The old patriarch of the Song family, who was staying at his son's house in town, was invited over.
Several of the oldest and most respected members of the Song family were also invited over.
"Elder Chief, elders, this is how things are. We beg you to help us!"
San Hongyan's words expressed her grievances.
“We’ve never seen a single penny of my second brother’s money. Everyone in Songzhuang knows that my second brother’s family is poor. Where would he get the money to lend us? Now my second brother is blaming us. He even came to my house to make a scene yesterday afternoon. I really have no way to deal with him.”
After San Hongyan finished speaking, she pretended to cry twice and wiped her eyes, which were dry.
"That's not what she said!" Song Erzhuang jumped up and down in anger, pointing the torch at his sister. "That's not what you said yesterday..."
"Oh dear, Second Brother, are you trying to burn me alive?" San Hongyan exclaimed in surprise, overacting. Her husband, Yu Jiaqiang, secretly tugged at her arm.
San Hongyan shook off her husband's hand and continued her act: "Second brother, it's not that I don't want to lend you money, it's just that my family really doesn't have any. My husband lent all the family's money to his brother-in-law, who lost it all in business and also took out a lot of high-interest loans. Now we are being chased by loan sharks for debt."
"San Hongyan, why are you going back on your word about the money you borrowed from me?" Song Erzhuang roared angrily. "That's not what you said when you borrowed the money from me. You said you would pay me back after my Baogen got married. How could you go back on your word!"
"Second brother, I really don't understand what you're saying!" San Hongyan looked at the old clan chief and several uncles with a calm demeanor. "Look at my second brother, he's a bit mentally unstable. He must be suffering from hysteria, which is why he's delusional that I borrowed money from him."
Yu Jiaqiang couldn't bear to listen anymore, so he secretly pulled her again.
That's too much.
While she and her older brother were discussing how to renege on their debt, he advised her not to go too far, since he was still her second brother.
San Hongyan angrily shook off her man's hand, secretly glared at him, and then turned to someone in the room and said, "My second brother is obsessed with money."
"You're lying! You're talking nonsense! I lent you and my brother all my money! Give me back my money!" Song Erzhuang roared hysterically. "Give me back my money now!"
"What are you yelling about!" Finally, one of the elders spoke up. "Does the loudest person have the right to do what they say? Why are you making such a big fuss over such a trivial matter? We and the clan chief are here to uphold justice, aren't we? What are you shouting about!"
“She’s lying. I don’t have hysteria. Baogen needs money for surgery, or he’ll become disabled. I’ve already lent all the money to my older brother and San Hongyan, but they’re denying it.” Song Erzhuang angrily complained to the old clan chief and uncles.
Did you write an IOU?
"Why are you taking my things? They're my own brother and sister, we're family." Song Erzhuang's words made it clear to everyone present that Song Dazhuang and San Hongyan had borrowed money, refused to repay it, and were even blaming others.
San Hongyan immediately retorted, "If I never lent him money, how can I write an IOU?"
The older men glanced at San Hongyan. Some of them looked down on her behavior, but they wouldn't offend anyone for the sake of Song Erzhuang.
The old clan chief spoke up at this moment, “Our Song family are all honest farmers. When others see that we are in trouble, they lend us money and help us without expecting anything in return. But we can’t turn around and renege on our debts. That would be too disheartening. If we encounter any more difficulties in the future, who will dare to help us? Our Song family’s reputation will be ruined.”
“Old clan chief, you’re right!” San Hongyan seized the opportunity and turned to Song Erzhuang, saying, “Second brother, did you hear what the old clan chief said? My brother and I have always been so good to you, and you not only don’t repay us, but you also slander us by saying that we borrowed money from you.”
Song Erzhuang jumped up anxiously again, "I didn't slander you, I didn't lie!"
He roared at everyone present, insisting that he had not lied or slandered anyone.
Everyone present knew better than he did how wronged he was.
But no one would offend anyone for his sake.
The old clan chief looked at Song Dazhuang and said, "Dazhuang, give me an answer."
“Baogen had an accident and needs money for surgery. San Hongyan and I have discussed it, and we’ll try to raise the money for him so that he can have the surgery first. Baogen’s health is the most important thing,” Song Dazhuang said selflessly.
Some of the older uncles who were taking sides praised Song Dazhuang, saying, "Dazhuang is really capable, generous, and doesn't nitpick. Erzhuang, hurry up and put out the torch. Are you really going to burn down your older brother's house?"
Song Erzhuang's voice was hoarse from shouting, "I don't want to borrow money, I want them to pay it back! They borrowed money from me and then denied it, pay it back! I want them to pay it back!"
"Take out the IOU! Who saw you lend money to Dazhuang?" the old uncle retorted to Song Erzhuang.
Song Erzhuang was still confused. "My elder brother and San Hongyan didn't say that at first. They said I was in trouble and would pay back the money. If I didn't have enough money, they would help me find a way, just like I helped them. They told me that themselves!"
Among the onlookers, someone whispered, "Erzhuang still isn't quite right in the head!"
"Alas! Kind people are often bullied, and good horses are often ridden!"
"Erzhuang is all body and no brains. Sanhongyan is so clever. She's a married girl. After her parents died and the family divided, she ran back to her parents' house and secretly took away all their food rations. How many married girls are as clever as her? Erzhuang, that big, dumb guy, is no match for Sanhongyan!"
The old clan chief gave the older uncles a look, and two of them pulled Song Dazhuang aside to talk.
Villagers nearby overheard two elderly men urging Song Dazhuang to pay back the money he borrowed from Song Erzhuang, saying that if they pushed him too far, he would regret it later.
They're all family, don't push things too far.
Song Dazhuang firmly denied the debt, only saying that he was willing to find a way to raise money for Baogen's surgery and would not urge Song Erzhuang to repay the money.
Song Dazhuang's proposal was opposed by Tang Suxiang, who refused to lend him a single penny.
"Song Erzhuang caused Xiaowei to be arrested, and Hanwen's business will also fall apart. It's all Yinhua's fault. Some villagers even threw manure into our house. From now on, none of you are allowed to have anything to do with Song Erzhuang's family!" Tang Suxiang said through gritted teeth.
She hated her uncle's family to the core.
In particular, Song Yinhua caused her to be pelted with excrement and gossiped about, and also caused her nephew to be arrested, and her niece Yunyun's reputation was almost ruined as well.
"When did I ever harm Xiaowei from my sixth cousin's family?" Song Erzhuang was busy working and earning money all day and didn't know many things.
"Erzhuang, don't you know that the swindler almost ruined your Xiaosi?" a villager asked.
"I know about this. My eldest daughter hit that swindler with an iron shovel. He didn't succeed. My fourth daughter wasn't violated. She's not a slut." Song Erzhuang kept explaining to everyone that his fourth daughter hadn't been bullied and begged them not to spread rumors.
The villager looked at Song Erzhuang, this simpleton, and said, "That's the swindler. Wang Xiaowei, your sister-in-law's nephew, specially hired him. Now he's been arrested and it seems he'll be going to jail."
Song Erzhuang looked at Tang Suxiang in shock, "Is this true?"
"If your Yinhua hadn't stolen and switched Su'e's grandson's amulet, would all of this have happened? It's all your fault that Xiaowei got arrested," Tang Suxiang said angrily.
"Bullshit!" Song Erzhuang roared furiously. "That jade pendant was picked up by my eldest daughter in the cave, and my uncle pocketed it! My eldest daughter fell down the cave while trying to save Caixing, who was pushed down by Hanwen and the others."
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