Da Kuiās wife was the first to react, saying, "Village Chief, we know San Lai is a member of the He Family. We understand your affection for your kin, and our Mo Family isnāt unreasonable. Weāll refrain from reporting to the authorities if possible, but we need you to give our Mo Family a proper explanation for todayās incident."
Upon hearing Da Kuiās wifeās words, Village Chief He knew that the Mo Family didnāt want to involve the officials but rather wanted money. Disappointed in San Lai, he no longer wished to deal with the matter and said, "San Lai is just a nephew of the He Family. Iām old and canāt manage him anymore; itās better to report the case."
The Mo Family People nearly cursed out loud upon hearing this.
Elder Mo pointed at Village Chief He and said, "Village Chief, what do you mean by that? Are you planning to ignore this matter? San Lai is a member of your He Family, and as the Clan Leader, how can you refuse to take responsibility?"
If Village Chief He didnāt take charge, where would they get the money?
San Lai was penniless; only if Village Chief He took action could they extract compensation from the He Family Members.
Village Chief He furrowed his brows, about to speak, when San Lai said, "Village Chief, I really didnāt kidnap Chunyue. It was Chunyue who came to my house on her own. I, I..." He couldnāt hold back and consummated the marriage with Chunyue.
Village Chief Heās frown deepened upon hearing this.
San Lai had said this before, but the village chief didnāt believe him since San Lai had long since tarnished his own reputation. Moreover, Mo Chunyue cared about her honor, having sought death over an affair with He Dacai; it was unlikely that she would willingly go to San Laiās house to be with him.
Yet seeing San Laiās expression, he felt that San Lai might not be lying.
Mo Chunyue was sitting in the main room of San Laiās house, accompanied by Ms. Zhang, silent and tearless, only observing the people in the courtyard. Her gaze finally landed on San Lai.
Seeing her in this state, Ms. Zhang felt at a loss on how to comfort Chunyue, only silently sighed at her misfortune.
The Mo Family People were infuriated to hear San Lai repeat that Chunyue had come to him on her own. Mo Dali picked up a stick and swung it at San Lai, who dodged.
San Lai darted in front of Village Chief He and knelt down, pleading, "Village Chief, Iām willing to marry Chunyue and live a good life with her. Please help us."
"Ptui! Who do you think you are, wanting to marry our Chunyue? Not a chance!" Old Mrs. Mo, seeing an opportunity, became arrogant again and pointed at San Lai, cursing, "Our Chunyue was kidnapped by you, and if our Mo Family wanted to, we could bind you up and send you to the officials right now."
Da Kuiās wife said, "Our Mo Family are good people, always ready to extend mercy. We wonāt turn you in to the officials and could even let Chunyue marry you, but you must compensate our family with money."
"Right, you must give compensation, pay us with silver. Without it, this matter wonāt settle," Mo Dali pointed at San Lai with a wooden stick, his face ferocious, as if he were about to devour San Lai.
Chunyue stood up upon hearing this and walked out.
Old Mrs. Mo saw her and cried out as she rushed over, "Chunyue, my dear granddaughter, you have suffered a great injustice, donāt be afraid, thereās..."
Chunyue pushed Old Mrs. Mo away and walked straight to Village Chief He, knelt beside San Lai, and said with a choked voice, "Village Chief, San Lai isnāt lying. He didnāt kidnap me; I went to his house myself... I am willing to marry him, please grant us your blessing."
Her words caused an uproar among the villagers who came to watch the excitement.
"Good heavens, it was truly Mo Chunyue who went to him on her own!"
"Iāve seen strange things, but this, a bride falling from the sky into someoneās lap, is a first for me."
"San Lai, you lucky dog, getting such a wife out of the blue." teased a bachelor enviously, unable to contain his jealousy.
At these words, San Lai stood up angrily and pointed at the onlookers, shouting, "Shut your mouths, all of you! Anyone dares to say a bad word about Chunyue, Iāll smash their house!"
He doesnāt like others mocking Chunyue.
When the villagers heard what He Sanlai said, thinking of his previous rogue behavior, most were afraid, but there were those with loose lips who mocked, "Yo, heās already defending her before sheās through the door. If the Mo Familyās eldest granddaughter can do it, why canāt we speak of it?"
"Go to hell!" He Sanlai, holding the broken-handled firewood knife, charged at the heckling bachelor, scaring him into turning and running away.
"Come back here," Village Chief He stamped his walking stick and ordered.
These days, He Sanlai didnāt dare to defy Village Chief He and came back obediently, kneeling again, and pleaded, "Village Chief, please help me this one time, I will surely repay you in the future."
Village Chief He looked at He Sanlai for a long time without speaking.
Anxious, He Sanlai feared that Village Chief He wouldnāt help him and kept kowtowing to the Village Chief.
Thump, thump, thump, the courtyard was filled with the sound of He Sanlaiās kowtowing.
Mo Chunyue watched He Sanlai, somewhat shocked. She was attracted to He Sanlai because of his reputation as a neāer-do-well, thinking that the Mo Family wouldnāt have their way with him. She never thought that for her sake, He Sanlai could plead with people like this.
Mo Chunyue thought for a moment and also began to kowtow to Village Chief He.
Village Chief He looked at both He Sanlai and Mo Chunyue and said to them, "Stop kowtowing. I just want to ask you both, can you live together and have a good life in the future?"
He Sanlai hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes, Village Chief, rest assured, as long as I take a wife, I will definitely live a good life."
He used to mess around thinking that his family was poor, his reputation was bad, and he could never take a wife in his lifetime, so life had no expectations and he kept on fooling around. Now that he has Mo Chunyue, and seeing the end of He Dacai and the others, he genuinely wanted to live honestly.
Mo Chunyue also said, "As long as I can leave the Mo Family, I will definitely live well with San Lai."
Hearing this, the villagers were once again shocked. What exactly did the Mo Family do that drove their own granddaughter to use such means to leave the Mo Family?
The villagers discussed among themselves, and Elder Moās face turned red in a flash. He cared about his face, and immediately roared, "Daya, you shameless thing, donāt talk nonsense and ruin the Mo Familyās reputation."
Mo Chunyue sneered, "Does the Mo Family still have a reputation? Grandfather had better not ask for the sky; otherwise, your granddaughter will tell everyone what yāall have done, and let everyone judge for themselves!"
Selling the granddaughter to the Lu Family, as a plaything for the Lu men, and abusing her every dayāif these things were disclosed, the Mo Familyās reputation would be ruined forever. Would his grandsons ever get wives then?
Elder Mo was frightened and dared not scold Mo Chunyue again, only saying to Village Chief He: "Chunyue is our familyās eldest granddaughter. With such an incident occurring, no matter what, it is our Mo Family that has suffered a loss. Your He Family has to compensate our Mo Family somehow."
It all came down to money.
Village Chief He said, "How much does your Mo Family want?"
Old Mrs. Moās eyes lit up, stretching out one finger, "Ten taels of silver! And add a bag of white flour and an egg-laying hen."
Ten taels of silver, plus white flour and a henāOld Mrs. Mo really dared to ask for a high price, thinking her eldest granddaughter was made of gold? Which family in the ten miles and eight villages would take a wife for ten taels of silver?
"Impossible," Village Chief He said. "Five taels of silver; if you agree, then marry Chunyue over here, if not, then go report to authorities yourself."
The Mo Family People were very dissatisfied, but Village Chief Heās attitude was firm, and Mo Chunyue did not side with them. After all the commotion, thatās all they could do.
After the matter was settled, the Mo Family wanted to take Mo Chunyue back with them, but Mo Chunyue steadfastly refused to go back to the Mo Family. In the end, she could only go to Village Chief Heās house, stay there a few days, and wait until the first day of the third lunar month to be sent to He Sanlaiās house for the wedding ceremonies.