Hearing Xiao Yi's words, Old Mrs. Xiao was so angry that her head was spinning. She slapped her thigh and was about to sit on the ground, shouting...
"Oh my God! This is outrageous! Why doesn't the heavens send down a thunderbolt to strike these unfilial bastards dead!"
My son is unfilial, my daughter-in-law is unfilial, I, the mother-in-law, have no way to live!
"Oh my god, everyone come quick! My son and daughter-in-law are driving me to my death!"
It was dinnertime. Although Xiao Yi's house was at the entrance of the village, there were neighbors in front and behind. To the left lived the notoriously gossipy Aunt Tian and her family.
Today, everyone was happily eating in the courtyard after receiving their grain rations when they heard Old Mrs. Xiao's loud and rhythmic cursing voice!
Aunt Tian, always eager for good things to happen, was instantly thrilled!
"Oh! That old hag from the Xiao family is up to her tricks again."
After saying that, he picked up his bowl and leaned over the wall to watch the commotion.
When Grandma Xiao saw someone peeking over the wall, she got even more excited and started crying with snot and tears streaming down her face.
"Oh dear, my life is so miserable! I've raised my son for nothing!"
He's forgotten his mother after getting married! Heartless! A damned wretch! He watches his wife bully his mother and does nothing about it.
After cursing for a while, he jumped up and pinched Xiao Yi hard a few times, cursing again.
"Haven't seen a woman in eight hundred lifetimes or something!"
You've been blinded by such a spendthrift woman!
"What a spineless piece of trash!"
Seeing that Grandma Xiao had warmed up the atmosphere, Xiao Yuanhang and Xie Yujiao also made their appearance. Xie Yujiao got up and ran over, pulling Grandma Xiao along as she urged her to come on stage.
"Oh dear, you're so old, you can't get angry!"
"Second sister-in-law is still immature, please teach her slowly, don't get upset and harm your health!" After saying that, she turned to Xie Yushu and said.
"Second sister-in-law, look how angry you've made Mother! Aren't you going to apologize to her?"
Being disrespectful to your in-laws is a serious offense. Don't upset them and get divorced, which would ruin the Xie family's reputation!
Xiao Yuanhang also spoke righteously.
"Second brother, do you still care about our parents and brothers?"
Look how angry you've made our mother!
"Why don't you take your wife and apologize to your parents?! Don't you understand the most basic filial piety at your age?"
"Wow! That's a novel way of putting it!"
Strange things happen every year, but this year there seem to be more than usual!
A well-educated scholar eats and uses his elder brother's food, yet he points his finger at his brother and curses him. Isn't this like eating from a bowl and then cursing his mother after putting down his chopsticks?
You said your second brother is unfilial.
Your second brother risked his life on the battlefield for four or five years, losing a leg in the process. Of the ten acres of land he acquired, eight acres were given to our parents. All the land in the family was cultivated by your eldest brother, sister-in-law, and nephew. Even with his crippled leg, your second brother had to help out.
Your second brother didn't get a single penny of the money from selling the grain; it all went to support your schooling!
You're pointing your finger at your second brother and cursing him for being unfilial? Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning? You're a scholar, after all. Didn't your Confucian classics teach you about respect for elders and brotherly love? Your second brother has been incredibly kind to you; have you shown him even the slightest respect?
Xie Yushu spoke quickly and forcefully, leaving Zhao Yuanhang speechless. After a long pause, he blurted out a question.
"You shrew! I'm not going to argue with you!"
"Insulting his elder sister-in-law, a scholar with such good manners, truly an eye-opener for me!"
A crowd of onlookers had gathered at the gate, as Old Mrs. Xiao's voice was extremely penetrating, and it was the middle of summer when everyone was eating outside. She had managed to attract almost half the village by herself!
The village chief, who happened to be nearby, also arrived. Upon hearing Xie Yushu's words, he said...
“What Xie said is right. Yuanhang, your second brother has been away for so many years, and he even has a limp. He has worked hard to earn these ten acres of land. He gave eight acres to your parents, and your parents gave these eight acres to you. Before, when they were at home, they gave you all the money they earned from hunting. They have lived up to the brotherly bond between you!”
As the younger brother, it's one thing that you didn't help your older brother when he was crippled, but it's another that you pointed your finger at him and cursed him. That was really wrong of you!
I really don't know how you even passed the imperial examination to become a scholar!
Village Chief Xiao Zhengde, a middle-aged man in his forties, is not only the village chief of Fenghuangzui Village, but also the clan head of the Xiao family.
Unlike Xie Dafu, the clan chief, he was extremely fair in his dealings and had a high reputation in the village and clan. Moreover, he was a student who had studied for several years.
Most importantly, although he is young, he is of a high generation. Old Master Xiao has to call him Uncle, and Xiao Yi and his generation have to call him Great Grandfather. Even if Xiao Yuanhang is a scholar, he can't show off in front of him!
"Uncle Zhengde!"
Grandpa!
Everyone in the courtyard stood up to greet them!
Xiao Yuanhang was scolded, and although he was resentful, he still offered an explanation.
"I... I just saw my mother was angry, and I acted rashly!"
"That's right, Uncle. You can't blame Yuanhang. It was the second son who, along with Xie, secretly hid money from me and went to the city to buy nice things. They didn't even show me any filial piety. That's unfilial! And I can't even say anything to them!"
I told them, but they wouldn't listen. Only the fourth brother spoke up for me!
Old Mrs. Xiao did not intend to make a big fuss. She planned to come over, give her second son some money, and then leave after taking the things.
Unexpectedly, the aroma of wild chives and fried eggs smelled so good that I decided to have a meal. Then I saw Qu Xiaodie and heard that Xie Yushu had given her thirty taels of silver. Old Madam Xiao was furious, and things went off track and escalated!
Even if things escalated, they weren't afraid. Filial piety could be the death of a man, and with everyone around, Xiao Yi and Xie Shi would have even less reason to resist her.
Unexpectedly, the first person summoned was the clan chief, Xiao Zhengde. This Xiao Zhengde even spoke up for Xie Yushu. Even though Old Madam Xiao was extremely dissatisfied, she was intimidated by Xiao Zhengde. Thinking that she might miss out on forty taels of silver, she was so angry that her heart ached and her liver hurt.
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