Chapter 18 Stealing Xu Hongbo's money for his wife to spend (Seeking monthly votes)
"What are you doing? I'm still here and you're already trying to lay a hand on me. Do you even respect me as the village chief?" The village chief angrily rebuked Wang Xiuzhi, which roused the surrounding villagers.
“Wang Xiuzhi, relying on her relationship with the village chief, has often acted arrogantly and domineeringly in the village. I never thought she would end up like this.”
"She went too far, and even the old master couldn't stand it anymore, so he started punishing her."
"Speculation and profiteering is a very serious matter. How could she do such a thing? Does she not care that this family is dying or falling apart?"
"Bullshit! Who are you calling a speculator? I think you're the speculators, your whole family are speculators!" Wang Xiuzhi yelled at the gossipy people.
Xu Hongbo's wife, Zhang Lanlan, stood with her hands on her hips and argued with Wang Xiuzhi.
“The village chief is already here, and you still refuse to confess. An old woman like you with a mouth as hard as stone should have Bao Gong’s guillotine brought over and your mouth chopped off.”
Wang Xiuzhi sneered, "Bao Gong's guillotine? Have you ever seen it? Do you know if Bao Gong has the moon or the sun on his forehead? Don't think you're knowledgeable just because you've heard some things outside. You little slut, get out of my house."
Zhang Lanlan's face turned pale with anger.
Zhang Lanlan: "I'm not leaving. I'll stay here and watch how you get arrested."
"Alright, no more arguing!" the village chief shouted, his authoritative voice silencing everyone present. He turned to look at Er Gou, who was standing beside him with a fawning expression, and asked in a low voice, "Didn't I tell you not to disturb the others? Why did these people come along?"
Er Gou was a little nervous and tried to explain, "I don't know how they got here. Should I chase them away?"
The village chief naturally wouldn't let Er Gou do that, so he told Wang Xiuzhi to make way and the village chief entered the courtyard.
Xu Yuanyuan lay face down on the bed. Her buttocks had been bandaged, and now, after another night, they hurt even more.
She dared not move, and could only strain her ears to listen to the sounds outside.
Who leaked the information about the speculation and profiteering? And why was her name involved?
Xu Yuanyuan tried to get up from the bed, but failed several times. She shouted at the people in the yard, "The one who's been speculating and profiteering is Xu Qingmo, it has nothing to do with me. Don't try to pin all the bad things on me, I don't believe it!"
Wang Xiuzhi's face darkened, and she quickly went inside to tell Xu Yuanyuan to shut up.
"Say less. There are so many people outside, just waiting to find something to use against us. Can't you use your brain?"
Xu Yuanyuan felt wronged, but she didn't lower her voice. "Why can't I say it? Every word I said is the truth. If you want to arrest someone, arrest Xu Qingmo."
"Shut up, shut up now."
"No way! I don't want to be arrested and subjected to ideological criticism!" Xu Yuanyuan cried and fussed, tears and snot streaming down her face.
Wang Xiuzhi became more and more upset and disappointed as she looked at the child. How could she have given birth to such a brainless thing?
"Never mind, say whatever you want. It has nothing to do with me if the people outside take you away." Wang Xiuzhi turned and walked out of the house.
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuanyuan cried even louder.
Xu Qingmo rubbed her eyes and came out of the house. "Are you all here to attend Xu Yuanlong's funeral?"
The village chief looked up and saw that Xu Yuanlong's body was still in the house. It was hot, and the body was covered with flies.
The village chief asked Wang Xiuzhi, "Why haven't you taken it to the field yet?"
Wang Xiuzhi's eyes reddened. "How can a woman like me send him to the fields? No one in the village is willing to come and help."
The village chief looked grim. He summoned a few people and gave them instructions. Although the other party was unwilling, they dared not refuse.
Several people left the crowd to find a spot to dig a grave.
Wang Xiuzhi gritted her teeth, revealing her true thoughts: "Yuanlong can't be sent to the ground yet, and the banquet hasn't been held."
The village chief was getting impatient. "Then get this done as soon as possible."
Wang Xiuzhi was short of money. "But I don't have any money, so I can't hold this banquet for a while."
Er Gou chimed in, "Ask Xu Yuanyuan and Xu Qingmo for it. They made a lot of money selling wild boars. Isn't that enough to host a banquet?"
Wang Xiuzhi glared at Er Gou, who deliberately hid behind the village chief.
"Shut your dog mouth, you have no right to speak here," Wang Xiuzhi cursed a few more times.
Er Gou, "No wonder you were bragging in the village that your family only ate white flour buns and meat dishes. Turns out you made your money through speculation. You even said your son was capable. Your two sons aren't much better than me."
"Bullshit! A piece of trash like you, who can barely find a wife, how can you compare to my son?"
“Your sons are good; one is lying down and not moving, while the other was beaten in another village and is so badly beaten that he doesn’t dare to go back into the village.”
Seeing that another argument was about to break out, the village chief stepped in and told them all to shut up.
Er Gou looked at Wang Xiuzhi provocatively. Wang Xiuzhi was so angry that she wanted to tear his mouth apart, but she couldn't do so because the village chief was there.
"Xu Yuanlong, hurry up and get him buried. He's already starting to stink. In a few more days, we might not even be able to lift him. As for the banquet, we can hold it later," the village chief arranged.
Wang Xiuzhi dared not speak out against her anger.
Xu Qingmo listened to the arrangements, glanced at everyone, and said, "Now that the burial has been arranged, what are you all still doing here?"
She wasn't unaware of speculation and profiteering; she had overheard everything in the house just now.
At this moment, Xu Qingmo needs to make good use of her five-year-old identity.
Er Gou had a sudden inspiration. He squatted down in front of Xu Qingmo and deliberately asked, "Little Qingmo, did your aunt sell a wild boar to Butcher Li?"
Asking this question in front of so many people—everyone knows what he's thinking.
Wang Xiuzhi tried to stop them, but the village chief stopped her in place.
Xu Qingmo thought for a moment, "My aunt did go to catch wild boars, but she was hit by one and bled a lot from her buttocks. It was so scary."
Her little hand covered her mouth, and her innocent voice was full of fear.
A burst of laughter erupted from the surrounding crowd, who were all gloating.
After all, not long ago Xu Qingmo brought home a wild boar, which made many people in the village envious.
Er Gou wasn't looking for that answer. He asked again, "I mean, did your aunt sell the wild boar to someone? Did they give her money back, a lot of money?"
"Money? I've seen money before." Xu Qingmo tilted her head, seemingly deep in thought.
Er Gou's eyes lit up. "Quickly tell everyone what you saw!"
Xu Qingmo stroked her chin, deep in thought, her round eyes scanning the people around her. Suddenly, her gaze fell on Zhang Lanlan.
Pointing her little finger at Zhang Lanlan, Xu Qingmo began, "I remember on the 6th of last month, she had a fight at home. Under the moonlight, she went out to visit her parents. When she passed by the cornfield, Er Gou dragged her into it, and then they both took off their clothes..."
"Nonsense! What are you talking about? Don't try to smear me and Zhang Lanlan." Er Gou interrupted Xu Qingmo in a panic, his panic visibly evident.
Zhang Lanlan panicked as well.
Xu Qingmo shrank back in fright and timidly said, "I really saw it. You even gave her money. Actually, that money was stolen from Xu Hongbo."
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