Thinking of the Gu Familyâs kindness, Liang Zhuzi and the others immediately picked up their carrying poles, and seven of them stood side by side, blocking Elder Mo and pointing the poles at him, saying, "Scram quickly, dare to cause trouble at Gu Familyâs place, we wonât be polite to you."
Elder Mo was so angry he almost passed out, pointing at Liang Zhuzi and his group, he said, "You, you are from Lianghe Village?"
"Yes," replied Liang Zhuzi and the others, their voices loud and imposing, giving Elder Mo a start.
Elder Mo, who bullied the weak and feared the strong, saw the fierce looks on these people from Lianghe Village and didnât dare to scold them, only turning to Third Grandpa to ask, "Brother Gu, are you selling this tofu or not?"
Also fearing the dagger in Gu Jinliâs hand, his voice softened a bit, "Brother Gu, we are all famine refugees here, you have a profitable business, you should think of our Mo Family first. Only if our days as refugees become better can we gain a firm footing in this village."
Gu Jinli laughed angrily, "Why should I think of your Mo Family first? Do I owe you anything? What are you, the Mo Family, but a scallion?" Even if the Mo Family were a scallion, she would pluck it and use it to fry eggs!
Third Grandpa, hearing Elder Moâs words, was also angered and simply said, "We donât have much tofu at home now and itâs not enough to sell, we wonât sell it to the Mo Family, Brother Mo, you all should head back."
Seeing that Third Grandpa was still unwilling to sell tofu to them, and still calling him Brother Mo, Elder Mo gasped heavily in anger, feeling that the Gu Family was utterly disrespectful towards him; they better not regret this!
Did they really think the Mo Family had no one to rely on?
Mo Kui felt extremely embarrassed and hurriedly signaled to Mo Dali and the others, "Quick, help the uncle back home."
Werenât they embarrassed enough? Standing here throwing a tantrum, but still unable to overpower the others, Mo Kui really didnât understand what Elder Mo was thinking coming to the Gu Family today. Was it specifically to lose face?
This time Elder Mo did not shake off Mo Kuiâs hand, but gracefully accepted this way out, allowing Mo Kui and the others to help him leave.
However, Village Chief He stopped them, calling out, "Wait a moment."
Mo Kui was startled and thought this was bad but couldnât help stopping.
Village Chief He, leaning on a cane, walked up to Elder Mo, his sagging old eyes staring at Elder Mo as he coldly said, "This village cannot accommodate evil men. Let it go this time, but if thereâs a next time, you all will have to roll out of Da Feng Village!"
The He family had just made some money relying on the Gu Familyâs tofu, but Elder Mo had come to the Gu Family right in front of him to throw a tantrum. Did he really think he was dead?
After hearing this, Elder Mo was scared.
Though Village Chief He was weak, he was still the chief of the village, and if they really went too far, Village Chief He did have the authority to drive them out.
Even if he couldnât drive them out, the days of the Mo Family in the village would not be easy.
Elder Mo was both angry and stifled, unable to utter a single word. Mo Dali and his brothers also didnât dare to speak, but it was Mo Kui who said, "Village chief, rest assured, our Mo Family are people who abide by rules, we wonât commit deeds that bully our neighbors."
Mo Kui then bowed and apologized to Third Grandpa, "Third Uncle Gu, my uncle just wanted to find a livelihood for the Mo Family, todayâs matter wasnât intentional, I hope you can forgive us."
After finishing, he helped Elder Mo leave the Gu Familyâs place.
Before they reached the Moâs house, Elder Mo pushed them away and quickly walked towards his home.
As soon as he entered the main house, he said to Old Mrs. Mo, "Go, let the second sonâs wife find Shuan Daâs wife, ask her how that matter is going? Itâs been talked about since the Lantern Festival, how come thereâs no news at all?"
Old Mrs. Mo was preparing breakfast for her daughter-in-law, and upon hearing this, she asked, "Old man, do you really want to do this?"
After all, she was his own granddaughter, and Old Mrs. Mo was somewhat reluctant to let her go.
"But Shuan Daâs wife said that the Lu Family didnât want just any maid," Old Mrs. Mo whispered, "They want a concubine maid, who will share the bed with the men of the Lu Family."
"Whatâs the big deal?" said Elder Mo. "Which girl doesnât end up in bed with a man when she grows up?"
"You should stop feeling sorry for Daya, after the fuss He Dacai caused, Dayaâs reputation has already been ruined, she canât marry into a good family. Rather than marrying a peasant and digging for food in the fields, itâs better to send her to the Lu Family as a maid. Not only will she earn some indenture silver, but if she gives birth to a son, she can even become a concubine. Then our Mo Family will be able to establish a firm footing in Da Feng Village."
Elder Mo snorted coldly: "Letâs see who dares to drive our Mo Family out then."
Elder Mo wanted the Mo Family to prosper quickly, and without waiting for Old Mrs. Mo to call someone, he himself shouted loudly: "Second daughter-in-law, come in, your mother has something to say to you!"
After speaking, Elder Mo entered the inner room, closed the door, and left Old Mrs. Mo to talk to the second daughter-in-law about Dayaâs issue.
Mo Dakuiâs family lived in the east wing, and when he heard Elder Mo calling Mo Dakuiâs wife, he couldnât help but hang his head and sigh heavily.
Seeing him like this, his wife Ms. Zhang comforted him, "Donât feel too bad, itâs the old uncleâs family matter, thereâs nothing we can do."
Mo Chunyueâs reputation was damaged and Elder Mo wanted to sell her, they knew about this since the Lantern Festival, but what could they do?
It was already hard enough to provide for their own two children, how could they manage the affairs of the old uncleâs family?
Although thatâs what she said, when Ms. Zhang recalled the utterly defeated look on Mo Chunyueâs face, she couldnât help but wipe her tears: "Chunyueâs life is too harsh."
They had just managed to survive fleeing famine, and thought better days had arrived, but then that detestable He Dacai barged into their home, lifted and groped Chunyue, and spoke many lewd words. After the incident became known, their Mo Family gained some benefits, but Chunyueâs reputation was completely ruined.
That He Dacai was a tough one; even after being penalized, he kept coming to their home looking for Chunyue, and as a result, Chunyue sought death twice.
After half a month of turmoil, God finally opened his eyes, and He Dacai was arrested and sentenced to jail, never to return.
They thought Chunyueâs tribulations had come to an end, but who would have expected.
"Old uncle is blinded by greed, his own granddaughter, and he wants to sell her to be a concubine maid, which is even lower than a concubine," Ms. Zhang sobbed, "You donât know, because of this, Chunyue has stopped eating and drinking, but the old aunt is too cruel, she even had Mo Dakuiâs wife force-feed Chunyue, determined not to let her die, resolute in selling her."
Thinking of these things made Ms. Zhangâs heart turn bitterly cold.
Could the old uncle and old aunt really care genuinely for them as a couple if they could treat their own granddaughter like this?
Ms. Zhang couldnât help saying, "My dear, letâs keep our distance from the old uncleâs family in the future, they have changed."
The old uncle is demon-possessed, now in pursuit of wealth, and is capable of anything; staying too close to their family, who knows when they might sell us too.
After todayâs events, Mo Kui was also very disheartened, and after a moment of silence, he said, "After the spring plowing is over, I will look for a house, and weâll move out."
"Really, my dear?" Ms. Zhang was overjoyed, she had long wanted to move out and not live with the old uncleâs family anymore.
The two daughters-in-law in the old uncleâs family were both lazy; all the chores in the courtyard had to be done by her, and the two families didnât differentiate their meals but ate together. Every mealtime, their family of four got very little to eat, as it was all taken by the old uncleâs family.