Jiang Ling turned around and saw County Chief Duan standing not far away, smiling at her.

Jiang Ling led Jiang Suihe to Magistrate Duan's side. Just as they were about to bow, Magistrate Duan stopped them. Jiang Suihe politely greeted him as "Magistrate."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Duan beamed with delight, his eyes practically squinting shut.

"Your Excellency, what business do you have with me?" Jiang Ling asked.

"Yes, there is something I need to tell you about. It's about your younger brother, Jiang Zhishan. I was planning to tell you when I went to Lujia Village in a few days, but it seems we're destined to meet here!" Magistrate Duan said.

"Your younger brother can go back to the academy to continue his studies next week. Those troublemaking students have already been warned by the teacher!" Magistrate Duan added.

After hearing this, Jiang Ling did not thank Magistrate Duan, but asked instead, "Is a warning enough? What if my brother encounters this again in the future? As you know, Magistrate, our family has no power or money, how can we fight against those spoiled brats from Ningfu Academy?"

Magistrate Duan looked at Jiang Ling and asked, "Jiang, what do you intend to do?"

"First, make those students sign a guarantee. Second, make them come to Lujia Village to apologize to my brother!" Jiang Ling's tone was neither humble nor arrogant, but it startled Jiang Suihe, who quickly tugged at her mother's sleeve to signal her to stop talking.

"Very well! I agree! In three days, I will personally lead those students to Lu Family Village!" Magistrate Duan nodded repeatedly in agreement after hearing Jiang Ling's request.

Jiang Ling thanked Magistrate Duan again, and then led Jiang Suihe toward Uncle Lu's oxcart.

Back in Changning Town, Jiang Yaojie and several village women were waiting for Uncle Lu's oxcart at the town gate. Jiang Ling could see Jiang Yaojie's excited expression from a distance.

As Jiang Ling had expected, Jiang Yaojie excitedly told her as soon as he got on the oxcart, "Mother, Mother! I! I've secured deals for two places!"

Jiang Ling was slightly surprised after hearing this. Jiang Yaojie was just a teenager, and this situation was completely unexpected. She nodded in satisfaction and praised Jiang Yaojie a few times.

Just as Jiang Ling got home, before she could even tell Jiang Zhishan the news, there was a loud banging on the front door.

Grandma Jiang stood outside the door with an angry expression, followed by the village chief of Jiangjia Village and several middle-aged men.

"Zhishan! Zhishan! Zhishan!" Old Mrs. Jiang shouted towards the door.

Jiang Ling wanted to stop her, but looking at the people behind Grandma Jiang, she ultimately didn't say anything.

Jiang Zhishan rushed out. When Old Madam Jiang saw the dark gray coarse linen clothes Jiang Zhishan was wearing, she immediately slapped her thigh and shouted, "That damned man abuses you so much that he makes you wear such tattered clothes!"

Jiang Zhishan sighed and rubbed his temples helplessly, saying to Old Madam Jiang, "Mom, stop yelling! It's embarrassing! This outfit is a new one that my eldest sister had someone make for me, what's wrong with it!"

"Hmph! It's only natural that that little harlot made clothes for you!" Upon hearing that the clothes were made by Jiang Lingxin, Old Madam Jiang rolled her eyes and muttered something else.

"Mother, what are you doing here so aggressively?" Jiang Zhishan asked, frowning as she looked at the village chief behind Old Madam Jiang.

"Son, I've come to persuade you to go to school. You can't stay in this slut's house any longer. What if you fall behind in your studies?" Old Mrs. Jiang grabbed Jiang Zhishan's arm and tried to drag him back.

People nearby came running when they heard the news. Seeing that Jiang Zhishan was about to be taken away by Grandma Jiang, they immediately started talking all at once: "Grandma Jiang, you should at least be reasonable. Zhishan is so old. Shouldn't you ask his opinion about whether he should go back or not?"

The villager who said this also had his own selfish motives. After all, his child had only been learning to read from Jiang Zhishan for a few days, and if Jiang Zhishan left now, his child's studies would be completely ruined.

"Get out of my way! Who do you think you are, daring to talk back! Jiang Zhishan is my son, he has to listen to me!" Old Mrs. Jiang shouted angrily, then grabbed Jiang Zhishan and tried to pull him outside!

"Mother! Don't let go of me! I won't leave!" Jiang Zhishan said, breaking free from Old Madam Jiang's arm.

"You!! Was it this little hussy who instigated you not to go back?!" Old Mrs. Jiang immediately turned her anger towards Jiang Ling and began to scold her.

Jiang Ling was too lazy to argue with the old lady, so she rolled her eyes at her and leaned against the door, intending to continue watching the commotion.

"Mother! That's my eldest sister! How could you insult her like that!" During the time Jiang Ling had been with Jiang Zhishan, Jiang Ling had taken good care of her. Thinking of everything that had happened before, Jiang Zhishan frowned and said unhappily.

"Oh! Jiang Ling, you little whore, what kind of bewitching drug did you give your brother!" Old Mrs. Jiang continued to humiliate Jiang Ling.

"Mother! I'll get angry if you say that again!" Jiang Zhishan said coldly, flicking her sleeve.

Seeing Jiang Zhishan's anger, Old Madam Jiang immediately began to show weakness. She grabbed Jiang Zhishan's sleeve and said in an almost pleading tone, "Zhishan, what's wrong with you! I beg you, come back with me! Let's go back to the academy to study, okay!"

"Mother, to tell you the truth, I've been expelled from the academy! Forget about taking the exam, even going back to the academy to study again is a pipe dream!" Jiang Zhishan knew she couldn't hide it any longer, so she simply blurted it all out.

"What? Son, what did you say? You've been expelled! No! No! Let's go! We're going to Ningfu Academy right now! Even if it costs me my face, I'll make sure the teachers at the academy admit you back!" Old Madam Jiang grabbed Jiang Zhishan and started to pull him out!

Jiang Zhishan pulled away from Old Madam Jiang's sleeve and continued, "Mother, there's no need to go, it's useless!"

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