Upon hearing this, Chen Zhancai was shocked. If outsiders knew that he had beaten his own father, not only would his reputation be ruined, but he would also be despised by the villagers.
Thinking of this, he quickly lowered his raised fist, but he felt a burning anger inside him and pushed Old Man Chen hard with the hand that was grabbing his collar.
He snorted disdainfully and warned, "I don't care to talk to you because you're my father, but you better behave yourself and don't try to take it out on me."
Old Chen was already dizzy with anger. Suddenly pushed backward, he lost his balance and fell flat on his back.
When Grandma Chen saw this, she turned pale with fright. She quickly put on her shoes, got out of bed, and hugged the motionless Grandpa Chen into her arms. "Old man, what's wrong with you? Don't scare me."
After saying that, she looked at Chen Zhancai with resentment in her eyes, "What are you doing? He's your own father, how could you lay a hand on him?"
When Chen Zhancai saw that Old Man Chen had stopped moving, he was dumbfounded. "Mother, you saw it too. This is not my fault. Who told him to start a fight without warning? Besides, I didn't use any force. Who knew he was so clumsy that he fell down."
"Oh dear, my silly son, how old is your father? How can he withstand you pushing him like that? If something happens to him, how am I supposed to live alone?"
"Alright, Mother, quickly check if my father is still breathing!" Chen Zhancai was terrified. If he really killed his own father, he would have no face to stay in Nanshan Village.
Grandma Chen panicked and shook Grandpa Chen, saying, "Old man, don't scare me. Wake up! If you die, there will be no one to eat chaff and wild vegetables with me."
"Alright, old woman, stop shaking me. If you keep shaking me, you'll really send me flying." Old Chen slowly opened his eyes, rubbing his bottom with his hand. "Oh my god, you almost killed me!"
Old Mrs. Chen glared at him, annoyed. "You good-for-nothing! You're such a liar. I thought you were dead. If you're alright, get up now and stop scaring people."
Old Chen stood up despite the pain, his face full of anger. "Old woman, you see? This is the good son you've spoiled. He's useless, but he's good at hitting his father and cursing his mother. You still expect him to be filial to us? Bullshit! He's the real ingrate."
"Alright, old man, it takes two to tango. I also want to help you with this." At this moment, Old Mrs. Chen still spoke up for Chen Zhancai, feeling that her son would never do such a heartless thing.
Chen Zhancai, feeling embarrassed by the scolding, suddenly turned angry and snapped at Old Man Chen, "You're really disrespectful to your elders! Fine, since that's what you think, I'll grant your wish. Just don't keep asking me for money to buy food. Whether you live or die is none of my business."
"Old woman, did you hear that? That brat finally told the truth. He's never taken us seriously." Old Chen was furious, wanting to pounce on Chen Zhancai and strangle him. "You unfilial wretch! I don't have a good-for-nothing son like you! Get out of here!"
"Hmph! Fine, get out then, you'll regret it!" Chen Zhancai snorted coldly and strode out.
Old Mrs. Chen was so anxious that she jumped up and down on the spot, "Zhancai, my good son, where are you going? Come back at once."
"I find him troublesome, I'm going back to town." Chen Zhanliang said, and walked away without looking back.
Old Chen rarely lost his temper, and he gritted his teeth and glared, "Old woman, don't mind him, let him go, and don't let him come back."
“Zhancai finally came back, what kind of crazy thing is this, you damned old man, why are you throwing a tantrum? If he really didn’t come back, who would we rely on? You’re getting more and more senile as you get older. Go and find my son right now.”
"That ungrateful bastard who's full of lies and lies, I want to beat him to death. Let him go wherever he wants, I'm not going to put up with him!"
"You're such a stubborn mule, always pushing your luck! If you don't go today, I'm not done with you!" Old Mrs. Chen said, hands on her hips, looking furious.
Old Chen, with his neck stiff, retorted defiantly, "I'm not going! Do whatever you want."
Old Mrs. Chen was worried about her son and afraid that he would suffer any injustice. Seeing that being forceful didn't work, she immediately softened her tone.
"Alright, old man, you're a grown man, why are you arguing with a child? Go and find Zhancai, no matter what, we still need him to support us in our old age."
"Old woman, what can I say to you? How can you not see the truth? What do you expect from someone like Zhancai? We haven't even eaten or drunk anything from him, and he dares to lay a hand on me. If he ever becomes unable to move, we'll make sure he suffers a miserable death."
"Alright, what kind of father talks about his son like that? No matter how bad or inhuman a son is, he is still our son. No matter how good or filial someone else is, he is still someone else's son. People are all made of flesh and blood. Zhancai is someone we have raised with our love. I believe he would never do such a disloyal and unfilial thing. Go and bring him back quickly. Then we can discuss how to deal with the eldest son's family."
"I already said I'm not going! If you're worried, go after him yourself. I can't be bothered with him."
"You've really given me a hard time!" Old Mrs. Chen instantly lost her patience, picked up the broom handle from the kang (a heated brick bed), and hit Old Mr. Chen with it. "I'll ask you one more time, are you going or not?"
Old Chen was beaten until he grimaced, but he dared not continue to be defiant and could only nod repeatedly in agreement, "I'll go, I'll go right now."
"You're like a dog that won't move no matter how you try to lead it, and you'll only move backward when you try to pull it. Hurry up and move!" Old Mrs. Chen followed behind Old Mr. Chen with concern.
As Chen Zhancai left his house, he couldn't help but curse under his breath. That senile old fool actually tried to hit him!
You're really asking for trouble. If it weren't for the fact that you're my father, I would have beaten you to a pulp.
You say I'm unfilial? I really can't be bothered with you. Good luck to you all!
As he walked forward, lost in thought, he saw dust billowing in the distance as a luxurious carriage, escorted by a dozen or so constables, approached the village.
Chen Zhancai was immediately stunned. What were these yamen runners doing in Nanshan Village?
Could it be that the county magistrate is investigating a case? Or is he showing compassion for the people?
Impossible, the county magistrate would never come to this godforsaken place in person.
What's the point of all this fanfare?
I'm not going to think about it anymore. Maybe the county magistrate is just bored and wandering around aimlessly!
The villagers chatting idly at the village entrance were also taken aback.
"Hey, aren't these the county yamen runners? What are they doing in our village?"
"Yes, they didn't come because of Qing'er, did they?"
"It's possible. Maybe the county magistrate is here to handle a case."
"Alright, all of you, stop talking. The official sedan chair is here. If you say anything wrong and the official blames you, you'll definitely get a beating."
"Yes, yes, everyone be quiet, let's see what's going on."
The villagers were terrified of the officials in the government office, fearing they might inadvertently cause unnecessary trouble, so they all kept quiet.
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