“During the time I was away from home, many things happened and caused a lot of misunderstandings. My wife, Yang, and my daughters suffered a lot. Yang was forced to divorce me and move away from Lin’an Village with our two daughters. Although none of this was my intention, and I never had the thought of divorcing her, it all started because of me.” At this point, Lin Shikang’s guilt and self-blame were evident.
Then, Lin Shikang looked intently at Yang Cui, his words becoming even more sincere: "Xiaocui, you are a good woman. In my Lin family, you have fulfilled your responsibilities as a person, a wife, a daughter-in-law, and a mother, working hard without complaint. Having such a wife is truly my blessing. Ultimately, my Lin family has wronged you. Today, in front of the county magistrate and many people, I, Lin Shikang, solemnly apologize to you on behalf of my family and my clan. Please forgive me."
After saying this, Lin Shikang bowed deeply to Yang Cui, offering his apologies.
Yang Cui was completely bewildered by this series of actions.
The onlookers, both inside and outside the venue, were also bewildered.
At this moment, the naval soldiers that Lin Shikang had arranged in the crowd shouted, "Oh my! This Lin Tanhua's demeanor is truly extraordinary! Look at him, a disciple of the Emperor, actually bowing and apologizing to a mere village woman like Yang."
"It seems he really was implicated."
"If you ask me, that woman who framed Yang Cui before was the most vicious. She ruined her reputation and destroyed their marriage! She was utterly wicked!"
"But it's a fact that Lin Tanhua is going to marry the daughter of a high-ranking official!"
"So what? Which man doesn't have three wives and four concubines? Only incompetent men have only one wife."
"Exactly! It's perfectly normal for a dashing and handsome scholar to fall in love at first sight with a beautiful young lady! That's how it's written in storybooks. Besides, Scholar Lin himself acknowledged his first wife's hard work and never considered divorcing her. He could have enjoyed the bliss of having two wives! Which man wouldn't want to have two wives?"
These words were met with great approval from the men.
Although the women felt some resentment, they also felt that this was a normal phenomenon.
Yang Cui stared blankly at Lin Shikang, thinking to herself that he truly lived up to his reputation as the male protagonist of the original work, easily turning the tide and establishing a reputation for being responsible and dependable.
Immediately afterwards, Lin Sanjin, Lin Qi, Lin Niu Shi, and Fan Shi, all with expressions of remorse on their faces, bowed to Yang Cui in apology.
"Xiao Cui, we also apologize to you."
"Xiao Cui, I'm sorry."
Please forgive me.
“Xiaocui, I was too harsh on you and the child before. I apologize to you in front of everyone today. Please forgive me.”
...
This caused an uproar!
First, the third-ranked scholar bowed and apologized, and now an "elder" is bowing and apologizing. To onlookers, it seems like they are showing great sincerity!
Yang Cui remained silent, watching them perform.
Madam Fan asked, "Xiao Cui, don't you forgive us?"
Lin Shikang said, "Our Lin family hurt her deeply, so it's normal that Xiao Cui can't let it go for a while. In the end, it's our Lin family that has wronged her. Xiao Cui, we're sorry."
Lin Shih-kang bowed his head and apologized again.
But this time, since Yang Cui didn't say she forgave him, he didn't straighten up and kept bending over, meaning that he wouldn't get up unless Yang Cui forgave him.
At this moment, a netizen shouted, "Forgive him."
Once the first sentence was uttered, the second and third sentences followed: "Forgive the third-ranked scholar; it wasn't his fault, forgive him."
"It is good to admit one's mistakes and correct them. A dignified third-place scholar has already apologized to you so humbly, so let it go."
………
The voices urging Yang Cui to forgive him rose and fell.
Can a simple "I'm sorry" erase all the hurt?
Even after the wound heals, there's still a scar.
Yang Cui thought to herself: Sure enough, there's no shortage of people who talk the talk but don't walk the walk. They don't know the pain until the knife cuts them.
At this moment, Magistrate Yin Zhihua said, "Harmony is the most important thing in all things. As the sage said, 'No one is perfect.' Since Lin Tanhua and his clansmen are willing to sincerely apologize, Madam Yang, why don't you forgive them?"
"But the sage did not say that the person who is hurt must forgive the person who hurt them. In other words, if I beat all of you here half to death and then said to you, 'I'm sorry, I was wrong,' would you forgive me?"
The county magistrate, Yin Zhihua, was speechless and his expression turned rather unpleasant.
The shills hired by Lin Shih-kang outside the venue got excited as soon as they heard this!
"How can you talk like that, woman?"
"That esteemed third-place scholar has condescended to apologize to you, what more do you want..."
Before he could finish speaking, Dao Ba dragged him out and gave him a severe beating.
"Ahhh!" The person being beaten screamed repeatedly.
It took a while for everyone to realize what was happening.
Enraged, Yin Zhihua slammed his gavel: "This is outrageous! How dare they beat a commoner right in front of me! Arrest this scoundrel!"
A group of constables immediately pushed through the crowd and arrested Dao Ba.
The people spontaneously dispersed, and Dao Ba was quickly surrounded by the constables.
"Eight...Eight..." Only then did Yin Zhihua realize that it was Dao Ba who had hit him!
Dao Ba looked at Yin Zhihua with a half-smile: "Sir, I am willing to apologize to him. According to what he just said, if you are hurt, it is all over as long as the other party apologizes. I am willing to apologize to him. I believe that you and he will not blame me. After all, harmony is the most important thing. I am not a saint, nor have I been to school. I can also make mistakes."
Yin Zhihua was speechless for a moment.
Dao Ba returned their words verbatim.
Who is Dao Ba? He's a military officer with a rank, though his official position is low, but he has powerful backers!
Yin Zhihua was trembling with fear. When he thought of Dao Bagang's behavior and words, he couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that General Cen didn't want Lin Shikang and Yang Shi to reconcile?
Yin Zhihua regretted it. He originally thought it was nothing, after all, Yang Shi hadn't lost anything by making up with Lin Shikang, so he thought he could do Lin Shikang a favor and benefit from Lin Shikang becoming the son-in-law of the Vice Minister. Who knew that even the Eighth Prince would get involved in such a small matter? At this moment, he really wanted to slap himself. Why did he have to say something like that?
"Ouch! That hurts so much! That hurts so much! Bah! You hurt me like this, who's going to forgive you? What good is an apology! Did I get beaten up for nothing?!"
"You speak so fluently, it seems I haven't beaten you enough!" After saying that, Dao Ba kicked him again. After kicking him, Dao Ba grinned and said, "Sorry, brother. I don't know what was wrong with me just now. I just couldn't stand you and wanted to beat you up. Now I apologize to you. You're so noble and generous, you definitely won't hold it against me."
Dao Ba continued, "Anyone else who feels they've been bullied and can be forgiven with just an apology? Step forward, and I guarantee my apology will be more sincere than that idiot surnamed Lin's!"
Upon hearing this, the expressions on everyone's faces became quite interesting, and the common people all backed away, no one wanting to be beaten!
Yang Cui tried her best to hold back her laughter.
At this point, Yin Zhihua had no choice but to change his tune: "How can a simple 'I'm sorry' resolve the issue of hurting others?"
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