"I, I..."
Cheng Xiaoxiao held her forehead, seeing her father’s forehead sweat, it seed he wasn’t suited to handling such situations, unable to string a sentence together for a long ti.
In front of so many clan elders, even her older uncle dared not to interject, the hierarchy was suppressive, and Uncle Beiniu stood quietly in the corner.
What’s wrong with these three? It’s not like a court trial, does it have to be this way?
Watching Cheng Yong unable to provide a proper explanation, everyone felt more suspicious, as if they were deceived.
Seventh Uncle tapped the ground with his cane, saying impatiently, "Third Son has a point, we can’t just believe rumors, after all, it did not co from the mouth of Master Liao Ming. Let ask you, how old is Master Jing Yuan? How long has he been fortune-telling? Why haven’t we heard of him before?"
Cheng Yong was taken aback, his daughter hadn’t told the age of Master Jing Yuan, had she done so, the clan elders would trust it even less. Even when he first t Master Jing Yuan, he didn’t believe he was a master, how to explain this?
Soone then said, "Cheng the Second, why don’t you answer? Or are you lying?"
Cheng Yong dared not conceal, awkwardly said, "No, Master Jing Yuan is... about twenty years old."
Then he hurriedly explained, "Though young, Master Jing Yuan has received the true teachings of Master Liao Ming, he healed Xiaoxiao, everything was witnessed by , without any deceit."
The person speaking earlier showed disdain, "Ha, twenty years old, if you’re not deceived, then what? A re child, not even fully matured, yet a master...?"
"Furthermore, Master Liao Ming wasn’t present either, it’s not assured that Cheng the Second was deceived," Seventh Uncle said bluntly, thinking this possibility very high.
The village head saw Cheng Yong struggling, stepped up to help explain:
"Dear clan elders, though this matter seems absurd, Master Jing Yuan residing in the Buddhist land, being a disciple of Master Liao Ming, wouldn’t joke about such matters."
In his view, it’s more likely true, and continued, "We have no evidence to prove it’s false, then it could be the truth, everyone knows Cheng Yong is an honest man, unlikely to deceive everyone on such a grave matter."
Seeing the village head’s opinion, the clan leader’s faction imdiately had soone jump out to refute, "It might be a swindle, do you have evidence our village will face disaster soon?"
"Right, we’ve lived here for decades without incident, don’t just believe a few outside words."
"Right, right..."
Everyone started murmuring, voices of opposition and doubt continuously entered Cheng Xiaoxiao’s ears.
Cheng Xiaoxiao thought everyone would quickly believe and she mainly ca to see how prevention plans would be made, so the strength in numbers would reveal any overlooked areas, didn’t expect these stubborn old folks to be so hard-headed.
Suddenly felt like laughing, with life at stake, yet still chattering endlessly.
Feeling irked, Cheng Xiaoxiao had to rebut when annoyed...
No longer staying silent, she stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the clan elders, as basic respect for the elders of the original owner.
Respectfully said, "Dear clan elders and seniors, may I say sothing?"
For a mont, part of the hall quieted down.
Yet so whispered mockingly, "Seniors are speaking, how does a younger junior dare to speak out of turn?"
Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t mind the gossipers, nor waited for approval, she spoke on her own accord, "Dear elders discussed for so long, but missed the main point?"
Third Uncle took a puff of smoke, shook the stem, said with interest, "Oh! Xiao, tell us, what is the main point?"
Cheng Xiaoxiao was blunt, "Of course, it’s life! Our village has more than 200 lives, if disaster strikes, how many will be left? Everyone discusses gains and losses of property, mistakes, responsibility." As she spoke, she glanced at everyone present.
Causing everyone to feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
Then continued, "Never thought about life? Regardless of the truth, now without evidence of anything, it’s a gamble, win, and the whole family’s life remains unscathed, continue living, lose and it’s just so property and effort, which can be earned back, but if..."
Paused, looked at the clan leader, causing an inexplicable sense of guilt.
"If you don’t gamble at all, then half the chance life will be lost, so it doesn’t matter whether you believe or not, if you want to survive, make arrangents early, if you think your life is fortunate, you can act like nothing happened, it’s that simple."
Everyone looked at each other, Cheng Xiaoxiao’s words were like a wake-up call to many people.
Previously, they hadn’t considered the risk to life.
Who dares to gamble with their life!
Who can ignore their life!
Seeing so enlightennt, Cheng Xiaoxiao thought maybe the old conservatives were still salvageable.
So, she solemnly said, "Everyone here mostly lives four generations under one roof, wouldn’t you consider your sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons? You’ve had a long life, near completion, but would you dare gamble with the younger ones? Their lives are just beginning, full of possibilities... Are you really that ruthless?"
Looking at the guilty ones present, she turned to point at the ancestral shrine, "Facing the Cheng ancestors, would you dare?"
These words struck the heart of every clan elder, faces changed one after another, yes! They’ve lived long enough, but what about the juniors? They couldn’t afford to gamble, couldn’t sacrifice the children’s lives and futures.
Whose child isn’t cherished, whose child isn’t lively, lovely, clever, at the thought of losing a child due to disbelief and selfish decisions is terrifying, even in death, they couldn’t face the ancestors.
The clan leader was enraged, feeling as though what Cheng Xiaoxiao said was true, that sharp-tongued girl, never a pleasant word.
Clearing his throat, he said loudly, "Everyone, quiet please, Xiao is just speculating, things aren’t so terrible, no need to scare yourselves, even if a flood occurs, the worst is the fields being subrged, it’s not so severe."
Oh, you stubborn old fool, always contradicting .
If it weren’t for the innocent villagers, I wouldn’t serve anyone, already explained, yet still arguing, can’t help but have to say sothing back, really!
Ignorance!
Foolishness!
Third Uncle knocked on the table with his old pipe and spoke, "Xiao has a point, better bet on the big than the small, can’t afford to lose, collect the crops early, organize to dig the canals, put things to high places, better to be safe than sorry."
Sixth Uncle nodded in agreent, "Even if nothing happens, the loss is minimal, taking asures brings peace of mind."
The village head expressed agreent with the two clan elders and imdiately went to make arrangents.
The other clan elders of the sa generation as the clan leader also responded, willing to cooperate.
Suddenly the clan leader was deflated, unable to refute the elders’ words, even among his contemporaries, he could argue, but with Third Uncle and Sixth Uncle being his elders, he couldn’t disrespect them.
Cheng Xiaoxiao laughed...
Didn’t expect such a turnaround, Third and Sixth Uncles were so supportive, actually Cheng Xiaoxiao should call Third Uncle ’ancestor,’ but with the generational gap everyone called him this, fellow villagers all do so.
Glad she didn’t have to waste words anymore.
Though she still needed to remind, in case the news spread and soone was confused.
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