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Chapter 403: The Handle, Good News

Naturally, the matter of the rag doll was also told to Shen Zigui and Wang. Dalang and Erlang were also listening nearby. The whole family was very angry when they heard that Chunlan was beaten because Shen Zhu had done something bad and she did it out of guilt. Dalang and Erlang even wanted to ask Chunlan for an explanation.

Shen Zifu was still a filial son. He said, "Even if you go to seek justice, do it in private. Don't let the whole village know about it."

Wang also said, "Yes, this sister-in-law's reputation is already bad enough. If this is added to her reputation, she will only be even worse. Our Shen family will have to marry off girls in the future. With such an aunt, even the best girl will have to think twice before marrying her."

Shen Zian and Su Zhi also thought this made sense. They just wanted to talk about this matter and let the people in the old house know that they were not kept in the dark. Moreover, the rag doll could be kept as a handle. If Shen Zhu came up with any ideas to cause trouble for them, they could use this rag doll to threaten her. There were so many people who could prove this matter. It was useless for Shen Zhu to deny it. The things she had done in the past made people suspicious of her.

When the people in the first room heard this, they all nodded.

Finally, the two families went to the old house together and took out the rag doll. When talking about this matter, Shen Youfu's face turned ashen. He was not angry with the first and second wives, but with Shen Zhu. He wondered how this daughter could do such a sinister thing and let someone get hold of it. She really embarrassed him. She made him lose face in front of his two sons and their wives and children. He scolded Shen Zhu, and Shen Zhu cried non-stop.

Shen Zhu cried and begged Shen Zian and Su Zhi to forgive her. She didn't want this reputation to spread. Breaking off the engagement and beating her children did make her have a bad reputation, but it was not as big as making a doll to curse people. People nowadays care about these things. She did this, which shows that she is vicious and wants to kill people. She can even kill her sister-in-law. Who else will she dare to kill in the future? Who dares to approach her again? The spit can drown her.

Shen Zhang listened to Shen Youfu scolding Shen Zhu, but she didn't stop him. After Shen Youfu fell silent, she scolded Shen Zhu a few more times. Then she pleaded for her daughter to Shen Zian and Su Zhi.

The reason Shen Zhang brought up was the same as what Shen Zigui and his wife thought of, which was to avoid being laughed at by people in the village and to avoid affecting the reputation of the girl in the family.

Shen Zifu and Shen Zian stood aside without making any requests. Their wives came forward and made a series of requests, which in the end were that the people in the old house were not allowed to cause trouble for them in the future, especially Shen Zhu. If she had any bad intentions in the future, they would not hide them anymore and let everyone know what kind of person she was.

Although Shen Youfu was angry at his son and daughter-in-law for threatening him, there was nothing he could do now, and Shen Zhang and Shen Zhu also agreed.

As soon as Shen Zian and the others left, Shen Youfu slapped Shen Zhu in the face. Shen Zhu immediately started crying and ran out.

Shen Zhang advised Shen Youfu and was worried about Shen Zhu. But she could go after her anyway. She thought her daughter should reflect on herself. Otherwise, if she continued like this, she would suffer after getting married.

Shen Zhu ran back to the room and lay on the bed crying. Feeling the burning pain on her face, she hated her eldest and fourth brothers' families. She even hated Shen Youfu, thinking that it was wrong for him to hit her. She was looking forward to her younger brother coming back, thinking that when he came back, she would have someone to rely on, and then let him take her away, leave this home. When she had wealth and power in the future, she would definitely come back to show those who laughed at her how glorious she was, and to avenge those who bullied her!

Chunhua knew that her uncle and fourth uncle's families were coming to cause trouble for Shen Zhu, so she hid in the house and didn't come out until the two families left. She came out and saw Shen Zhu running out of the main room crying with her face covered. She felt happy and thought that this annoying person was finally in trouble, and it was also her credit this time. For the first time, she felt that she also had a kind of power. She could take revenge on those she hated, and she could definitely make her life smooth!

Chunhua was like a person who was about to drown. After finding her fourth uncle and aunt, it was like she had grabbed a piece of driftwood and was unwilling to let go no matter what.

Seeing that Shen Youfu was so angry, Shen Zhang tried to persuade him, but was blamed by Shen Youfu instead.

"Tell me about you two! You were so nosy and talked about that Li Pozi and Mao Laoliu, and now the Mao family is blaming you. Now Zhu'er has caused so many troubles, and both of you, mother and daughter, are causing trouble for me! Zhu'er is like this because of you, but she has learned from you, so you should teach her your tolerant temper! If she had half of your ability to pretend, she wouldn't have such a bad reputation!"

"Are you blaming me? That old lady Li framed me for harming my elder sister, but you won't let me tell anyone the truth about her? You still say I can pretend, but how can I pretend? I am just like this! If it weren't for you, do you think I would have suffered so much injustice? And you still blame me!"

Shen Zhang took a handkerchief and began to wipe her eyes. Tears came suddenly and she looked very aggrieved.

Shen Youfu regretted his words the moment he said them. When he saw her crying, he quickly said, "Okay, I'm just upset, right? You know my temper. We've been married for so many years, and you still care about what I say? Stop crying!"

Shen Zhang continued to wipe her tears and said, "I am just sad, but my whole life depends on you. If you say the same thing to me, I will die!"

When Shen Youfu heard Shen Zhang's sweet words, the remaining anger in his heart disappeared.

"What's the point of talking about life and death? Our son has gone to the capital. There will definitely be good news soon. We still have a lot of good days to live. We must live longer!"

Seeing that Shen Youfu's anger had subsided, Shen Zhang stopped crying and followed his words, saying, "Yes, Ziju will definitely pass the exam this time. By then, we will be the old man and old lady. So don't worry about Zhu'er's affairs. The affairs of the Zhao and Mao families are nothing. I think Ziju's good news will come soon. You see, when the time comes, these two families will not dare to say a word. Then our life will be better."

After hearing what Shen Zhang said, Shen Youfu felt much better.

Shen Zhang saw Shen Youfu smiling again and thought to herself how miserable it was to marry this man.

Shen Zifu and Shen Zian finally secured a peaceful future for themselves by using the rag doll as leverage. They all breathed a sigh of relief and began to think about the days ahead.

The work at Shen Zian's house was almost finished, with only some small jobs left to do, and those hands were ready to build a house for Shen Zifu's family.

All the income and expenditure of the eldest wife in recent years were turned over to the public. This time, the family was divided, because it was Shen Zhu who beat Chunlan, in order to prevent people in the village from saying anything, and because the eldest wife had made great contributions to the family in recent years, Shen Youfu and Shen Zhang did not treat them unfairly. However, because Shen Ziju had taken almost all the money in the family, they also thought that in case someone came to report good news in the future, they would have to prepare wedding money. In the end, they gave the eldest wife ten taels of silver, and the things in their house also belonged to them, and they also gave them five chickens and their share of farm tools.

Ten taels of silver are enough to build a house, but it won't be a very good one. Shen Zifu and Wang Shi, looking at their grown-up children, naturally want to build a good one. It can't be comparable to the fourth room, but it should at least be as good as the second room. The other party's son is not even born yet, but they have such a good house. They have two sons!

Wang had some private money, and finally discussed with Shen Zian and others. She decided that if anyone asked about it, they could say that they had borrowed the money from them and that they wanted to build a big house.

The location for building the house was chosen on the east side of the river, on the open space in front of the second room, so that it would be close and could be looked after.

Now is a good time to build a house. If the craftsmen work harder, the house can be completed before the rainy season arrives and can be exposed to the sun.

Shen Youfu also came to visit a few times, and seeing that the eldest son's family members were all smiling and not upset at all about the division of the family, he felt sullen in his heart, and was also hurt by the words of Shen Ziping and Sun Shi, so he stopped coming. Without him coming, the people in the first house felt more relieved.

On the day when the roof beams of the house were about to be put up, good news came. It was an official from the prefecture, saying that Shen Zian had passed the exam and ranked second.

Hebian Village was immediately shocked. It was a big deal for them to have a scholar, let alone a runner-up. In their eyes, that was no worse than the first place. The whole village was very excited and happy, thinking that Shen Ziju would definitely become an official in the future, and the village would also benefit from it. After all, they were the villagers of the high-ranking official!

Everyone in the Shen family was very happy, especially Shen Youfu, whose wrinkles on his face were all smoothed out with joy. His dream of bringing honor to his family was finally realized! Shen Zhang was so happy that she shed tears. But the happiest person was Shen Zhu, who looked radiant. The gloomy look she had had for many days was gone, revealing her bright and beautiful appearance.

People came to the Shen family to congratulate them one after another. Of course, the villagers, as well as the celebrities in the city and town, sent people to give gifts. In a short time, the Shen family had a room full of gifts.

Just as Shen Zhang said, both the Mao and Zhao families no longer pursued what Shen Zhang had said before. They all said that this matter had nothing to do with Shen Zhang from now on, and they even offered gifts and apologies. This made the Shen family very proud, thinking that being an official was good, and no matter right or wrong, in the end it was right.

(Lishu Literature)