Jiang Wan felt quite unhappy.
Although she knew people were complicated, how long had it been? Just over a month, and these people had already forgotten the Jiang family's contributions along the way!
People said to burn bridges after crossing them, but the small mountain village hadn't even distributed land yet, and before they had even finished crossing the river, these people were already eager to pull up the planks and dismantle the bridge. It was truly excessive.
Seeing Jiang Wan's little face tensed with anger, Chen Yuezhi pulled her behind her and looked at the few women radiating jealousy.
"You'd best remember one thing: why did Madam Cheng give silver to the small mountain village in the first place!"
"If my children hadn't saved Madam Cheng, how would there have been any silver from Madam Cheng for the village!"
"And don't forget, the reason you can settle here now is because my family asked Lord Cheng!"
"If you think the houses my Jiang family has built and the items we've bought are an eyesore to you, then go find the village chief and have him sort this matter out!"
Chen Yuezhi was usually very kind to others. During their escape, Jiang Pan had become the village chief, so she had been even more generous, leading these women to believe Chen Yuezhi was easy to bully.
As a result, her blunt words were like merciless slaps to the face, leaving the faces of several women alternately green and pale.
Recalling that Jiang Pan was now working at the yamen, and Chen Yuezhi's status was different from before, one woman quickly reacted and said with a laugh,
"Yuezhi, look at how serious you are. It was just a few jokes, why are you taking it to heart like Wanwan?"
Jiang Wan sneered, "Jokes? Then did you see my mother and me laughing? Do you find it funny? I, a five-year-old child, can hear the malice in these words, can't you?"
"Aunties and elder sisters, don't be so harsh. Don't forget how our Jiang family behaved from Jianzhou all the way here. Our Jiang family has wronged no one. Whether on the road or after settling down, every bit of silver our Jiang family has spent has been earned honestly! You have no right to question, and even less right to pry!"
"Well said!"
The old village chief's voice came from outside the main door.
Everyone turned their heads and saw the old village chief walking in with his hands behind his back, his face stern.
"You ungrateful wretches! After only a few days of peaceful life, you've forgotten everything that happened on the journey?"
"When you couldn't get food on the road, who thought of ways to solve your grain problems?"
"When you were sick or injured on the road, who treated you without taking a single piece of silver?"
"When your grain was stolen, who led people to get it back?"
"When you were surrounded by wolves in the forest, who risked their lives to lure them away?"
"Who led your families, old and young, to this place safely?"
With each question the old village chief asked, the heads of those women bowed lower. Some men standing by watching the excitement also felt guilty and dared not look at the old village chief.
"I knew you would forget these favors sooner or later, but I never expected you to forget so quickly! Before the land earned by the Jiang family's kindness has even been distributed to you, you've already turned your backs! You truly have the nerve!"
"If I had known you were so heartless and disloyal, I wouldn't have let Dapan care about your lives!"
"Without your burden, Jiang Pan's family would be living even better than they are now!"
The old village chief was so angry his chest felt blocked. His gaze swept over the women like knives, then he turned and glared at the men of these women.
Those men quickly stepped forward to pull their wives aside and pretended to scold them, "You damned women, what are you babbling about all day! Hurry up and apologize to Uncle Village Chief!"
The old village chief snorted, "Apologize to me for what? Are you slandering my family?"
Those men then quickly made them apologize to Chen Yuezhi.
"Yuezhi, that... my dog's mouth can't spit out ivory. Don't take it to heart. I really didn't mean anything else, I just said it casually..."
"Yuezhi, I've always remembered your family's kindness. I'm not someone without a conscience, you can't be angry with me."
"..."
Chen Yuezhi listened with a cold face. "Since you say you didn't mean anything else, I will take it as such. If I hear such words again in the future, I will definitely settle accounts with you properly."
The few women looked sheepish and quickly found excuses to leave.
After they left, other women who had come to help or watch the excitement said, "Yuezhi, don't pay attention to them. They're just people who can't get grapes and say they're sour."
"Your family is blessed, and your life will get better and better in the future. Don't bother with them. Live your own life and let them be envious."
Regardless of how sincere these women's words were, Chen Yuezhi smiled back and didn't say much else.
As the furniture was being installed, the caterers arrived with the dishes needed for tomorrow.
A housewarming banquet was naturally to be held for the new residence. Coupled with Chen Yuezhi's apprenticeship, there would certainly be many guests tomorrow.
Madam Cheng had already advised Chen Yuezhi in advance that many important figures would be attending tomorrow, all of whom were coming out of respect for Divine Doctor Jin. Therefore, as Divine Doctor Jin's disciple, she could not fail to uphold this honor.
After discussing with Jiang Pan, Chen Yuezhi allocated a hundred taels of silver for the budget, planning to hold a grand banquet.
However, the couple felt quite uneasy about spending this money.
After all, they had previously said this money was to be saved for their daughter's dowry, and now, after only a few days, they were using it.
When taking out the money, the couple specifically spoke to Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan was speechless and amused. "Dad, Mom, this money is given to you, so you can arrange it as you see fit. You're thinking too far ahead about dowries."
Jiang Pan said solemnly, "Wanwan, don't worry, Dad will find a way to make up for the money spent."
Jiang Wan felt her father's idea was very unrealistic.
It wasn't that she thought her father was incapable, but the reality was before them. Her father's salary at the yamen was three taels a month.
Three taels of silver sounded like a lot, but with their family of seven's expenses, plus the cost of her third brother's education, her father's three taels of silver salary would be good if they could save one tael, and that was assuming no illnesses or disasters.
Further down the line, with the eldest daughter-in-law giving birth and the second brother getting married, none of these could be supported without money.
It wouldn't be easy for her father to fill this gap.
However, she could only think these thoughts in her heart; she couldn't say them out loud, as it would be too discouraging.
As furniture was being installed in the rooms, chefs set up stoves in the courtyard with their helpers and began preparing for tomorrow's banquet. Soon, the aroma of cooking wafted from the courtyard.
While they were busy, a carriage from the Cheng residence stopped outside the Jiang family's gate. Granny Tang alighted from the carriage and smilingly congratulated Chen Yuezhi and Jiang Pan.
"Madam worried that you might be too busy, so she sent this old servant to help out."
Chen Yuezhi knew that Madam Cheng had sent Granny Tang because she feared she might not handle such a large banquet well for the first time.
Touched, Chen Yuezhi first invited Granny Tang into the new house for a tour.
Granny Tang looked around the new house and praised it repeatedly, uttering auspicious words continuously, which made Chen Yuezhi beam with joy.
Jiang Wan, standing nearby, also laughed. As she was laughing, Jiang Wan saw a slender figure standing outside the courtyard.