Sun hurried out and saw a carriage parked at the gate, with the driver looking into the courtyard.
She walked closer and asked, "Sir, who are you looking for? Why are you shouting in front of my house?"
The driver looked up at Sun and said, "Madam, I'm looking for the young man who hired my carriage. He told me to wait for him at the village entrance, saying he has to go back to town soon. I'm asking him if he's still going. If not, please give me the fare quickly."
Although Sun was certain that the person in the carriage was Chen Zhancai, she still cautiously asked, "Master, our family is dirt poor and can't afford a carriage. Have you come to the wrong house?"
The driver frowned. "I can't be wrong. That kid got off the cart and went into the village. Someone saw him and said he was the only scholar in the village. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have been able to find your house."
Mrs. Sun was secretly delighted, and fearing that the people inside the room might not hear, she immediately raised her voice.
"Are you deaf to what I'm saying? Go ask whoever hired your carriage for your money. Don't block my door and shout. No one in my family has ever hired your carriage."
Upon hearing this, the driver immediately became angry. "I knew that kid wasn't a good person. He didn't even dare to enter the village and insisted on getting off at the village entrance. I didn't expect him to actually try to renege on his debt. Let me tell you, if you don't pay me today, I'll block your front door and refuse to leave."
The coachman was also stubborn; he pulled on the reins and blocked the carriage at the gate.
"If you're not leaving, you can stay here. Anyway, the Chen family didn't hire your carriage."
This is exactly the effect that Sun wanted. Chen Zhancai, that cowardly bastard who dares to do something but not to admit it, is a real coward. Today we'll see how he tries to cover up this lie.
Hearing the commotion, the people inside came out.
When Old Mrs. Chen saw that her doorstep was blocked by a horse-drawn carriage, she was furious, her teeth clenched and her eyes wide with rage.
"You cart driver, do you have no regard for the law? We haven't offended you, why are you blocking my gate? Get out of here right now, or I'll go to the village head and have him impound your cart!"
The driver crossed his arms, looking completely unconcerned.
"Okay, you go quickly, and you'd better call everyone in your village over. I want them to know how your family is trying to renege on their debts."
Old Chen's face was full of anger, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. "You're really domineering. When did our family ever owe you money? Do you think we farmers are easy to bully? You come here to extort money right away. Let me tell you, even a cornered dog will jump over the wall. Be careful, or my son will beat you until you're begging for mercy on your knees. If you know what's good for you, get out of here!"
“I’ve seen plenty of people like you who refuse to pay their debts. Do you think I’m afraid of your threats? You want to hit someone? Come on, hit me here.” The driver stiffened his neck and pointed to his head.
Sun gestured to her husband with her eyes to keep quiet. Chen Zhanliang understood what his wife meant, and the two of them looked on with schadenfreude, as if they were watching a good show.
Old Chen pounded his head with both hands, "I'm so angry! Do they think my Chen family is a pushover that anyone can bully? Today I'm going to risk my life to establish my authority in Nanshan Village, otherwise everyone will want to ride on my neck and shit on me."
Old Chen looked around for a suitable tool, grabbed a shovel from nearby, and rushed towards the driver.
Chen Zhancai was sweating profusely inside the house, his mind in a panic, his face filled with remorse. How could he have made such a basic mistake? He should have paid the driver first, and then this troublesome situation wouldn't have happened.
That driver is really stupid. I was afraid he would renege on his debt. Is he the kind of person who cares about a pittance?
Just as he was pulling his hair and hitting his head, he saw Old Man Chen pick up a shovel, which frightened him so much that his face turned white.
You can't just hide in your room and act like a coward. If you make a big fuss about it, you won't be able to reason with anyone.
Thinking of this, Chen Zhancai rushed out as if his pants were on fire, and hugged Old Man Chen, "Dad, calm down, please don't hit me!"
"Zhancai, let go! We can't let outsiders bully us!"
"Dad, calm down, let me talk to him." Chen Zhancai snatched the shovel and threw it aside.
Upon seeing Chen Zhancai, the driver flew into a rage. "You little brat, you finally showed up! I thought you were going to hide like a coward. Hurry up and pay me. I don't have time to argue with you. If you dare to renege, I'll sue you."
"Hey, brother, why are you so angry? Can't you talk things out properly?" Chen Zhancai jogged up to the driver and said in a low voice, "Master, hurry up and wait for me at the village entrance."
"Stop talking nonsense and pay me right now." The driver stretched out his hand.
Chen Zhancai wrung his hands anxiously, pleading, "Master, I won't shortchange you on the fare. Just wait for me at the village entrance, and I'll give you double the fare."
Sun, with her sharp ears, heard everything Chen Zhancai said clearly, and a mocking smile crooked her lips.
"Wow, I didn't realize Chen Zhancai was so rich. Double the fare."
Sun's simple words were like a muffled thunderclap in everyone's hearts.
Chen Zhanliang instantly flew into a rage, "Third brother, what are you thinking? The family is in such a state, yet you're so generous!"
Sun looked at Chen Zhancai with a cold smile, "Didn't you just say you walked back from town? Why did you lie to everyone?"
"It wasn't Second Sister-in-law, I...I...I..." Chen Zhancai didn't know how to explain for a moment.
Chen Zhanliang gritted his teeth and glared at Chen Zhancai. "Third brother, you have disappointed your parents too much. You are a complete liar, spewing nonsense and not telling the truth. Do you think everyone in the family is a fool? Is it fun to keep lying like this? Now I seriously doubt your actions."
"Shut up!" Chen Zhancai was so ashamed that he wanted to disappear. He glared at his face in anger and, in order to save face, he pretended to be aggrieved and said angrily, "Let me tell you, you can scold me and slander me, but you can't doubt my character. I, Chen Zhancai, dare to swear to heaven that if I have lied to my parents, I will never pass the imperial examination for the xiucai degree in my entire life."
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Chen jumped up and down in a panic, "Third son, what nonsense are you talking about? I didn't say I didn't believe you, so spit twice!"
Chen Zhanliang looked aggrieved. "Mother, I don't want to take an oath, but my second brother has made me sound like I'm no longer human. If this gets out, I'll be considered morally corrupt, and how can I still call myself a scholar?"
"Good son, don't worry, your mother will stand up for you." Old Mrs. Chen frowned and glared at Chen Zhanliang through gritted teeth. "Second son, is this how you act as an older brother? If you keep spouting nonsense and slandering the third son, I won't care about you when the third son passes the imperial examination and brings glory to the family. Let's see how your two sons will get married in the future."
......
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