The news that Madam Wan had demanded 100,000 taels of silver from Yang Cui spread like wildfire through several nearby villages.
The Lin family must be the happiest of all.
The more comfortable life the Zhou family and Anjia Village had in the past, the more miserable they were. Even after learning that Yang Cui had remarried to the general, they dared not say a single harsh word, only expressing envy, jealousy, and hatred from afar.
Now that Cen Xiao is dead, Yang Cui has become a widow and is being extorted for a huge sum of 100,000 taels of silver. It's truly a miracle!
They were so happy they almost wanted to kneel down and worship God.
Immediately afterwards, rumors spread that Yang Cui didn't have that much money and was going to sell all her properties to get cash. If all her properties were sold off, everyone in the Zhou family and Anjia Village would lose their jobs!
Not only is Yang Cui facing unemployment, but she can't even pay her workers' wages!
The moment this rumor broke out, panic gripped the people.
Many people came to ask for leave and their wages that very day.
Among them were even a few people from Anjia Village, which angered An Dafu so much that he pointed at them and started cursing.
"You have no conscience! They haven't even done anything yet, they've only spoken, and you're already..."
"Brother Dafu, they're clearly not taking the village head seriously. If they didn't have powerful backers, how could they dare to do that?"
“It’s not that we don’t want to stand together, it’s just that our family’s circumstances are what they are, and I have to think about my family of more than ten people. My lord, I’m sorry for what I did, I…”
"Alright, that's enough," Yang Cui interrupted the man in front of her. "Xi Cai, settle their wages."
Originally, only about ten people left, but after Yang Cui readily settled their wages, a few more came and hesitantly said they wanted to quit.
Yang Cui readily agreed and had Wang Xicai settle the bill for all of them on the spot.
"Old man, what should we do? Should we also go and settle our wages?" An Huangshi, the wife of the village chief, asked the village chief in private.
Village Chief An was actually a little worried that Yang Cuizhen would fall from power, but now he was smarter and said, "There's no movement from the Zhou family yet. We don't care what others do. Our family should stay calm and observe first."
The An family was also very worried, especially after seeing so many people settle their wages and leave, which made them even more anxious.
The Zhou clan members were equally unsettled, but instead of seeking out Yang Cui, they went to their village chief first.
The Zhou family's good life today is all thanks to Yang Cui. If Yang Cui falls, won't their good life be over?
Now everyone is surrounding Zhou Daqing, asking him what to do?
Zhou Daqing remained silent for a long time. The past year had been too smooth. So smooth that he thought life would continue to go on like this, and that even greater wealth awaited him in the future!
Zhou Daqing recalled Yang Cui's journey from attempting suicide by jumping into the water to single-handedly confronting the Lin family, to divorcing Lin Shikang, and partnering with the Star Gazing Tower to make money...
Is the situation now worse than when Yang Cui and Lin Shikang divorced?
I don't think so.
“Village Chief…” a member of the Zhou clan called out, nudging him lightly with his elbow.
Zhou Daqing then came to his senses and said sternly, "I trust the village head's abilities, and I can't control what others do! But no one in our Zhou clan is allowed to settle their wages without my permission. If I find out who goes to the village head at this critical juncture to ask for leave or demand their wages, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Chief Yan of Pigeon Village was also very anxious and wanted to discuss it with Zhou Daqing, since Zhou Daqing was considered one of Yang Cui's "own people".
As soon as they arrived at the door, they heard Zhou Daqing sternly admonishing his clansmen.
Chief Yan was shocked.
"Go back and watch your mouths! Don't say what you shouldn't say, and continue doing what you were doing! Anyone who disobeys can get out of Zhou'an Village!"
"Village chief, don't worry, I'll do whatever you say."
"Yes, yes, I'll listen to you."
After the Zhou clan members dispersed, Clan Chief Yan stepped into the Zhou family's gate.
"Clan Chief Yan, what brings you here?" Zhou Daqing stood up to greet him.
"Alas, I was forced here by my clansmen." The villagers of Pigeon Village were also anxious, but Chief Yan had temporarily suppressed them. However, with people's hearts in turmoil, he was not sure what to do.
Clan Chief Yan lowered his voice and said, "Village Chief Zhou, tell me the truth, this time the Township Lord..."
"Clan Chief Yan, do you think the current situation of the Township Lady is more difficult than when she was still a member of the Lin Yang family in Ji'an Village?"
Chief Yan was stunned.
After a moment, Chief Yan clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Understood, thank you for reminding me, Village Chief Zhou."
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