Everyone was taken aback, and their eyes lit up when they saw the rice and noodles that Zhang Xiucai was holding in his arms.
That's top-quality white rice and white flour! They usually only eat scraps of rice or corn porridge. But this scholar managed to get so much without making a sound.
Grandma Sun was also taken aback, a fleeting look of envy crossing her eyes. She asked curiously, "Scholar Zhang, you are a scholar. Why would they give you so much rice and flour out of the blue? Are you trying to trick this old woman?"
The scholar Zhang's family was dirt poor, and these vagrants didn't seem to be rich either. They had this white rice, so why didn't they hide it and eat it secretly or exchange it for copper coins, but instead gave it away? They must be crazy.
Zhang Xiucai remained silent.
Jiang Yimian coldly said, "My younger brother and sister want to learn to read. This is the tuition fee I gave to Scholar Zhang. Is there a problem with that? But you, without even knowing the facts, accused someone of being a thief. You should apologize."
Grandma Sun stared wide-eyed at Xiao Nuan'er and the other children in disbelief, remaining silent for a moment, though she was somewhat uncertain.
Although Zhang Xiucai's family was very poor, everyone said that he was a scholar who wouldn't lie, and that he would always help them when needed. The villagers respected him quite a bit.
Although her family didn't have much contact with Zhang Xiucai's family, when her eldest son was working away from home, he would occasionally send back letters, and Zhang Xiucai would read them to her without hesitation and wouldn't accept anything from her. He was clearly a good person, and there was no reason for him to help these outsiders cheat her.
As Grandma Sun hesitated, she heard a sharp voice from the crowd.
"Pah! Jiang girl, stop talking nonsense. These little brats can't even read? You must have so much money you don't know where to put it. You must have stolen it from somewhere. Scholar Zhang is helping you lie too. Old Mrs. Sun, don't be fooled by her."
"Yes, Grandma Sun, last time she asked my mother for money to buy meat. Where would she get so many copper coins to buy rice and flour? It must be fake. Don't be fooled by her."
Jiang Yimian glanced at the two people talking and sneered. This mother and daughter were really persistent; they were always around.
Hearing this, Old Lady Sun looked at Jiang Yimian suspiciously. Her gaze paused when it landed on Scholar Zhang, and after a while, she said, "Scholar Zhang, tell me, did this girl give you this as tuition?"
Although she disliked these refugees, she wouldn't falsely accuse anyone. She had rushed over in a moment of panic after hearing from her grandson that the meat at home had been stolen.
Now that she's calmed down, she doesn't think these people would steal anything from her house.
These newly arrived migrants, unfamiliar with the place and its people, dared to steal before even establishing themselves in the village. They probably didn't want to stay there any longer.
Zhang Xiucai sighed, his face flushed with anger, his voice full of dissatisfaction, "I'm not paying tuition, why are you giving me so much rice and flour out of the blue? You say I'm colluding with Jiang Yatou to cheat people, then tell me, which family in the village can afford this white rice and white flour?"
Everyone was taken aback by these words.
This time of year was difficult even before the war, let alone now. They were lucky to have anything to eat, let alone fine white rice, which was something only the wealthy could afford.
Immediately, some people couldn't stand it anymore and started speaking up for Zhang Xiucai and the children.
“What Scholar Zhang said is true. These days, which family still has white rice and white flour to eat? If it weren’t for the Jiang family’s girl sending it as tuition, Scholar Zhang’s family certainly wouldn’t have any either. This must be a misunderstanding.”
"Yes, I think it's a misunderstanding. The children are all well-behaved and have been in the village for quite some time without causing any trouble. How could they possibly steal anything? It must be a misunderstanding."
As Grandma Sun listened to the crowd's words, she felt a lump in her throat, unable to swallow or swallow. She was somewhat dissatisfied that the villagers were speaking up for these people, but she also knew in her heart that these children should not have stolen anything.
After a long while, she glared at Jiang Yimian and the others again, and said irritably, "Refugees are such a hassle."
After saying that, he slapped Sun Xiaohu on the back of the head, saying, "I'll teach you to talk nonsense."
Sun Xiaohu covered the back of his head and said aggrievedly, "Grandma, the meat is really gone. I saw those guys come from over there with my own eyes. Who knew they came to find Zhang Xiucai to learn to read? What am I going to do with my meat? I want to eat meat."
He hadn't tasted meat for over a year. If his grandmother hadn't brought out her most treasured copper coin, he probably wouldn't have even seen it. Now, he's lost both the meat and his face.
"Eat, eat, eat my ass, let's go home."
Grandma Sun's eyes were filled with anger. She wanted to curse a few words, but with everyone speaking up, she couldn't say anything more.
Chen Guixiang, however, was clearly displeased and said loudly, "If you didn't steal it from Grandma Sun's house, then where did Grandma Sun's meat go? Everyone in the village believed you, but I won't believe you so easily."
"If I don't get to the bottom of this today, I dare not live in the same village as you refugees. Who knows, my belongings might be stolen one day."
Upon hearing this, the crowd that was about to disperse gathered again, and in addition to the excitement of watching the spectacle, everyone's eyes also held a hint of inquiry, clearly indicating that they had taken Chen Guixiang's words to heart.
If the meat from the Sun family wasn't taken by these children, then how did it just disappear into thin air? They won't feel at ease until the thief is found out!
Zhang Xiucai frowned, about to speak, when a cold voice came from beside him, "You want to blame someone else for the thief in your own home?"
Jiang Yimian's voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for everyone watching to hear clearly.
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. The young woman standing behind Old Lady Sun was particularly startled and lowered her head, not daring to move.
Little Zhang laughed and squeezed into the crowd, saying loudly, "Oh dear, Grandma Sun, have you forgotten that your third daughter-in-law sent the missing eggs to her parents' house last time?"
"I bet she sent this meat to her parents' house today. You've been in charge of the household for so long, and you still don't know your own daughter-in-law's temperament? And you even dare to slander Jiang Yatou and the other kids! Aren't you ashamed?!"
Grandma Sun frowned, looked at her third daughter-in-law beside her, and immediately understood. She slapped her daughter-in-law on the forehead and said angrily, "Are you out of your mind? You're sending such a big piece of meat to your own family. Go and get it back for me right now."
She just bought a piece of meat today, which cost her dozens of copper coins, and before she even got to taste it, this spendthrift gave it away.
How could she not be angry?
Sun's third daughter-in-law rubbed the back of her head, groaning a few times, and tried to argue, "Mother-in-law, I didn't, no, I didn't take it, it has nothing to do with me."
When Grandma Sun heard her daughter-in-law's excuse, she became even angrier, her face turning black. She reached out to hit her again, but a cold voice came from outside the crowd, "What are you all doing here? Is there nothing wrong at home?"
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