Chapter 199

Fan Jiang used to be fearful, but since the family split, especially his mother’s teachings and her attitude towards him had completely changed.

He maintained composure and replied, “My father is not at home. He should be back by evening. If you’re looking for him, please come back later.”

The three men were surprised to hear that Fan Jin wasn’t home and paused momentarily.

Uncle Huang Two asked dissatisfiedly, “Where did your father go?”

“To the prefectural city. He left not long ago. He might not be back until nightfall,” Fan Jiang replied with an honest and straightforward demeanor, answering every question asked.

Fan Qian looked puzzled.

Why would Fan Jin go out in the middle of the day?

He asked, “What did your father go to the prefectural city to do?”

“Damu’s entire family sold themselves into slavery. My grandfather used a cart to carry their belongings and sent them away,” Fan Jiang replied.

Fan Qian’s eyes widened, looking shocked.

When did this happen? Why didn’t he know?

He’d only been away from the village for one night, but something so big had already happened. He was having a hard time keeping up.

Uncle Huang and Uncle Two were also surprised.

The flooding had just begun, and people in Shanshui Village were already selling themselves?

Fan Jiang smiled earnestly, “Uncle, you don’t know. Damu’s master is the magistrate of Wuxian County! Damu said my father voluntarily used a cart to carry their belongings. He wants to introduce my father to the magistrate of Wuxian County, so we’ll have the magistrate’s protection in the future and won’t be afraid of those bad people anymore!”

Fan Qian’s face turned ugly when he heard this.

He had housed Damu’s family for so long, yet he couldn’t compare to a single trip of Fan Jin’s cart. Damu was truly despicable.

To introduce Fan Jin to the magistrate of Wuxian County was no small matter. That was the magistrate, the highest official in Guangning Prefecture!

If Fan Jin had the magistrate’s protection in the future, wouldn’t his life be even better?

Uncle Huang and Uncle Two looked at each other.

Their nephew actually knew the magistrate?

Should they be more careful with what they said?

The two of them couldn’t decide how to respond for a while.

Seeing their hesitation, Fan Jiang cleared his throat and continued, “Brother Damu and I are close friends. If he introduced my second brother to him, he would definitely introduce me as well. Maybe he couldn’t find me at home, so he introduced my second brother instead. It’s all thanks to my second brother benefiting from my relationship.”

Fan Jiang lowered his head, rolling his eyes to the sky.

His uncle was really good at flattering himself. If he hadn’t made up this story, he might have believed it himself.

Uncle Huang and Uncle Two did believe it!

They felt taller and more dignified knowing their eldest nephew was closer to the magistrate.

Uncle Huang ordered Fan Jiang to fetch his mother to clean up two rooms for them to rest and to prepare some food since they hadn’t had lunch and had been on the road for so long.

Was this not just ordering around the servants?

Didn’t they look like guests?

Fan Jiang really hadn’t thought these two had such thick skin. No, they had no face or skin.

He didn’t say anything and ran to his eldest sister’s room, not to make his mother work but to discuss how to drive these three people away!

Uncle Huang and Uncle Two also noticed the others.

As expected, they were just like their eldest nephew had described.

The in-laws were all living here!

Their daughter’s family was not filial, and they had brought all their in-laws with them. These in-laws had thick skin, stubbornly insisting on staying in their daughter’s house.

However, when they saw the butcher with his tall and aggressive build, thinking of the scene of entering the knife and exiting the knife, the two silently looked away.

Then they saw Ling Ran and Bai Ziqian.

These two had nothing to do with the Fan family.

Fan Jin not only didn’t raise his legitimate nephew, but he also raised two outsiders!

Whether they’ve become foolish from reading too much or their brains have been kicked by a donkey, every single thing seems to benefit outsiders.

Uncle Huang and Uncle Two became more infuriated the more they looked, feeling increasingly cheated. They wished they could summon Fan Jin right then and there to reprimand him.

Uncle Two waved at Ling Ran and Bai Ziqian, calling out, “Come here, I have a question for you!”

Ling Ran remained cold and indifferent, as if he hadn’t heard, observing with a cold eye.

Bai Ziqian rolled his eyes dramatically, looking extremely arrogant.

Uncle Two was so angry he snorted, “These two freeloaders at my nephew’s house dare not listen to their uncle’s words!”

Fan Jin stepped forward and said earnestly, “Second Uncle, do you now understand the truth of what I’ve been saying? Can you understand my grievances?”

On the way here, both uncles thought that he was useless, unable even to control two young boys.

Is he truly useless? Or is it that these two boys are too arrogant?

If Ling Ran and Bai Ziqian weren’t afraid of losing out to Aunt Shuiqing when she came out later, they would have closed the door and stayed inside long ago.

Dealing with shameless people, you must not show them any favor, or they will take advantage immediately.

Aunt Shuiqing thought the same way.

She walked out, against the sunlight, and said to the three in the courtyard, “The head of the household isn’t here. Wait for him to return before discussing anything. Now, with so many people at home, there are no spare rooms available. I’m afraid we can’t accommodate both of you. As for lunch, my mother-in-law is at my eldest brother’s place. It’s convenient for you to go back with him, visit my mother-in-law, and have lunch. Please leave.”

Uncle Huang really hadn’t expected his sister’s once obedient daughter-in-law to be so unyielding.

He was furious. “This is my nephew’s home. You should know that men rule heaven and earth, and men are supreme!”

Shuiqing replied indifferently, “If that’s the case, go find your heaven and earth to clean up and make lunch.”

Uncle Huang was at a loss for words.

This woman was too sharp-tongued!

He threatened with a grim tone, “This is my nephew’s home. I am his uncle. Just wait until my nephew comes back. Be careful, I might convince him to divorce you!”

The woman feared divorce the most, as after being divorced, she would have nothing left.

Back at her parents’ home, she would be ridiculed by relatives and friends. Her parents would hang their heads in shame. Death would be preferable.

Shuiqing laughed directly, “Alright, alright. If you ask him to come back and divorce me, please leave first. Otherwise, I’m afraid my parents will be angry later and chase you out with a broom. A broom is fine, but beware of the butcher knife.”

Upon hearing this, the butcher cooperatively turned and entered the house.

When he came out again, he tightly grasped a butcher knife in his hand.

The sharp butcher knife gleamed with a cold light.

Uncle Huang and the others didn’t expect the Hu family to be so fierce, resorting to violence at the drop of a hat!

Unconsciously, they stepped back a few paces.

Uncle Two swallowed hard, only daring to look at Shuiqing. After a long silence, he managed to say, “Don’t be so arrogant. Wait until my nephew comes back, and you’ll get your just desserts!”

Shuiqing chuckled, then shouted anxiously in the direction of the butcher, “Dad, Dad! Don’t act rashly. Killing a person isn’t the same as killing a pig.”