“As you all know, my youngest son has only been well for a few days. He was forced to go for a walk in the back mountain because he had no other choice.”
"I did bring some things back, but not as much as everyone always does."
Ren Hongmei dared not reveal the actual situation of her family to these people, but these days, if she went up the mountain to hunt or dig for wild vegetables, no one would care.
Upon hearing this, everyone understood the gist of it; that's how people in the village are—the more they spread rumors, the more outrageous they become.
"So, what exactly happened that led you to call us here today?"
Ren Hongmei couldn't explain what she was doing, but fortunately, she arrived home soon after.
Upon seeing his mother bring the child back, Xu Kuo put the child down with Jiang Xiuying and went to greet her.
"Village chief, uncles and elders, I invited you here today to be my witnesses."
Xu Kuo's opening remarks surprised everyone.
Normally, this third child would stammer and struggle to utter a complete sentence, but now that he's sick, he's changed drastically.
“We’re all from the same village. If you’re really having any trouble, just let us know, and we’ll see if we can come up with a solution for you.”
However, their eyes still fell on Jiang Xiuying behind Xu Kuo. Such a time bomb would be a menace in any village.
Xu Kuo noticed their gazes and silently stood in front of his wife.
"You've probably all heard a bit about my separation from my elder brothers these past few days. We can't keep letting them make a fuss like this. I want to ask everyone to be witnesses so we can draw up a document."
Many families in the village split up, but very few did it with the same elaborate ceremony and written agreement as Xu Kuo.
But the village chief knew perfectly well that the eldest and second sons' families had indeed gone too far in bullying them this time.
"You invited us here and now you want to draw up a document? You'd better think this through. Once this book is written, there's no turning back."
"We have no regrets."
Ren Hongmei never expected that her son would do this for such a reason. However, thinking of the greedy faces of her eldest and second sons, she said nothing this time, but simply turned her head to the side and silently grieved.
With the villagers as witnesses, Xu Kuo took out the grain he had prepared beforehand, picked up Hu Zi, and led everyone to the homes of the eldest and second eldest sons.
From then on, they drew a line between themselves. As for the work points for the autumn harvest, Xu Kuo had also discussed it with the village chief, and they would each rely on their own abilities.
At first, the eldest and second eldest sons were unwilling, but when Xu Kuo said that if they were not willing, then they could forget about getting any rice or flour.
The eldest son nodded at his wife's prompting glance, and the second son, seeing that the situation was hopeless, had no choice but to sign as well.
That evening, Xu Kuo asked Ren Hongmei and his wife to cook extra food so that the village chief and the others could eat at his home.
The news spread like wildfire, and now everyone knew that Xu Kuo had fully recovered.
Moreover, their lives have become much more prosperous than before.
Those who originally didn't want to talk to Xu Kuo are now eagerly crowding around, wanting to know how Xu Kuo found his prey.
However, most people were still envious of their family, especially since Xu Kuo had married such a beautiful wife.
The one who caused the most trouble was Hu Dahai.
Upon hearing about this, Hu Dahai rushed to Xu Kuo's house, demanding medical expenses and compensation for emotional distress.
Ren Hongmei and Jiang Xiuying both looked at Xu Kuo with concern. Ren Hongmei didn't know what was going on, but Jiang Xiuying did.
"Honey, this whole thing is my fault. If it weren't for me, they wouldn't have said those things to you, and you wouldn't have acted so impulsively."
Seeing that his wonderful wife was about to fall into internal strife again, Xu Kuo couldn't stand it anymore.
"Nonsense! I don't believe their nonsense and you shouldn't listen to it either. You're not one of the 'Five Black Categories' at all. From now on, hold your head high and be open and honest. Don't take anything they say to heart."
Xu Kuo knew that this matter had become a knot in Jiang Xiuying's heart, but Hu Dahai was really despicable.
Xu Kuo opened the door, and Hu Dahai, who was leaning against it, stumbled and fell.
However, the moment Hu Dahai saw Xu Kuo, he immediately clutched his leg and started groaning.
"Xu Kuo, let me tell you, after you attacked me last time, I went to see the village doctor. My leg is probably broken, and you have to compensate me!"
"Hehe, why did you break your leg now that you heard I'm doing better? You did it on purpose, didn't you?"
Hu Dahai's shouts outside had already attracted a lot of people, and now everyone has come to watch the excitement.
"Stop talking nonsense, you have to pay my medical expenses and my emotional distress damages!"
Hu Dahai was clearly trying to cling to Xu Kuo, but Xu Kuo saw through his act immediately.
So he deliberately spoke slowly, "After all this talk, you just want me to give you money, right? But what kind of nonsense is it to block my door like this? Let's go inside and talk."
Seeing that the other party's attitude had softened considerably, Hu Dahai also lowered his guard.
Just as Hu Dahai was being helped into his home, Xu Kuo suddenly shouted.
"Hu Dahai, what did you step on?!"
In the blink of an eye, Xu Kuo picked up two pebbles from the ground and threw them at the other man's feet.
Hu Dahai was startled by Xu Kuo, and since there was indeed something under his feet, he jumped up in fear without even seeing what it was.
When he calmed down and saw that they were just two small pebbles, he was about to start cursing at Xu Kuo, but when he saw Xu Kuo's expression of watching the show with his arms crossed, he suddenly realized what was going on.
We've been tricked!
"I don't care, you did hit me that day, and I still have bruises all over my face. I'm going to see a doctor to get my injuries checked!"
Hu Dahai knew that his faking fracture had been exposed, but he was unwilling to give up the opportunity, so he started to throw a tantrum in the yard.
He kept shouting that he wanted a medical examination, but Xu Kuo knew how badly he had hit him, so this time he didn't hold back.
Xu Kuo bent down and grabbed the other man by the collar.
"Hu Dahai, let me tell you, if you dare to cause trouble at my house again, I guarantee I'll break one of your legs."
"You, you, you dare!"
"You try it. It's just a few stinking coins I'll pay you back. You really think I don't have any?"
Xu Kuo's fierce gaze seemed genuine, and Hu Dahai was somewhat intimidated by it, so he scrambled away in a sorry state.
This was the first time these people had seen Xu Kuo in a fierce state. They only came to their senses when Xu Kuo told them to disperse.
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