She led Jiangjiang closer and asked in confusion, "What happened? How could someone commit such a crime so brazenly in the village?"
Meng Aji tried to force a smile, but when she did, blood started flowing from the cut on her lip.
He ultimately said nothing and shook his head.
Chen Sheng glared angrily at Cheng Qingyan and complained, "What happened? It's because I helped you move your things!"
He warned those people yesterday, but they weren't afraid of him at all.
Sure enough, they caught Meng Aji today and gave him a severe beating.
So Meng Aji got beaten up because of her?
"What do you mean by that, Brother Chen? Did they beat me up because they saw me helping them move my things?"
"What's the reason for this?" Cheng Qingyan didn't understand at all. She hadn't told anyone about giving Meng Aji money!
Chen Sheng helped Meng Aji up, and Cheng Qingyan, holding Jiang Jiang's hand, tried to help, but Meng Aji refused.
"I'm fine. I was just stunned for a moment, but I'm much better now."
Because it was close to Chen Sheng's house, the group went there first.
Chen Sheng's wife was also at home; she was washing clothes.
Upon seeing Chen Sheng helping Meng Aji, whose face was bruised and swollen, he quickly threw his clothes into the basin and wiped the water off his waist with his hands.
"Husband, what happened? Why was Ah Jiqi beaten up?"
Chen Sheng comforted her, "Don't worry, my lady, let's boil some water first."
Thinking of Cheng Qingyan and Jiang Jiang beside him, Chen Sheng added, "Do you have any food at home that the children can eat? If so, bring a plate over."
Xia Zhenzhen, Chen Sheng's wife, glanced at Cheng Qingyan and Jiang Jiang, nodded, and left.
Chen Sheng applied some white ointment to Meng Aji, and then Xia Zhenzhen brought over a tray with a stack of something that looked like sugar cakes and a pot of tea.
"We don't usually keep snacks at home. These are some sweet cakes I made this morning. Please excuse my poor attempt to make them look bad, my lord and my lady."
Jiang Jiang didn't eat it right away, but looked at Cheng Qingyan instead.
Only after Cheng Qingyan nodded did she pick up a piece and say crisply, "Thank you, Auntie. Jiangjiang is starting to eat."
Cheng Qingyan also said to Xia Zhenzhen, "Thank you, sister-in-law."
There seemed to be nothing more she could help with inside, so she took the tray and went outside again.
She wasn't familiar with Cheng Qingyan, only knowing that he didn't have a good reputation in the village.
However, that was in the past.
Now, everyone in the village is eager to curry favor with Cheng Qingyan.
Even her husband has mentioned it at home many times.
Chen Sheng poured a glass of water for Cheng Qingyan: "Our home is simple, and tea is precious, so we didn't prepare any. I'm sorry to trouble you, Cheng San."
Cheng Qingyan picked up the teacup, touched it, and found it was warm. He smiled and said, "I'm not used to drinking tea either. This boiled water is just fine."
"I just don't know if any of you can tell me the whole story. How did Brother Aji get beaten up because of me?"
Meng Aji remained silent, but Chen Sheng, after holding back for a long time, finally couldn't hold back any longer.
“Ah Jita doesn’t want you to know, but this matter really started because of your family.”
“Aji and I were watching from near your house yesterday. I went home first, and somehow Aji went to help you look for someone.”
"When I returned to find him for a meal, I heard those men standing at your door wanting to beat up Aji."
"Although I warned them not to touch Aji, my words carried little weight, and it was clear they didn't take it to heart."
Note that he said "your home," not "you."
Cheng Qingyan glanced at Meng Aji in surprise. It was truly unexpected that someone in this village would be silently beaten because of their family's affairs!
However, after hearing this, Cheng Qingyan understood what was going on.
It was all for a few dozen coins, and Meng Aji was willing to help her move things, thus thwarting the men's attempt to ask her for money.
Cheng Qingyan placed two strings of copper coins on the table and slowly said, "I'm here today to see you two because you left in a hurry yesterday. This is your payment for moving things yesterday."
Meng Aji and Chen Sheng both shook their heads and pushed the copper coins back.
"Are you two thinking this is too little? Please rest assured, I will definitely give you an explanation for what happened to Brother Aji because of me."
Meng Aji looked at Chen Sheng, who then said, "We can't accept this money."
“We’re neighbors, it’s just a matter of lending a hand, taking money is an insult to my brother and me.” “As for Aji being beaten, it depends on what Aji thinks.”
When Meng Aji opened his mouth, his lip still hurt a little, but the bleeding had stopped.
"They beat me up, they should be over it by now, let's just let it go."
He didn't want to get entangled with those scoundrels. He didn't spend much time at home during the day, but he had a seriously ill mother at home.
Those scoundrels beat him up, and he recovered in a few days.
But if those people went to his house to cause trouble, his mother simply couldn't bear it.
Sometimes, compromising is truly the only option.
Chen Sheng sighed and remained silent.
It seemed he knew that this was the inevitable outcome.
Jiang Jiang, chewing on his food, asked in confusion, "Why should we just take the beating for nothing? We don't owe them anything, Father. Let's fight back."
He has an innocent and naive appearance, but the words he speaks are full of violence and killing.
If Cheng Qingyan had said this, Chen Sheng might have been able to make a sarcastic remark.
But now, it's a three- or four-year-old child who's speaking. What can he possibly say?
I can only smile wryly. How can I understand if someone's concession is because they have no other choice but to give in, since they have never experienced the suffering of others?
The three adults in the room fell silent.
Who wants to get beaten up for no reason? Who doesn't want revenge?
In the end, the two of them did not accept the money Cheng Qingyan had given them.
Chen Sheng and Meng Aji didn't want to say anything more to Cheng Qingyan, so in the end Cheng Qingyan could only leave with Jiang Jiang.
After Cheng Qingyan and the others left, Xia Zhenzhen went into the house with a smile.
"Although neither of our families is wealthy, it was the right thing to do not accept the money she offered today."
Chen Sheng asked with a smile, "Wife, I took a look, there are about a hundred copper coins there, aren't you worried about the cost?"
Xia Zhenzhen laughed and said, "If you two really take that money, you probably won't be able to sleep peacefully from now on."
"Perhaps, I'll slap myself twice in my dreams."
Meng Aji was amused by Xia Zhenzhen's words, but when he grimaced, he gasped in pain.
“Brother Sheng and Sister-in-law are right, we really can’t accept this money.”
I just hope that after this beating, those people will settle down and stop causing trouble.
She doesn't know much about Meng Aji's situation; perhaps she could ask Ye Lingyu.
"My wife, do you know Meng Aji?"
Ye Lingyu and Hongyu were wiping the cabinets in their new home, their hands busy wiping the cloth, without even looking up: "Didn't you help us move things yesterday? You saw that, didn't you?"
Moreover, Cheng Qingyan went to find Meng Aji today, could something have happened?
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