After all, when Xu Yaozu went to school, every household in the village contributed money and labor, and they also helped in their fields during the autumn harvest.
Everyone was hoping that one day he would pass the imperial examination and help them out, making their lives easier.
"Oh my god, this is outrageous!"
Despite the villagers' advice, Da Xushi ignored it completely, plopped down on the ground, and wailed while slapping her thigh.
"I raised her for more than ten years, and she turned out to be an ungrateful wretch. She doesn't know how to be filial to her grandmother and parents, and she even said she would report me to the authorities."
"Heavens above, please take this wretched girl away! We've raised her all these years, and she doesn't even know how to contribute to the family after we've earned money."
"You eat lavishly, don't you feel any guilt when you do?"
"Village chief, something terrible has happened! That girl Jiang Hua is going to report this to the authorities!"
Xu Wanli had just returned from the fields when he saw villagers rushing toward him in a hurry.
"What's going on now?" Xu Wanli was completely bewildered when he heard the words "report to the authorities."
He immediately threw the hoe in his hand to Li Dahua and quickly ran with the villager who had delivered the message to Da Xu's house.
"Have you wailed enough? You can't even squeeze out a single tear. Aren't you tired?" Jiang Hua asked patiently, watching Da Xu Shi howl on the ground, her face completely expressionless.
It's all the same few sentences over and over again. She's not the original owner of this body, nor is she from this era. What's the point of using filial piety to pressure someone who grew up in an orphanage?
"Since you don't want to return it, then pay me back. These bolts of cloth cost a total of four taels of silver. You don't need to pay Aunt Liu's labor fee. Give me four taels of silver, and we'll consider this matter settled."
"Four taels!" Madam Xu shrieked, "Well, you actually spent four taels of silver to buy such fine fabric, without even thinking about your family."
“Cousin, things aren’t easy for the family either. We don’t have that much money. Yaozu still needs to pay his tuition, so we can’t afford it,” Lin Shuyan said softly.
“Cousin, Grandma and Aunt have never worn clothes made of such fine fabric. Consider this your gift to them.”
"Yes, Jiang Hua, even though you're married, they've raised you all these years. Without them, you wouldn't be in this situation now," the villagers watching chimed in, offering their advice.
"What does this have to do with me? Just because I haven't worn it doesn't mean I can openly steal it from people's homes." Jiang Hua chuckled and looked at Lin Shuyan, asking in return.
"No, cousin, it's because you were disrespectful to Grandma and the others first that they did this in a fit of anger," Lin Shuyan explained anxiously, her face flushed.
"Jiang Hua, are you bullying Yan Yan again?" Zhou Yingxuan appeared out of nowhere, stepping out from the crowd and protectively shielding Lin Shuyan behind him with heartache.
So, are you going to pay me back or not?
Jiang Hua was interrupted by Xu Dagui, who had just picked up Xu Yaozu from town, before she could finish speaking.
"Why should we pay compensation? This is what you should be giving us as a gift. We've raised you all these years, what's wrong with taking a little something from you?"
"Husband, you're finally back!" As if she had found her pillar of support, Madam Xu hurriedly went to Xu Dagui and described the events with embellishment.
Upon hearing this, Xu Dagui glared at Jiang Hua with a dark expression.
“Since you’re unwilling to pay, then there’s no need to waste everyone’s time. I’ll report this to the authorities and let the magistrate handle it,” Jiang Xingzhou suddenly said.
"Well, you shameless thing, you actually dared to call the police! You've only been married for a few days and you've already turned your back on us!" With that, Xu Dagui raised his hand to hit Jiang Hua.
Before Jiang Hua could even make a move, Jiang Xingzhou kicked him away. Some of the onlookers covered their eyes, unable to bear the sight of Xu Dagui's miserable state.
"Xiao Jiang, don't worry, let's talk things over," Xu Wanli said gently. "There's no need to take it to the authorities."
"Huahua, don't you think so?" Xu Wanli asked Jiang Hua again.
"That depends on how the village chief resolves it," Jiang Hua said casually, then stood next to Jiang Xingzhou, making room for Xu Wanli.
"Xu Dagui, why aren't you helping your mother up? What kind of behavior is this?" Xu Wanli said disdainfully to his mother, who was still sitting on the ground.
"Grandpa Village Chief, what happened?" Xu Yaozu asked, stepping forward as if he were an adult.
“It’s alright, Yaozu, go inside and read your book. It’s none of your business,” Xu Wanli said warmly.
“No, village chief, I’m part of this family too, how can I just stand by and do nothing!” Xu Yaozu refused, then walked towards Lin Shuyan:
"Sister Yan Yan, what happened?"
After Lin Shuyan finished speaking, Xu Yaozu immediately changed his expression, his face darkening as he walked up to Jiang Hua and said, "Xu Erya, what's wrong with you buying some things for your parents and grandmother?"
"Tsk!" Jiang Hua looked at Xu Yaozu as if he were an idiot. Is this all there is to a child scholar?
Could it have been bought with money?
Jiang Hua was right. Yuan Sheng's family was not doing badly. It was only because they spent a lot of money to support Xu Yaozu's studies that they sold a lot of land and used the money to bribe officials, which enabled Xu Yaozu to pass the imperial examination.
In addition to the monthly tuition fees, he always lived a very tight life. On weekdays, the villagers contributed a lot of money and effort because of Xu Yaozu's status as a student.
"Didn't anyone tell you that your grandmother sold me for fifty taels of silver and severed all ties with me?" Jiang Hua said calmly.
Everyone present heard those words.
Yes, didn't Madam Xu sell her to Xiao Jiang for fifty taels of silver a few days ago and sever ties with her? She should have no connection with the Xu family anymore!
Someone in the crowd whispered among themselves, and when Madam Xu heard this, her face turned red, but only for a second.
"So what? Does that mean we can just erase the fifteen years we raised her?" Madam Xu shouted loudly at the crowd.
Xu Yaozu didn't know what had happened at home while he was away, but judging from the villagers' expressions, what his sister said was true, and his grandmother was just being unreasonable.
"Village chief, I'm going back to my room to read. You can handle this matter yourselves." Xu Yaozu suddenly felt the gazes on him were a bit intense, so he made an excuse to go back inside.
"I don't want to listen to your nonsense any longer. Either pay up or let the government handle it." Jiang Hua's tone was already showing some impatience.
Xu Yaozu, who was just about to step into the inner room, paused when he heard Jiang Hua's words, and then walked in with a puzzled look.
Xu Yaozu was puzzled as to why Xu Erya's personality had changed so drastically.
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