W Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Planting the Blame to the Very End

Cao Manyue, as a daughter-in-law of the family, couldn’t interrupt in this situation. All she could do was stand behind her parents-in-law, doing whatever they said.

Therefore, she had enough energy to observe the surrounding movements. Seeing Ling Xing walk over, she breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully he was alright.

“Brother-in-law, you’re awake. Is there anything still bothering you?”

“Mm, I’m fine.”

Ling Xing walked over, taking a quick glance around. The first thing he saw was Shen Lai standing behind Xu Youfang, his head lowered.

Shen Lai’s face was still swollen and bruised, the result of being beaten and smashed while tied up by that group of people.

If the stones had been slightly bigger, or if they had directly hit his head with force, it was questionable whether Shen Lai would be alive today.

How dare they come to the Shen family demanding justice?

There were about twenty people gathered in the courtyard, of all ages. The seven who had tied up Shen Lai were all there, and the others should be the adults from those families.

The clothing of the leading woman was noticeably different from the other adults. The others wore patched-up, worn-out clothes and were skinny. The hair of both the men and “Ge’er” was tied up with dull, tattered strips of cloth.

However, although the woman’s clothes were also a simple grey, there wasn’t a single patch on them. She also had an old, plain silver hairpin in her hair. In this village where everyone wore patched clothes, it wasn’t hard to tell that her family was well-off.

The woman’s cheekbones and mouth protruded slightly. Fortunately, her cheeks had some flesh, which softened her otherwise harsh appearance. Her eyes were also round, and at first glance, one could see a bit of beauty.

Plus, because her family was well-off and she didn’t have to worry about food and clothing, she looked fairer than the women and “Ge’er” who were constantly working in the fields.

However, the words coming out of her mouth and her aggressive, relentless demeanor were quite frightening.

Her round eyes were wide with anger, turning her eyeballs mostly white, making her look like a vengeful ghost.

Her brows were tightly furrowed, and with one hand on her hip and the other pointing at the Shen family, she spat, “You bunch of poor wretches, how dare you touch my son! Let me tell you, if you don’t pay me money today, don’t even think about having a good life in the future! I’ll make your family miserable!”

Xu Youfang protected Shen Lai behind her, while Shen Chengshan and Shen Gui, the two men, stood in front of them.

The Shen family’s faces were not good. Shen Chengshan was wary of the Fang family. He didn’t mention Shen Lai and Ling Xing’s matter at this time, but asked in a deep voice, “How much do you want us to pay?”

The woman sneered, “Ten taels of silver, by tomorrow.”

Shen Chengshan said in disbelief, “Where would my family get ten taels of silver for you!”

“If you don’t have silver, don’t you have land? That piece of prime farmland is pretty good.” The woman said quickly, clearly prepared.

Shen Gui beside him laughed in anger, “You’re thinking too beautifully. Not to mention whether my family will give it to you, just talking about prime farmland, it sells for at least twenty taels of silver per mu. You want to get it for ten taels?”

The woman cursed, “Damn it, that little slut in your family is shameless and bites men. She throws herself at any man she sees. If you don’t want me to spread the word, then obediently hand over the land to me!”

There was only one household at the foot of the mountain, so the Shen family’s yard was intentionally left large, so they could build more houses later.

Ling Xing usually felt that the yard was spacious enough, but at this moment, he felt it was a bit crowded.

Not because it was filled with people, but because the people were gathered in one place, and the noisy, ear-piercing voices kept ringing, stirring up Ling Xing’s mind with foul language and increasing his irritability.

He didn’t easily get angry, and often thought about making money peacefully.

But when he thought about how Shen Lai was clearly the victim, but was instead being backstabbed by the perpetrator. And having to be verbally humiliated in front of so many people.

And Shen Lai was only ten years old.

His mind was so sensitive and delicate.

Hearing these things, what would that child think in his heart? How uncomfortable he must be.

Ling Xing wanted to go forward, but Cao Manyue grabbed his hand.

Cao Manyue looked at Ling Xing’s face, knowing that her brother-in-law was angry.

She was also angry. She knew in her heart that her youngest brother-in-law was a good child. But more than that, she was afraid of provoking the Fang family.

Seeing Ling Xing disregarding everything and wanting to step forward, Cao Manyue’s anger was completely replaced by panic. Without thinking, she grabbed him and said in a low voice, “Brother-in-law, don’t go. We can’t afford to offend the Fang family. Didn’t you see that our parents don’t dare to say much?”

Thinking that Ling Xing didn’t know the status of the Fang family in Xiao Liucun, Cao Manyue quickly and quietly said again, “The wealthy Fang family is given face by even the village chief. Today, it’s the Fang family’s fourth daughter who married out. Her husband is the shopkeeper of the big grain store in town. The village relies on them to buy grain every summer and autumn harvest.”

Grain was the lifeblood of the villagers. The two harvests throughout the year were the livelihood of a family.

Hearing this, Ling Xing finally understood why those people dared to do such terrible things at the entrance of the village, where people could pass by at any time.

They were unafraid, not afraid of being seen at all.

Someone probably saw, but because the person who did it was the son of the grain store owner, who controlled their economic source, they pretended not to see it.

“Brother-in-law, those big shots have already divided up their territories, and no one interferes with anyone else. The grain from the surrounding villages can only be sold to that grain store. Other stores won’t buy our grain. Autumn taxes are heavy. Our whole family can’t get by with five taels of silver. We really can’t fight for momentary satisfaction.”

Cao Manyue was still trying to persuade him. She was really afraid that the family’s grain wouldn’t be sold and they would lose their income.

What’s more, that Fang Xiuxia was petty. If they really offended her, she would definitely target their family in the future.

Ling Xing only felt cold in his hands and feet. What a terrible place this was. A mere grain store owner could manipulate others like this.

Ling Xing’s whole body was cold and stiff. Xu Youfang also argued with Fang Xiuxia because Shen Lai was being scolded.

As a mother, Xu Youfang couldn’t tolerate her child being arbitrarily insulted in front of her.

Fang Xiuxia didn’t expect the Shen family to dare to refute her. She cursed even more harshly, using all kinds of dirty words, and cursing the rest of the Shen family as well.

She didn’t even spare Ling Xing and the deceased Shen Hai.

“Serves your eldest son right for dying. His early death is retribution! The heavens couldn’t bear to see him alive. That worthless thing is better off dead. And that Ge’er who came for a Wedding to Ward Off Evil is also a short-lived ghost. He’s been lying there for so many days since he entered the door. He won’t live for many days after this!”

No matter how much Xu Youfang was like a village woman, she had still read books, and propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame were deeply ingrained in her heart.

The dirty words and vicious curses coming out of Fang Xiuxia’s mouth, even if she were asked to repeat them word for word, she would find them too filthy to say.

When she heard the deceased Shen Hai being insulted like this, Xu Youfang couldn’t bear it any longer. Her qi and blood surged, her eyes went black, and she almost couldn’t stand.

At this moment, Shen Lai, who had been silent all along, shouted, “I want to sue the officials!”

Zhao Erbao and Zhao Sancai over there also stiffened.

Shen Lai’s eyes were red, and his thin face was full of determination. He stared straight at Fang Xiuxia, “Zhao Erbao and Zhao Sancai didn’t tell you, did they, that they saw my pregnancy mole? And Fang Baogen and the others saw it too. The county magistrate said that if a man over ten years old peeps at a Ge’er’s pregnancy mole, they will be punished.”

The arguing and cursing in the courtyard stopped. It was eerily quiet, only Shen Lai’s resolute voice could be heard, “I’m going to report to the officials. None of them can escape.”

The adults who came really didn’t know about this.

Fang Xiuxia turned her head in surprise to look at her two sons. Seeing that they didn’t dare to look at her, she knew this was true.

She slapped Zhao Erbao, who was closer, “Why didn’t you say there was this thing?”

Zhao Erbao bared his teeth in pain, feeling wronged and confused.

“How would I know Shen Lai would dare to say this in front of so many people! And you didn’t give me time to say it. After you saw the injury on my hand and grabbed me to ask the reason, you were busy gathering the families to come to the Shen family.”

Because of Shen Lai’s words, Fang Xiuxia and her group had to gather together to whisper, discussing what to do.

The Shen family knew that Shen Lai’s pregnancy mole had been seen.

When he came back, Xu Youfang asked Shen Lai.

In order for Shen Lai to marry well in the future, so that he wouldn’t be looked down upon, ridiculed, or suppressed by his husband’s family, the Shen family decided to resolve this matter privately.

Ling Xing was unconscious at that time, and didn’t know about this at all.

He had the original body’s memories, so he also knew the importance of a pregnancy mole to a Ge’er.

Having this thing seen was no less than having one’s body seen naked.

It wouldn’t cause any physical harm, but it would attract a lot of criticism.

And rumors were the most deadly.

Ling Xing was surprised by Shen Lai’s courage and decisiveness. He was defending the dignity of his family in his own way.

Cao Manyue realized that she couldn’t hold Ling Xing back anymore.

She could hear what her youngest brother-in-law was saying. Even if her brother-in-law didn’t break free, she didn’t have the face to continue to hold him back and not let him stand by her youngest brother-in-law’s side after he had defended her like this.

Seeing Shen Lai shout out about the pregnancy mole, Xu Youfang felt heartbroken and cried out, hugging Shen Lai, “Why did you say this, child? What will you do in the future, my little fifth!”

“Mother, did I do something wrong?”

Shen Lai was a little at a loss. He just wanted to shut that person up. He couldn’t bear that person insulting his family anymore.

He also wanted those who did bad things to be punished.

He had no other way but this.

But his mother was crying, so was he wrong?

Xu Youfang couldn’t say whether it was right or wrong. Shen Chengshan and Shen Gui were also silent. The child was still too young, and even if some things were said, he wouldn’t be able to understand.

“Little fifth, you’re not wrong.”

A gentle voice sounded in his ear. Shen Lai felt his head being touched lightly. He looked up and saw his brother-in-law smiling at him.

“Little fifth, you’re the bravest and best child I’ve ever seen. You’re not wrong. Brother-in-law wants to thank you for defending him.”

Whether it was pushing him away at the entrance of the village at the critical moment, preventing him from being hit, or now, saying that he would report to the officials in order to stop people from pestering and insulting them.

Shen Lai smiled. What his brother-in-law said must be right.

Hearing Ling Xing’s words, the Shen family also realized that there was no way to turn things around, after all, the words had already been said.

The most important thing was to comfort the child.

Xu Youfang wiped away her tears, “What are you saying, child? How can it be your fault that you suffered a loss? Mother is just worried that you won’t be able to marry well and have a hard life in the future.”

“Then I won’t marry in the future.” Shen Lai replied without thinking.

He quite liked his family. If he didn’t marry, he could always be with his family. He didn’t want to go to the home of people he didn’t know at all.

“Don’t talk nonsense again.” Xu Youfang’s mouth twitched slightly, her heart filled with deep worry.

Shen Gui hated seeing people cry the most. He didn’t know why his parents had to look like the sky was falling.

“Mother, don’t worry. I, as the older brother, can take care of little fifth if he stays at home. Manyue isn’t the kind of person who can’t tolerate others either. Why worry so much about the future?”

Cao Manyue immediately nodded in agreement, “Yes, mother.”

Whether these words would come true in the future or not, at least they had a comforting effect at this moment.

Shen Chengshan and Xu Youfang asked Shen Lai some details about what happened before. Hearing Shen Lai say that Fang Baogen and the others always scolded and beat him before.

Later, because they couldn’t beat him, they just scolded him.

The couple’s faces changed. No wonder little fifth always came home with injuries before. At that time, they spent all their time earning money to buy medicine, and only thought it was because the child was young and naughty.

They originally wanted to settle things privately and quietly. Now, they thought it would be better to do as the child said.

Yielding everywhere would only lead people to take an inch after gaining an inch.

Especially in this kind of village with mixed surnames. If people really thought they were pushovers, then anyone could come and pinch the Shen family.

The Shen family decided to report to the officials and handle things according to the law.

Fang Xiuxia’s side also came to a conclusion. Only to hear Fang Xiuxia’s sharp voice say, “This Ge’er from the Shen family is young but he knows how to randomly accuse men. He pulled the cloth strip and exposed his pregnancy mole himself, but insisted that others pulled it. He’s truly shameless.”

Ling Xing thought he was hallucinating. How could this person distort the facts like this!

“What are you saying? I personally saw that bad thing in your family grabbing my little fifth’s hair!”

Fang Xiuxia retorted subconsciously, “You were dizzy, which eye did you see it with?”

Afraid that there was something she didn’t know, Fang Xiuxia forced Zhao Erbao and Zhao Sancai to tell her everything, and that’s when she found out that Ling Xing was knocked unconscious by her third son.

Ling Xing was speechless. He swept his gaze over the crowd opposite him and laughed in anger.

They had agreed to deny everything to the death, and to plant the blame to the very end.