Besides, it's not uncommon for families to break off ties before. If family members can't stand each other, it's better to cut off all contact to avoid causing even bigger trouble that would be difficult to resolve.
The village head pondered for a moment, "We'll have to wait until Chen Ping returns and opens the ancestral hall before discussing the matter of severing ties. For now, let's talk about compensation."
“Mrs. Zhao, you were in the wrong first. It is a fact that the children were hurt. The compensation requested by Chen An’s wife is reasonable.”
Furthermore, you are never allowed to go to Chen An's mountain land or fields again!
If she doesn't want to go to the hills and fields, she doesn't want to go anyway, since there's nothing of value besides some wild vegetables. But the children are all healthy and fine, so why should she have to pay compensation?
Zhao's eyelids drooped. She dared not lash out at the village head, so she could only mutter, "What's the big deal? They want me to pay for the money, and they want me to pay for the pigs and chickens. How shameless! Just give them back the wild vegetables!"
The village head glanced at Zhao Shi indifferently and said slowly, "Since you don't want to pay compensation, then we can only deal with you according to the village rules. Our Houshui Village cannot tolerate such a wicked person, so we will send you back to your parents' home!"
"What?" Zhao stood there stunned. Sending her back to her parents' home meant that the village head had arranged for her husband to divorce her.
She's already this age, how can she be divorced? If she really goes back to her parents' home, not only will her brother and sister-in-law not tolerate her, but she herself will have no face to live.
No, she cannot be sent back to her parents' home. She has sons and grandsons in Houshui Village, and she can enjoy a life of happiness from now on. She cannot be forced to her death now!
Zhao was truly terrified at this moment. "I'll pay! I'll pay!"
It's just a little silver, two chickens, and a pig. Compared to myself, what does it amount to?
Li Manying was seething with anger; if it weren't for the fact that the village head was in charge, she would have really wanted to give Zhao a good scolding.
I've never seen an elder act like this before. She's a real troublemaker, causing unrest in the whole family and only knowing how to bring them misfortune.
She told me long ago not to mess with the second son's family, why won't you listen!
Now look what's happened! The pig is gone, the chicken is gone, and I don't even know how I'm going to explain this to my husband and son when they come back!
Li Manying grew angrier the more she thought about it, wishing she could just collapse, completely forgetting that she had also lost ten taels of silver a while ago.
"It still takes the village head to handle things! The village head is always fair and just."
"That's right, otherwise Zhao would still be stubborn. This is a good opportunity to teach her a lesson!"
"At such an old age, she has no shame. Wild vegetables can be found anywhere, yet she insists on taking advantage of children. This is karmic retribution!"
Seeing Zhao's long face, the villagers felt a surge of relief. This Zhao was always arrogant and disrespectful, and now she was even bullying the children.
Compensation is too lenient. If they aren't punished, they'll only take advantage of us and might even bully our children!
The village headman's eyes were sharp. "In that case, give me the money. All four children are injured, and we need at least one tael to see a doctor."
He examined the injuries of the four children and concluded that they were not seriously hurt; one or two taels of silver should be enough.
Although Zhao was disliked, he couldn't take the opportunity to make exorbitant demands. As the village chief, it was unacceptable for him to act in a biased manner.
Zhao lowered her head and shrank back, but her eyes were fixed on Li Manying.
She knew Li Manying had money; he could produce ten taels last time, so this one tael would be no problem for him.
Since I, as the mother-in-law, was fined, of course my daughter-in-law should pay the money! Surely she shouldn't have to hand over the money?
That's my life savings, even a tael of silver would hurt!
Li Manying acted as if she didn't see Zhao looking at her, slowly turning her head to the side.
How ridiculous! He caused trouble himself and still wanted to ruin her money.
When I was being brutally beaten by my second son's family, why didn't she step forward? After paying ten taels of silver in compensation, she spent her days cursing me at home.
Why are you giving her a meaningful look now? How shameless!
When Zhao saw Li Manying's attitude, she was furious. How could her daughter-in-law be so clueless!
The village headman stared at her, but she couldn't lash out. She stomped her foot angrily and could only go inside to get the silver.
"Here you go! Once the ties are severed, there's no more connection. Even if your nephews become successful, you won't get a single bit of benefit!"
Zhao threw the silver at Chen An and threatened him fiercely.
Cheng Yue caught the silver with quick eyes and hands, and chuckled, "Please remember this, and also tell your good son and grandson that if they bully us again in the future, the punishment will not be just this little bit."
Zhao was furious. What kind of expression did that vile woman have?!
Cheng Yue was too lazy to pay attention to her. She had already gotten the things, so who cared whether Zhao Shi glared or kicked her?
Seeing this, Zhao Xiangxiu and Chen Lin rolled up their sleeves, one going to catch a chicken and the other going to catch a pig.
When the villagers who were watching saw the two run to the pigsty and chicken coop, they followed to help.
Cheng Yue and Cui Cui went to carry wild vegetables, and they also picked up the ones the pigs hadn't finished eating and threw them into the basket, leaving none for Zhao Shi.
Anyway, the Zhao family will no longer have pigs or chickens from now on, so why keep wild vegetables?
Seeing this scene, Zhao's body went limp and she sat down on the ground, feeling both pain and hatred in her heart!
Once her son and grandson become successful, she will definitely not let the second son's family have a good life. Does she think she has won by cheating her today?
Life is long, and this matter cannot be easily let go. She can't afford to offend them, so let her son and grandson get revenge for her!
Ignoring Zhao's venomous gaze, the group grabbed the pigs and chickens and turned to leave.
Once outside, Cheng Yue, Chen An, and their three children thanked the village head and the villagers, but everyone waved them off, not really taking it to heart.
They live in the same village, and they just can't stand this kind of bullying. They say a few words in their defense, so there's no need to thank them.
The villagers handed the items to Cheng Yue and her group, and then went home to work in their fields.
After the village head gave his greetings, he took Madam Feng home. He had experienced all sorts of emotions that day – annoyance, joy, and anger – and was so tired that he just wanted to go home and rest.
As everyone dispersed, Zhao Xiangxiu happily took two chickens and called to Cheng Yue to go home, "Let's go, I'll take these up to you."
Cheng Yue stopped her, saying, "Take this chicken back. Cui Cui got injured protecting the two children, so this is compensation for her. And you can take this money too!"
Cui Cui protected Chen Tong and Chen Ning, and she should be grateful for that. A tael of silver and two chickens were nothing, and she couldn't keep all of Zhao's compensation for herself.
Zhao Xiangxiu frowned and said, "Why are you being so polite? Cui Cui is the older sister, it's only right that she protects her younger sisters."
Besides, the child wasn't hurt at all. I was just acting, so please don't feel bad about it."
She just punched Zhao Shi because she didn't like her and wanted to vent her anger for the child. She didn't blame Cheng Yue at all.
There's no such thing as "should" or "shouldn't," she just knows that she must thank whoever is good to her.
Cheng Yue stuffed the silver into Cuicui's hand and joked, "You, as her mother, can't stop your daughter from making a fortune!"
Zhao Xiangxiu smiled helplessly, "Everything tastes different when it comes out of your mouth!"
Both families chuckled and stopped arguing.
Zhao Xiangxiu, carrying a basket and chickens, led Cuicui home, while Chen Lin herded the pigs ahead, and the whole family went up the mountain.
Only when the Zhao family is driven mad with rage can the world be achieved.
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