The village chief knew his temper and, seeing that he was almost forty, didn’t want to persuade him anymore. He just wanted him to stay in the village and interact more with the village’s young people, so that when the family needed help, the mbers of the Shang Family would be more willing to lend a hand.
But things often don’t go as planned, and there were always so jealous troublemakers in Wenyuan’s family, causing problems for him.
"Good Brother An, is your family going to hold a banquet?" the village chief suddenly asked Gu Jin’an.
Gu Jin’an shook his head, "Not this ti. Lord County Magistrate told us to focus on our studies first, and it’s not too late to hold one after we’ve passed the college examination and beco scholars."
The village chief nodded, "That’s a good idea. It will be even grander to hold it after becoming a scholar."
The village chief then looked at Scholar Shang, saying, "Wenyuan, didn’t you agree with Master Ouyang to visit the town? Hurry and go. After visiting Master Ouyang, you should stay at your wife’s family for a while since Good Brother An’s family is not holding a banquet, your duties as a ntor can wait."
"Uncle Clan Leader, how can you let Wenyuan leave at this ti?" Shang Lao Shi was very angry, accusing the clan leader of blatantly favoring Shang Wen Yuan to avoid the trouble by letting him stay at his father-in-law’s house.
Ha, clearly showing favoritism to one’s direct cousin, while treating us, who are a few branches apart, differently. So brazen!
Upon these words, the village chief threw a plate of pastries at Shang Lao Shi.
Shang Lao Shi was shocked and quickly dodged. The plate shattered against the floor beside his ear with a loud crash, breaking into several pieces.
The village chief slamd the table with a cold laugh, "Not satisfied, are you? If you’re not satisfied, then take your whole family and leave Shang Family Village!"
He continued, "Don’t think just because you married well and have a couple of shops, you’re sothing special. I’m telling you, if you want to oppose the elders, wait until your family holds governnt status, otherwise, keep quiet!"
Shang Lao Shi’s face turned green upon hearing this, not expecting the village chief to be so rciless, using him as a warning.
Old Grandmaster Shang Laoliu saw this, realizing that the village chief was getting tough again. Recalling the village chief’s thods from his younger days, he shivered and didn’t dare voice any objections, instead soothing the situation, "Old Shi, you young rascal, how dare you speak to the clan leader like that? Fifth Brother is the clan leader; clan affairs are for him to decide. If you dare make noise again, we old n will enforce family law upon you!"
Turning to Scholar Shang, he smiled, "Wenyuan, Ms. Jiang and Yuanyuan are at the Jiang family. You should visit them; don’t worry about clan affairs. We old folks are here; nothing will go wrong."
The village chief observed Old Grandmaster Shang Laoliu’s servile behavior with a cold smile, knowing Laoliu’s character; he respects strength but despises softness. Since that’s the case, he wouldn’t show him any leniency in the future. He’ll teach him lessons whenever necessary to prevent that old coot from taking advantage of his age and status.
As well as Second Brother Shang Youfu...
"Old n, let advise you not to be like Shang Youfu. He took seventy years to achieve what he has, and how old are you lot?" the village chief comnted as he stared at the Shang Family People present, "Even if you lived to seventy, the position of the Shang Family Clan Leader remains with us. As long as our branch stands, don’t dream of dividing Wenyuan’s family estate. Rember, anyone bullying Wenyuan’s family will end up like Shang Shisan!"
Shang Shisan is the father of Shang Xiu Yue. He was ousted from the clan for using his daughter to oppress Shang Yuanyuan, testing the limits of Scholar Shang and his wife to seize their family property.
This incident caused quite a stir in Shang Family Village, deterring many from less privileged families from coveting Scholar Shang’s property.
However, families like Shang Lao Shi and Second Old Master Shang, who had so family wealth and servants, were not willing to relinquish their ambitions. They believed that their money afforded them impunity against bullying Shang Wen Yuan, thinking he wouldn’t dare to retaliate against them.
But it was evident this ti that the village chief intended to deal with even Second Old Master Shang, so that when Shang Lao Shi heard his na ntioned, he backed off, taking two steps back to retreat.
The village chief, seeing this, snorted coldly, his deanor softening noticeably, as he addressed Scholar Shang, "Wenyuan, take Good Brother An and pack your things. Co back when your cousin sends word. This ti, cousin will manage everything; there won’t be a next ti."
Scholar Shang, teary-eyed, understood that the village chief had always been worried about his lack of heirs. By forcing him to return to the village and demanding he educate the Shang Family children, he feared that they might beco estranged, leaving his family without support in tis of trouble.
This ti, he was being sent away for his own good, prompting him to kneel again, performing a deep bow to the village chief.
The village chief helped him up and instructed Shang Shiliu, "Take Shang Laosi to the clan’s private prison."
"Yes." Shang Shiliu responded, taking Shang Laosi away.
The village chief also left with other Shang Family People, but before leaving, he told Gu Jin’an, "Good Brother An, you have done a great service for the entire Shang Family. This old man thanks you."
If not for Good Brother An, they wouldn’t have uncovered the matter regarding Shang Laosi. If Shang Laosi’s issue had been exposed suddenly, they wouldn’t have been able to salvage anything.
Gu Jin’an replied, "No need to thank , village chief. I’m my master’s disciple, and since the master is a Shang, I wouldn’t stand by and watch the Shang Family in trouble without lending a hand."
Hearing this, the village chief smiled. That Good Brother An could say such things indicated his loyalty to the Shang Family, and with that, there was nothing more to worry about.
After the village chief and the others left, Scholar Shang told Gu Jin’an and the others, "Let’s go to town; don’t keep Master Ouyang waiting."
Scholar Shang did not pack any belongings, only instructed Ah Jiu to prepare the cart. They all left in the Shang Family’s mule cart.
Gu Dexing asked, "Sir, aren’t you going to the county?"
While he shouldn’t have ddled, the mbers of the Shang Family were intimidating. If the sir stayed in the village, it might lead to bla from the Shang Family, accusing him of stirring trouble, insisting on making the matter public and embarrassing the family.
Being born into a village chief’s house, Gu Dexing understood that village chiefs often preferred to solve matters quietly to avoid losing face. Reporting to the governnt was seen as disgraceful and would be criticized by the villagers.
Scholar Shang said, "My cousin is elderly; I can’t let him shoulder everything for . I’ll be back in the village later today to help him deal with Shang Laosi’s issue."
After all, it concerned the Shang Family as a whole, and as a mber of the family, he couldn’t truly walk away.
Besides, his cousin genuinely cared for him, being his closest elder relative from his imdiate family, now in his sixties. He couldn’t let his cousin bear all the burdens.
Gu Jin’an supported Scholar Shang, saying, "Master, if you need any help, let know. There are helping hands at ho."
Scholar Shang smiled, "No need, there are so hands in the Shang Family. If it really cos to it, I can borrow from my father-in-law’s family. Focus on your studies and don’t get involved in this matter."
User Comments
0 comments from readers