Chapter 412: Expulsion from the Clan

Before, He Dacai used such methods to scheme against Mo Chunyue, and Mo Chunyue almost got entangled and married to He Dacai, so their families had no choice but to be cautious.

Third Grandma also thought of He Dacai spreading words in the village, claiming he and Mo Chunyue had some sort of relationship, which scared her pale, and she hurriedly said, "Brother Qin is right, He Cui’er’s family must be driven out, otherwise it won’t suppress the thoughts of other villagers."

But...

"Can Village Chief He really expel He Cui’er’s family from the clan and drive them away? This is a significant matter; can the He Family People agree?" Third Grandma was quite worried about this.

Gu Jinli said, "That depends on whether Village Chief He has the determination to make the He family truly prosperous."

To make the He Family People prosperous, Village Chief He must suppress a few troublemakers, then unite the rest of the He Family People, bond together, and push forward to achieve good living. Otherwise, even if Old Master Lu’s house is gone, the He Family People would not become prosperous but would become reckless and domineering, fighting each other, and ultimately for their own interests, commit all kinds of wicked deeds.

...

Village Chief He is not foolish; he knows this issue. However, he values his clan members and cannot bear to expel his clanspeople from the clan; that’s why he has been tolerating a few destitute households within the clan.

But what He Cui’er’s family did today was utterly disappointing for him, and Third Grandpa’s words were an enlightening awakening, making him realize he cannot continue in this way.

For the sake of the He family, he must make an example by purging the rotten elements spoiling the broth.

In the courtyard of He Family Ancestral Hall, where over a dozen torches burned, all He Family People gathered; He Daqian, wiping the sweat on his forehead, complained impatiently, "Village Chief, why did you call us all here late at night? We haven’t even eaten dinner yet, and it’s so hot. If you have something to say, please say it quickly and let us go back."

Village Chief He ignored He Daqian and turned to He Dacang, saying, "Tell everyone what He Cui’er’s family did today."

"Yes." He Dacang stepped forward and recounted what He Cui’er’s family had done.

"Just because of this, you called everyone here? It’s such a trivial matter; just teaching He Dashu and his folks a lesson would be enough," He Daqian said, though he cursed He Cui’er’s family upside down in his heart.

It serves you right, He Dashu, daring to scheme against those families’ boys before his own. His wife was planning to go back to her parents’ home in a few days, intending to bring her niece to stay for a while, hoping her niece could cling to those families’ boys so his family could benefit and get rich. Now with the disturbance caused by He Dashu’s family, those families are certainly on guard, making it difficult for his family to use this tactic again.

"He Daqian, shut your mouth! If you dare interrupt again, I won’t be polite," He Dayuan, accompanied by several He Family men holding sticks, stood beside and warned He Daqian.

He Daqian snorted coldly and did not speak again.

Village Chief He, not wanting to waste words, directly said, "He Dashu’s family falsely accused Brother Ping of the Qi family, which is a violation of the Great Chu Criminal Law. If reported to the government, He Dashu’s family would face the punishment of tongue-cutting, and as members of the same clan, we would also be fined by the government office. The He family has ancestral rules; if a descendant brings official trouble to the entire clan, immediately erase their names from the family records, expel them from the clan, and drive them out of the village."

"He Dashu’s family violated the ancestral mandate, and as the He Family Patriarch, I cannot sit back and ignore it. Now, I call for the family records, to expel He Dashu’s family from our clan and drive them out of the village."

Village Chief He’s voice was not loud, yet it frightened the He Family People quite a bit, especially He Daqian, who trembled, "Vi, Village Chief, what are you saying? To expel He Dashu’s family from the clan? Oh dear, have you gone senile? Just because Dashu’s family falsely accused an outsider once, you want to expel them?"

Fourth Son He also cried out, "Yes, Village Chief, it’s just a minor issue. Just turn a blind eye to it; why make such a fuss over an outsider? We are the ones who are family after all."

"Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!" The mouths of He Cui’er’s family were already gagged, and upon hearing those words, they overwhelmingly agreed.

Unfortunately...

Village Chief He chuckled and pointed at He Daqian, saying, "He Daqian, your brother He Dacai has committed a crime and has been sentenced to labor in the official mine. You are He Dacai’s brother and seriously speaking, having a brother who has committed a crime, your whole family should be banished from the village as well."

"What?!" He Daqian was almost scared to death.

He Daqian’s wife quickly grinned apologetically at Village Chief He, saying, "Village Chief, listen to what you’re saying. We’re discussing He Cui’er’s family today, how did it turn to my family? Don’t worry, whatever decision you make about He Cui’er’s family, we won’t argue."

After saying this, she fiercely glared at He Daqian, calling him a fool. Couldn’t he see that the village chief was not in the right mood today? Filled with a murderous aura, yet still courting death.

The other He Family People were also stunned, as it seemed that today the village chief was resolute in driving out He Cui’er’s family.

Fourth Son He quietly muttered in dissatisfaction, yet did not dare to speak further on behalf of He Cui’er’s family.

"Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!" He Cui’er’s family became anxious. Why wouldn’t their kinsmen speak for them? Could they really just watch as their family was driven out of the village by Village Chief He?

Village Chief He, paying no heed to the muffled noises of He Cui’er’s family, solemnly set up an incense altar, first apologizing to the ancestors of the He family, then took out the family genealogy, turned to He Dashu’s family page, and struck off the names of all the men in his family. Then he had He Jinseng write a line: "Involved in a government dispute, implicated the entire He Family Clan, expelled according to ancestral teachings."

When He Dashu saw that Village Chief He truly expunged his family, he was furious, and immediately following that, he fainted from lacking air.

"Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!"

Father, father, you can’t faint; wake up, stand up and reason with the village chief.

Seeing the village chief genuinely expelling He Dashu’s family, the He family members were also frightened... This time, the village chief was serious, truly ruthless.

Village Chief He turned to He Minzi and said, "Your father has fainted, you being the eldest son, the remaining words I’ll just say to you. From today onwards, your family is no longer part of the He family, and you cannot live in this village anymore. The Mo Family lived outside the village on wasteland a couple of months back, where they built a straw shed. You can spend tonight there and tomorrow go seek refuge with relatives. Your family has several relatives; go move into one of your relative’s villages and lead a good life from here on."

"Your family owns eight acres of dry land, one acre of paddy field, and a mud-brick courtyard. In view of once being of the same clan, my family will buy these properties, giving you two hours to tidy up your house. Leave the village tonight."

"Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!"

Not leaving, not leaving, we would rather die than leave.

He Cui’er’s family was in tears, deeply regretting their actions. If they had known the consequences would be so severe, they would rather have lived on wild vegetables their whole lives than dare to scheme against Brother Ping of the Qi Family.

Village Chief He, without even looking at them, tremblingly pulled a fifty tael silver note from his clothes and handed it to He Minzi, "This is the money for buying your family’s lands and house, a total of fifty taels, take it."

Upon hearing this, all the He family members were shocked. Village Chief He was really willing to go to such lengths, even spending fifty taels of silver to drive He Cui’er’s family away, buying up their worthless land and dilapidated house.