Chapter 57 Break His Legs

Lin Changning gently put Er Ya down: "Fourth cousin?"

Straightening up, Lin Changning looked heartbroken and indignant: "Fourth cousin, is that how you think of me? What does it have to do with me that Second Uncle was investigated by the magistrate for framing my family? Second Uncle was just unlucky; a few blows of the rod were enough to kill him. As for Third cousin, that's utter nonsense! If I hadn't saved Third cousin by the river yesterday, your family would probably have to hold two funerals today! Fourth cousin, don't you have a clear conscience saying such things?"

Lin Changxiao spat out a mouthful of saliva: "Pah! Last night, when my brother woke up from his coma, he clearly said that you pushed him into the water, Lin Changping! You framed my brother, you deserve to die!"

Lin Changning glared and sneered, "You say I pushed your brother into the water, do you have any witnesses?"

Lin Changxiao paused, meeting the villagers' gazes with some hesitation: "Who doesn't know that our two families are enemies? How could what my brother said be false?"

Lin Changning, who was staring at Lin Changxiao, suddenly laughed: "Then there are no witnesses, it's just my third cousin's side of the story. I also fell into the water and went home last night. According to you, I would say that you pushed me into the water and that I was lucky enough to be able to swim and climbed out by myself."

Lin Changxiao was speechless for a moment: "You!"

Lin Changning stroked Mo Yun's mane and said calmly, "You said it yourself, our two families have a feud. How do you know that you didn't frame me? Fourth cousin has no witnesses, but I certainly did. Several uncles were here last night. You can ask if I went into the water to save Third Brother. If I pushed someone into the water, why would I go through all this trouble? I could have just watched him drown."

The clan elder stepped forward, stroking his white beard: "We can testify to this. Last night, it was indeed Liulang who jumped into the water to save Sanlang and Silang. Your family repays kindness with enmity like this. I'm afraid no one in our village will dare to visit you again. We know you are filled with resentment and anger, but you shouldn't slander Liulang. If it weren't for Liulang yesterday, your family would probably have another funeral today. People shouldn't be so ungrateful!"

"I'm ungrateful? Me! It was clearly him yesterday!"

Lin Changning lost his patience, his face hardening with frost as he coldly inquired, "Wan Jin! What is the crime of attempting to assassinate a high-ranking official of the imperial court?"

Wan Jin looked up and his gaze swept over the villagers, the murderous intent in his eyes impossible to conceal: "Report to the centurion! They should be strangled!"

In an instant, the air seemed to freeze. All the clan elders looked at Lin Changning thoughtfully. This boy had an excellent temperament and would surely be extraordinary in the future. Sanlang was already crippled, so the clan would naturally not help his family anymore. Now everyone knew who the clan would have to rely on in the future. Before, there were always a few who thought that Sanlang could rise again, but now it seemed that Sanlang and Silang could not compare to Liulang.

Whether in terms of interpersonal skills or mental fortitude, neither of Lin Erniu's two sons could match Da Niu's sixth son.

Lin Changning, riding on Moyun, looked down at Lin Changxiao with undisguised arrogance in his eyes: "Although my fourth cousin has been unkind to me, I cannot be unjust. Considering that we are both from the same clan, I will spare his life."

The clan elder nodded: "Sixth Brother is benevolent and righteous!"

They're all from the same village, and their ancestors were mostly from the same family. If they were to be too ruthless, it wouldn't be a good thing.

Lin Changning raised his voice, his gaze sweeping across the crowd of onlookers: "It seems that Fourth Cousin committed this wrongdoing due to excessive grief. After all, we were family a hundred years ago. However, he may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment. Wan Jin! Break his legs! This will teach Fourth Cousin a lesson, so that he will not slander others in the future and repay kindness with enmity!"

"Yes, centurion!"

After Wan Jin finished speaking, he raised his sword sheath high and slammed it hard into Lin Changxiao's joint, causing Lin Changxiao to cry out in pain.

Wan Jin slammed his fists into Lin Changxiao's joints several more times, twisting them until he finally stopped.

"Commander, the execution is complete."

Lin Changning waved his hand, and the men released Lin Changxiao, who had fainted from the pain. They then mounted their horses and stood guard beside Lin Changning.

Lin Changning cupped his hands to the villagers and said, "Thank you all for seeing me off today. I will be returning to Daxing today. I hope you can lend me a hand if you can. I thank you all in advance."

The group of people put aside the frightening atmosphere and rushed to join in. Lin Changning looked at Lin Changxiao lying on the ground with a slightly embarrassed expression. The perceptive elder immediately asked a question.

"Does Liu Lang still have any concerns?"

Lin Changning glanced at Lin Changxiao with a troubled expression: "My third cousin's family treats me like an enemy, as everyone saw today. I'm worried..."

The clan elder waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, everyone witnessed what happened today. From now on, the villagers will be wary of Sanlang's family. Liulang, rest assured, we guarantee that your family will not be harmed."

Lin Changning clenched his fist and bowed again: "Then I thank you all. I have other matters to attend to at Changping Garrison, so I will take my leave now."

After saying that, he led Wan Jin and the others away on horseback.

After watching the group of people slowly disappear down the country road, the clan chief turned to look at Lin Changxiao, his eyes gleaming: "Now everyone has seen it, Silang's family harbors resentment towards Liulang. Our village has finally produced a promising young man. People of the clan should be united and work together. Keeping people like Sanlang and Silang around will only bring harm to the village."

Another clan elder said, "What's so difficult about that? Just remove Lin Erniu's family from the clan genealogy and make them get out of the village. If this family is left alive, who knows who they might harm in the future!"

The clan chief shook his head: "No, if Liu Lang moves people away on his first return to his hometown, and if he rises to a high position in the future, there will inevitably be people who will criticize him for being arrogant and domineering."

One of my uncles was an impatient man: "Then what do you suggest we do?"

The clan chief stroked his beard and said slowly, "Now that Sanlang has fallen into the water and Silang has broken his leg, there are probably no capable people left in the family. We are, after all, one clan. From today onwards, each household will take turns going to take care of Sanlang's family, helping to cook meals and cultivate the fields."

Each family gets a week's leave. Since Erlang's leg injury hasn't healed, they're exempt. However, Sanlang is weak, Silang has a broken leg, and Qiniang and Fubao are too young; none of them can easily leave the village. If they want to go out, everyone should try to stop them.

My family has an oxcart. If Sanlang's family needs anything and needs to go to the county town, they can just tell me, and I'll have my son make the trip. Let's start from my house today. Remember this well, and make sure Sanlang and his family don't get tired from leaving the village!

The villagers weren't stupid; they immediately understood what the clan chief meant: he intended to place Sanlang and his family under house arrest.

After the clan chief finished speaking, he directed his sons to carry the unconscious Lin Changxiao and go with the clan members to Lin Changqing's house.

Upon arriving at the destination, they carried the person back into the house. The clan chief glanced around and saw that no one was in the room, then went into the inner room. It was a tragic story.

The cycle of karma is real. A few months ago, Erniu drove Da Niu's family to the brink of ruin, but now, the sickly Liu Lang has carved out a niche for himself. Meanwhile, Erniu's family has suffered greatly. Erniu was beaten to death with a cane, San Lang's reputation was ruined, Si Lang broke his leg, and Chang Shi and Qiniang are both lying in sickbeds. Human destiny is so fickle.

Who would have thought that Liu Lang, whom everyone thought would surely die at the border, would actually achieve such success? Although San Lang was good at studying, he was ultimately lacking in character.

It's all about timing and fate!