Elder Song sighed. Zheng Changhe doted on Jin Ping, almost to the point of obeying her every word. The Zheng family had no elders, so it was just the young couple living together. Zheng Changhe was honest and capable. It was all going smoothly, so who knew what Jin Ping was thinking? Not only did she get involved with Da Hei, but she also wanted to harm the reputation of the Qi mother and daughter. Such a black heart...
Under Zheng Changhe's questioning, Elder Song explained the entire sequence of events and also mentioned the Qi family's contributions to the village. "The original Elder Song's family will be punished according to our Song clan rules. Da Hei is crippled, and Ding Cheng and his wife have promised to keep a close eye on him, ensuring he has no chance to cause trouble again. As for Jin Ping, we called you back to discuss her."
Zheng Changhe was distraught. He couldn't understand why Jin Ping would do such a thing.
He worked hard and earned money, all for Jin Ping to have a good life. He never kept a single cent of his earnings from her. Why...
What Zheng Changhe couldn't bear was why Jin Ping would get involved with Da Hei.
"Changhe, a true man never lacks a wife," Elder Song said, seeing Zheng Changhe's state, he felt sorry for him and couldn't help but comfort him.
Zheng Changhe cried, but no tears came. After a long while, he managed to choke out, "Village Elder, I want to see Jin Ping."
The necessary words had to be said clearly. The village elder nodded, "Alright, I'll take you."
In the backyard of the ancestral hall, the village women were watching Jin Ping to prevent her from harming herself.
Seeing Elder Song and Zheng Changhe arrive, they turned and walked out. Elder Song also patted Zheng Changhe's shoulder, "Say whatever you need to say. I'll wait for you outside."
Zheng Changhe nodded. He looked at Jin Ping, whose face bore scars but still couldn't hide her charm. Her watery eyes looked at him, and Zheng Changhe's heart felt as if it were being twisted by knives. The words were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single one.
They looked at each other. Zheng Changhe finally took out the plum blossom hairpin from his bundle and placed it in Jin Ping's hand.
Then, without a word, he turned and left.
Jin Ping remembered half a year ago when she had pouted at him, "I want a plum blossom hairpin, will you buy it for me? It must be pure silver, not silver-plated. It must be solid, not hollow."
The honest man had agreed without hesitation.
Now she had the plum blossom hairpin, but the honest man was gone.
When she did this, Jin Ping hadn't felt much fear. She hadn't been afraid when she was with Da Hei, and she was quite calm when she was caught and imprisoned. Now, she felt a deep fear and wanted to keep Zheng Changhe, but she knew that no matter how she tried to keep him, he wouldn't turn back.
She clutched the plum blossom hairpin tightly, the tip piercing her palm without her feeling any pain.
Zheng Changhe left the ancestral hall and said in a muffled voice to the village elder, "I still have to go back to work. I'm illiterate. I'll ask the village elder and the village elders to decide."
When he got married, the village elders had helped arrange it. Zheng Changhe didn't want to face the woman he had always cherished in his heart again.
"Alright, I'll have someone write the divorce letter now. You just need to press your thumbprint," Elder Song said.
Zheng Changhe dejectedly followed Elder Song to the Song family. Song Mingze helped write the divorce letter. Zheng Changhe hastily pressed his thumbprint and left.
When the divorce letter was delivered to Jin Ping, Elder Song said with a cold face, "Changhe is kind-hearted and isn't holding you accountable. Otherwise, a woman like you would be drowned in a pig cage. Take the divorce letter and leave quickly. We can't keep you in Xinghua Village. I'll find someone to look after the Zheng family's affairs. Don't think about going back to pack your things. Those are Zheng family possessions, and they have nothing to do with you."
Jin Ping was driven out of the village. Apart from the hairpin Zheng Changhe had given her, she had nothing valuable in her hands.
In the freezing snow, she had nowhere to go. Would she die outside? This was her own doing, and she couldn't blame anyone else. If she had been willing to live a good life with Zheng Changhe, would things be different now? But there was no medicine for regret in this world. She...
She walked aimlessly along the road. The sky gradually darkened. Jin Ping pulled her clothes tighter. It was so cold. If she were at home, she would be snuggled in her quilt right now, warm and comfortable, cracking melon seeds. How pleasant that would be?
Bang—
With a dull thud, Jin Ping staggered and fell. Er Hei, carrying a club, and his mother, carrying a sack, quickly put her into the sack. They lifted it onto a cart. There were already several sacks of things on the cart. Adding one more would make it less noticeable even if someone saw it.
The mother and son pushed the cart and quickly returned home.
Everything that needed to be dealt with had been dealt with. Elder Song felt a bit burdened by the matter, and it didn't cause any ripples. Another matter attracted their attention. The village was going to establish a clan school, and all children of appropriate age in the village could attend, regardless of gender. For those with talent and from poor families, the village would fund them to attend the school in town. For those whose families were well-off, the village would also cover part of the expenses, and all examination fees would be borne by the village. All of this was thanks to the Qi family's generosity, which had given the village a ten percent stake.
Tangible benefits made everyone very happy.
The Qi family's status in the village rose instantly. They were benevolent, remembered their roots, and performed great deeds.
The kimchi business proceeded in an orderly fashion. With Madam Yu helping to manage it, Qi Zhenzhen had nothing to do except prepare the sauce every day. Madam Yun again had the idea of teaching her needlework. After finishing her chores each day, she would keep Qi Zhenzhen in the room and teach her from the basics.
After pricking her fingers countless times, Qi Zhenzhen could finally sew a pouch smoothly with neat stitches, looking like a skilled hand. As for embroidery, it was too advanced and not something that could be learned easily. When Song Mingyue could embroider complex patterns, Qi Zhenzhen couldn't even embroider a blade of grass. In the end, Madam Yun consoled herself, saying that neat straight stitches were also good, and it would be enough to make an inner garment when she got married.
At the end of winter, Zhang Xiaoniu returned. He had grown taller and looked much sturdier. The childishness on his face was gone. He wore a dark blue short suit and was full of spirit.
Zhang Erniu led him home, and Qi Zhenzhen almost didn't recognize him.
Upon seeing Qi Zhenzhen, Zhang Xiaoniu grinned, revealing a row of big white teeth. "Zhenzhen, I can beat ten people now, and those ten people are now under my command. I just sparred with my second brother, and he couldn't beat me. Am I very powerful now?"
He immediately revealed his true nature; he was still the same naive boy.
"You're the most powerful, you're the most powerful. Are you sure Second Brother Zhang can't beat you?" Qi Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow. "Second Brother Zhang is just afraid of discouraging your enthusiasm! Although you have capable people training you in the capital, I'm not bad either. Second Brother Zhang often spars with me and practices every day."
When Zhang Xiaoniu heard this, he pouted and looked at Zhang Erniu with a wronged expression.
"Miss Qi is teasing you. You are indeed very powerful. You are only thirteen years old and started learning martial arts halfway. You are truly more powerful than me. When I was your age, let alone beating ten people, I struggled to beat two," Zhang Erniu explained patiently.