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“Of course, it’s me you’re talking about. No wonder your own family can’t stand you. If someone actually likes a person like you, they must be desperate. You brought this upon yourself,” Rong Shi said, recalling Wang Jinhe’s words from earlier with a contemptuous smile.
“You should see how your son reacts when you tell him you got beaten up today. I wonder if he’d even bother to stand up for you.” Luo Shi’s son had a good character and never used his scholar status to belittle others. The trouble Luo Shi caused was entirely of her own making, and her son was well aware of her behavior.
Luo Shi’s face turned grim. She knew that even if she told her son about the incident, he would only be angry at her and wouldn’t interfere. Over time, she had grown used to this. To avoid her son’s disdain, she refrained from discussing these matters with him at home.
However, village gossip always found its way back home, exposing all her actions. Given her strained relationship with her husband and son, if they found out about her recent misdeeds, her standing within the family would be irreparably damaged.
“Rong Shi, spare us your words. What we need to know now is how he can help us make money. Our opinions don’t matter today. We’re not leaving,” Luo Shi said coldly, glaring at Rong Shi.
“I don’t have the ability to change anything. If you want to stay here, stay. Wife, go and focus on your own affairs. No need to say much to these people,” Xie Kui had seen through these people completely.
People who were willing to resort to any means for money were nothing but trouble in their village. Xie Kui couldn’t change them, but he wouldn’t allow them the chance to cause trouble for Xiao He either.
“Understood.”
Xie Kui was just about to leave when a voice filled with resentment echoed nearby, “Mother, what are you up to now?”
Rong Shi stiffened at the sound and turned to see her son standing there, his expression slightly awkward.
“How did you get here, my son?” Rong Shi forced a laugh and asked.
Xie Yongzhen stared at Rong Shi sternly, “How did I get here? You’re asking me how I got here? What are you doing with the Village Chief? Did he offend you?”
Xie Yongzhen had always thought their village chief was relatively good, always considering the welfare of the villagers. Now, seeing his mother with so many people at the chief’s doorstep, he couldn’t help but wonder what she was up to.
“Son, this has nothing to do with me at all. It’s all Xie Kui’s fault. He’d rather help Hululu villagers make money than us. Can you blame me for being angry?” Rong Shi said resentfully.
Hululu villagers were making at least fifty taels each this year. That was a substantial amount, enough to sustain a family for ten years. How long would they have to work to earn that much?
“Why doesn’t Jinghe help you all make money?” Xie Yongzhen asked his mother coldly.
“Well…”
“Back then, you treated them so badly. Can you blame them for holding a grudge and not wanting to help you make money? If it were me, not only would I not help, but I would also retaliate against all the humiliation we faced. After all, she’s the young lady of a wealthy family now. It would be easy for her to do all these things, but she chooses not to. Why? Is it because she’s afraid? No, she isn’t afraid; she simply chooses not to stoop to your level,” Xie Yongzhen said coldly.
Xie Kui still cared about Xie Yongzhen, but having a mother like Rong Shi meant that even if he held a position in the government, she might only bring trouble to himself rather than any significant benefits.
“Who are you helping here?” Rong Shi became displeased upon hearing her son’s words.
If her son didn’t support her, she could let it slide, but he was also speaking up for that wretched girl. It was all that girl’s fault for seducing her son.
“I don’t understand your motives behind attacking others or forcing them to help you make money. But let me ask you this: when have you ever apologized to others all these years? Besides causing trouble for the village chief and threatening the Wang family, have you sincerely apologized for your actions? No, you haven’t. You haven’t apologized for anything you’ve done. So why should others help you?” Xie Kui had heard about what happened between Wang Jinhe, Su Yu, and Rong Shi.
These feelings are understandable, it’s just human nature. From the time of the engagement, he knew that Su Yu highly valued Wang Jinhe. If it wasn’t genuine love deep down, why would someone be willing to spend so much money and endure thankless tasks for her?
“A wretched person and a woman with no self-restraint, and you expect us to apologize?” Upon hearing Xie Yongzhen’s words, Rong Shi retorted without courtesy.
“You despise someone on one hand and expect to profit from them on the other. Where in the world do such good opportunities come from? You’ve said everything you wanted to say. If you want to earn money with them, apologize sincerely. Without an apology, dreaming about making money is futile,” Xie Yongzhen said, expressing his disdain for people like Rong Shi and her group.
“I’ve said everything I need to say today. If you want to earn money, go and apologize first. Until you’ve apologized, don’t even think about these matters. They won’t help you. Of course, if you don’t want to make money, you can stay away. I’ve made myself clear today. If I find out you’re still using my status as an accomplished scholar to achieve your goals, don’t blame me for cutting off all ties with you,” Xie Yongzhen stated firmly, fully aware of the potential harm this situation could cause him.
Rong Shi couldn’t believe her own son’s words, her eyes filled with anger. “How dare you! I scrimped and saved to put you through school, and this is how you treat me?”
“The one who scrimped and saved was Dad and my sister. The ones who put me through school were Dad and my sister. What does that have to do with you?” His mother did nothing more than hurl insults every day. What else could she do?
Xie Kui glanced at Rong Shi. He knew Xie Yongzhen wasn’t joking.
“Xie Yongzhen, you heartless wretch! How can you treat me like this?”
“You can say whatever you want. If I’m a heartless wretch, so be it. I don’t have the energy to argue with you.” His mentor had warned him thoroughly: if his mother continued this way, she would only bring unnecessary trouble to him. Once he held an official position, his mother would become a target for others’ attacks.
“If you persist, Mother, I’ll just open a school to teach children how to read and write. As for holding an official position, I won’t pursue it anymore,” Xie Yongzhen said coldly, looking at his mother.