"Jinlin Village is beating people up!" Yao Laoniang wailed, falling to the ground. "Eldest brother, second brother, your mother is being beaten to death! There's no justice! They bullied our Hehua and now they're beating me. Do they think our Yao Cun family is dead?"
Yao Laoniang put on a fierce demeanor today, knowing the Zhan family was in the wrong.
Furthermore, Zhan Laotai was mute and couldn't speak. With the tiger away, the monkeys ruled! Yao Laoniang dared to act so outrageously.
"Who dares to hit my mother!" roared the eldest son of the Yao family, raising his hoe.
The people of Jinlin Village had no intention of interfering in the Zhan family's affairs. They had only come because villagers should stick together and not let outsiders bully them.
However, the Yao family had pushed their luck and even dared to lay hands on Zhan Feiyu. Without any prompting from the aunties, the men of Jinlin Village were instantly enraged.
"Yao Laoda, try moving one step!"
"Damn it, do you think this is your Yao family village? How dare you cause trouble in our village!"
"Grab your weapons and keep the Yao family here! You dare to point a hoe at Xiao Yu? I'll beat you so badly you won't recognize your own parents!"
Uh… Seeing that they had incurred the wrath of the crowd, the arrogant demeanor of the two Yao brothers instantly deflated.
"You wretched woman! The wronged have their accusers, the indebted have their debtors! If you dare take your anger out on Xiao Yu, I'll tear you apart!" Fatty Aunt said ferociously, raising her fist in threat.
"My son…" Yao Laoniang, sitting on the ground, shrieked in fear. She scrambled up, covered in dirt, and darted behind her two sons.
The impact from Yao Laoniang made Eldest Brother Yao loosen his grip, and the hoe clanged onto his own foot, causing him to cry out in pain.
The people of Jinlin Village looked at the three Yao family members with disdain. Such cowards dared to cause trouble in their village.
The Yao family members blushed with embarrassment. If they weren't of the same clan, they would have left long ago. They had brought shame to themselves in front of outsiders.
"Village Chief Yao, Clan Leader Yao, if Xiao Yu loses even a single strand of hair today, don't blame me for being impolite!" The village chief said with a stern face. He had only been polite earlier, did they think he was afraid?
"Anyone who dares to lay a hand on Xiao Yu is an enemy of Jinlin Village!"
"That's right, anyone who dares to touch Xiao Yu will have to step over us!"
"If you want to fight, come at us. You Yao family are truly shameless to bully an eight-year-old girl!"
The villagers of Jinlin Village roared with anger, their overwhelming momentum causing the Yao family members to retreat several steps in fear.
Clan Leader Yao was already seventy years old, but he was an unreasonable old man. He had always been overbearing in the Yao family village. When the people of Jinlin Village embarrassed him, he became enraged. Just as he was about to utter threats, Village Chief Yao grabbed him.
"Village Chief Zhan, you misunderstand. We came to find Zhan Lao Er. Fifth Aunt was also worried about Hehua, so she got a little emotional," Village Chief Yao explained with a smile, his gaze falling on Zhan Feiyu in the crowd.
The young girl wore coarse cloth clothes, but she was clearly different from the other village girls. She carried an air of scholarly nobility. Her eyes were dark and clear, as if all things in heaven and earth were reflected in them, making one dare not be presumptuous.
"If you have something to say, say it. Our village doesn't provoke trouble, but we are never afraid of it!" The village chief said irritably, turning to pat the closed courtyard door. "Zhan Lao Er, open the door! Are you going to hide forever?"
The courtyard door creaked open from the inside. The Yao family members swarmed in, followed by the villagers and the village chief. Only Zhan Feiyu retreated to the back of the crowd.
Gu Daxueshi squinted his eyes and teased, "You're not old, but you seem to have quite a bit of status in your village."
"It's mainly because the uncles and aunties take care of me," Zhan Feiyu said proudly, straightening her small body.
Zhan Feiyu had a talent for studying, so the village and clan naturally protected her, hoping she would help them in the future. As for the villagers, being able to continue selling vegetables to Tai Fu Restaurant was enough.
"The world bustles, all for gain; the world rushes, all for profit. You scholars indeed have some use," Gu Qingzhou said slowly, his tone ambiguous and laced with a hint of mockery.
"Is that wrong?" Zhan Feiyu raised her eyebrows and looked at the crowd of people in the courtyard, laughing crisply, "I'm not their parents. The villagers protect me because there's profit to be made. It's a fair trade, no deception!"
Gu Qingzhou, perhaps surprised by Zhan Feiyu's response, couldn't help but scoff. "As you say, everyone in this world is driven by profit. Filial piety, marital harmony. Brothers are friendly, younger brothers are respectful. The Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues are all absurdities?"
Uh… Zhan Feiyu's eyes widened as she stared at Gu Daxueshi, who had a mocking expression and cold eyes. She couldn't believe such sharp, extreme, and resentful words came from him.
Perhaps sensing his失态 (loss of composure), Gu Qingzhou immediately composed himself and put on his bamboo hat. "Alright, let's go in and take a look."
Shanwazi's mother brought a long stool from somewhere. "Xiao Yu, sit with Auntie and watch the show…"
But her gaze shifted to Gu Daxueshi, who was wearing a bamboo hat. He had the same nose and eyes as anyone else, but inexplicably, Shanwazi's mother felt her words falter. She put down the stool and scurried away.
"Second Uncle Gu, come up and sit." Zhan Feiyu placed the long stool under the persimmon tree and stood on it. She could then sit on the sturdy branches, with her feet on the stool, not worried about falling.
Gu Qingzhou followed suit and sat down. The higher position offered a better view.
"Zhan Lao Er, has a dog eaten your conscience!" Yao Laoniang cursed again, lunging towards Zhan Lao Er, who stood under the eaves. "My Hehua gave birth to two sons for you, and you divorce her just like that? You're forcing Hehua to her death! My poor Dalang and Sanlang, how will they live without their mother…"
Although Zhan Laotai couldn't speak, she immediately rushed forward, grabbed Yao Laoniang by the hair, and slapped her several times.
Instantly, two old women, both over fifty, were locked in a brawl.
Despite her small stature, Zhan Laotai possessed great strength and a more imposing presence. In a short while, she had Yao Laoniang crying out in pain, her hair disheveled as she ran back towards her two sons.
Gu Qingzhou looked at Zhan Laotai, who was panting. She was old, her face covered in wrinkles, thin and gaunt, with a stern appearance that could frighten children. Yet, she dared to fight desperately to protect her son. "A woman is naturally weak, but as a mother, she is strong."
Zhan Feiyu tilted her head and pointed at Yao Laoniang, who was crying behind Yao Laoda. "What about that one?"
Uh… The sentiment in his heart vanished instantly. Gu Qingzhou looked at Zhan Feiyu, who was suppressing a smile, and playfully tapped her head. "Keep your mouth shut and be careful with your words."
"Yes," Zhan Feiyu replied obediently.
In the courtyard, Village Chief Yao looked at Yao Laoniang and the others with disdain. They had some spirit earlier, but now they were as timid as turtles and bastards. If one didn't know better, they would think the Zhan family was the wronged party.
"Enough, stop crying and state your business!" Village Chief Yao reprimanded them, then looked coldly at Zhan Lao Er. "Hehua is your wife. Just because her right leg is crippled, you wrote a letter of divorce, threw her out at the Yao family's doorstep early in the morning? Zhan Lao Er, Hehua is the mother of two children, your wife. Touch your conscience, are you treating her right?"
The people of the Yao family village glared at the heartless Zhan Lao Er. The people of Jinlin Village also showed contempt. No matter how bad Xiao Yao Shi was, she had been good to Zhan Lao Er and their two children. To divorce her so readily was truly disheartening.
The village chief remained silent. If Zhan Lao Er were not a member of the Zhan clan, he wouldn't have come today.
"Village Chief Yao," Zhan Lao Er said with a serious expression, not even looking at Xiao Yao Shi, who lay on the door panel. "They say a virtuous wife brings less trouble to her husband. It's one thing that she has no decorum and causes domestic discord over trivial matters."
Zhan Lao Er raised his voice, his tone filled with sorrow and indignation. "But she dared to slander Xiao Yu in court, was beaten by the magistrate, and almost caused the entire village to lose its vegetable selling business! I cannot afford such a wife! Nor do I dare to keep her!"
Hearing this, the villagers nodded in agreement.
Xiao Yao Shi indeed had no decorum. She would either gossip about Li Shi or curse Xiao Yu. This time, if Xiao Yu hadn't gone to Tai Fu Restaurant to find Master Xie, the entire village's vegetable selling business would have failed.
Thinking of this, the little sympathy they had disappeared. Xiao Yao Shi had brought it upon herself, and deserved it!
"Your second uncle has some eloquence and knows how to stir people up," Gu Qingzhou commented with a smile, turning the villagers to his side in a few words.
Zhan Feiyu was not surprised that Gu Daxueshi knew her situation. "I heard that you were afraid of hardship when studying, and you can only be a true villain in this life. However, thinking from another perspective, at least you won't harm the common people."
Back then, Old Man Zhan had also tightened his belt to support Zhan Lao Er and Zhan Lao San in their studies. Unfortunately, Zhan Lao San only studied for a year, learned a few characters, and then stopped.
Zhan Lao Er, on whom Old Man Zhan and Zhan Laotai had pinned their hopes, was clever and sweet-tongued, but he lacked talent. Moreover, memorizing texts and practicing calligraphy were both dry and tedious. Young Zhan Lao Er only persisted for two years.
Gu Qingzhou looked at Zhan Feiyu, who had a calm demeanor. Facing the people of the old house, the young girl seemed neither happy nor sad, as if she were talking about strangers. It had been less than a year since she was adopted, and these were relatives she had lived with for seven years.
When Zhan Feiyu saw Gu Qingzhou on the mountain, she had already guessed his identity. Firstly, the timing was too coincidental; outsiders rarely visited the village.
Secondly, when he was fishing, Zhan Feiyu noticed the calluses on his fingers, which were from years of holding a brush.
Zhan Feiyu had no intention of hiding her attitude towards the old house from Gu Qingzhou. The Great Qing Dynasty valued filial piety. If a great scholar were here, they would probably scold her severely.
It was also because the villagers had limited vision and only saw the benefits Zhan Feiyu could bring them that they helped her get adopted out. No one paid attention to her cold-heartedness towards the old house.
Seeing the young girl's composed expression, Gu Qingzhou suddenly smiled. "No wonder Yin Wuyan treats you so well. You two are alike."
As for what kind of alike they were, Zhan Feiyu could guess even without Gu Qingzhou saying it. To put it nicely, it was cold-blooded and heartless; to put it bluntly, it was ungrateful.
Looking at the righteous Zhan Lao Er, Village Chief Yao frowned, his expression displeased. "As the saying goes, a wife follows her husband. Hehua married you. If she made a mistake, it's your fault as a husband for not restraining her. Even for the sake of Dalang and Sanlang, you can't divorce Hehua!"
What Village Chief Yao didn't say was that Zhan Lao Er's good reputation in the past was because he let Xiao Yao Shi be the villain while he hid behind and enjoyed the benefits!
But this time, they were here to seek reconciliation. Village Chief Yao dared not speak too definitively, but he looked down on Zhan Lao Er even more.
"Village Chief Yao, Yao Hehua has committed the 'Seven Grounds for Divorce.' Even if I went to court, I could divorce my wife!" Zhan Lao Er's attitude was firm.
Concealing the disdain and disgust in his eyes, Zhan Lao Er said to the numb Xiao Yao Shi, "If you care about Dalang and Sanlang, then stay and live at the Yao family. They are your sons, and they will be filial to you in the future. But if you have a mother like you, let alone Dalang and Sanlang studying for the imperial examinations, they might not even be able to get married!"
Xiao Yao Shi looked up blankly. The bloodstains on her face, from being beaten with a bamboo broom, had scabbed over, forming long, thin black scabs that looked somewhat frightening.
"What did you say?" Xiao Yao Shi's voice was hoarse. After being divorced and sent back to the Yao family, she had become like a fool. Her two sisters-in-law insulted her constantly, and her nephews and nieces pointed at her and cursed her.
Even her parents and elder brothers complained. Xiao Yao Shi wished she were dead, but she didn't dare. She only thought of returning to the Zhan family.
Zhan Lao Er softened his tone. "Tai Fu Restaurant has stopped me from selling vegetables because of you. However, Scholar Zhang said Dalang has made great progress in his studies and can participate in the county examination next February. Master Xie has also not canceled Dalang's engagement with the Xie family. But if you come back…"
With a mother like Xiao Yao Shi, Dalang might be disqualified from participating in the county examination!
Zhan Lao Er is truly shameless! Village Chief Yao looked at the wavering Xiao Yao Shi and wished he could skin Zhan Lao Er alive.
The village chief and some shrewd villagers also realized that Zhan Lao Er was using the two children to threaten Xiao Yao Shi. However, in the end, it was Zhan Lao Er's domestic affair, and they couldn't say much.
"Second Sister-in-law, please pity Dalang and Sanlang. Which girl would be willing to serve a mother-in-law like you? You've been beaten by the magistrate! How embarrassing to spread it around!" Ma Shi, who was standing nearby, interjected with her neck stiffened.
Zhan Lao San glared at her impatiently. "Shut up, what's it to you!"
Ma Shi pouted after being scolded, but she dared not retort to Zhan Lao San. However, she had her own calculations. Second Sister-in-law's leg was lame, and she wouldn't be able to do any chores efficiently in the future. It would be better for Second Brother to remarry a new wife to do the work!
Ma Shi's words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back. Xiao Yao Shi looked at the house she had lived in for over ten years with tear-filled eyes. Dalang should have gone to Zhang family's private school.
The voices of Erlang, Sanlang, and Xiao Niuniu could be heard from Lao San's room. The three children were probably locked inside.
Finally, Xiao Yao Shi looked at Zhan Lao Er, her husband until today, but from now on…
"Mother, let's go back," Xiao Yao Shi closed her eyes, her heart dead.
"You wretched girl, you're going back? Going back where?" Yao Laoniang rushed over, angrily hitting Xiao Yao Shi's back. "You've been divorced, how will your nephews get married? How will your nieces get married? Do you expect your elder brothers to support you? Do you think our Yao family has mountains of gold!"
Head bowed, Xiao Yao Shi's tears rolled down silently. But no matter how much Yao Laoniang scolded or hit her, she wouldn't budge.
"No! Zhan Lao Er, you can't divorce your wife!" Yao Laoniang, having no other choice, yelled at Zhan Lao Er. "If you want to divorce her, fine, but compensate us with twenty… no, fifty taels of silver!"
Yao Laoniang knew that Zhan Lao Er had deposited one hundred and fifty taels of silver in the bank. If he wanted to divorce his wife, he had to pay with money!
"Pah, you old hag, you're dreaming!" Ma Shi, upon hearing about the money, became anxious and cursed back, spitting. "Your daughter was divorced because she committed the Seven Grounds for Divorce. And you still want money? You might as well remarry her and collect the betrothal gifts!"
Village Chief Yao sighed. He knew Zhan Lao Er was a wolf with a dog's heart. He then said to the village chief, "If Hehua dies, it will only implicate Dalang and Sanlang's reputation in the future. Moreover, if this gets out, Jinlin Village's reputation will also suffer. Zhan Xiaomengtong also needs to study."
Xiao Yao Shi was, in any case, Zhan Feiyu's former second aunt-in-law. The reason for her divorce was that she had falsely accused Zhan Feiyu. If she were to die, people would always sympathize with the weak, and the infamy of forcing her former second aunt-in-law to her death would likely fall upon Zhan Feiyu.
When it came to money, the village chief couldn't make decisions for Zhan Lao Er. He said coldly, "Justice is in people's hearts. Yao Hehua's matter cannot be blamed on Xiao Yu. If you people from the Yao family dare to spread rumors, you will be enemies of Jinlin Village and the Zhan clan. Xiao Yu needs to study for the imperial examinations, and if she achieves success in the future, you will regret it!"
The village chief was not to be trifled with. If the Yao family village wanted to threaten Xiao Yu, it was impossible! He could, in turn, threaten Village Chief Yao.
Sitting on the persimmon tree, Zhan Feiyu rubbed her chin with her chubby hand. "I actually didn't think of this."
Zhan Lao Er divorced Xiao Yao Shi on the grounds of her speech. Zhan Feiyu hadn't thought much about it, but now she realized the gravity of the situation. If her former second aunt died, she would have been forced to her death by herself!
Gu Qingzhou pondered with a stern face. If this were exploited by someone with ulterior motives, and Zhan Feiyu bore the infamy of forcing her former second aunt to her death, then she could forget about studying for the imperial examinations.
"Second Uncle Gu, I'll go handle it." Zhan Feiyu jumped down from the persimmon tree.
The village chief, who was arguing with Village Chief Yao, stopped. "Xiao Yu?"
"Village Chief," Zhan Feiyu walked forward and looked at the Yao family members, who were arguing fiercely over money, their faces red and necks thick. "Former Second Aunt is a member of the Yao family. Are the rules of the Yao family village like this? Do women who return to their maiden homes have no way to survive except to starve to death? Then should the Great Qing's laws be changed? Why divorce? Just kill them and be done with it, it's all death anyway!"
"You impudent child, what nonsense are you spouting!" Clan Leader Yao roared, his old face flushed with anger, but he couldn't refute her. After all, the Yao family village was unwilling to take Xiao Yao Shi back.
Village Chief Yao was ashamed, but Xiao Yao Shi's reputation was too notorious, which would affect all the girls in the village. Moreover, given the nature of Yao Laoniang and the others, if Xiao Yao Shi were divorced and returned, she would either starve to death, freeze to death, or be worked to death.
Yao Laoniang dared not act anymore, but she said with a stern face, "You're being a good person, so you support her! If it weren't for you, how would Hehua have been divorced! If Hehua dies, it's your fault!"
"Heaven has compassion for all living things. If your Yao family does not act like humans, we Jinlin villagers will not force people to their deaths!" Zhan Feiyu looked at the village chief and said, "Village Chief Uncle, the village also has abandoned dilapidated houses. They can be repaired and lived in. Besides, there's some dowry. Dalang is thirteen years old this year, and in a few years, he will be an adult."
The village chief pondered and understood Zhan Feiyu's concerns. "Alright, let's clear some more wasteland. Then the village and clan can provide some coarse grains. At least people won't starve to death."
"We don't need the village to provide grain either," Zhan Feiyu said with a smile. She glanced at the slightly reluctant villagers and continued, "Every household needs to sell vegetables, and perhaps we will expand. You can also help out in the vegetable fields."
Xiao Yao Shi's right leg was only slightly crippled, but she could still do the work in the vegetable fields. Some families had more vegetable fields and more work. As long as Xiao Yao Shi was not lazy, someone would be willing to hire her.
Upon hearing this, the village chief understood and smiled, taking over the conversation. "My fourth son is busy harvesting vegetables, and his fifth aunt also needs to help. My few plots of vegetable fields have no one to tend to them."
Xiao Yao Shi suddenly looked up, her gaze complex as she looked at Zhan Feiyu, then pleaded with the village chief, "Fifth Uncle, I'm willing. I'll work for you, and I just need a mouthful of food, not money!"
Who would want to die if they could live! Especially if they could stay in the village and see Dalang and Sanlang.
Moreover, Zhan Feiyu had just said that Dalang was thirteen years old, which gave Xiao Yao Shi a glimmer of hope. She had been divorced, but it wouldn't affect Dalang's studies or marriage. When Dalang became successful, her good days would come.
"What about the money…" Yao Laoniang asked unwillingly. Although she was happy to get rid of the burden that was Xiao Yao Shi, she felt displeased without getting any money.
Village Chief Yao looked at Zhan Feiyu with admiration. He didn't expect the young girl to be so kind, not only not holding a grudge but also helping Hehua stay in Jinlin Village and even finding her work.
"Alright, what money and what not! If you want money, then serve the farm well!" Village Chief Yao glared at Yao Laoniang and the others, saying irritably, "Do you really want to force Hehua to her death? That's your daughter!"
For the Yao family village, this was the best way to handle it. Xiao Yao Shi was divorced, but she wouldn't return to the Yao family village, so the impact on the village girls would be smaller.
Only Zhan Lao Er's expression was extremely gloomy at this moment. He wished he could flay the meddling Zhan Feiyu alive. Her meddling had shattered all his plans!
After divorcing his wife, Zhan Lao Er had planned to remarry. But if Xiao Yao Shi lived in the village, how could he marry? It would be too ugly to cause a scene. The key was that Xiao Yao Shi alive would only cause him trouble, but if she died, it would cause trouble for Zhan Feiyu!
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