Chapter 16: The Greatest Gossip in Hexi Village

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No one dared to speak up now. Cheng An looked at his so-called fourth cousin with a smile that was neither fully genuine nor entirely absent of mockery. Like father, like son! Genes truly are an enigma. He had been searching for an excuse to subtly reveal this matter without leaving any trace, but unexpectedly, Cheng Lai interrupted halfway and accomplished this for him. Indeed, quite well done. Now, considering that you "helped in the wrong way," perhaps you might be rewarded later... Cheng Dahai’s face was clouded with gloom. He fixed a cold glare on Cheng Dahe’s family, his anger nearly tangible. "Eldest brother, don’t!" Cheng Dahe hurriedly bent down and leaned in, "Please don’t be angry. The kid is just babbling nonsense; don’t take it seriously! Leave it to me—I’ll teach him a lesson!"

Smack! A sharp slap echoed. Cheng Lai spun twice on the spot before collapsing into Yao Shi’s arms. "You beast, how dare you spout nonsense!" "Do you still have the nerve?" Cheng Lai covered his swollen left cheek, shaking his head in terror. Everyone knew Cheng Dahai had skeletons in his closet. But now was not the time to expose them—the taxes hadn’t been paid yet. To turn hostile now would be foolish. "Enough!" "Isn’t this enough of a disgrace already?" Cheng Dahai bared his teeth and shouted. "Third son!" He took a deep breath. "Whether we split the family or not, people’s hearts are flesh and blood! We’re one family—what does that mean? I refuse to believe you can just stand by and watch this family fall apart!" Whether or not it was true, Cheng Dahai was indeed somewhat eloquent—joking and dodging the core of the matter. With those words, he pushed himself onto a moral high ground, betting that Cheng Dashan wouldn’t dare escalate things to the point of family destruction. Otherwise, no one would have it easy. "Father..." Seeing their father was about to lose ground, Cheng An wanted to pour more fuel on the fire. If he didn’t completely bury the eldest uncle’s family today, he wouldn’t be satisfied. "You shut up too!" "When the grown-ups are speaking, is it your turn to interrupt?" The honest ones are easiest to bully. But when they get fierce... Cheng An instinctively shrank his neck and sulkily closed his mouth. His mother, Liu Shi, pulled him into her arms and gave him a look, silently warning, ‘This is not the time to split the family. Don’t make things difficult for your father.’

...

Noon. The sun shone gently. Under the large locust tree at the village entrance, many villagers had gathered. Tax collection was a serious matter. Men stood at the front, surrounding several officials from the county, while children played nearby on a large grinding stone. When the Cheng family arrived, everyone turned their gaze at them in unison... Villagers, starved for entertainment, found their greatest amusement in gossiping together. Tales from one household to another, no matter true or false, were always welcomed. Recently, the biggest gossip in Hexi Village was about the Cheng family!

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Stories of the "evil mother-in-law bullying the good daughter-in-law," "the head of the household’s favoritism," and "Cheng family's eldest sister-in-law’s pleasant appearance but poisonous heart"—a series of family dramas left everyone overwhelmed. Facing these mocking eyes, Old Han Shi, supported by Qin Dongzhi and Yao Chunhua, walked over with a sullen face and found the most inconspicuous spot to stand. She used to be so proud! Especially after her eldest son passed the scholar’s exam, even the village chief would politely address her as ‘Old Madam’. But now... everything had changed. The instigators were her third son and daughter-in-law. No, also that little bastard! From a distance, Cheng An felt a chill at his back. When he turned, he met his grandmother’s fierce glare. He instinctively forced a smile. Old Han Shi was instantly unsettled, her anger boiling inside. Damn it! At that moment, she wished she could rush over and personally beat that unfilial grandson to death. But Cheng An paid her no mind. A while later... "You’re the sixth, right?" "What’s up?" Cheng An was squatting alone on the ridge, digging in the soil. He turned to see Cheng Lai. "How did my brother treat you before?" "Not well," Cheng An answered succinctly. Cheng Lai was choked by the response but unwilling to accept it. "Wasn’t I good to you? Remember when we stole eggs and grandma caught us? I got beaten in the end!" "But you ate all the eggs." "I..." The ten-year-old Cheng Lai was no match for him. He fell silent for a moment, then sulked, "Fine, then I’ll ask you... does eldest uncle have some unspeakable secret? Otherwise, why wouldn’t he dare lose his temper today?" "You’re asking me?" "Yeah!" "Then who else?" Cheng An rolled his eyes and resumed digging. "Damn it!" Cheng Lai was embarrassed and angry. A child of ten could hardly understand intrigue. His most straightforward solution was to beat Cheng An up. He grabbed the back of Cheng An’s collar, ready to strike. "Don’t say I didn’t warn you!" Cheng An didn’t fight back, teasing, "Grandma’s been angry and has nowhere to vent lately. If you hit me... hehe!" Threats are the simplest counterattack—and always effective! Cheng Lai’s young mind soon gave out, and he instinctively let go. Everyone knew Old Han Shi disliked Cheng An the most. But she disliked Cheng Lai just as much. Two pitiful grandsons... why such fierce rivalry?

"However..." "About eldest uncle, I have heard something." Cheng An’s tone shifted, tinged with hesitation. "Speak up!" "You must promise not to leak this and never betray me!" Cheng An lifted his youthful face. "Of course!" Cheng Lai nodded seriously, saying solemnly, "We’re real brothers! Mom says, even if you break a bone, you must sever the tendon—how could I do such a thing?" Damn your mother! Cheng An twitched at the corner of his mouth, then lowered his voice. "I went to town yesterday. Mr. Du said something about our eldest uncle ‘coveting the pot while eating from the basin’—I don’t understand." "Idiot!" "You don’t even get that, and you want to study?" Upon learning the secret, Cheng Lai’s expression changed immediately. He snorted in disdain and dashed off to Yao Shi’s side. Cheng An ignored him, lowering his head to continue ‘busy work’ alone. Ha. Let it all blow up! The more intense the quarrel, the sooner the family will split. It would be best if Yao Chunhua acts boldly and exposes everything, then the first and second branches can tear each other apart, leaving their parents to suffer the headache.

Just then... "Master Gu is here!" A shout from nearby broke Cheng An’s train of thought. A middle-aged man wearing a brocade jacket appeared, each hand holding a lively little girl, walking through the crowd. In an instant, hundreds of eyes focused on him. Gu Changqing was the largest landlord in three neighborhoods and five villages, one of the most influential figures in Qingshui Town. His arrival pushed the atmosphere to its peak. His two daughters also naturally became the center of attention. Many whispered among themselves... "I heard those two girls are twins? They’re really pretty!" "Of course!" "But look at their family background?" Some envied them, but others felt sour. "No matter how good the family is, without sons, what use is it?" "That’s true..." The crowd murmured in agreement. The preference for sons was deeply rooted, especially in rural areas. Without a son, you have no support; if someone insults you, you dare not retort and may even be bullied by outsiders. Take the Cheng family, for example. Even if Old Han Shi disliked her second and third sons, when all three sons stood together, that was power—no one dared to pick a fight lightly. But no one dared say such things openly! When Gu Changqing approached, disdain and mockery instantly turned into compliments and flattery. "Greetings, Master Gu." "The two young ladies are so beautiful, dazzling even!" "Master Gu, how is your health?" Gu Changqing smiled kindly, returning the greetings warmly, "Good, thank you all for your kindness..."

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