Chapter 8

Zhang Xiu’s husband, Li Dashan, had a relationship with the Village Leader’s family, and they had a relatively close relationship compared to other families. After entering the house, he shouted out at the top of his lungs, “Uncle? Are you in?”

The Village Leader’s house is the best house in the village, it has blue bricks and tiles. It looks neat and spacious. The front yard has a jujube tree and a pomegranate tree planted in the front yard, symbolizing many children and many blessings. When the weather warms up in spring, it is very vibrant. At the moment, a middle-aged ger came out of the house, he had a kind face, and smiled at the sight of a visitor. With a laugh, he joked, “It’s Ah-Xiu from Dashan’s family, what is the matter? Is there something burning your bottom?” The relationship between them was good enough to joke around.

“Nothing’s burning my ass.” Zhang Xiu’s face was very expressive, “Is Uncle at home? The Zhao family is making trouble, let Uncle rush over to save people. Otherwise, Brother Ming and his son will both be tortured to death by the Zhao family.”

“Bah, what is this talk about death at the beginning of the new year.” It is unlucky to say such words before the end of the first month, but the other side continued speaking. “The Zhao family is up in arms, can you go over to do damage control? Two days ago, it was rumored that Grandma Zhao forced Brother Ming to remarry in exchange for silver.” During slack time in the farming season, what is there to do in the village? These things are spread quickly, and the Village Leader’s wife had already been informed by people he knew.

As soon as he finished, a serious looking middle-aged man walked out. He was more majestic when compared to ordinary farmers. “This Zhao family is too shameless. Let’s go and have a look together. It’s only the first month and they want to kill people.” It had already happened and the person had just died, this was really discrediting to Pingshan Village. Old man Zhao was a good man, but he didn’t marry a good wife. This wife became more and more arrogant without his husband. If it wasn’t for the face of the scholar, Zhao [Pingchuan], the village leader wouldn’t bear that old ger.

“Go, let’s go. I’m not like others who are afraid of Grandma Zhao’s tricks. I’m not afraid. This kind of person is like hob meat. (1) Ah-Xiu, you go first, your uncle will slowly follow behind.” Madam Li patted his sleeves. His husband raised his foot and walked out at a glance. He also knew that his husband was impatient to deal with the old mother, so he had to go over, but he was not afraid.

“Okay, Uncle, you can’t really be slow, it’s best to call the other clan elders together for everyone to comment. So that Grandma Zhao will not toss you again.” Zhang Xiuhuan replied with joy.

The Village Leader’s wife gave Zhang Xiu a strange look and poked his forehead with his finger. This was something he had considered in his head, but forget it, he also knew that Xiu’er was a kind ger. Thinking about the third Zhao son, he honestly did not like this poor man. Although the two boys in his family were also studying, they still did not forget to do farmwork. Even if they fly up to heaven, they did not forget their original roots.

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On the west side of the village, the movement at the Zhao family’s door is too great and even the men have gathered to watch.

When Zhang Xiu, the Village Leader and his wife, who were a step slower, rushed over they heard Grandma Zhao’s howling cries.

“…Why did you die so early, leaving me, an old mother, to be bullied? What is the purpose of my exhausted life? Today the sky is thundering, the son has come to the door to bully me. Open your eyes and have a look, are we allowed to keep living. Why don’t you just hit me and let me die here today…”

“This broom star killed his biological mother and also killed his father. My Zhao family kindly married him. After passing the door, I didn’t think that within a few years, my second child was also killed by him. What did he do when he married into my Zhao family? He didn’t respect this old ger and even hooked my second child away from the family. Now this slut is not at peace. Why aren’t you at home honoring your husband, but instead come to your mother[-in-law’s] house, making so much noise and disturbing the family.”

Grandma Zhao sat on the ground with tears and snot running down his nose. His hair was a mess and there was dirt on his clothes. While crying and hitting the ground with his hands, his eyes glared fiercely at Tang Chunming, wishing to eat his meat and drink his blood. Dare you to bully him.

The third Zhao son’s face was flushed red, not knowing whether he was angry or ashamed. “Ignorant brother, it’s no wonder that the saints say only brothers and villains are difficult to raise. It doesn’t matter if you humiliate this scholar, I don’t know much about you, but you shouldn’t disrespect your elders. Quickly apologize to your mother. Although your husband is gone, since your mother is an elder, he will be your master.”

“What the third brother says makes sense, doesn’t it? Look at how far you are pushing your mother? Are you worthy of your mother’s painstaking efforts to raise Dahu? Are you worthy of Dahu, who is devoted to filial piety to the elderly? Mother, you still have Daniu and the third brother, don’t think about it. Husband, what are you doing? Come here and help mother up, how can your heart be so cruel!” Wang Chunhua appeared again after sometime, with a look of resentment blaming Tang Chunming, as if he was about to force Grandma Zhao to death. The eldest son of the Zhao family hid in the house. When his brother’s wife came to make trouble, no matter what he said when he went out, he would get a lot of benefits.

“This is why Dahu treats him like a treasure, and doesn’t even want to even think about going back to his maternal mother’s house. It is because of this person…tsk tsk.” The wife of Li Conggen who was watching the excitement spoke leisurely. Everyone knows that Li Conggen’s wife and Wang Chunhua recently hung out together. These meaningful tuts and unfinished words make people involuntarily associate Tang Chunming’s poor relationship with his maternal family. It is well known that he has a stepmother. Does this mean that Brother Ming is really unfilial?

These voices caused Grandma Zhao to roll on the ground even more and the howls were more hoarse. Some older guys who came over could not help feeling that Tang Chunming had done a little too much, to have forced the elderly to this extent. If the young gers in the village learn this behavior, who will take care of them in the future?

There were some voices that were biased towards Grandma Zhao, “Brother Ming, although Dahu is gone, you are still from the Zhao family. Why does the family not close the door and discuss it, look at how this old ger is.”

“Yeah, a ger kneels and begs the younger uncle. What does this look like? Don’t they know to avoid suspicion.”

Grandma Zhao and Wang Chunhua became more proud of them when they heard these voices. Today, they are going to kill Tang Chunming’s wind, let the village and the Zhao family grind this person down. Even if they fly to the heavens, they will tear this person down!

However, some young gers who still prefer Tang Chunming and his son. Why is it that this pair of mother and son are so thin they look like they are about to faint? How can they compare to the healthy looking Zhao family, especially Grandma Zhao and Wang Chunhua? The fat on the body is so much that it is shaking and they don’t know how much meat is stuffed into that stomach.

Tang Chunming was not surprised at the reaction of the old people in the village. He also grew up in the countryside. Some old guys relied on their old age to oppress others. They would stir up three points if they were unreasonable, and suppress the arrogance of the younger generations at home and in the village. Otherwise, who will listen to their old words one by one? What status do they have at home and in the village?

Tang Chunming just didn’t believe in this evil, and he wouldn’t have thought about having a peaceful life if he didn’t clear up this relationship today.

He did not kneel anymore, got up from the ground neatly, and put the son in his arms into Ah-Rong’s arms. He kept stopping Ah-Rong from arguing with these people. It was not worth paying attention to these kinds of people. Ah-Rong, he knows the importance of reputation to scholars in this ear. He dares to make trouble today because he knows that the third child of the Zhao family will be taking the exam soon.

Tang Chunming confessed to Tang Chunrong, “I’m optimistic about Ah-Lin. Don’t come over, otherwise I have to worry that these people will hurt Ah-Lin. These people can’t bully me, so don’t mix with them.” Tang Chunrong was pushed aside, Ah-Lin cried out and Tang Chunming couldn’t bear to embarrass his son again.

“I…” Tang Chunrong was extremely embarrassed, but he had nothing to do with such a sloppy old mother.

“Let me do what I need to do, take good care of Ah-Lin.” After pushing Tang Chunrong again, Tang Chunming turned to face these Zhao family members. He saw that some more people had gathered, including Zhang Xiu and since the Zhao family doesn’t want their face, he will strip them all.

“Eldest brother and third brother, I don’t dare to admit that I don’t honor the elders. Who cultivated the Zhao family’s land? Whose family is the most filial throughout the year? Everyone in the village has big eyes. You can make things up but are they really blind?”

“Third brother, why did Dahu die? Do you want me to say it again? Third brother, you are a scholar, and you have to pay to study at the beginning of the year and are going to take part in the government examination. Do you know how much money Grandma told Dahu that was needed? Twenty taels! Twenty taels, brother, you are a scholar, tell me how can your second brother’s family come up with twenty taels of silver? What else can he do besides risking death in the deep mountains and old forests?”

This is something that everyone doesn’t know. If you have a strong nature, you won’t spread the difficulties of your family everywhere. At most, he muttered a few words to Zhang Xiu, but he wouldn’t openly talk about it. Only gritted his teeth and endured everything.

“You…you…” Of course Zhao Pingchuan knew about this, but in his opinion, this is what the second brother should do, otherwise, how can he enjoy his blessing in the future? Is it possible for him to raise money for himself as a scholar? But he also knows that he couldn’t say this, “I am a scholar, and I don’t care about these yellow and white things with you. You are trying to stain this scholar!”

“Ha,” Tang Chunming said with a mocking voice, “Yellow and white things? Are you a scholar? Don’t eat, don’t drink? What do you wear? Where did the money for the fees you paid come from? Why didn’t you think of the yellow and white things when you entered the restaurant to eat in the restaurant? Tell you, these things you look down on for all your schooling, they are exchanged for your second brother’s blood and flesh. I know you looked down on your second brother as a vulgar person, so why don’t you have a little ambition and don’t use your second brother’s yellow and white things?”

There was a mockery all around. It was not the first day that the third Zhao looked down on the country folks. The things that this scholar ate, drank, and wore, were they not earned by farmers. In the past they would feel as if they were inferior, but now Tang Chunming’s words were in their hearts, and they were all comfortable.

Zhao Pingchuan was about to fall into the darkness, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Grandma Zhao stopped rolling on the ground as soon as she saw the situation, and got up from the ground, pushing Wang Chunhua. Who had been pretending to comfort him, forcing him to stagger and almost fall. Grandma Zhao rushed over bitterly, “You broom star, I will tear your mouth apart. When is it your turn to talk about my Zhao family’s affairs, Dahu is meat that fell from my body. I can drink his blood and eat his meat. He dare not say anything?”

Tang Chunming was not afraid of him playing sideways, and pointed his stomach at him and said, “Come on, just hit my stomach, anyway you want to sell me for fifteen taels of silver. Just kill the one in my stomach so that I can be changed into silver. There is also Lin’er, who you can sell for ten taels. Just selling us mother and son and you have twenty-five taels. Enough for the little uncle to go out to spend, as long as my uncle doesn’t dislike this silver being stained with the blood of an unborn nephew.” Tang Chunming calculated for the third Zhao son.

Grandma Zhao lowered his head and rushed over. He was about to hit Tang Chunming’s stomach, some of the onlookers screamed, and some were about to rush to stop Grandma Zhao, but none of them moved as fast as Zhao Pingchuan. In a flash, Grandma Zhao slammed into a person, and then there were two consecutive wailing noises.

Grandma Zhao was short and squat, and he tried his best to kill Tang Chunming, so he really slammed this person into the ground. Zhao Pingchuan fell to the ground in embarrassment, pain shot all over his body, but he didn’t care. He hurriedly shouted to his old mother, “Mom, what are you doing? Even if he is wrong, he is also the second brother’s husband, and he is carrying the second brother’s child in his stomach!”

If he really hit him, the accusations against Zhao Pingchuan could no longer be erased. Others will say that Zhao Pingchuan forced his brother’s wife and his nephew to death for the sake of silver. Even if he achieves fame, his reputation will be stained. Whether he can keep reputation now is the current problem. He can see the reason Tang Chunming, who has always been submissive, has come for today is to tarnish his reputation. However, even if he knows this, there is nothing he can do now. Although he did not do a lot of things, in the eyes of others, what his mother wants the money for, is it not for him?

“Nonesens! Who is going to die? Who is going to sell it for twenty-five taels of silver?”

The scene was in a mess, some people had rushed out to protect Tang Chunming and others rushed to stop Mrs. Zhao. At this time, an angry voice rang out, and everyone looked back and saw a dark face. Standing there gloomily, behind them was the prestigious old man in the village.