The son has become a third-ranked scholar and is about to become an official. A great deal of wealth and honor awaits the Fan family, and a great deal of wealth awaits the Lin family members to curry favor with them. It will be a lose-lose situation. Yang Cui can be hurt, but they cannot afford to be hurt.

"Yang Cui, you bitch, you even dare to hit me!" Madam Fan's chest heaved violently with anger. "Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning!"

Yang Cui: "If lightning strikes, it'll strike you first!"

An Dafu said, "Either we do as my niece says, or we'll go around spreading the word that your Lin family is ungrateful, bullies the weak, and is vicious in every way! Let the world see what the family of the third-ranked scholar is like! And let's also remind the world that women should not become daughters-in-law of the Lin family, and men should not become sons-in-law of the Lin family!"

The Lin clan members were terrified.

The Fan family left, and the rumors wouldn't reach the capital, hundreds of miles away, but the Lin family who remained would certainly be affected.

"Chief, if word gets out, it will be difficult for the children to find husbands."

"Yes, it will affect the children's studies too."

...

The Lin clan panicked! They were hoping to get a good marriage for their children through Lin Shikang, so that their children could study hard and succeed! They couldn't let themselves get away with nothing but trouble instead.

Yang Cui then said to the Lin clan members, "Before we've even enjoyed the benefits of Lin Tanhua's success, or benefited from his fame, the reputation of our entire family has already been ruined. The women can't find suitable husbands, and the men can't find virtuous wives. Hehe, it's really funny."

Yang Cui's words struck a chord with the Lin clan members, who were now also blaming Fan and Lin Niu for abusing other people's children.

“Yang Cui, we’ve been relatives and neighbors for so many years, there’s no need to make things like this.” It was Wang Yuhe who spoke.

Yang Cui glared at Wang Yuhe: "If I beat your child like this, would you just casually say it wasn't necessary to do this?"

Wen rolled her eyes at Wang Yuhe: "She doesn't know the pain until the knife cuts her own body."

"Listen to me," Village Chief Zhou spoke up at this moment. "The Fan family and the Lin family went too far today. Yang Cui has nothing to do with you anymore, yet you went to her house and smashed things, even beating her two children like this. If anyone finds a way to make money in the future, you'll all go and smash and rob them. How are we supposed to live? Or are you saying that from now on, only the Lin family can make money, and the Zhou, Yang, and Qi families can't even do a little business?"

Village Chief Zhou's words immediately escalated the conflict between the Lin family and Yang Cui into a claim that the Lin family couldn't stand everyone making money and wanted to oppose everyone.

Yang Cui continued from what Village Chief Zhou had said: "We all know that Lin Tanhua is about to become an official. We ordinary people really can't fight against the officials, but if they are determined to prevent all of us from making a living, then we can't just sit idly by."

Hearing this, many people in the village, including those with other surnames and the Zhou family, had objections. Although they were poor now, who could guarantee that they wouldn't become rich in the future? Did they think that the Lin family would steal their path to wealth?

"That won't do. Why should we take away someone else's way of making money?"

"If you're so capable, why don't you try to earn it yourself!"

“Village chief, you are the village chief, you can’t tolerate this.”

...

Lin Rongguang was furious. How could he not tell that Village Chief Zhou was helping Yang Cui and deliberately stirring up trouble?

He tried to calm his anger: "It's not that serious, folks. Please rest assured, our Lin family would never do such a thing! We have absolutely no such intention! Village chief, please don't exaggerate the situation."

An Dafu shouted, "That's hard to say. My niece is a prime example! She's been blatantly robbing people right at their doorstep. What else wouldn't she do?"

"Pah! What kind of way could she possibly make money?" Madam Fan spat.

Lin Rongguang continued, "This is actually a misunderstanding. It's not what Er Ya and San Ya said at all. They're too young; they must have been instigated by someone to lie. In fact, today, Madam Fan and Madam Niu came specifically to visit Er Ya and San Ya. Although the family ties have been severed, these two children are still members of our Lin family. As their grandmother, Madam Fan was worried and came to check on them. Who knew..."

Lin Rongguang looked heartbroken, but his eyes were defiant towards Yang Cui, as if to say: You're still too green to fight me!

Then, Lin Niu cried out, "I don't know who instigated the two children to talk back to their elders. Yu Hua and I came to see the children with good intentions and to care for them, but who knew... sigh, Yu Hua was a bit too harsh, but it was for their own good!"

"That's utter nonsense!" An Dafu jumped up and down in anger. "You guys have no shame either!"

What do you mean by being instigated? Isn't that just a veiled attack on Yang Cui?

Lin Rongguang added, "Although someone instigated them and the children are ignorant, Fan and Niu really went too far this time. So we've prepared two taels of silver as a token of Fan's love for her two granddaughters. We hope they will behave well in the future and not be led astray."

Yang Cui suddenly laughed, amused by their shamelessness.

"Lin Rongguang, you're really good at lying through your teeth. Did you get your position as clan leader by being shameless?"

"You think two taels of silver isn't enough?" Wang Yuhe said. "It's just a minor injury. Can't a grandmother discipline her own granddaughter? Who hasn't hit their own child before?"

"Bullshit!" Wen cursed directly. "They've severed ties and separated from the family, what does Er Ya and San Ya have to do with her! Don't pretend to be so noble. The marks on the door are so obvious, do you think we're blind and can't see them? A bunch of shameless robbers, don't try to be virtuous while pretending to be virtuous, it's disgusting to look at!"

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