GBP Chapter 229 Life experience
Chapter 229 Life experience
That day, Wei Yu left with a handprint on his face. Li Xiaonuan, squatting in the main hall clutching her collar, had a resolute but bitter expression on her face.
But she quickly composed herself and took Li's father and Su's family on a tour of the capital. They also spent the Double Ninth Festival together at the clan chief's place last week.
Clan Chief Zhou was delighted to see the Su family. He pulled Li's father aside and inquired about the progress of the construction of the Shangri-La.
"Everything else is going smoothly. It's just that there are a few families who not only don't support what we're doing, but they also go around telling people that we're messing around. They even went to the government office to accuse us of illegally occupying the imperial land," Father Li sighed.
“If that were all, it would be easy to handle. I, Xiaoyang, would have bought all that land long ago and even waived a considerable amount of public funds from the village. But those people went directly to the prefectural government office to accuse our family of illegally seizing land and trying to enslave the entire Zhou Village.” Madam Su still harbors resentment over those people’s actions.
"Is that really true? Who led those people? Who has such a sharp mind and such courage? If they really dared to go to the yamen on their own initiative, there must be an elder from our clan among them," Chief Zhou asked incredulously.
Ordinary people wouldn't willingly go to the government office. In their view, whether or not one goes to the government office voluntarily, it's an extremely bad behavior.
"Grandpa Clan Chief, how did you know it was Fifth Grandfather who led the group? He was furious, saying our whole family was a scourge and he wanted to expel us from the village. He also said that our renovation of the Earth God Temple and River God Temple was blasphemous and would be punished by heaven. He even had people throw dog blood and excrement into our yard." Xiao Gang said, looking up with his fair and rosy round face, his expression still frightened.
"What? Such a thing happened? When Xiao Nuan proposed that Shangri-La plan, we all agreed after discussion. How come Uncle Wu is now standing up to oppose it? Speaking of which, didn't your village head Uncle step in to manage these matters?" Clan Chief Zhou stopped asking Su Shi and Li Die and went straight to Xiao Gang.
Xiao Gang, his face scrunched up, replied, "Of course we care! How could we not care? But everyone's saying that Uncle Village Head has been bribed by our family and is deceiving everyone. They're also saying that my sister is definitely going to be beheaded this time she goes to Beijing." As Xiao Gang spoke, tears welled up in his eyes.
"These troublemakers who only drag our feet, I'll definitely teach them a lesson when I get back." The Zhou clan chief sighed, annoyed by the lack of unity among his people.
Seeing that the old man's face was flushed with anger, Li Xiaonuan comforted him, "Grandpa Zhou, it's not surprising that this happened. I expected it, and I had Xiaoyang explain things properly and try to mediate. However, some things are not for everyone to see clearly. So, please don't be angry. We won't make things difficult for Fifth Grandfather and the others. Once we've made Zhou Village beautiful and diverted the merchants away, they'll be able to appreciate the goodness of the place. At that time, they'll definitely understand our good intentions."
Actually, there was one more thing Li Xiaonuan hadn't told Chief Zhou. He wanted Zhou Village to be the only place with a vermicelli processing plant and a peanut oil press. Also, he wanted their village to be the first to plant the seeds brought back from overseas.
With so many advantages, Zhoucun will become the most prosperous and beautiful place in the entire Yongzhou region, or even the entire southwest region. But to achieve this goal, she must first survive this struggle. Prince Jing and his faction must win.
Thinking of this, Li Xiaonuan then said to the Zhou clan chief, who was discussing the return date with Zhou Liufeng and the eldest brother of the Zhou family, "Grandpa Zhou, after you go back, don't rush to find Fifth Grandfather and the others. Let's put those things aside for now and talk about them after I return safely from the capital. Everything started because of me, and it's only right that I should resolve it. I only ask that after you return, Clan Chief, you help me protect Xiaoyang. He's still young and hasn't thought things through properly. I'd appreciate it if you grandfathers and uncles could help him."
After speaking, Li Xiaonuan stood up and bowed deeply to Clan Chief Zhou to express her gratitude. Xiao Gang obediently followed suit and also bowed deeply to Clan Chief Zhou. Seeing this, Li's father and Madam Su also rose from their seats and bowed.
"Alright, alright, stop with all that formality." Clan Chief Zhou told Li Xiaonuan and the others to quickly return to their seats. Then, he chided them, "Look at your family, acting like you owe us something. Every single thing you did was for the good of the whole Zhou Village. Alright, even if you didn't say anything, I would still take good care of Xiaoyang."
“That’s exactly right. Sister Li, since this is something that benefits everyone, how can your family bear the burden of negative opposition? Rest assured, once my grandfather returns to the village, he will definitely protect Brother Xiaoyang.” After saying this in a refined manner, the eldest brother of the Zhou family stood up and returned the greeting to Li Xiaonuan and the others.
Because the Su family couldn't understand what the eldest son of the Zhou family was saying, they accepted his bow without question. This startled them. The eldest son of the Zhou family was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, which was equivalent to being a half-official. For an official to bow to an ordinary person was indeed frightening.
"Oh dear, nephew, what are you doing? You, a scholar, are bowing to us. This is shortening our lifespan! Get up quickly, we don't stand on ceremony like this," Madam Su said quickly.
“Yes, yes, nephew, please go back to your seat. Don’t be so polite, we can’t accept it,” Father Li quickly added.
“What’s there to be ashamed of? Is it wrong for him to bow to his elders? Alright, I’m telling you, Dacheng, I think your family is destined for great things. Your attitude won’t do; you need to get to know more important people.” Clan Chief Zhou said with dissatisfaction.
"No way, no way," Su Shi and Li's father waved their hands repeatedly. Xiao Gang covered his mouth and chuckled mischievously. Li Xiaonuan looked helplessly at these honest farmer parents and also wanted to laugh.
But she wasn't worried. Once the Li family truly rises to prominence, her father and the others will change their ways. People are influenced by their environment. Until then, her father and the others won't be able to maintain that air of authority.
When they returned to Prince Jing's villa from Chief Zhou's residence, it was already early 9 PM. Everyone quickly washed up and went to bed.
But that night, Li Xiaonuan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She couldn't forget what Wei Yu had done to her the day before. At that moment, a murderous glint had flashed in Wei Yu's eyes. Clearly, he had truly set his sights on Li Xiaonuan.
Like Li Xiaonuan, Su Shi also couldn't sleep. She'd run into people from that household on the street earlier that day. She hadn't been back for over twenty years; the capital had changed a lot. She wondered how the people in that household were doing.
For many years, she deeply resented everyone in that household. But now, she had long since let go of it. Who could she blame? It was all because of her social status and her sister's character.
But she still longed to see her sister. She wanted to know if her sister had received any favor after she chose to leave, and whether she was doing well. She had pleaded with her sister not to rush headlong into the fire like a moth. Unfortunately, her sister hadn't listened to her at all.
I wonder if the wet nurse told my sister where she went. If the wet nurse told my sister everything after she returned, why hasn't my sister sent anyone to visit her all these years?
Clearly, her sister still harbored resentment towards her. Su thought to herself.