Chapter 38: The Entire Village Gets Carried Away

On the way home, the atmosphere was somewhat somber.

"Cheng An."

"Yes?"

"Don't be discouraged!" Gu Xiaorou hesitated for a long time before she couldn't help but add, "Failing the imperial examination is no big deal. With your talent, you will surely make a name for yourself in whatever you choose to do in the future!"

"Huh?" Cheng An looked blank. When was I discouraged? It was just an examination. Even if he really wanted to become an official in the future, it wasn't strictly necessary to go through the imperial examination; these days, as long as one had money, buying an official position wasn't difficult at all.

"You must pull yourself together." Gu Xiaorou’s pretty face flushed slightly. "Don't worry about family matters. We will continue our business as usual, and as for Father... I will speak to him myself!"

"Speak about what?" Cheng An understood less and less. What did studying have to do with business?

"In any case, you saved me and Xiaorou..." Gu Xiaorou lowered her head, her face burning with shyness. "That is a debt of gratitude!"

Strictly speaking, Cheng An’s actions that day could hardly be called an act of altruism. After all, those two assassins were targeting him, and Du Xiu and the Gu sisters were merely caught in the crossfire—if they didn't resent him, that was already polite enough. But perhaps due to the stirrings of affection, their interactions over the past few days had caused Gu Xiaorou’s fondness for Cheng An to deepen, along with a growing sense of attachment.

Back at the academy, just as the donkey cart was about to leave, Gu Xiaorou leaned out of the carriage window and smiled. "Father has agreed to let me study at my uncle’s house. From now on, we are true classmates."

"That’s great!"

"Then let’s look out for each other from now on." Cheng An stood at the academy gate, smiling.

"Yes! Let’s look out for each other." Gu Xiaorou beamed like a flower.

...

That afternoon, Du Xiu accompanied Cheng An back to Hexi Village.

Seeing her son return, Lady Liu was naturally overjoyed. But before she could express the longing she had felt over the past few days, she learned of the assassination attempt on his life. Her vision went black, and she collapsed into her husband’s arms.

"Mother!"

"Cuiyun!"

The father and son were startled. It took quite a while to rouse Lady Liu.

"Dashan!" Lady Liu opened her eyes, and a flash of murderous intent flickered within them. "We must not let him go this time, or else..."

"I will die right in front of you!"

A mother’s heart is fierce. At this moment, Lady Liu was like a furious she-wolf. Cheng Dashan did not doubt for a second that if he dared to speak up for his older brother now, Lady Liu would certainly carry out her threat.

"Rest assured. Little Six is my son, too!" Cheng Dashan made no empty promises, but the killing intent in his eyes was no less than his wife’s.

...

The family of three went first to the village head’s house. With Du Xiu present, Wang Defu felt even more humiliated. That such a heinous scandal had occurred in his own village and was being criticized by an outsider was like a slap in the face to him.

"Let’s go!" Wang Defu, nearly seventy, didn't wait for the bailiffs. His legs were still sturdy as he stepped out. "Someone, go call the villagers! I’m going to personally chop that animal to pieces today!"

Hiring someone to commit murder was already a capital offense, let alone killing one’s own nephew. It wasn't just the village head; the entire village of Hexi was burning with rage. It was a monstrous scandal! If word got out, they would all become the laughingstock of the surrounding villages and might even be branded with a reputation for having a vicious nature. Could they endure this?

Looking at the hundreds of people with eyes wide with fury, Cheng An smiled to himself. This was settled!

*Bang!* Cheng Dashan kicked the door open. The villagers swarmed in.

"Where is Cheng Dahai?"

"You heartless beast, get out here!"

"You wretch! You’ve brought shame upon our entire village!"

The curses were relentless. Qin Dongzhi helped Old Lady Han out of the house.

"Which bastard is cursing my husband? I’ll tear you apart!" Qin Dongzhi was fierce, and Old Lady Han was even worse. She glared at the villagers. "A bunch of heartless things, do you think this old woman is easy to bully? Dare to curse at my door, and I’ll smash your mouths!"

"Mother." Cheng Dashan stepped forward. The two women fell silent instantly! Their shifty eyes said it all.

But soon, Old Lady Han regained her composure. "Don't call me mother! I don't have a son as unfilial as you! You beast, bringing outsiders here to curse your own mother—why haven't you been struck by lightning?"

"Sister-in-law," Wang Defu couldn't listen anymore. He raised a hand to interrupt her. "Your son, Cheng Dahai, hired assassins to kill his own nephew. He has committed such a beastly act—are you going to shield him? I won't waste words with you; hand him over!"

"You're full of nonsense!" Old Lady Han argued coldly, "My son is a scholar; who in the neighboring villages doesn't respect him? You dare bring so many people to insult the family of a scholar? If the authorities find out, they won't spare you!"

"Ha!" Wang Defu laughed in anger. He no longer stood on ceremony. "Don't worry, the government bailiffs will be here soon!"

"Let them come! Without evidence, no one can frame us!" Since the facade had already been torn away, Qin Dongzhi put her hands on her hips. "Besides, aren't you just a village head? My husband has connections in the town and the county! Just you wait."

"Damn it!" Someone couldn't take it anymore. Gritting his teeth, he cursed, "You heartless animal! Are you still acting arrogant? Village head, just give the word! Let's just finish her off right here!"

In the countryside, the village head was like a local emperor. Especially when faced with collective interests, it wouldn't be strange for a person or two to disappear, and no one would dare to report it!

Hearing this, Qin Dongzhi retreated in a panic, but she still argued, "Who hired assassins? Who killed anyone? What evidence do you have? You illiterate fools, do you really think you're government officials?"

As the two sides traded insults, Cheng An, the victim, found himself with nothing to do. At this point, he didn't even need to intervene. The way Qin Dongzhi was courting death... if she didn't get beaten, it would be an insult to her own mouth.

Public anger cannot be provoked, especially when you are in the wrong. If she had any brains, she would have pushed all the blame onto Cheng Dahai to save herself and her son. But since she insisted on trying to bluff her way out, she was simply begging for death.

Just then, a cold sneer came from outside.

"Who wants evidence?" The bailiff who had collected taxes last time walked in with a blade, followed by two burly men. The villagers instantly cleared a path.

The bailiff walked in, eyeing Qin Dongzhi coldly. "The assassins have confessed, and the evidence is conclusive! What more evidence do you want? Where is Cheng Dahai? Tell him to get out here!"

"He..." Qin Dongzhi, who had been kicked by him before, was terrified. She trembled as she retreated. "My husband is taking the provincial examination this year, so he left for the county yesterday. I expect he won't be back for several days."

"Bullshit! Killing someone and still wanting to take the imperial examination?" The bailiff laughed in fury. "If he doesn't show up, fine, but if he does, it saves me the trouble of hunting him down—I'll just chop him down myself!"