Zhou opened her mouth and wailed, "Oh, heavens, open your eyes and see! This is pushing our entire family to the brink of desperation!"
Fourth Lang, Fifth Lang, and Jiang Yu followed suit, crying without shame.
The old village chief, already severely injured and lacking energy, found himself unable to bear their crying and clamoring. Finally, he said helplessly, "Alright, stop the fuss. This time, I won't hold it against you. If there's a next time, your family will pack your belongings and get out!"
Upon hearing the old village chief change his tone, Zhou immediately fell silent and, with her children, went to untie the second son of Jiang. Then, they swaggered away.
The villagers were quite displeased, but since the old village chief had spoken, they couldn't say much.
The old village chief turned to Jiang Pan and said, "Endure them one more time, there won't be another."
Jiang Pan said helplessly, "Uncle, why bother? Just kick them out, and it'll be over."
The old village chief waved his hand, "Forget it. Truth be told, Jiang Deng didn't truly intend to harm me. It was just a subconscious reaction. Times are tough now. If I really drove their family out, I fear I wouldn't be able to live with myself."
Jiang Pan could only sigh, "Alright then, I'll follow your arrangements, Uncle."
The old village chief patted his shoulder with relief, "From now on, our village will follow you. You must lead everyone to the right place."
Jiang Pan nodded heavily, "I will."
While the handover between the old and new village chiefs was underway outside, Er Lang also woke up in the Jiang family's carriage.
Chen Yuezhi reached out and touched his forehead, "The fever has finally broken."
Er Lang had been truly frightened yesterday. Not long after being subdued by Jiang Wan, he developed a high fever and talked nonsense all night, keeping Chen Yuezhi awake.
"Mother, did you stay up with me all night?"
Jiang Wan poked her small head in from outside the carriage, "What do you think? Second Brother, I never realized you had a hero's dream. Last night, when you were delirious with fever, you were still shouting about eliminating evil and helping the good."
Her words were not unfounded. Last night, when Er Lang was delirious with fever, he had indeed said this, and with a spirit of chivalry.
Er Lang chuckled, "I never thought about being a hero. I'd rather be a great general!"
Chen Yuezhi slapped him, "Why don't you wish to be an immortal?"
Er Lang said seriously, "Immortals are fake, but generals are real! I just want to be a general!"
Chen Yuezhi reprimanded him, "Don't talk nonsense! Are immortals something you can just make fun of? You're so disrespectful!"
Their family had received much favor from the old immortal. If the old immortal heard such words, he might be displeased.
Chen Yuezhi quickly clasped her hands in prayer, "Esteemed immortals, my son is ignorant. Please do not hold it against him."
Jiang Wan's mouth twitched, feeling a bit guilty. What if her parents found out the truth later and beat her?
Forget it, it's better if they don't know!
Er Lang curled his lips, thinking his mother was probably a bit crazy.
When Jiang Pan returned, Jiang Wan happily pounced on him, "Congratulations, Father! No, congratulations, Village Chief Jiang!"
Jiang Pan smiled and picked her up, "Congratulations to Wan Wan as well, for becoming the village chief's daughter. When you grow up, you'll be the village beauty of our Little Mountain Village!"
Village beauty...
Jiang Wan inexplicably pictured a silly girl with rosy cheeks and a large red flower on her head, and her mouth twitched.
Thanks, but I'm not particularly keen on it.
Chen Yuezhi was also very happy. Her husband had achieved something, and she felt her back was straighter than before.
The elder sons, of course, were also very happy, especially Da Lang.
There was a rule in Little Mountain Village that the position of village chief was passed down from generation to generation. The previous village chief had passed it down to him from his ancestors. Now that Jiang Pan had become the village chief, it meant that Da Lang would be the next village chief.
What man doesn't have ambitions?
Farmers have no other skills. Becoming a village chief is considered a great blessing.
Da Lang felt his future was bright, and Su Shi had a similar idea. The young couple were so happy their mouths couldn't close.
"Father, now that you're the village chief, should we have a celebration?"
Jiang Pan glared at Da Lang, who made the suggestion, "Are you afraid others aren't already envious enough?"
After their family left the village, what incident along the way hadn't made the villagers jealous? Although everyone was willing to let him be the village chief now, it didn't mean they didn't have other thoughts in their hearts.
As a person, it's better to be low-key.
Especially in this environment, if their family was too prominent, it would attract hatred.
If he were still like before, a little high-profile wouldn't matter, as it was all based on individual ability.
But now that he was the village chief, every move was being watched. If the villagers saw his family eating meat every day and then came to him, how would he handle it?
Didn't the old village chief's family always maintain a similar standard to the villagers?
This was all about wisdom!
Jiang Pan looked at him and Su Shi, "It's best if you keep your little thoughts to yourselves. Don't even mention how long I can be village chief. Even if I truly hold the position permanently, you shouldn't be too eager. People are best off having other skills, otherwise, if a change occurs, you won't even know how to establish yourselves!"
Da Lang was so reprimanded he couldn't lift his head, and Su Shi dared not utter a word.
Chen Yuezhi quickly said, "Look at you, why are you saying such things! Aren't we all happy! But what you said is also reasonable. At this time, it's indeed not suitable to be too conspicuous. Let's remain as we were before. Don't change your minds just because your father became the village chief, or people will look down on you, understand?"
Da Lang, Su Shi, and Er Lang all nodded quickly.
San Lang was indifferent; he didn't think it was anything to be happy about that his father had taken over such a hot potato.
Jiang Wan was a little surprised, not expecting her parents to be so wise and insightful.
While the Jiang Pan family chose to be low-key, Old Man Jiang's side was filled with sourness.
The second son of Jiang, having been tied up for a day and a night, felt extremely numb and uncomfortable after being freed, groaning incessantly.
Zhou gritted her teeth and said, "Jiang Pan is too ruthless. You are his own brother, and he treated you so harshly!"
The second son of Jiang said sarcastically, "If he hadn't done that, would the village chief position have fallen to him? Hmph, I never realized he was so good at flattering. Look how he's charmed the village chief; I almost suspect he's the village chief's biological son!"
"You scoundrel, what nonsense are you spouting!"
Old Man Jiang's face turned dark with anger. Wasn't that implying he had been cuckolded?
The second son of Jiang knew he had spoken incorrectly and shrunk his neck, "Father, how do you think we'll get by in the future? Now that he's the village chief, he might find ways to make things difficult for our family. Those sycophants in the village who kick people when they're down will surely make things difficult for us to curry favor with them."
Zhou also said, "I'm worried about that too. They already hold grudges against us and will surely take the opportunity to cause trouble."
Liu Shi couldn't listen any longer and said, "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Eldest Brother and his family are not that kind of people. They have never actively made things difficult for you, it's not that you..."
"Liu Shi, shut up!"
The third son of Jiang stopped her, "You talk too much!"
Zhou then looked at Liu Shi sarcastically, "Some people, really, I never realized they could be so good at shifting with the wind."