscriminately. As long as the Jiang family cooperates obediently, I won't detonate the grenades."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
For the sake of their own lives, even if the Jiang family didn't cooperate, the guests present would force the Jiang family to cooperate!
Jiang Mengxin asked, "Tell us, how do you want our Jiang family to cooperate? As long as your request is reasonable, our Jiang family will definitely cooperate unconditionally."
This was also to appease the crowd.
Pan Yu surveyed the surroundings and said calmly, "As the saying goes, a debt must be paid, and a life taken must be repaid with a life. My brother lost his life because of your Jiang family, so I will have your Jiang family repay one life for his! Simply put, I want your Jiang family to offer up a life as compensation for my brother's!"
A life for a life.
To compensate for Pan Yue's life with one life from the Jiang family!
This was an unreasonable demand, practically forcing them to do the impossible; but with Pan Yu and his accomplices wearing over a hundred grenades, no matter how unreasonable the demand, it had to be met.
Jiang Mengxin looked troubled.
If it were money, shares, or even favors, there would be room for negotiation.
But...
How could one possibly negotiate for a life for a life?
She looked at Cao Chunhui.
Old Madam Cao was the head of the Jiang family, and in matters of such magnitude, her decision was paramount.
Cao Chunhui glared at Pan Yu and said, "Your brother is already dead, why must you drag others down with him? Is there any point? If you do this, the police will come after you and sentence you!"
Pan Yu chuckled, "None of that matters! I only want my brother to rest in peace. My brother is dead, and one from your Jiang family dies, a life for a life, it's quite reasonable."
Apart from the Jiang family members, the other guests nodded in agreement.
"It is indeed reasonable. He's not asking for two or three lives, just one. That's very reasonable."
"Old Madam Cao, just pick someone from the Jiang family to die."
"Hurry up, don't delay, lest Pan Yu regrets it and detonates the grenades in a fit of emotion. Then it won't just be one person who dies, we'll all be finished together!"
These people would say anything to save their own lives.
After all, it was a member of the Jiang family who would die, and it had nothing to do with them.
Cao Chunhui's expression flickered.
What should she do?
As the head of the family, how could Cao Chunhui let a member of the Jiang family die? If she did, she would be forever shamed.
The most suitable choice would be: Cao Chunhui herself dies.
Firstly, it would secure her a lifetime of good reputation; secondly, at 80 years old, she had lived a full life in the eyes of others.
However!
Cao Chunhui did not want to die.
Despite being 80 years old, the old lady was still hale and hearty, dancing every day. She hadn't lived enough; sacrifice herself willingly? Hah, absolutely not!
While she was hesitating.
Suddenly, the eldest uncle, Jiang Anzhi, who had been sitting silently in the corner, quietly approached Cao Chunhui.
The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing a sinister smile.
"Mom, what are you still hesitating about? Isn't there a suitable candidate right here?"
Oh?
Cao Chunhui was taken aback, but quickly understood.
The suitable candidate was Lu Ming!
Lu Ming was Jiang Mengxin's fiancé, so he could be considered a member of the Jiang family; more importantly, everyone in the Jiang family disliked this live-in son-in-law, wishing he would die.
Letting Lu Ming die would not only satisfy Pan Yu's demand but also make the Jiang family happy.
Kill two birds with one stone!
Moreover, Lu Ming had offended Cao Chunhui earlier, angering the old lady. Now was the perfect opportunity for revenge.
Cao Chunhui's furrowed brow immediately relaxed.
She had been so conflicted and distressed just moments ago, but now, she was practically beaming.
"Cough, cough."
Cao Chunhui coughed.
She said, "Pan Yu, I think what you said makes a lot of sense. If you kill someone, you must pay with a life; if you owe a debt, you must repay it. Our Jiang family owes you a life, and we should repay it with a life. How about this, we'll compensate you with the life of my granddaughter's fiancé, Lu Ming!"
As expected.
No surprises.
All eyes turned to Lu Ming.
Jiang Anzhi was the happiest. He had planned this to get rid of Lu Ming; after the incident, he would deal with Jiang Mengxin.
Eliminating two eyesores with one plan, how satisfying!
The other members of the Jiang family were also secretly pleased, and no one sympathized with Lu Ming.
Especially his mother-in-law, Xu Qin. Ever since Lu Ming had entered her house, she felt cursed, her luck constantly turning for the worse; if Lu Ming died today, she would definitely go back and have a few drinks to celebrate.
As for Jiang Mengxin, her attitude towards Lu Ming was one of indifference.
The entire Jiang family, except for Jiang Lan, felt no sympathy for Lu Ming.
Jiang Lan's expression changed repeatedly.
She said indignantly, "Grandma, how could you do this? Lu Ming just saved your life, and you're pushing him out to die? Do you have any humanity left?"
"How dare you!" Xu Qin roared, slapping Jiang Lan across the face. "How can you speak to Grandma like that? You wicked child!"
Jiang Lan's face was red from the slap.
Being a daughter herself, she couldn't understand why she never felt an ounce of maternal love.
Tears streamed down her face.
The guests also saw the impropriety of the situation. They felt that no matter how they looked at it, Lu Ming shouldn't be the one sacrificed. Lu Ming had just saved Old Madam Cao, and now he was being pushed out to die. Such an act of abandoning someone after they had served their purpose, of being ungrateful, was truly despicable.
However, no one spoke up for Lu Ming.
Because the guests were now more concerned about their own survival.
If sacrificing Lu Ming alone could save them all, then let Lu Ming die. Whether it was unjust or not, it didn't matter.
At this moment.
Lu Ming's heart was filled with bitterness.
He had done so much for the Jiang family, only to receive this outcome in the end? The Jiang family, how hateful!
Cao Chunhui completely ignored the thoughts of Lu Ming and Jiang Lan.
She continued, "Pan Yu, I've given you my answer, are you satisfied? Go ahead, Lu Ming's life is yours to take."
But who would have thought that Pan Yu wouldn't comply so easily.
He sneered twice, "Old Madam Cao, you're quite the schemer. Lu Ming is merely a fiancé who hasn't yet 'married in.' What relation does he have to your Jiang family? He's surnamed Lu, not Jiang!"
He paused and continued, "Old Madam Cao, I want the lives of your Jiang family members! To be more precise, I want the lives of those surnamed Jiang in your family!"
Upon hearing this, the entire Jiang family panicked.
Not only did they have to be members of the Jiang family, but they also had to be surnamed Jiang, which meant the core backbone of the Jiang family!
This...
Cao Chunhui's face contorted.
She roared, "Pan Yu, don't push your luck!"
Pan Yu snorted, his hand hovering over a grenade pin. "It seems Old Madam Cao is unwilling to cooperate. Fine, shall we all perish together then?"