Chapter 28 2/2

The Yu family members, unaware of the truth, were shocked. At this point, they didn’t care about the authenticity of the matter anymore. They all hurried to rebuke loudly, “Wang Pinyue, you’re slandering the Yu family! The Yu family has been in this village for generations, and everyone knows our character. If you dare to spread rumors again, I’ll take you to court!”

Seeing the Yu family using their clan’s influence against Wang Pinyue, Li Jintiger spoke up, “Fine! Let’s go to court! Let everyone in the entire prefecture see what kind of person the Yu family’s scholar is: a fair-faced scholar with a wolf’s heart. So cunning!”

“Li Jintiger, shut your mouth!”

“What’s the matter, dare to do but not to admit, feeling guilty but not letting people say it. Everyone, take a good look. Our village’s scholar, supported by the magistrate to study, then high school, abandoned the Ji family, and now still slandering others’ innocence.”

Li Jintiger pointed at the Yu family’s core, leaving the Yu family utterly humiliated and enraged. The Ji family also wasn’t to be trifled with, questioning every word:

“Yu Lingxiao, what do you mean? Even if you look down on the Yu family after achieving high status, you grew up with us after all. How could you do something so despicable and ruin someone’s innocence for a lifetime? Is this the character befitting a scholar like you? What did our Ji family ever do to you?”

“Oh, the wickedness! My six brothers are too soft-hearted. When someone comes begging, saying the orphaned mother can’t make ends meet, he helps them with books and stationery, even contacts the teacher for them. He even promised to marry his own brother away.”

“Who would have thought there are so many wolves in sheep’s clothing in this world? When they succeed, they kick others away without a word of complaint. And yet, some people hold onto the good ones, ruining my nephew’s innocence and trying to destroy our Ji family’s reputation, wanting to bring shame upon our entire lineage. What kind of malicious intent is this?”

As the head of the Ji family spoke, tears welled up, accusing and crying at the same time, making everyone’s heart ache.

“It’s clearly your Ji Yangzong couple who wanted to break off the engagement, and now you blame our Yu family for it. There’s no such logic in this world!”

Sun Yuanniang was driven mad, cursing, “Who knows if your own son has any self-respect!”

“Sun Yuanniang, even at this point, you still have the nerve to argue! What did our Ji family do to break off the engagement, you know in your heart. Your family just wanted to climb up the social ladder and kick ours away. You promised before the exams, but after passing, you arranged marriages. After getting into the civil service, you looked down on everyone else, never mentioning the marriage again! If my son had truly lacked self-respect, he wouldn’t have come begging to marry into your family. He wouldn’t have been able to stand straight and ask for a cancellation of the engagement!”

Huang Manjing scolded, “You’ve taken advantage of every opportunity and now you’re trampling on the Ji family. Even if you don’t consider past relationships, why ruin the reputation of the Ji family? Your intentions are truly wicked!”

The villagers also brought up past events, “Back then, Sun Yuanniang was all about sucking up to the higher-ups. She originally had a good marriage with the Yu family, but turned around and used despicable means to marry into the Yu family. Now she’s teaching Yu Lingxiao to act like this. What kind of ill luck has befallen the Ji family to meet such a family?”

The two main families in the courtyard were arguing incessantly, and the villagers joined in, making it seem like a large pot of stew had burst into flames.

Amidst the chaos, Yu Lingxiao felt dazed. At this point, he couldn’t even utter a word of rebuttal and felt like fainting.

In a daze, he looked across the crowd and saw that boy standing far away under the eaves, watching this drama unfold.

Their eyes met, and Yu Lingxiao saw an unprecedented coldness and disgust in those beautiful peach blossom eyes. He couldn’t describe his feelings, but his mind was still foggy, unable to understand why things had developed into this today.

The boy who used to go to the city on rest days from the academy, who would linger on the road back to the village just to catch a glimpse of him, even if he didn’t say a word, would still be happy as if it were yesterday. How did it suddenly turn so cold?

Yu Lingxiao’s hands trembled, his eyes turned red, and tears streamed down his cheeks.

Amidst the chaos and obscene language around Sun Yuanniang, she rushed to Huang Manjing and attempted to scratch her. A chopping knife, gleaming with silver light, was placed horizontally in front of Sun Yuanniang.

The sight of the trembling knife made everyone quiet down in the courtyard.

“Ah Yu, I just… I just didn’t want to lose you.”

With tears in his eyes, Yu Lingxiao’s tone was sorrowful, and seeing him like this, the villagers were momentarily stunned.

Seeing this, the head of the Yu family quickly came out to apologize, “Li Zheng, Lingxiao is just deeply in love, that’s why he made a wrong decision. Don’t you know his character, having watched him grow up? Young people don’t always think things through, which led to a clumsy attempt.”

“Pah!”

Ji Yangzong scolded, “Now you’re all acting like good people here, insulting others’ reputation and still trying to justify it. Don’t insult the words ‘deeply in love’!”

“Uncle Ji, Taoyu and I grew up together since childhood. How could I harm him? Both families agreed to cancel the engagement, and I couldn’t bear it. I came up with this plan, not to ruin his reputation. I don’t know how it got twisted outside.”

“That’s enough!”

On the side, Taoyu couldn’t help but feel disgusted seeing Yu Lingxiao’s tearful appearance.

“To avoid responsibility, you can come up with any lie. You lifted others’ clothes, praised them endlessly, and didn’t even think about yourself being engaged? When you were speaking sweet words, did you ever consider that you’re engaged?”

Taoyu sneered, “You can’t bear to break off the engagement, but want to have your cake and eat it too. Isn’t that too greedy?”

Yu Lingxiao was taken aback by her words. Taoyu really knew everything.

For a moment, he felt guilty and his face flushed red.

The villagers were shocked, even more disgusted with Yu Lingxiao’s actions.

The head of the Yu family wanted to argue, but couldn’t find a way to argue. They also didn’t dare to argue rashly anymore, who knows what shameful things this mother and daughter might have done, and they might end up being laughed at too.

“Ah, they’re crazy, your aunt and cousin are really confused.”

Madam Sun, seeing her sister and nephew do such things, felt embarrassed.

“Now you know what kind of people your aunt and cousin are.”

Standing beside Madam Sun, Yu Xia took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of emotions.

“The Ji family doesn’t know what’s good for them, and my foolish son, you still remember him.”

Madam Sun cursed, “For a man, having three wives and four concubines is common, but you, a man with a poor health, still cling to Lingxiao, not letting anyone else near you!”

“I know I can’t reach for something beyond my grasp, and I don’t deserve the blessings of a scholar. The Yu family shouldn’t resort to such ruinous acts.”

“Thankfully, the truth has come to light today. Let me make it clear now, from this day forward, there’s no connection between me and Yu Lingxiao. We’re done, and I hope we won’t be entangled again!”

With these words, Taoyu left on her own, leaving Yu Lingxiao completely dumbfounded.

This farce finally came to an end with Taoyu’s decision and Yu Lingxiao’s staggering.

The Ji family didn’t demand an apology from the Yu family, as receiving an apology from them would only be more nauseating. The purpose was to expose Yu Lingxiao’s actions to the public, to restore Taoyu’s innocence. Now that the matter had been resolved, other matters were no longer important.

But after this incident, the reputation of the Yu family in the village was completely overturned. Whenever the topic of the Yu family came up during tea or meals, they would surely be discussed, and the villagers couldn’t help but sigh.

Although they dared not speak out against the Yu family due to their status, behind their backs, they sneered at the Yu family’s behavior, and they were even more disdainful of having unnecessary dealings with Sun Yuanniang and her son.

Such a family treated even their benefactors like this in their most difficult times. What about ordinary families? Who knows when they might stab you in the back?

The people of the Yu family were angry and dared not reprimand Yu Lingxiao. They felt extremely aggrieved, having not yet enjoyed any blessings, but instead had to endure a lot of contempt and humiliation.

When they hurried to find the Li family, Li Jintiger had already taken the money and disappeared with his mother on the afternoon of the incident. Only the Yu family was left, cursing outside the Li family’s door.

Seeing that both families’ faces had already been torn to such an extent, Ji Yangzong no longer wanted to hold back. He went to the Yu family to reclaim the money he had lent to Yu Lingxiao before.

Previously, out of consideration for the Xue family, Ji Yangzong thought not to ask for the money, hoping that the Yu family would remember their past favors and not push them too hard. But Yu Lingxiao’s despicable behavior made him realize that there was no need to expect any gratitude from him. Since he now had money, he would use it for dirty deeds. Instead of letting the Yu family have too much money to handle, it was better to reclaim his own money to prevent the Yu family’s money from becoming a hot potato.

Sun Yuanniang cursed again, but because of the villagers’ presence, she still handed the money over to Ji Yangzong.

The Yu family had no choice but to accept the situation. Although they didn’t approve of what Sun Yuanniang and her son did, the Yu and Ji families had never had such an ugly conflict before.

They were completely in the wrong this time, and privately, they all said that Sun Yuanniang had a bad character, just like when she first married into the family. But outwardly, they still had to rely on Yu Lingxiao’s protection to reduce taxes and reluctantly comfort the mother and son.

“Even if outsiders say harsh things, Lingxiao did indeed pass the imperial examination and received the appointment from the village’s government office. He has the same treatment he deserves.”

“Due to the Ji family’s reputation, they won’t take this matter to court. The cancellation of the engagement was agreed upon by both families. Even if it goes to court, it’s just a small village matter, and the witnesses are gone. The government won’t handle it.”

“Yeah, we’re having good days now, there’s no need to listen to what those people outside say. Those who achieve great things don’t worry about trifles. The Ji family has been arrogant in the village for so many years, always acting like they’re doing Lingxiao a favor. Who wouldn’t be angry? Lingxiao didn’t do anything wrong in teaching the Ji family a lesson.”

Sun Yuanniang, seeing several uncles and aunts speak like this, took the opportunity to say, “Uncles and aunts, if you understand Lingxiao’s situation, then you should know that the imperial exam is approaching. Those gossiping women outside are speaking so harshly, it’s inevitable that they’ll disturb Lingxiao’s peace. How can he concentrate on his studies?”

“If Lingxiao could live in a quiet place in the city to focus on his exams, it would be better. It doesn’t have to be big, just like where other scholars live. When Lingxiao becomes famous in the future, he won’t forget his uncles and aunts. By then, his siblings will take care of him.”

How could the Yu family not understand Sun Yuanniang’s meaning? But buying a house in the city would cost a lot of money. Even if the location wasn’t great and the house was small, an ordinary two-entry courtyard would cost three to four hundred taels of silver. If several families pooled their money, it would still amount to dozens or even hundreds of taels per household.

“Fourth brother, you know, the land hasn’t been productive for the past two years.”

“Yes, Fourth Sister-in-law, our third brother hasn’t married yet. Nowadays, marrying into a household isn’t as easy as it used to be. It takes at least thirty to fifty taels of silver.”

Sun Yuanniang sneered at their cries of poverty, “Eldest brother, your forest yields quite a bit. It’s not as difficult as you say.”

“Fifth sister-in-law is joking. Nowadays, thirty taels for a household is already quite respectable. Taxes are increasing every year, so spending money will only decrease in the future. It’s not like marrying into an official’s family, where you could spend fifty taels.”

Feeling blocked, Sun Yuanniang continued, “If uncles and aunts don’t want to help Lingxiao, then we can’t protect a family that can’t help us. Don’t you agree?”

For a moment, no one could say anything.

Sun Yuanniang continued, “Lingxiao isn’t a fool. The reason he severed ties with the Ji family is because he has better options now.”

“I’ll be upfront. If uncles and aunts can’t help us, we understand. Just don’t say that your nephew doesn’t value family ties when Lingxiao brings glory to the family in the future.”

The head of the Yu family, recalling what Taoyu said at the meeting today, thought that Yu Lingxiao must have climbed up to someone influential. After a moment of contemplation, he smiled apologetically, “Fourth brother, what you said is right. Lingxiao is the most promising child in our family. As the eldest uncle, I will support him no matter how difficult it is for our family.”

Seeing the head of the family speak, the other families, although it pained them, couldn’t bear to let their children miss out on opportunities. They reluctantly agreed, “Nothing is more important than Lingxiao’s affairs. Our useless third child still has a few years left. Let’s use the money set aside for his marriage to help our nephew. When our nephew becomes successful, our son can also benefit from the association with better families.”

After reaching an agreement, Sun Yuanniang persuaded several families to contribute money to buy a house for Yu Lingxiao in the city.

“When the house is bought, Lingxiao will move in immediately. We’ll be far away from these people in the village, and even if they want to say something, they won’t see us. By then, in the city, we’ll be able to interact with the Xue family more easily, right?”

Seeing Yu Lingxiao lying on the bed, looking dazed for two days, Sun Yuanniang couldn’t help but feel heartache. She comforted him gently, “Lingxiao, if you continue to be depressed like this, how will your mother cope?”

The person on the bed’s voice was hoarse, “Mother, rest assured, since things are still the same with the Ji family, I will wholeheartedly focus on the Xue family’s marriage.”

Yu Lingxiao’s scattered gaze suddenly became firm. He was determined to climb higher and reclaim everything that should have been his.