Chapter 002: Traitor 2
"Er Gouzi's father is right. Brother Yan, you are just a kid yourself. You can't take care of Brother Chen in your current state."
The person who spoke was Erzhu's mother, who knew a little about herbs and medicine.
Although Uncle Xiao was not a good person, she could clearly see that Xiao Yan looked like he was dying and he probably didn't have much time left.
Instead of suddenly giving up and leaving in a hurry later, it is better to ask the village head to discuss it while you are still there. It is much better than being passive at that time.
Xiao Chen is only seven years old! After all, Uncle Xiao and Xiao Chen are family, and even the head of the village can hardly interfere in other people's private affairs.
Everyone's eyes were on Xiao Yan, waiting for him to say something.
Xiao Yan's crow-feather-like eyelashes covered his peach blossom eyes, which made people feel regretful.
It's such a pity that such an outstanding kid died young!
Xiao Yan said with gratitude: "Then I'll have to trouble you, uncle."
Uncle Xiao had just smiled when he heard Xiao Yan say, "It's just that this is too much of a disadvantage for Uncle. But brothers should settle accounts clearly. How can I let Uncle suffer any loss?"
"How about this? I'll rent my two acres of farmland and that piece of land to you, uncle, without paying rent. As long as you can provide me and my younger brother with food, I'll give the land to you after five years."
"But the premise is that during the five years, if I get sick, the money for medicine and the cotton clothes and quilts for the winter will also be provided by uncle. What do you think?"
During this period, an acre of good farmland cost about seven to eight taels of silver, so two acres cost fourteen or fifteen taels, not including that piece of land.
Although Xiao Yan was still young, he was proficient in everything from fermenting fertilizer to cultivating the fields, and he managed them better than others.
You have to know that a strong man working outside can only earn about one tael of silver, a little over eight hundred coins a month, and that's not even every day. Not counting the free time, that's only about twenty-one taels of silver, a little over six hundred coins a year. Even if a family budgets carefully, they'll have to spend more than ten taels of silver a year. Forty-five taels of silver is already a lot.
Exchanging two acres of farmland for two mouths to feed for five years is such a great deal!
The most important thing is that it is unknown how long Xiao Yan can live. He may still be able to speak today, but his funeral may be held tomorrow. It is also possible that by then, only Xiao Chen will have to be supported.
Being able to eat and being able to eat enough are two completely different things. Isn't rounding it off the same as getting it for free?
Although he knew he had taken advantage of something, Uncle Xiao was still a little cautious: "Brother Yan, it's not that I don't want to agree to you, it's just that your illness... my family is in a difficult situation too!"
Xiao Yan smiled bitterly and said, "I naturally understand your uncle's difficulties. Besides me, you will also pay for my medicine for the next five years."
The owner of this body had reached the end of his life, but he was different.
As a tasker, one's physical strength naturally reaches the highest limit of the world. Otherwise, the tasker will die as soon as he arrives. What's the point of doing the task then?
However, in order to prevent the indigenous people from noticing and to avoid causing too much shock, the disease will slowly heal even without treatment, except for causes such as disability and congenital diseases.
So, he didn't think it was a loss to exchange his land for five years of support. After all, he had no intention of suffering while the male protagonist enjoyed himself.
As the male protagonist, why don’t you have the desire to support your family and strive for progress?
He's already suffered enough, so how can he temper the hero? He's doing this for the hero's own good!
Both Xiao Yan and Uncle Xiao were very happy. They asked the village head to come and notarize the document. After both parties signed it, three copies were kept.
By the time Xiao Chen held the borrowed steamed bun, the matter had already been settled.
Xiao Chen was shocked and angry.
He was reborn to prevent his brother's death, just to avoid going to his uncle's house to be tortured! No matter how many precautions he took, he couldn't stop his brother from taking the initiative!
"No, I don't agree!" Xiao Chen objected loudly.
Unfortunately, no one paid any attention to him.
Xiao Chen was anxious and ran to Xiao Yan to express his resistance: "Brother, I don't agree with this! Uncle is not a good person! When we go to his house, he won't let us eat enough and will only make us do the most tiring and heaviest work! He is a Zhou Paopi!"
Uncle Xiao was so angry that his face turned red when a child exposed his true face in public.
"How dare you talk to your elders like that, kid? You're truly a disaster born of a father but never raised by a mother, a star that brings bad luck to your relatives!"
There was a glimmer of cruelty in Xiao Chen's eyes.
This was often said in the previous life, and anyone who said it would end up in a bad situation.
Even if he succeeded in taking revenge, these words would still be very damaging to him. Over time, he began to doubt whether he was really unlucky with his relatives. Otherwise, why would his grandparents, parents and brother all leave him?
Xiao Chen pursed his lips tightly, but felt a warmth coming from the top of his head.
Xiao Yan touched Xiao Chen's head, and successfully saw fleas jumping inside, and also felt a hand full of oily hair and dandruff.
Xiao Yan: “…”
Xiao Yan calmly wiped his hands on Xiao Chen's clothes, then pushed him away.
"Uncle, your words are too vicious!"
"I'm only seven years old, and I didn't mean it. But you're already an older man, and an elder, so how could you curse me with such vicious words? Those who know you know it was an accident, but those who don't might think you're trying to make me feel guilty and jump into the river so you can take over my land!"
He paused, then added, "Besides, the death of my grandparents and my parents can't be blamed on me. If you hadn't been lazy and delayed the time, perhaps my grandparents and my parents wouldn't have encountered this situation."
Xiao Yan looked at Uncle Xiao steadily and said word by word, "To be honest, you are the culprit."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at Uncle Xiao.
They don't know about this kind of thing.
Aunt Zhao suddenly understood: "No wonder you always say that Yan'er and Chen'er are disaster stars. So this is the truth!"
Others echoed, "Isn't it? I was thinking that no matter how I blamed him, it couldn't be Yan Ge'er and Chen Ge'er, and I thought they were just taking their anger out on me, but it turns out they were trying to frame him! He's the real culprit, he's guilty!"
"Er Gouzi's father, this is so unethical! How could you do this?"
"Hush, didn't you hear what Yan'er said? He's trying to force Chen'er to death just for a few pieces of land! You can see how cruel this person is! Let's keep our voices down. He can even force his own nephew like this, let alone us, who are not even related to him?"
"That's right, who doesn't have some trivial issues? You should stay away from him from now on. What if he holds a grudge and does something shameful? Wouldn't he die unjustly?"
A vacuum zone formed around Uncle Xiao, and his face turned red with anger.
Although he did have this idea in mind, he would inevitably be angry and embarrassed if it was exposed.
"That's nonsense! You..."
"Okay! That's all for now. Let's follow the written procedures." The headman interrupted.
The words of the village head still carried great weight and authority in the village. As soon as he said this, everyone stopped whispering, and even Uncle Xiao, who was full of bad intentions, did not dare to act rashly.
He solemnly warned Uncle Xiao: "I am putting this on notice today. Now that you have divided the family property, follow the written documents."
"For five years, you will provide food, clothing, and medicine. Yan'er and Chen'er will continue to live in their own homes and won't have to help with chores. Do you have any objections?"
The previous matter was suppressed by the village head. Uncle Xiao was reluctant to give up the land and could only agree: "I will do as you say!"
Xiao Yan had no objection, but Xiao Chen wanted to say something. However, because the land was transferred to Xiao Yan's name when the family was divided, he couldn't object even if he had any objections.
What's more, Xiao Yan had helped him vent his anger before, so he could only remain silent with a sullen face.
Seeing that his words were still effective, the village head nodded with satisfaction: "Then it's settled."
"Xiao Dashi, remember, don't let me know what you did to Yan'er and Chen'er behind their backs. We in Shancai Village won't tolerate people who take lives!"
Shancai Village is named after the Shan family, the first settlers in the village and a prominent family name. A member of the Shan family had a successful juren degree who later became a high-ranking official and a patron saint of his neighbors. Hence, the name Shancai Village was chosen to symbolize the auspicious hope of a talented son in the Shan family.
Although most of them never produced high-ranking officials again, even so, there were still more girls willing to marry into their village than in other villages. If someone in Shancai Village was killed in a murder case, wouldn't it ruin the village's reputation?
The village head was warning Uncle Xiao, and at the same time protecting Xiao Yan and Xiao Chen, as well as issuing a warning to other people in the village.
After all, who doesn't have some grudges? But be careful not to cause any loss of life.
Uncle Xiao nodded quickly, like a quail. "How could this be possible? Third Uncle, please don't listen to other people's nonsense. Yan'er and Chen'er are my nephews. How could I do such a thing? I have always been an honest and upright person!"
The others were glaring at each other and secretly criticizing each other, but no one pointed it out loud.
How many cases of brothers quarreling over family property are there? Even the royal family has brothers fighting each other, let alone ordinary people like them? It's just that their family has elders in charge, while the Xiao family doesn't!
If Uncle Xiao wanted to take action, it would be impossible. After all, this is a human life! However, if he wanted to force someone to death, such a thing would be hard to say.
A person's reputation is like the shadow of a tree. Reputation can really kill people!
Xiao Dashi is really a piece of shit!
After the head of the village left, the onlookers were reluctant to leave, but their presence was not in vain.
Look, Yan Ge'er's family was penniless and had nothing to eat, so the family to the east brought vegetables they grew themselves, and the family to the west brought some rations. The more well-off families who were more sympathetic would also bring some eggs for nourishment.
You know, eggs can be exchanged for money, which is considered very generous!
Xiao Yan wrote down the gifts sent by each family and asked Xiao Chen to boil water for them. Even if the family was extremely poor, they still had to show their gratitude.
It was almost dinner time and it was getting dark. When the villagers saw that Xiao Chen was going to work, how could they really let him do it?
The brother is still sick. Besides, who needs this saliva?
The crowd dispersed a little, and some busybodies instigated: "Er Gouzi's father, it's already dinner time, and Chen Ge'er can't leave. Let's help him get food from your house!"
His kindness was fake, but he really just wanted to watch the fun, which made Uncle Xiao's plan to fool people fail.
"No need! I'll have Er Gouzi bring it over later."
The busybody made faces and yelled, "Oh my! You really think highly of your Er Gou! Who doesn't know that Er Gou is the greediest? Won't the bowl be empty when you bring it over?"
"Yes, yes, although it's not an empty bowl, your family has also received benefits, you can't just perfunctorily deal with it? Yan'er is still sick. Even if you can't pay for the medicine, you have two old hens at home. It's unreasonable not to take the eggs!"
Uncle Xiao is a person who cares a lot about his reputation. How could he bear this title for nothing?
He gritted his teeth and said, "No, no, Brother Yan is my nephew, there are still eggs."
"Wow~ You're so generous! An egg every few days. Brother Yan is so lucky to have such a generous uncle like you!"
Uncle Xiao: "..."
Damn it, I originally wanted to use one egg, but now I have to use an egg every few days!
Once words are spoken, they can be taken back. Uncle Xiao couldn't bring himself to do this, so he had to bite the bullet and accept it.
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