Lin Sangui did not expect his wife to be capable of such a thing.
He had always known that Chen Shuju was not a virtuous and reasonable woman. She was unreasonable and hot-tempered, but since he had married her and she had borne him children, as long as she did not cross his bottom line, he tolerated all of Chen Shuju's faults.
But his bottom line was his eldest son, and Chen Shuju had completely crossed that line by sacrificing his future for the sake of their second son.
"Li Laoge, I want to divorce this woman, and you, you will testify for me…"
Lin Sangui covered his chest, gasping for breath, almost fainting from anger.
Chen Shuju was stunned upon hearing these words. Her husband had mentioned divorcing her before, but it had only been said within the confines of their home. Lin Sangui cherished the reputation of the Lin family, and unless he genuinely meant it, he would not speak recklessly in front of others.
The last time Lin Sangui had talked about divorce with the village chief was when she wanted to send Lin Ze away for adoption.
This time, Chen Shuju was genuinely panicked. She was more anxious than when she faced the accusation of being partial and cruel. At her age, being sent back to her parents' home was no different from being forced to death.
"No, you, as the head of the household, cannot divorce me. I, I know I was wrong. It was my momentary confusion. Sangui, you can't divorce me. If our second son has a divorced mother, how will he face others when taking the imperial examination…"
Chen Shuju quickly burst into tears and pleaded instead of causing a scene. She even brought their son into the conversation, begging for mercy.
It wasn't that she was clever, but she understood Lin Sangui's temperament. He never really valued her in his heart. All these years, he had only indulged her for the sake of their children's reputation. Providing for their son's success was also Lin Sangui's wish.
But this time, she miscalculated. In Lin Sangui's heart, the position of the eldest son was much more significant than she had imagined.
"You only think about the second child, what about the eldest? Have you considered what would happen to the eldest in the future when you did those things? I don't know how much money we have in the family, whether we can afford to educate several children. Even if it's not enough, I'm willing to work and support both children's education. How could you ruin the eldest's future like this?"
Lin Sangui's eyes turned red as he spoke, resembling the despair Lin Ze had shown earlier.
Only, Lin Ze's despair was intentionally acted, while Lin Sangui's distress and despair were genuine. It was his indulgence that gave Chen Shuju such audacity. Could the eldest son not feel some resentment despite his words of not blaming him?
"But, but he wasted many years of his education. Even if you divorce me now, he won't be able to pass the imperial examination. Sangui, I know I was wrong, even if you blame me, you should also consider the second son. Now our family's hopes lie with the second son…"
Although Chen Shuju's expression showed remorse, her tone was somewhat manipulative.
She still had a promising second son. For the sake of his (LJW) reputation, Lin Sangui could not divorce her. The village chief and the elders would not agree either. One scholar had already been ruined, would they be willing to ruin another one?
Li Laofu and the elders stared at Chen Shuju with unpleasant expressions but had no choice but to help plead her case.
"Head of the Lin family (it's "the one from the Lin family", but idk how to translate it better), let's forget about divorcing your wife. What this woman said makes sense. The township exam is about to come. If word spreads, it will have a great impact. Let's send this woman to work in the ancestral hall for two years, so that she can reflect on herself…"
"Father, please forgive mother. It is because of me that my mother committed such stupid things. A child does not find their mother ugly, nor does a child find their father's actions unforgivable. (a proverb to emphasize filial piety and forgiveness within a family) The debt owed to parents for giving life is immeasurable, even with one's own life. I earnestly implore my father to consider mother's years of managing the household and not to sever ties with her."
Lin Jianwen also came up to intercede, and after speaking to Lin Sangui, he turned to Lin Ze again,
"Brother, no matter how wrong mother is, she is our own mother after all. If you have any resentment in your heart, come to your younger brother…"
Lin Jianwen seemed filial and humble, but in reality, he cleverly avoided any suspicion of instigation and even compared himself to Lin Ze, who harbored resentment and wanted to sue his own mother for being unfilial.
This Lin Jianwen was truly cunning and treacherous.
Lin Ze coldly chuckled in his heart and responded with a sorrowful expression, accepting the situation.
"You, little brother, have been loved by mom since childhood and don't know the pain in your older brother's heart. Well, in the end, my years of wasted studies and all the turmoil are in vain. She is our mother, and even if she ruins my future, I cannot blame her… Dad, let go of the idea of divorcing mom. I now only wish for a clean break and separation from the family. Please fulfill your son's request."
He said as if his heart was filled with bitterness and disappointment.
Not only did the surrounding villagers who were also parents feel uncomfortable hearing this, but even the parents themselves did not feel good. Although Lin Ze had been somewhat rebellious and agitated today, it was ultimately Chen Shuju who pushed him to this point. He had no other choice.
Lin Ze had been so smart since childhood, becoming a Xiucai (someone who had passed the county-level imperial examinations) at the age of twelve. The master teacher even said he had the potential to become the top scorer. But now, everything had been destroyed.
"How dare the second son of the Lin family plead for mercy from Lin Ze? Chen Shujun has always favored him since he was young, so his filial behavior is only expected. But look at how much injustice Lin Ze has suffered. He lost his future, yet he's not allowed to have any resentment in his heart…"
"That's right, Lin Jianwen doesn't understand the hardships others have gone through and accuses them of being sour…"
The villagers were whispering to each other discreetly.
Listening to the surrounding comments, Lin Jianwen felt intense hatred in his heart. He did not expect his usually foolish elder brother to be so smooth and eloquent today.
Li Laofu glanced at Lin Jianwen, feeling frustrated himself. He was not an ignorant villager. He knew a fair bit about these disputes over family inheritance and status. But now there was no way around it. Lin Ze had already been ruined, and Lin Jianwen was the village's only promising Xiucai, with the township exam just two months away. The matters of the Lin family had to be resolved peacefully.
"Alright, since it has come to this, let's downplay the situation. This way, we can prevent it from spreading and affecting your younger sibling in the family…"
Li Laofu said, asserting his authority.
Other influential villagers also voiced their agreement.
Lin Sangui was angry and aware of the seriousness of the situation, but he felt that his eldest son was being treated unfairly.
Seeing the middle-aged man's dilemma and distress, Lin Ze thought for a moment and took the initiative to step forward and make a concession.
"Dad, let's separate our households and sever ties. I don't blame you, Dad. I know you care about me, your son…"
In any case, to maintain Lin Jianwen's reputation, whether it was for the glory of the village or to ensure his "limitless future," the village would definitely find a way to suppress the matter.
After all, it was Chen Shuju who had instigated everything, and there was simply no way to catch Lin Jianwen in any wrongdoing.
Since that's the case, it was better to take the initiative and make a compromise. The village chief and the clan will appreciate his goodness and feel guilty towards him. It will open the door for future convenience when dealing with matters.
In any case, Lin Sangui now harbored deep hatred towards Chen Shuju, and that woman's future would not be easy…
Indeed, upon hearing Lin Ze's words, the villagers looked at him with great admiration and sympathy.
This child, Lin Ze, was truly righteous. Despite being victimized like this, he still had the overall situation in mind. On the other hand, when looking at Lin Jianwen, who supposedly displayed filial piety and humility, over these years, he had watched his mother neglect his elder brother while indulging himself, snatching money without saying a fair word to his mother. He took it for granted, and his character was now evident.
After witnessing today's commotion, many insightful villagers secretly made up their minds to have less contact with Lin Jianwen in the future. Even if he were to achieve success, such a person's character might not remember previous kindness…
"Alright, then… let's separate our households and sever ties. Old Li, you be the witness."
Lin Sangui looked at his sensible eldest son, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
He sat dejectedly on a stone stool by the door, remaining silent for a while before continuing to speak.
"There isn't much valuables in the house, just this adobe house, ten acres of high-grade farmland, four acres of dry land, three acres of sandy land, and fifty taels of silver."
"Originally, the division should have been equal, but now… the house will be divided into two small courtyards, twenty taels of silver each. The remaining ten taels will be given to the third daughter as her dowry. As for the land… all ten acres of prime farmland will go to the eldest son. I have the skill of roasting tea, so I can still earn money."
One acre of prime farmland was worth at least five to six taels, so ten acres amounted to fifty to sixty taels. Adding the current silver of twenty taels, although the division seemed to give more, it was actually a compensation that still left the eldest son at a loss.
After all, Lin Ze had dropped out of school for many years, and his academic prospects were uncertain. It was difficult to say how he would support himself in the future. Compared to his lost potential, the amount of silver was truly insignificant.
However, there was no other way. The Lin family was just a small peasant household, and they could not afford to give more.
The villagers sighed with sympathy, but Lin Ze did not care. He was not the original owner of the body, so he did not have much attachment to Lin Sangui's property.
However, Chen Shuju was infuriated upon hearing about the distribution method.
She could accept splitting the silver in half, as Lin Sangui could earn back the twenty taels through his tea-roasting skill in a few months of hard work. But giving ten acres of prime farmland to Lin Ze exceeded her limits.
That was prime farmland, not valueless dry or sandy land. Their family relied on the produce from this farmland for their meals and taxes. If it was all given to Lin Ze, they would be left with nothing.
"No, I don't agree! Why should all ten acres of prime farmland be given to Lin Ze? So what if I ruined his prospects? He shouldn't have used our family's silver, and there was nothing wrong with me not letting him study!"
Chen Shuju exploded with anger over the distribution of property. She did not care about the consequences anymore. Land was essential for survival and putting food on the table, and she could not bear to see her second son suffer.
Glaring at Lin Sangui, Chen Shuju went all out.
"Lin Sangui, you forced me into this. Jianwen is your own son. Why should you treat this illegitimate child so well? Village chief, Lin Ze isn't even a legitimate Lin family member. He was brought home by me. The Lin family's silver should not be given to him!"
"?!"
The villagers were already so shocked that they were becoming numb to the situation.
Lin Ze's eyelid twitched, surprised but mostly delighted.
What a fortunate find! Being non-biological had its advantages. Without any blood ties, no one would care if he plotted against that wretched woman.
Chen Shuju no longer cared about how others perceived her or Lin Ze. All she cared about was preventing him from taking away her son's silver and farmland.
"When I had my first child, I had a difficult delivery, and the baby died. Lin Sangui didn't want to sadden his parents, so he went outside and found a child to bring back. Lin Ze isn't even a legitimate Lin family member. Why does he deserve a share of the Lin family's belongings? The silver belongs to my second son!"
Chen Shuju fearlessly exposed the truth.
Although she had agreed to the arrangement initially out of self-interest, fearing that she would be looked down upon by the old lady (her mother-in-law) if she did not give birth to a son, she now had her second son and was no longer afraid. Fortunately, she had kept this secret as leverage for so many years, and now she could use it against Lin Sangui.
She felt proud inside.
Lin Sangui stared at her with penetrating eyes for a minute and then let out a sinister laugh filled with extreme anger.
"Alright, you want to make a scene with me, huh? Then today, I'll tell you the truth. The eldest is not an abandoned child I found. He is my son with Rongmei (it can be a name or just referring to a female from the Rong family), and by legitimate standards, he is the true firstborn of the Lin family! The second son is the illegitimate one!"
"Chen Shuju, you're just a replacement wife! When you married me, you knew about Rongmei! Don't tell me you didn't know about her! Let me tell you, all the silver I earned rightfully belongs to the eldest!"
Lin Ze: "…"
So was this what they called 'mutual harm' in legends?
The people in the village were all astonished as they witnessed the dramatic twists and turns of the Lin family's household drama today. Even Li Laofu and a few other elders stood rooted to the spot, looking at each other with a sense of unease.
Only the elderly man and woman who were hiding in the yard heard the conversation, and the color of their faces slightly changed color. They dared not look at Chen Shuju, who was silenced, let alone at their son who was now furious but laughing sarcastically. They felt guilty, lowered their heads, and pretended to be deaf and mute.
"No, it's impossible. Wasn't Jiang Rongniang unable to bear children due to her health issues?"
Chen Shuju shook her head, unable to explain, refusing to believe it.
She was well aware of Jiang Rongniang's existence, Lin Sangui's original wife.
Initially, her aunt, who was the Old Lady Lin, wanted her to marry Lin Sangui and become his wife. She had always liked her cousin Lin Sangui, but unexpectedly, he fell for Jiang Rongniang and went against his mother's wishes, personally arranging the marriage through a matchmaker.
She held a grudge against Jiang Rongniang for a long time because of this. It was difficult to find someone who could match her (CSJ) feisty personality, so marrying her capable cousin was the best option.
However, her resentment subsided when the doctor later confirmed that Jiang Rongniang had difficulties with childbirth. As a result, she tried to please her aunt, and after some commotion, the Old Lady made the decision to let Lin Sangui divorce Jiang Rongniang, forcing him to marry her instead.
These matters were not a secret in the village; everyone knew about them. However, the true identity of Lin Ze was still unclear to everyone.
"Lin Ze is indeed the son of both Rongniang and me. My parents are aware of this as well. It was only after Rongniang was divorced that we discovered she was pregnant."
Since things had reached this point, Lin Sangui no longer had any reservations and began to despondently recount the events of the past.
…
The entire situation in the Lin family was not actually that complicated; it was simply the result of feudal thinking causing trouble.
Originally, the elderly mother did not like Rongniang as her daughter-in-law. After the young couple got married, one day, upon hearing the doctor's diagnosis that Rongniang could not conceive, she seized the opportunity and decided to send her back to her parents' home using seven specific reasons for divorce.
Lin Sangui, of course, objected vehemently and despised his mother, but in the wicked feudal society, he had no way to defy the elderly mother.
He did consider bringing Rongniang back, but the Jiang family was also ruthless. They took his mother's money and married off their daughter to someone else the very next day, far away where he could not find her even if he tried.
Later, under pressure from his family, he reluctantly married Chen Shuju, and with the Old Lady's medication (aphrodisiac), they consummated the marriage. The die was cast.
Since then, Lin Sangui had been greatly affected, until one day when someone from the Jiang family quietly brought a baby to him, claiming it was his flesh and blood. That was when he found out that Rongniang was already pregnant when she was divorced.
"This child was born to you by Rongniang enduring beatings and abuse from her new husband's family. He is the blood of your Lin family. Ten taels of silver, if you don't give it to us, we'll sell him to someone else."
Even their daughter was married off casually, so it was natural that the Jiang family had ulterior motives when they came with the baby, seeking to extort money.
The child was indeed from the Lin family; his features resembled Lin Sangui's own. He could not ignore his own biological son, so he brought the child home. Coincidentally, Chen Shuju was experiencing a difficult delivery and gave birth to a stillborn, so it was only logical for Lin Ze to be recognized as part of the family.
"Chen Shuju, back then, it was my mother who made the cruel decision, but do you dare say that she made the decision to divorce Rongniang without your influence?"
"For all these years, I have tolerated you in terms of taking care of the child. I simply didn't want my eldest son to be upset about his origin, and I didn't want him to blame me for being incapable of protecting his birth mother. But I never expected you to harm him like this…"
Lin Sangui deeply regretted it, regretted it to the extreme.
If he had known that Chen Shuju could be so heartless, he should have revealed the truth earlier, sparing himself from Chen Shuju constantly using the title of "birth mother" to pressure the eldest son.
It was his own fault for being useless, for not being able to protect even the woman he loved.
Later, he learned the address of Rongniang's new husband's family from the Jiang family and went to look for them, but they had already moved away. He did not know whether they were alive or dead, whether things were good or bad after all these years. Now he could not even take care of his and Rongniang's son.
"Give the eldest son ten acres of good land. In addition to the twenty taels of silver, in the future, I will also give him a share of the profits from my tea business. If you're not satisfied, then everything will belong to the eldest son, and you can go back to your parents' home."
Lin Sangui's face turned cold.
If it were not for the fact that he considered his second child and third daughter to be his own, based on what Chen Shuju had just said, he would have truly wanted to compensate everything to the eldest son without leaving anything behind.
According to the regulations of Da Ji, if a concubine or subsequent wife is not recognized by the head of the family, their status is no different from that of a concubine, and the children born from such relationships become illegitimate children.
Illegitimate children are not eligible to inherit the family business unless the head of the family voluntarily grants it. So if Lin Sangui were to truly favor Lin Ze, Chen Shuju would have no power to resist.
However, Chen Shuju was unwilling. The majority of the family property had been given to Lin Ze.
"Aunt…"
Chen Shuju could only turn to Lin's Old Lady for help, who was in the corner.
But she did not dare to help her. Although she usually acted imposing, at critical moments, she would never dare to confront Lin Sangui head-on.
Ever since she divorced Lin Sangui and Rongniang and forced him to marry Chen Shuju, the bond between her and her son had diminished. Later, when she found out that Rongniang had already been pregnant when she was divorced, she became even more uncertain about how to face her son.
Now that she and her husband were old and relied on their son for support, she could not afford to offend him.
Furthermore, the current situation was created by Chen Shuju herself. Who asked this woman to do so many heartless things behind their backs?
"You wicked woman! If Sangui hadn't divorced you, it was all because of my consideration. How dare you create a scene? If you continue, I will personally send you back!"
The Old Lady did not dare to offend her son, so she immediately showed her support.
Although Lin Ze was not as favored by her and her husband as Lin Jianwen, Lin Ze was still the eldest grandson of the Lin family. The elderly grandmother felt a bit angry at Chen Shuju for ruining the future of the eldest grandson.
It was the hope of all the elderly in the family to see their descendants succeed, regardless of favoritism.
"Alright, let's divide it according to what Sangui said. Sister (not actually siblings, just a closer way to refer to) Chen, these are all debts you owe to Lin Ze. If you cause any more trouble in the village, we won't care about you anymore."
Li Laofu quickly stepped in to mediate.
If it were not for the fact that Lin Jianwen would be taking the provincial examination in two months, Chen Shuju, as a wicked woman, would not be allowed to stay in the village.
"We agree," the elders from several other families nodded in agreement.
The villagers had no objections either. They had witnessed a big drama today, and it would be a hot topic for gossip in the village for some time. Of course, it would not be discussed outside the village because family affairs should not be spread, and the same applied to village affairs.
With everything settled, Chen Shuju did not even have a chance to make another scene.
However, Lin Ze thought for a moment and walked out.
"Wait, I have something to say."
"Lin Ze, do you still have any doubts?"
Lin Sangui asked, with everyone's attention once again focused on Lin Ze. They were anxious, afraid that his previous grief and anger had not subsided, and that he would be driven to lose his rationality upon learning the truth about his birth, even more fiercely than Chen Shuju's outburst.
Lin Ze shook his head, not causing the feared commotion, but rather looked at Lin Sangui and calmly said,
"Father, thank you for relieving the burden that has troubled your son for many years. I don't blame you for what happened in the past. I know that your genuine concern for me is enough. As for everything else, since it has come to this point, we must all look forward."
"I'll temporarily take five acres of the fertile land, and an additional two acres of dry land. The rest is not for my younger brother, but for you to support yourself in old age. After you pass away, I will take it back. As for the house, I would like the old one. In the future, I will support you according to the rules, but I want to change the method…"
Lin Ze paused, his tone filled with sincerity as he continued, "I propose that we rebuild our relationship as father and son, not just as a duty-bound responsibility. Let us strive to understand and support each other genuinely, rather than being bound solely by material possessions. What do you think, father?"
"I understand that the village rules typically involve providing rice, flour, and oil, but I believe our family is unique. Therefore, I propose that from now on, Father comes to stay with me for half a month every month. It's my way of fulfilling my filial duties as a son."
Lin Sangui's method of dividing the family assets might seem advantageous to him at the moment, but it may not be beneficial in the long run.
People tend to forget, and while the villagers sympathize with him now, who's to say that Chen Shuju and her son will not use the argument of "unfair division" to tarnish his reputation in the future? Lin Jianwen is also cunning, and in feudal times, reputation held great importance. That must be taken into consideration.
Moreover, Lin Ze has always disliked leaving loose ends, and it was not worth it for the sake of material possessions.
By asking for only five acres of prime farmland, he not only gains the sympathy and support of the villagers, but also considers the fact that without the farmland, since Lin Sangui will still need to earn money to support his second son's education, the pressure would be too much and might wear him out. In the end, he would be blamed for it.
Of course, Lin Ze did not like being taken advantage of either.
That's why he plans to reclaim the farmland in the future, and as for the things he would give to support Lin Sangui, Chen Shuju and her associates would not be able to touch any of it. Bringing Lin Sangui to his own home to show filial piety would further demonstrate his dutifulness to the village.
This way, he leaves no opportunity for Chen Shuju to exploit Lin Sangui for personal gain.
The villagers looked at Lin Ze and, with an unspoken agreement, thought of a term… an iron rooster (very fierce).
"Uncle village chief, could you please witness the severance document between Chen family and us?"
Finally, Lin Ze bowed to Li Laofu.
This attitude aims to completely sever Chen Shuju's last bit of nurturing kindness and cut off any relationship with him. Those who are associated with Chen Shuju will have no further interaction with him.
Currently, no one can say that Lin Ze is in the wrong. In a different situation, anyone else might be even more resolute than him. Moreover, Lin Ze is filial towards Lin Sangui. He did not ask for much of the family assets and chose to go to the old house. While there may be reasons related to not wanting to live with enemies, it was mostly for the sake of his hardworking father.
Lin Ze was truly reasonable and filial, but unfortunately, he encountered a malicious stepmother and indifferent brother… This was the current sentiment among everyone in the village.
"Sangui, you have a good son."
Li Laofu agreed, patting Lin Sangui's shoulder and sighing.
Lin Sangui was moved to tears, feeling even more guilty and his anger towards Chen Shuju intensified.
"Father, my resentment is towards the Chen family and Lin Jianwen. Please don't be sad. If I don't pass the imperial examination, I still have other paths. Didn't my teacher used to say that I'm the smartest? There are many ways to succeed in life, and I will excel in whichever path I choose…"
Lin Ze looked at Lin Sangui's expression and comforted him with a smile.
Lin Sangui felt even more heartbroken. After all, wasn't his eldest son capable of becoming the top scholar? It was all because of the wicked stepmother who disrupted the family.
Villagers: Ah, what a good child…
With the support of Lin Sangui, the head of the family, and the approval of the village elders, the division of the property went smoothly, and the ties were also severed clearly.
The whole incident was truly a dramatic rollercoaster, revealing so many hidden secrets of the Lin family that were lamentable.
Chen Shuju and her son had no room for refutation in the final outcome. There was no reason to argue further. If they continued to cause trouble, they would end up with nothing.
Lin Jianwen's expression finally could not hide his displeasure. He cared more about the villagers' opinion than the money he had lost. Scholars value their reputation the most, and Lin Ze had managed to tarnish the image he had painstakingly built with just a few words.
Although it was not explicitly stated what he had done, any sensible person could guess his involvement.
As for Xue Liang and his wife, who initially sought trouble and claimed to be innocent, no one would believe a word that came out of their mouths.
This couple had always been regarded as second-rate in the village, and now they were willing to joke about their own integrity for the sake of money. From now on, the villagers would never trust a word from the Xue family again.
Originally, Li Laofu wanted to drive these two troublemakers out of the village, but due to the pleading of Xue's wife, he came up with an alternative method.
First, Xue Liang and his wife were scolded and punished physically. They were forced to apologize, and then all the benefits they received from Chen Shuju were relinquished. In addition, they had to compensate Lin Ze with two taels of silver as extortion fees. Finally, they were sentenced to two more months of hard labor in the village's communal mill as a form of punishment.
If Xue Liang and his wife were to commit such absurd acts again in the future, no leniency would be shown. They would be immediately expelled from the village.
Xue Liang turned out to be a coward who did not dare to speak up. He covered his buttocks, cried, bowed and nodded repeatedly, and assured everyone that he would not dare to do it again. Then he slinked back home with a dejected look on his face.
With that, this tumultuous drama finally came to an end, and the villagers who had been spectating went home to have breakfast.
No matter how big the world's troubles were, when one was hungry, the biggest concern was satisfying the stomach. Despite all the commotion in the Lin family, people still needed to eat. Luckily, the steamed buns that had been steaming were ready. Even though the atmosphere was gloomy, they still had to fill their stomachs.
Lin Ze did not sit at the table. He took a bowl, filled it with steamed buns and vegetable porridge, and carried it back to his room to find his wife.
Chen Shuju clenched her teeth in anger. That vegetable porridge was specifically made with green vegetables and high-quality rice for her son. It was seasoned with salt and oil, and it smelled delicious. Yet, Lin Ze took it away just like that.
"What are you looking at? If it weren't for the trouble caused by your family, things wouldn't have turned out like this. Previously, our eldest son treated you well, but it was all your own doing! Eat your meal. Afterward, bring out the silver from the house. I'll divide it and send some to our eldest son."
Lin Sanguí glared at Chen Shuju, observing her resentful and unwilling expression. He slammed the table heavily and yelled in anger.
Before, he had always been lenient with this woman for the sake of their child. But now, he could not help but hate her when he looked at her.
He finally understood that Chen Shuju was different from Rongniang. This kind of woman could not be spoiled. If you pampered her, she would become ungrateful, so she needed to be treated sternly to keep herself in line.
Everyone in the house remained silent, and no one spoke up for Chen Shuju, including her beloved son.
"…"
Chen Shuju trembled under the scolding, glaring at her husband with a sense of injustice and resentment. She looked like a frost-bitten eggplant, withered and beaten.
Even a fierce tigress would fear the male tiger, especially a female tiger who had been caught red-handed. In the short term, she would not dare to act out again.
Lin Ze paid no attention to the commotion in the main room as he carried the steamed buns and vegetable porridge back to his own room.
Well, his wife was obedient. He had packed everything except his clothes and personal belongings.
Perhaps he did not have enough time. They had just argued outside for so long, but in reality, it had been less than half an hour. It was normal that they could not finish packing everything.
Lin Ze found a good excuse for his wife and called the person over.
"We didn't eat enough from the steamed eggs earlier. Come and have some more. Once we're full, we'll go and tidy up the old house. If we move tonight, it won't be a problem."
Although the old house was a bit dilapidated, it still had all the necessary furniture. The house had been empty for less than two years, so after some cleaning, it would be livable.
Not having to live with those horrible people and having their own little world as a couple made him feel very good.
"I-I'm not hungry. I've had enough of the steamed eggs. You should eat. You didn't eat earlier…"
Zhang Xiu stood in the corner, feeling tense and nervous, and did not dare to approach.
Although he was a little tempted by the steamed buns and white rice vegetable porridge that Lin Ze brought in, he was afraid that if he went over, he would not be able to conceal his emotions well, and Lin Ze would sense his intention to run away.
He felt that Lin Ze was somewhat different today, more gentle and smarter, but that did not diminish his fear.
He had heard the commotion outside just now, and heard it clearly. He never expected Lin Ze's mother, no, stepmother, to be so ruthless and do such malicious things. It was as if she was a villain in a storybook.
Fortunately, Lin Sangui was reasonable and cared for his son. Otherwise, the Lin family's drama would have surely reached the authorities.
Apart from being shocked by the situation in the Lin family, Zhang Xiu also admired Lin Ze. With just his words, he single-handedly took on the entire village and not only defeated them but also managed to clear his tarnished reputation, earning the unanimous goodwill of the villagers.
His talent for making things up was truly impressive!
Yes, only Zhang Xiu knew that what Lin Ze said earlier was nonsense. He did not dare to talk about the Lin family's matters, but Lin Ze's intention to sell him was definitely true. He had heard it with his own ears.
Yet, the result was that Lin Ze's "emotional and vivid" speech made everyone believe it was a plot by Xue Liang.
How could Lin Ze's intentions towards Zhang Yinzhu change overnight just because of his solemn oath? Unless the person was changed to a completely different one.
To make such a heavy oath, wasn't he afraid of divine retribution striking him down? If Zhang Xiu believed in it, there must be something wrong with his mind!
Run, it was absolutely necessary to run. Lin Ze, that bastard, has cursed himself to be struck by lightning, even more viciously than before. If he did not leave, he would not have a future. He still had his mother to take care of.
Zhang Xiu's determination grew stronger. He did not believe for a second that the person who had despised and scolded him until yesterday could suddenly become gentle and treat him kindly today.
The nervous boy stood in the corner, afraid to move, his face filled with unease and fear.
Lin Ze felt genuine heartache seeing him like that.
He was now in a relationship with Zhang Xiu with the goal of spending their lives together. Any relationship that was not aimed at marriage was just playing around. They were married now, they already had slept together, so they had to work on developing their relationship and Zhang Xiu being so afraid of him was not a solution.
Zhang Xiu was good-looking, and he would definitely look even better when he smiled. But whether it was from the original memories or from the time he woke up until now, fear and apprehension were always present on the young man's face.
"Finish eating, and then have some more. We'll need the energy to clean the house later, and we can't do it on an empty stomach."
Lin Ze sighed and took the initiative to pull him closer.
"Don't be afraid of me. Let's leave the past behind us. From now on, just remember that I am your husband, your man. Our days will get better and better. Come on, call me 'husband.' You haven't called me that since you woke up. It sounded so nice last night."
Whenever last night was brought up, Zhang Xiu would feel so embarrassed that he wished he could crawl into a hole. His face would uncontrollably turn red.
The word "husband" just would not come out of his mouth. Not only was there the shadow of being scolded and warned by Lin Ze in the past, but it was also because the term felt too intimate.
Moreover, he had not even called Lin Ze that last night. He was out of breath and could barely speak. He had only managed to utter a few words when Lin Ze pulled him onto the bed, begging for mercy. At that time, he had only wanted to elicit sympathy from the other person. Luo Ger had said that acting weak and delicate would make the man treat him kindly and not hurt him.
But who would have thought that Lin Ze would not hurt him, but… anyway, he could not bring himself to use that term. It was too embarrassing.
However, if Lin Ze insisted on him eating, then he would reluctantly do so to avoid making Lin Ze unhappy.
The steamed buns were fine, but he had not eaten white rice porridge with oil and salt many times in his life.
Under Lin Ze's intense gaze, Zhang Xiu cautiously took the steamed buns and the rice porridge, making sure that Lin Ze really wanted him to eat and had no intention of hurting him. Then he quickly stuffed the food into his mouth.
His cheeks puffed out as he continuously ate, his eyes unmoving as he observed his surroundings, resembling a small animal stealing food.
Seeing the youngman in front of him, Lin Ze's heart softened completely. Although his transmigration was not going as he had hoped, he had found a treasure.
"Ah Xiu, don't worry. I promise you that I will make sure you have a good life from now on."
Lin Ze firmly grasped Zhang Xiu's arm once again and solemnly assured him, making his wife live a good life was something every man in the Lin family had to fulfill.
His voice was too earnest, his expression too gentle.
Similar words had been repeated several times since they woke up in the morning. Although Zhang Xiu did not fully believe them, he could not help but waver slightly.
Which girl who had become a wife and which young man did not hope to live a happy life with their partner? Who did not want a joyful and harmonious family life? But because of Lin Ze's past behavior, Zhang Xiu had been too afraid to entertain any expectations. He had only thought about enduring and living as a widow, waiting for this man to torment himself to death.
It seemed that Lin Ze had transformed into a completely different person today. Yes, he had indeed changed, but not into the person he claimed to be. "Lin Ze" would never be so gentle towards him. "Lin Ze" was the one who had feelings for Zhang Yinzhu.
Zhang Xiu stared at the somewhat unfamiliar Lin Ze in front of him, hesitated for a moment, and finally mustered the courage to speak carefully.
"Can I go home… to see my mother later?"
"No, you can't."
"Okay, I understand."
Zhang Xiu lowered his head in disappointment. The rejection came so quickly, confirming his suspicion that it was all an act. Lin Ze must be afraid that he would say something to Zhang Yinzhu if he went home.
Watching the young man, who resembled a turtle retracting into its shell at the slightest touch, Lin Ze could not help but laugh.
"What's the point of you going home alone? Once our new home is ready in a couple of days, I'll accompany you back and make sure to make it up to your mother as a proper return gift. Let her rest assured."
The original owner did not like Zhang Xiu at all. Forget about giving various gifts to the bride's family, he had not even shown his face in front of Zhang Xiu's mother during the three visits.
For the girls and boys in the village, this was a severe loss of face and also represented the status of a married bride in her husband's family. From now on, Lin Ze was going to support his wife.
Lin Ze spoke with enthusiasm,
"I'll frequently accompany you to visit your mother in the future."
Pleasing the mother-in-law was equivalent to pleasing the wife.
"Okay…"
His voice was low, but the flickering doubt from before was instantly solidified.
Zhang Xiu stared at Lin Ze's face filled with anticipation and suddenly realized. No wonder Lin Ze was suddenly being so good to him. It turned out he was using him as a shield and planning to openly elope with Zhang Yinzhu.
All the promises of repentance were just an act, a way to deceive everyone's gaze and facilitate their unexpected escape.
He knew it. Flattery without a purpose was merely a cover for deceit. Lin Ze was preparing to hand over his position to Zhang Yinzhu, sooner or later.
So… he should run. To avoid being sold again.
Zhang Chen carefully watched Lin Ze's expression and forcefully stuffed the steamed bun into his mouth, his cheeks bulging like a little hamster storing food.
He needed to eat enough to have the strength to run. This delicious porridge and steamed bun, he had to eat more. He pitied this heartless bastard. Yes, that's what he would do.
After having breakfast, there was no rush to tidy up the luggage in the house, so Lin Ze took Zhang Xiu directly to the old house to clean up.
Passing by the courtyard, they could hear Lin Sangui's angry voice and Chen Shuju's crying from the bedroom in the east wing. They faintly heard the words "family property." It seemed that Chen Shuju was still putting up a final struggle.
Although Lin Sangui did not like Chen Shuju, he had been good to her over the years. The money and deeds of the house were all kept by the wife.
If it were another couple, their lives would have been peaceful in another household. But for a woman like Chen Shuju, it was a disaster. She only fueled the other party's arrogance and temper, without understanding the ways of husband and wife.
It was only because Lin Sangui was honest/modest that he allowed the other party to be so arrogant for many years.
Lin Ze was not affected by the noisy atmosphere and happily held his wife's hand as they headed towards the old house.
Although he had some understanding of this world through the memories of the original owner, actually witnessing it was a different feeling.
Heba Village was considered a relatively well-off village within a hundred miles, but the sights he saw along the way were even more backward than the impoverished rural areas he had seen in modern times.
There was not even a single house with blue bricks (clay bricks). The best ones were made of adobe bricks (dry mixture of clay, sand and straws) and tiles, while most of them were mud-walled thatched cottages, clearly reflecting the words "poor" and "hardship."
Most of the villagers were dark-skinned and thin, clearly hardworking farmers. Their clothes were patched up, but fortunately, there had been no wars in the country for the past ten years. Although the living conditions were not good, they were stable, and their spirits were good. The people were warm and welcoming.
On the way, Lin Ze encountered villagers who greeted and teased him for holding his husband's hand, but he did not let go. Instead, he sighed and responded to them.
"I was the one who was bad before. Ah Xiu is truly foolish. Now I know how good he is, everyone, if I ever make the mistake of bullying Ah Xiu again, you all must teach me a lesson and not hold back."
"That's right. Xiu Ger is the most capable and obedient person in the village. You must treat him well. Otherwise, based on what you just said, we, as your uncles and aunts, will have to teach you a lesson…"
Most people in the village were simple-minded, whether Lin Ze's words were casual or not, they took them seriously.
Xiu Ger had a tough life since childhood. His father died early, and as an orphan with a widowed mother, he did not receive good care. Instead, he worked like a horse for the Zhang family and endured constant scolding.
After growing up, he was married off without any consideration for his wishes, continuing to live a life of being beaten and scolded every day. No one in the village could help but felt pity for him.
People have compassion in their hearts, and Zhang Xiu and his mother had a good reputation in the village, so many people stood up for them.
Lin Ze knew all of this from his memories. He could not stop it before he arrived, but now that Zhang Xiu was his wife, he would not let Ah Xiu suffer anymore.
"You're right, uncle and aunt. I will take good care of Ah Xiu from now on."
No amount of talking could compare to taking earnest action. (Doing is better than speaking) Lin Ze smiled warmly and greeted the villagers on the road, never letting go of Zhang Xiu's hand.
He did not feel a hint of shyness; instead, he had an expression of pride.
Zhang Xiu secretly stole glances at him several times, and his ears turned slightly red.
Calling each other by such intimate names like "Ah Xiu" in front of outsiders and holding hands…
Even if they were acting, there was no need to go to such lengths. Everyone in the village was watching, and even if they were a married couple, it was not appropriate. Wasn't Lin Ze afraid of having difficulty explaining to Zhang Yinzhu in the future?
Zhang Xiu did not know what Lin Ze was up to, so he could only obediently follow along, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with his hand being held.
The villagers behind them were secretly amazed.
"Ah, I think Lin Ze has really changed. Look, he used to resent Xiu Ger a lot, but now it seems like he has come to his senses and wants to live a good life…"
"Well, how could he not come to his senses? We heard about what happened at the Lin family this morning. Anyone would be deeply affected by such a blow. Among his family members, only his father and husband have stood by him. If Lin Ze hadn't come to his senses, how could he dare to defy Chen Shuju? Lin Ze used to be very filial."
"You're right. He's educated and broad-minded. If he hadn't been pushed to a dead end, Lin Ze wouldn't have acted like this. During the division of assets, he didn't ask for much, only thinking about his father still being in the Lin family and worrying about him suffering…"
"Yeah, we used to think Lin Ze was proud and had a strange temperament. Well, in any case, it's important for them to understand deep down and be aware, so to continue to worry about their life in the future. Even during the division of assets, he thought about his father. In another family, which son wouldn't want to fight for more property?"
"Not necessarily. I won't dare say anything else, but how can Lin Ze suddenly come to his senses and change his mind about Zhang Yinzhu overnight? I think it's mostly an act. Who knows, he might sell the land and house he received in the division and elope with Zhang Yinzhu!"
A certain aunt who knew more about the situation sneered and gossiped quietly.
"Let me tell you, it's absolutely true that Lin Ze wants to elope with Zhang Yinzhu. I heard it with my own ears that day. He said he would sell Zhang Xiu to get some money…"
"That's impossible. Don't make up stories. Lin Ze is just a poor scholar with no future. How could Zhang Yinzhu elope with him? It's impossible."
"That's right, that girl from the Zhang family has a bold heart."
…
The old house of the Lin family was located on the edge of the village, next to a small bamboo grove.
It was a mud-wall and tiled house, not as good as a brick house but definitely better than one with a thatched roof. Having a tiled roof saved them the trouble of regularly replacing the thatch.
Although Lin Ze considered his family poor, in the village, the Lin family was relatively well-off.
The villagers did not have many sources of income. Apart from farming, they would go to the town to do odd jobs. After a year of hard work, they could barely save anything after deducting their expenses. Their lives were impoverished and difficult.
Among the few households in the village with relatively good financial conditions, most of them were skilled craftsmen.
For example, Lin Sangui was fortunate in his youth. He learned how to roast coarse tea from someone else, and while it did not earn him a lot of money, he managed to support two scholar sons and feed his whole family with this skill.
The old house used to accommodate a large extended family, so the yard was quite spacious and there were many rooms. Now, they had more than enough space for themselves.
"For now, let's clean up the main hall, the yard, the utility room, and the rooms we'll be living in. We can lock up the rest. Once we've earned enough money, we'll build a new house."
Lin Ze was not picky and was satisfied with the old house for the time being.
After all, they would not be living here for long. As soon as they made enough money, they would immediately build a new house. After all, he had spent so long in the social workplace, he would not become useless just because the environment changed. He would surely come up with ways to make money and support his wife.
Others might not know, but in the old Lin family (from the modern times), this had always been the way—earning money to dote on their wives. If someone could not do it, they should not claim to be from the old Lin family!
He had a plan for their future life. Dividing the family was just the first step; now they were setting up their new home.
Without further ado, Lin Ze assigned the task of sweeping the yard to Zhang Xiu. He took the initiative to handle the water fetching and cleaning of the house. Zhang Xiu hesitated to speak, but Lin Ze paid no attention. He rolled up his sleeves and started working.
Although this body was not the one he had in the modern era, Lin Ze noticed that as time passed, he began to familiarize himself with the strength, agility, and overall physical abilities, reclaiming the feeling of his former self.
When fetching water, Lin Ze glanced at his reflection in the water and found that his original appearance was quite similar, just younger with minimal changes in facial features.
That's good, Lin Ze breathed a sigh of relief.
He could accept the reality of being transported to this era, but living with a face that felt unfamiliar was still somewhat displeasing to him. The most direct concern was that if they were to have children, despite them being his, they would look like someone else, which would be quite heartbreaking.
At the entrance of the courtyard:
"Bang bang bang."
"Xiu Ger, Xiu Ger, open the door quickly. It's me, Luo Ger. I just heard that your husband has divided the family. I brought Brother Feng ('ge' means older brother, it can be used to refer a male older than the speaker, whether family or not) to help you clean up the house. Come out and take the things, they're quite heavy. I'm exhausted…"
After only a short while of cleaning, the courtyard door was knocked, and a cheerful voice of a young boy resounded.
From the familiar tone, one could tell that their relationship was quite close.
Although the voice did not sound familiar to Lin Ze, the smile immediately appeared on Zhang Xiu's face. Seeing no sign of discomfort on Lin Ze's expression, he quickly ran over to open the door.
For the first time in a while, Zhang Xiu's smile was due to someone other than Lin Ze, which made him feel a little discomfort and heartache. He realized that he held a rather low position in his wife's heart as the "older partner."
But his wife's smile was indeed beautiful, and hearing the voice outside the courtyard being that of a young man, he reluctantly suppressed his jealousy.
Setting down the things in his hands, Lin Ze took a closer look.
At the entrance stood two people. One of them had a mole on his eyebrow, around the same age as Zhang Xiu, with a handsome and sunny appearance.
The other was a tall and strong young man with thick eyebrows, a handsome face, and muscular limbs and chest. Clearly, he was someone who regularly exercised and was quite strong.
Both of them were carrying things in their hands and had backpacks on their backs, indicating they had brought quite a lot of stuff.
"Luo Ger, why are you here? Weren't you going to your grandmother's? And isn't Brother He hunting in the mountains? How did you all come together…"
Zhang Xiu opened the door and was delighted to see that it was indeed his childhood friend, Zheng Xiaoluo.
Beside him was the muscular young man, He Xiangfeng, who they grew up with. They had a close relationship, and now He Xiangfeng was Zheng Xiaoluo's fiancé. The two of them were childhood sweethearts and would soon be married.
"I came back last night, and Brother Feng picked me up."
Zheng Xiaoluo shyly answered and glanced at the person beside him who was smiling indulgently at him, then turned his gaze back to Zhang Xiu.
"I just heard that there was trouble in the Lin family, and your husband even left home. The villagers were saying that Lin Ze brought you here to clean up the old house and prepare to move. So I dragged Brother Feng over and brought some things for you. Otherwise, how long will it take to clean such a big house by yourself? That scoundrel took you out, I bet it was just an excuse to go see your cousin. Who doesn't know about his despicable intentions…"
Zheng Xiaoluo spoke with an angry tone. He could not understand why Zhang Xiu, who was so good, ended up marrying Lin Ze, that scoundrel who caused his suffering.
But as an outsider, he could not interfere in other people's affairs. The most he could do for Zhang Xiu was to provide some private assistance and vent his anger by criticizing and cursing a bit on his behalf.
Because they were still standing at the doorway and had not entered, they had not seen Lin Ze in the courtyard.
By the time Zhang Xiu wanted to stop him, it was already too late. Zheng Xiaoluo was also impulsive. After speaking, he handed the things in his hands to Zhang Xiu and casually asked He Xiangfeng to come inside and help.
And then, they bumped into Lin Ze standing in the courtyard.
Zheng Xiaoluo took a step back in fright, his voice stuttering, "Y-y-you…"
It was quite a shock to encounter the person he had just bad-mouthed behind their back. Although he did not name anyone specifically, even a fool would know who he was referring to as the scoundrel.
Zhang Xiu was also extremely anxious, fearing that Lin Ze would get angry. Zheng Xiaoluo had a good heart, but his words tended to offend people easily.
To avoid conflict, Zhang Xiu quickly walked over and stood in the middle, then forced himself to shout at Lin Ze, "Husband…"
Feeling a bit embarrassed, he took a gamble. He had noticed that Lin Ze seemed to particularly like hearing him call him by that title today. Earlier, he had teased him several times but hadn't managed to say it, and the disappointment on Lin Ze's face was evident.
Today, Lin Ze's attitude towards him was different from usual, so while the "favor" was still there, he thought it might be okay to be a bit bolder… maybe?
Zhang Xiu held his breath as he observed Lin Ze's expression.
Fortunately, the heavens didn't play tricks on him. Lin Ze seemed to have a wire crossed (crazy, lunatic, hallucinating) today. When he heard Zhang Xiu call him "husband," a slightly excited smile immediately appeared on his face.
"Oh, it's Luo Ger and Brother He. I've heard Ah Xiu mention you before. Nice to meet you."
The man, whose hair was smoothed (XiuXiu called him hubby, so he was coaxed), magnanimously overlooked the faults of others and happily went up to greet them.
The cheerful and enthusiastic greetings from Lin Ze almost startled Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng.
Before the drastic change in personality, the previous "Lin Ze" was polite and well-mannered, but deep down, he carried the inherent arrogance of educated individuals of that era. He was not close to the villagers and had a somewhat indifferent attitude when meeting them.
After the drastic change in personality, the original person became even more aloof. Throughout the year, he rarely left the house except to see Zhang Yinzhu. He had a somewhat irritable and melancholic temperament, and he had never been seen with a smile on his face.
Lin Ze's current enthusiasm was really overwhelming, and it made people feel uneasy, especially since Zheng Xiaoluo had just spoken ill of him behind his back. It was natural to feel guilty.
"Ba, ba, bad to meet you…"
Zheng Xiaoluo stammered, hiding behind He Xiangfeng. Although he disliked Lin Ze, one could not easily offend a scholar like him if they were ordinary people.
Moreover, he learned from Zhang Xiu that this sour scholar was capable of violence. It would be strange if he did not feel scared and stuttered now that he had offended him.
In the end, it was He Xiangfeng who remained relatively calm. He stepped forward to apologize to Lin Ze, protecting Zheng Xiaoluo.
"Apologies, Lin Xiucai (who passed the xiucai/county-level exam). Luo Ger spoke without thinking just now. We came to help Xiu Ger clean the house…"
One should not bite the hand that feeds oneself. When someone approached with sincerity and willingly offered help, there was no reason to refuse or get angry.
Furthermore, with all these big and small packages, carrying so many gifts, it indicated a good relationship. It would be foolish not to socialize properly with such people. It seemed that 'Lin Ze' had some brains after all.
The previous 'Lin Ze' was a jerk to begin with, and it was not like he was being insulted directly. Lin Ze naturally would not get angry. Moreover, this person was his wife's "best friend." One should never offend a close friend, or else one remark of "slander" reaching his wife's ears would make one cry.
"It's alright, I used to be quite reckless and deserved to be scolded. Ah Xiu was fortunate to have your help and care in the past. Let's not dwell on the past. From now on, I will make an effort to take care of him."
Lin Ze smiled, displaying great generosity.
"Since you all have come, I won't be polite. However, there aren't many rooms in the house that need cleaning. How about this, Brother He, you come with me, and Luo Ger and Ah Xiu can go outside and have some fun. You haven't seen each other for a long time, and I'm sure you have things to talk about."
"You, you, you really want Xiu Ger to go out and play with me? Not working?"
Zheng Xiaoluo felt somewhat incredulous and uncertain about his behavior.
When did Lin Ze start treating Xiu Ger so well? Wasn't he always saying that Xiu Ger was just brought home to do chores? Could it be that Lin Ze had really changed?
By the way, Xiu Ger called Lin Ze "husband" just now. Did he miss something during the past few days?
"Of course it's true. Ah Xiu isn't feeling well today, so when you take him out, remember not to play in the water or go to the hills."
He showed genuine concern without any disguise.
This time, not to mention Zheng Xiaoluo, even the composed He Xiangfeng could not help but look at Lin Ze in surprise. This bitter scholar seemed down-to-earth and no longer cynical today.
"Luo Ger, since Lin Xiucai said so, you should go out with Xiu Ger."
He Xiangfeng nodded at Zheng Xiaoluo. Regardless of what happened to Lin Ze today, it was good for Xiu Ger to have some rest.
Xiu Ger was his younger brother (not actually family, just a close younger male) from the same village whom he had watched grow up. They grew up together, following him around since childhood, along with Luo Ger, running behind him. When Luo Ger saw the life that Zhang Xiu had after marrying Lin Ze, he was unhappy, and He Xiangfeng felt uncomfortable as well.
With He Xiangfeng speaking up, Zheng Xiaoluo gained confidence and stopped hesitating. He quickly grabbed Zhang Xiu's hand and hurriedly ran out, afraid that Lin Ze might change his mind.
Zhang Xiu cooperated very well and ran quickly.
Lin Ze looked at his silent and seemingly dull wife, who appeared to be submissive and accepting, but he knew he had his own ideas and was quite perceptive.
With years of experience in dealing with clients in his work, Lin Ze had a discerning eye for judging people. His wife was even more interesting than he had imagined.
Taking back his gaze, Lin Ze bowed with his hand cupped to He Xiangfeng and greeted him with a smile.
"Brother He, Luo Ger takes good care of Ah Xiu. Once you two are married, our families will be closer. You don't need to call me Lin Xiucai anymore, just use my name."
"Do you know a lot about Ah Xiu? Can you tell me about him? We had a gap in our relationship after we got married, and it's been six months without much conversation. Now I want to get to know him better. A husband and wife can't live together without knowing each other's birth dates and preferences. It's really embarrassing…"
A true man knows when to yield. For the sake of his wife, even if he had to fake seriousness, he would do it.
"…"
Meanwhile, He Xiangfeng was once again surprised, looking at Lin Ze as if he were an alien/monster, but he could not say a word for a long time.
If he remembered correctly, just a couple of days ago, when he was out hunting, he saw this scoundrel meeting privately with Zhang Yinzhu and heard him say that he wanted to sell Xiu Ger to get money and elope with her.
His words were full of conviction and determination, and he would not have hurriedly gone to bring Zheng Xiaoluo back to the village if it were not true.
But now, Lin Ze was acting like this… had he lost his mind?
On the other side, Zheng Xiaoluo pulled Zhang Xiu out of the house and found a secluded place to discuss the matter at hand.
And what was the matter at hand? It was, of course, the news that Lin Ze intended to sell Xiu Ger and elope with Zhang Yinzhu!
Zheng Xiaoluo and Zhang Xiu had been childhood friends, their relationship was as close as brothers. They were inseparable.
Zheng Xiaoluo had never approved of his good friend marrying 'Lin Ze' because everyone in the village knew that 'he' liked Zhang Yinzhu. The marriage arrangement was forced upon 'Lin Ze', and Zhang Xiu would not receive his husband's affection.
Even the village chief could not do anything about it, and the die had been cast.
But just now, hearing He Xiangfeng's words about seeing Lin Ze meeting Zhang Yinzhu privately and discussing selling his husband, Zheng Xiaoluo could not just stand by and watch his good friend being thrown into a pit of fire.
So when he heard the news, he did not care about anything else and immediately followed He Xiangfeng back to the village last night.
"Ah Xiu, Brother Feng personally witnessed and heard it himself. Today, when there was trouble at the Lin family, you must have also heard Xue Liang mention Lin Ze's intention to sell you. That scoundrel used to beat and scold you, but now he actually wants to sell you. Is this something an educated gentleman would do? Tell me, what are you thinking right now?"
Although Zheng Xiaoluo was anxious, he was not too worried.
The people in the village did not know that Xiu Ger may appear weak and easy to bully on the surface, but he had his own plans. When it came down to it, he would never sit idly by.
"I know about this matter. He has already made arrangements and set a time to sell me. I didn't expect him to be so heartless."
Zhang Xiu's spirits were low and he felt hopeless. If it were not for his intelligence and the unexpected events this morning, he might have realized too late after being sold.
Zheng Xiaoluo became even more furious upon hearing this.
"That scoundrel! Ah Xiu, what do you plan to do? Brother Feng and I think you should leave. After all, the Zhang family isn't good either, and now Lin Ze is treating you like this. If he secretly sells you, even the village chief won't be able to do anything about it. It's better to take your mother and leave to start a new life elsewhere…"
If it were any other Ger being persuaded to run away, they would likely be frightened and trembling. In this era, it was customary to follow one's husband and endure whatever hardships came with marriage. Challenging the norms and running away after marriage was only done by those who were either promiscuous or strong-willed and forced into a corner.
Zhang Xiu was the latter type, appearing weak on the surface but strong on the inside. He did not care about rules or reputation; he just wanted to live a good life with his mother.
Zheng Xiaoluo's suggestion aligned perfectly with his own thoughts.
Zhang Xiu couldn't help but smile.
"Xiao Luo (it's either his name Xiaoluo or 'little' Luo, it's the same chinese character), did you and Brother He plan all this for me?"
Zheng Xiaoluo had many tricks up his sleeve, and He Xiangfeng had always taken good care of him since childhood. Knowing that Lin Ze wanted to sell Xiu Ger, they were definitely more anxious than Zhang Xiu himself. Otherwise, why would they rush back to the village in the middle of the night and come looking for him this morning?
"Ah Xiu, you're clever."
Zheng Xiaoluo chuckled and then explained the plan they had discussed with He Xiangfeng.
"They say it's better to dismantle a temple than to break up a marriage, but Lin Ze is a despicable person. If you don't leave, it's a dead end for you. What about your mother? Can she be taken care of in the Zhang family without you? Absolutely impossible."
"Did you see the things we brought with us earlier? When the time comes, you can make an excuse to go to the town and sell them to supplement your expenses. Then, take the opportunity to go to the pier with the money. We'll agree on a specific time in advance, and Brother Feng will take your mother and join you. By the time Lin Ze realizes what's happening, you'll be long gone…"
The plan was well thought out, and they did not even need to find an opportunity to escape. They would create one themselves.
Zhang Xiu thought it was a good plan. He had secretly saved some money, and with the support of Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng, he would have no problem starting a new life outside.
"That's feasible. I'll consider it as the money I borrowed from you, and I'll repay you as soon as I settle down. You're about to marry Brother He soon, and there will be many occasions where you'll need money."
"It's okay. Brother Feng is skilled at hunting, and he has many brothers. As long as we work hard before winter comes, our family won't have any worries. It's just a pity that you won't be able to join us for our wedding feast."
Zheng Xiaoluo felt both happy and sad, harboring a deep hatred for Lin Ze.
If it were not for Lin Ze's heartlessness and for Xiu Ger having no hope in the Lin family, would they really need to resort to such wickedness to help Zhang Xiu escape?
The risks were significant, and it would not be easy for Xiu Ger and his mother to settle in an unfamiliar place.
But no matter how bad the situation, it was still better than being sold by Lin Ze for money to elope with another woman.
Depressing words should not be spoken to discourage someone. They needed to make Xiu Ger feel hopeful about the future.
Zheng Xiaoluo encouraged him enthusiastically, saying,
"Although it might be tough at first when you go out, you're capable. If you work hard, you and your mother won't starve. Once the storm passes and you settle down in a place where nobody knows you, and you haven't consummated your marriage with Lin Ze, there will be plenty of good men who would want to marry you, pure and righteous…"
"I don't care about that."
Zhang Xiu interrupted and blushed, his mind inexplicably flashing with the image of last night when he consummated his marriage with Lin Ze and this morning when Lin Ze was gentle with him.
Zheng Xiaoluo knew he would react this way. Xiu Ger had always been strong-willed and disliked relying on others.
If he had not been married off to Lin Ze and had instead married a kind and honest man, their lives would definitely have been better and more comfortable than the current situation, where they were forced onto a desperate path.
It did not matter if Xiu Ger did not want to think about these things now. It would be better after some time.
Xiu Ger was still young, still pure (virgin), and he was good-looking. When they arrived in a new place, even if he did not actively seek anyone, there would be people coming to propose to him. Then they could live a happy life…
Before Zheng Xiaoluo could finish his thoughts, he suddenly paused, staring at the exposed arm of Zhang Xiu.
The small red mole that represented chastity had turned into a lotus pattern.
"Ah Xiu, that bastard… he slept with you?!"
Zheng Xiaoluo exclaimed, standing up in shock.
Zhang Xiu's face turned beet red: Can you use a more subtle expression…?