"How about we try it for a month? First, get Brother Ah Zhi to catch a few chickens and ducks, slaughter two or three a day, and see if anyone wants them," Lin Wan suggested with a pause. "We could also wait another month or two because business isnât great right after the New Year."
Zhang Daniu nodded, noting the idea, and went back to discuss it with her husband.
Lin Wan originally wanted to remind her to pay attention to her in-laws and Liang Weixiang. If they really started their own business, they would inevitably be jealous and take advantage of them.
However, she ultimately decided not to mention it. These things had to be realized on their own.
This wife of Brother Ah Zhi is pretty and seems to be quite articulate.
Uncle and Aunt laughed all day, unable to close their mouths.
The atmosphere at the banquet was quite good.
Due to the recent rise of the Liang Family, many people from the village came to curry favor, including Ye Weijun.
Ye Weijun drank a bit too much today, and once drunk, he couldnât hold his tongue. He started bragging at the feast.
He said his daughter Ah Qing got married, and her husband is also an officer, even the brother of Lin Guozhiâs son-in-law.
"Brother Guozhi, my son-in-law is better than yours. You might not know, but your son-in-law is a bastard. A lovechild." Ye Weijun was truly drunk and came up to Lin Guozhi, patting his shoulder and calling him brother. Ye Weijunâs obviously reckless words worried those present, especially since they could see Lin Guozhiâs face had darkened.
"Youâve had too much to drink."
Ye Weijun blithely ignored this, laughing heartily, "Iâm not drunk, Iâm fully sober. Brother Guozhi, donât put on airs in front of me. If we were talking ranks, Iâd be ahead of you. Haha."
Lin Guozhi directly brushed away Ye Weijunâs hand and said coldly, "Ye Weijun, I havenât even settled the account of your daughter framing my son and daughter, and now you dare to shamelessly defame my son-in-law in front of me? Apparently, your daughter hasnât spent enough time in reform-through-labor."
Lin Guozhiâs words stirred up a storm among those present.
That remark about Ye Weijunâs daughter being in reform-through-labor made everyone sigh.
"What happened? How could Ye Qing end up in reform-through-labor? Thatâs terrible."
"Wasnât she a college student? What did she do to deserve this?"
"Hmph, it was all about her framing our Ah Hui. She seduced a man outside, forged connections to get a government job, and who knew our Ah Hui also got assigned there, diligently worked, was promoted, blocking her way. So she came up with nasty plans to falsely accuse our Ah Hui of accepting bribes, even investigated Ah Meiâs familyâs restaurant and wounded someone. All these were Ye Qingâs doings," Cha Zhenfang shared loudly what she heard from her son with the villagers. "If Guozhi hadnât rushed back in time, our Ah Hui might be dead."
"Oh dear, Ah Qing seemed like such a good girl, how could she do such things? Prison isnât undeserved."
"For years, all weâve heard is Mei Family making money, who could expect such bitter incidents, nearly losing oneâs life, it had to be ruthless."
"Didnât Ah Qing get along well with Xiao Wan? How could she harm her?"
"Havenât you heard of jealousy? Xiao Wan is prettier, studies better, more capable, and now sheâs married to a good man. She must be envious."
"In the Ye Family, only Mei is decent, and Ah Ron is somewhat honest."
Some who heard this curled their lips in disagreement; because after leaving Brother Ah Zhi, Ye Ron started his poultry business independently. Just this act alone proves heâs not a simple person.
"Their family, except for Qiu Hualan whoâs really pitiful, are not good people."
This comment drew agreement from several villagers.
Liang Weixiang and her daughter left early, unaware of these events.
Both secretly patted their chests, thankful they returned early. Otherwise, they might have been set up by Ye Qing as well.
No, they were already framed by that wretch Ye Qing. They should be thankful she didnât put them in jail.
Didnât expect this woman to be so vicious, even daring to frame Liang Hongmeiâs entire family.
At the moment, they hesitated and feared whether or not they should ask Ye Weijun for money. What if Ye Qing found out?
If she returns for revenge, what would they do? Theyâve witnessed Ye Qingâs ruthlessness. Honestly, they couldnât match this woman. Faced with the villagersâ criticism of Ye Weijun, the Qiu Family also felt embarrassed and stepped forward to pull Ye Weijun aside, quickly apologizing to Lin Guozhi.
"Guozhi, you know Ah Jun for decades, heâs always been like this. Once he drinks, he forgets who he is. Donât take it to heart. Today is Brother Ah Zhiâs joyful day; letâs discuss privately later, okay?"
Lin Guozhi remained silent, with a cold face, setting the matter aside.
If it werenât for Brother Ah Zhiâs matters, he wanted to settle scores with Ye Weijun.
However, Ye Weijun didnât realize the seriousness, broke free from the restraint, and said impatiently, "Everything I said is true, you should believe me. Why is he acting like this? Lin Guozhiâs son-in-law is a worthless bastard."
Ye Weijun, though bleary-eyed, looked smug.
Just as he finished speaking, he saw a dark figure flash before him, instantly, smack smack, both sides of his face burned.
"Who hit me?"
As he opened his eyes, he saw the sharply dressed Han Yi, face slightly lowered, with a cold aura.
Scared, Ye Weijun and the Qiu Family retreated.
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Yinghui kicked him in the stomach. Had the Qiu Family not supported him, he would have fallen flat.
Not far away, Lin Guozhi stood with eyebrows lowered, full of seriousness.
Former village secretary Old Man Qiu seeing this, quickly went up and slapped Ye Weijun, "Fool. Is this a place for your display? Get lost now."
Ye Weijun, in short time, received three slaps, kicked once, thoroughly shocked.
This way, Qiu Familyâs two brothers embarrassedly dragged him away.
Old Man Qiu turned and bowed to Lin Guozhi, "Guozhi, considering old uncle helped you back then, please show me some mercy this time. Just this once, if he bothers you again, I wonât step in."
Today was his nephewâs grand day, he didnât want it to become too messy. He still felt grateful to Secretary Qiu, for back then Secretary Qiu took good care of him, even gave him a study opportunity.
Just then, because of pity for Li Suolan, he passed on the opportunity to her, but everything went awry. Years later, Li Suolan indirectly harmed his son. "Old Secretary, Iâm considering your kindness and havenât troubled the Ye Family more. Otherwise, for his daughterâs actions against my child, I would have dealt with them long ago. Forget Ye Weijun today, but his daughterâs deeds wonât go unaccounted. Also, Ye Weijun needs to change his recklessness; donât blame me for not warning him. Careless words invite trouble."
"Right, right, Iâll educate him immediately," Old Man Qiu agreed, hurrying to answer.
He hadnât believed the village gossip recently.
Didnât expect it to actually be true.
What seemed like a minor incident actually stirred another wave of gossip in Kao Shan Village.
Ye Qing, the college student, seducing someoneâs husband outside, pregnant before marriage, jealous of Liang Hongmeiâs family, even engaging in murder attempts.
Failed harm turned into self-destroying, ending herself up in trouble.
But Qiu Hualan, with her daughter in reform, how will she manage alone?
Some villagers said Qiu Hualan was avoiding Ye Weijunâs abuse by not returning.
Others said Qiu Hualan found someone else and refused to live with Ye Weijun.
Some also said she was helping raise Ye Qingâs loverâs child, hinting from Ye Weijun that his "son-in-law" seemed capable.
Uncertain if Ye Weijunâs claim about Xiao Wanâs husbandâs illegitimacy was true.
Rich familiesâ dirty laundry was far more intriguing than the villageâs small squabbles.
Because of Ye Weijunâs disruption, Liang Weixiang dared not ask for money from their family.
Nor dared to approach Liang Hongmeiâs family to ask her son for a military enlistment spot.
Upon returning home, closing their doors, her two sons argued over the sewing machine and the bicycle.
Zhang Familyâs third son blamed Liang Weixiang for neglecting him, focusing only on the two eldest sons, while the two married sons blamed Liang Weixiang for favoring the younger ones.