The Rong brothers felt a surge of satisfaction when they saw the old gambler being beaten by the village head, especially Rong Zheng.
He'd wanted to beat the old gambler up for a long time, but his older brother and younger brother disagreed with being too violent and wanted to torture the old gambler properly.
While torturing the old gambler was indeed very satisfying, it wasn't as invigorating as a direct beating.
“Uncle Village Head, you can leave the beating to me!” Rong Zheng shamelessly approached the village head. “Uncle Village Head, I’m a martial artist. One slap from me will surely dislocate that old gambler’s jaw! Besides, someone like that old gambler isn’t worth you doing it yourself, it would only dirty your hands!”
But my nephew is tough and resilient; he grew up in the dirt, so he's not afraid of getting dirty or tired! Are we still going to beat that old gambler? If so, I'll do it right away and make sure Uncle Village Head is appeased! I'll make that old gambler pay a painful price and teach him a lesson he won't forget!
Rong Sheng almost burst out laughing when she heard Rong Zheng's words, but luckily she managed to hold it in.
But Rong Sheng held back, which didn't mean the other clansmen did. They all burst into laughter, laughing so hard they were bent over.
Their laughter provoked the old gambler, making him very angry. However, seeing the village head's furious expression, he could only suppress his anger, which made him very uncomfortable.
"What are you laughing at? Do you think you're as good at hitting people as I am?" Rong Zheng puffed out his chest and said.
Oh my silly brother, you look so goofy!
Luckily, you're not interested in my type of girl, otherwise, so many girls would have to go home and hide if they saw someone like you, because you're capable of hitting people!!
"Rong Zheng, stop making trouble!" The village head softened his tone and said to Rong Zheng, "I hit the old gambler because he made a mistake, and an unforgivable one! So this is a matter for our village, a matter for our clan, so don't make trouble."
Since the village head had said so, how could Rong Zheng possibly be joking around? So he quickly stepped aside and quietly watched how things would unfold.
The village head quietly spoke to the person behind him, who turned and left. After a while, the person returned, followed by another person, but the old gambler didn't see him!
When the village head learned that Gu Changqing had arrived, he suddenly shouted sternly, "You old gambler!!"
The old gambler was startled: "Village head, I..." But before he could finish speaking, he saw Gu Changqing suddenly appear behind the village head. Instantly, he understood everything. No wonder the village head was so angry; it turned out that Gu Changqing had complained!
What a Gu Changqing! It seems he hasn't hit a nerve yet, otherwise he would have complained.
The village head said to Gu Changqing, "Gu Changqing, you tell everyone what the old gambler did at your house this afternoon."
Gu Changqing lowered his head and said meekly, "Village head, fellow villagers, I originally didn't want to make a big fuss, but that old gambler has really gone too far, I really have no choice! You all know my wife has a bad temper, if I hadn't come to the village head, my family would probably have been in chaos again, I didn't want that either."
"Gu Changqing, what happened?"
"What's that old gambler doing at your house in the middle of the day?"
Gu Changqing deliberately raised his head, glanced timidly at the old gambler, lowered his voice, and said in a very aggrieved tone, "This noon, I came home from working in the fields to cook, but as soon as I got home, before I even washed my hands, this old gambler showed up at my door. He said he was coming to my house to freeload because he has nothing at home."
I felt it was no big deal to help out among fellow villagers, and the old gambler himself had said he wanted to turn over a new leaf and become a good person, so I let him in. But who would have thought that as soon as he walked in, he made my two daughters-in-law cook meat for him and even asked me to get him some wine!
If we don't do as we say, that old gambler will gossip and let the whole village know that my poor son, Gu Sanniu, is... my wife's child with another man. He'll say I'm a good-for-nothing, living my whole life with my wife wearing a green hat, and he'll say... he'll say..."
Gu Changqing seemed to have made a very important decision: "They even said that my sister's death had nothing to do with Gu Sanniu, that she was beaten to death by my wife! My wife has a bad temper, but she has never thought of killing anyone. But I... but I've been weak all my life, so I compromised."
But my wife found out that the old gambler was coming to our house to freeload, and he wanted to drink and eat meat, so she was furious and wanted to kick him out! But the old gambler said that if my wife kicked him out, he would tell everyone that my wife was shameless, had an affair, and was doing *that* with him in a cave in the mountains…
Although my wife has a bad temper and isn't the best person, she's not blind. This old gambler is even worse than me, so how could she possibly be interested in him? But reputation is so important to a woman! How can I stand by and watch this old gambler try to ruin my wife's reputation everywhere?
Moreover, the old gambler said that if we treat him to good food and drink every day, he won't dare to gossip! But if even one meal doesn't suit his taste, it will turn our house into... complete chaos, making it impossible to live a normal life!
These words are, of course, utter nonsense.
Gu Changqing deeply hated the old gambler because he knew too much.
But he was always very timid and never dared to go against anyone!
But he has a shrew at home. If he doesn't listen to Du Qincai, his good days are over.
Moreover, that person is not someone to be trifled with.
The old gambler has come knocking on her door, so Du Qincai will definitely go to that person and ask them to deal with the old gambler.
If he doesn't behave well at this time, then that person won't let him off easily.
When the clansmen heard Gu Changqing's words, they were all indignant and cursed the old gambler, making him unable to lift his head.
But the old gambler dared not explain, because the village head had already instructed him not to expose the Gu family's affairs, otherwise the county magistrate would cause him trouble.
"Old gambler, is what Gu Changqing said true?"
The old gambler stammered, "Village head, I..." I what? How could he dare to say it!
The village head was furious. "You old gambler! How dare you be so disobedient and go back on your word! Since that's the case, then..." The village head thought carefully for a moment. Although the old gambler was a worthless person, he still had some value. At least the county magistrate could use him. So, he shouldn't punish him too severely for the time being. Otherwise, if the old gambler caused trouble when the county magistrate came looking for him, it would affect the follow-up of the case, which would be bad.
"From this moment on, the old gambler will be punished by having to work two extra hours every day, and he will not be allowed to go home during the day, but only at night. As for meals, he can only eat one pancake per meal."
The old gambler breathed a sigh of relief. This punishment... wasn't severe, not as severe as the punishment given to the Rong brothers.
But the old gambler gave up too soon.
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