Chapter 224 Giving someone face but not daring to retaliate
With Xu Jinnian and Xu Huaining as two ready-made examples, the villagers were particularly enthusiastic about the village's establishment of an early childhood education school so that their children could have access to education.
Although they knew their own children were not very capable and unlikely to be as successful as Xu Jinnian and his siblings, they believed that if their children studied for a few years and learned a few words, they could find an easier job in the city later.
With the exception of a few short-sighted individuals, everyone else agreed with Xu Jinnian's proposal.
The specific arrangements were left to the villagers to discuss and decide; Xu Jinnian was too lazy to worry about it.
The clan chief was especially moved, and with tears in his eyes, he grasped Xu Jinnian's hand: "You have done a great thing for the village. On behalf of the whole village, I thank you!"
Seeing this, Boss Xu, who was hiding at the back of the crowd, had an extremely gloomy face.
This spendthrift fellow, when other scholars handled their two hundred mu of tax-exempt land, he would accept land from others and collect 15% of the grain every year.
These grains add up to at least nine thousand catties, which is equivalent to thirty or forty taels of silver—that's thirty or forty taels!
What's the difference between him giving away 200 acres of tax-free land to the village for nothing and just giving away money for nothing?
Old Master Xu was heartbroken beyond measure, and his gaze toward the clan elders turned hostile.
No, when Huaining comes back, he must persuade him not to listen to the clan chief's nonsense and give away the two hundred acres of tax-free land under his name!
He also needs Huaining to hand over the tax-free allowance to him for handling, so that his own family can also benefit from it.
The more Xu thought about it, the happier he became. His expression changed from gloomy to as if he could see a life of luxury beckoning to him.
Not only was Xu Laoda angry, but his family and Xu Laosi and his wife were also furious.
Mr. and Mrs. Xu felt that Xu Jinnian's actions had also put their son in a difficult position.
The two hundred mu of tax-free land under their son's name—if they didn't give it to the village, they would offend people; if they did, they would feel uneasy. They were truly caught in a dilemma, unable to give it or not.
Xu Cuilian had been watching the two families closely, and seeing their expressions change, she guessed most of what they were thinking. She turned to Sheng An and said gloatingly:
"These two families are probably going to have a big fight over the 200 mu of tax-free land. It's a pity Huaining didn't come back, otherwise there would have been a good show today."
Sheng An also felt regretful: "Yes, we won't be able to see this excitement."
Xu Cuilian comforted her, "It's alright, my aunt has informants in the village. We can just ask her and we'll know everything."
Sheng An blinked and immediately flattered her aunt: "No wonder you know about everything that happens in the village so quickly, you're so prescient!"
Xu Cuilian stood with her hands on her hips, chin held high, and a smug look on her face: "That's right!"
She's a native of Xujiaba, so how could she not have like-minded friends in the village who enjoy gossip?
In recent years, when I go back to the village to pay respects at the graves during the Qingming Festival, I make a point of chatting with them. They know all the gossip in the village.
It's just that An'an isn't familiar with the villagers and doesn't care about the village gossip, otherwise she would chat with An'an every now and then.
The agreement on 200 mu of tax-free farmland was finalized, and the auspicious time for opening the ancestral hall to worship ancestors had arrived.
Surrounded by clan elders, Xu Jinnian disregarded the stares of others and took Sheng An's hand as they walked toward the ancestral hall.
The villagers looked at each other, and the same thought came to mind:
Jin Nian values his wife very much!
It seems I should be more polite to this woman in the future and not laugh at her just because she hasn't been able to have a child yet.
The villagers reached a tacit consensus and followed the two people walking in front. They even pulled their children, who would soon be able to go to school, along with them, and told them to worship their ancestors later.
Halfway there, a group of people appeared in the distance, followed by a loud, shrill voice: "Jin Nian, my dear nephew, your aunt has come all the way back to see you!"
Xu Guilian ran over excitedly, her face beaming with an exaggerated smile. Her eyes were fixed on Xu Jinnian in the crowd, filled with even more affection than if she were looking at her own son.
Don't ask Xu Jinnian what he thinks. Sheng An, standing next to him, couldn't help but shudder, feeling goosebumps all over his body.
Xu Guilian quickly approached Xu Jinnian, her exaggerated smile carrying a hint of flattery.
She stretched out her arm, trying to grab Xu Jinnian's hand, but Xu Jinnian calmly took a step back to avoid it, glancing at her without any emotion, as if she were looking at a stranger.
Xu Guilian's expression froze. She cursed Xu Jinnian inwardly for being impolite, but she had no choice but to put on a smile again: "Look at you, child. It's only been a short time since I last saw you, and you've already become distant with your aunt."
Xu Cuilian couldn't stand her shameless attitude, so she immediately spread her arms like a mother hen to protect Xu Jinnian and started mocking Xu Guilian:
"You said it's been a while, but it must have been three years, right? Oh, three years is enough time to get married, have kids, and wean. And now you're coming back from the dead to try and get close to me. You have quite the nerve!"
Xu Guilian was already unhappy, and when she saw Xu Cuilian stirring things up, she became even angrier: "What business is it of yours, you ungrateful wretch who doesn't even have his family, when I'm talking to Jin Nian!"
Xu Chenglin immediately stepped forward and coldly retorted, "I've cut ties with you a long time ago. My son has nothing to do with you. Go away and cool off somewhere else!"
Xu Guilian's eyelids twitched, and she smiled ingratiatingly:
"Linzi, we're siblings from the same mother. Even if our bones are broken, they're still connected. Let bygones be bygones. Why are you holding such a grudge as a grown man?"
Her husband chimed in, "Yes, Linzi, we're all getting on in years. We don't have many years left to live. Why don't you two siblings reconcile while everyone's still here? You'll still be family."
It would have been better if the past hadn't been brought up, but the moment it was mentioned, Xu Chenglin clenched his fists, his voice becoming increasingly fierce:
"I'm narrow-minded and always seek revenge. I haven't bothered you all these years only because of our deceased parents. Don't push your luck!"
Xu Guilian's face stiffened further, her eyes flickering with a hint of fear: "You... how can you be so stubborn..."
The clan chief was fully aware of the feud between the two and, fearing that Xu Chenglin might lose control and cause Xu Guilian to bleed in public, quickly stepped forward to interrupt them.
"The auspicious time for ancestor worship has arrived. We can discuss anything else after the ceremony!"
Xu Chenglin took a deep breath, glancing away from Xu Gui's face, afraid that if he looked at her any longer, he would really throw a punch.
Xu Guilian was also afraid of angering him, so she made way for him after being persuaded by others, and dared not approach Xu Jinnian again.
Sheng An was very curious about the grudge between her father-in-law and Xu Guilian, and eagerly hoped that someone could answer her questions. Her eyes unconsciously drifted to her aunt beside her.
Xu Cuilian received a look from her niece-in-law, nodded to her almost imperceptibly, and pointed in the direction of the ancestral hall, her meaning quite clear.
Sheng Anxin understood and quickened his pace to follow Xu Jinnian toward the ancestral hall.
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