in2ebook Chapter 196 People’s hearts are not as old as they used to be
Chapter 196 People’s hearts are not as old as they used to be
"Hiss! One hundred taels of silver! I can get it just by talking. Why haven't I encountered such a good thing?"
"Yes! With a hundred taels of silver, where can't I settle down?"
For a moment, many people were envious of the one hundred taels. Even Village Chief Li couldn't help but gasp after hearing this, and didn't know how to continue.
“People’s hearts are really not the same as they used to be. People’s hearts are really not the same as they used to be!” Nguyen clan patriarch Nguyen Xingkui, leaning on a crutch and with a hunched back, hobbled onto the stage.
"When we sent Chi to the border, it was such a touching scene. How could we not say that we in Zaoziling have deep affection for each other? When we welcomed Chi's coffin back, it was such a sad scene. How could we not say that we in Zaoziling have great loyalty? I thought that we in Zaoziling were different from people in other places. We valued loyalty and loyalty more!
Now, look at what you are saying. You actually envy the opportunity to sell out your savior for 100 taels of silver! What have you done? Because of the 100 taels of silver, you decisively sold out your savior! When you were in trouble, who took the trouble to find a way to save you? It was our Qing girl! You don't remember her kindness and even colluded with outsiders to frame her. Do you care about the word friendship in your heart and eyes? "
At the end of his speech, the old patriarch banged the table with his walking stick, making it sound loudly.
The audience suddenly fell silent.
"I thought that at most Qingqing would be scolded a few times, and at worst she would just be locked up by the county magistrate for a few days. But considering her relationship with the county magistrate, it's just a matter of greeting, and she doesn't need to be locked up for real. I'll apologize to her later!"
Ruan Wanqiang said nonchalantly, not thinking that it would be a big deal.
"Snapped!"
The crisp sound of slapping was particularly loud on Zaozilin.
"I'll beat this heartless and ungrateful person to death! You usually like to drink and act crazy at home. But you actually said such a cruel thing. Qingqing grew up under your care and she has nothing to say about our family. Why are you so short-sighted that you want to be jealous of her money? Is your family short of food or drink? Qingqing helped us escape death several times before. Isn't it worth the one hundred taels of silver?"
Ruan Pinghuai was so angry that his eyes turned red and his lips trembled.
"Okay! Laojiu, if you want to educate your children, go home and educate them. If you don't teach them well at other times, it will be too late to teach them now!" Ruan Xingkui waved to Ruan Pinghuai.
"Uncle, I didn't teach the child well. Please give the child a chance to correct his mistakes, considering that we have never caused any trouble to the clan before!"
Ruan Pinghuai cried bitterly, kowtowed and begged for mercy.
"Dad, don't be like this! Everyone has their own responsibility. If you want to kill me or cut me up, I will do it!"
Ruan Wanqiang couldn't bear to see his old father being so disgraceful in public, and said with a sad heart.
"Shut up, you evil boy!" Ruan Pinghuai shouted at him hastily.
"Wan Qiang, it seems that you haven't realized your mistake yet. Okay! From today on, our Ruan family can't afford a son like you who is greedy and ungrateful. You should find another job!"
Ruan Xingkui announced with full energy.
Only then did Ruan Wanqiang realize the seriousness of the mistake he had made, and he was stunned.
After a long while, he staggered, knelt on the ground, and cried hysterically: "Grandpa Patriarch, spare my life, I know I was wrong! Please forgive me this time! I will never dare to do it again! Never dare to do it again!"
Ruan Xingkui closed his eyes and said, "There is no room for negotiation on this matter! For the sake of your father, I will only expel you from the clan. If you still don't know what's good for you, your children won't be named Ruan!"
Ruan Wanqiang fell to the ground in despair, his eyes wide open, and he kept muttering, "I was wrong! I was really wrong!"
Seeing that the situation was settled, Ruan Pinghuai's shoulders immediately slumped and a pair of clear tears flowed down like pearls from a broken string.
"I am guilty! I didn't teach my child well!"
Everyone nearby was sad when they saw this. Without a clan to rely on, one is like a duckweed without roots. Wherever one goes, one will be bullied. Being bullied for a lifetime is no different from cutting off one's livelihood, let alone turning over a new leaf! In an era where at least three people are willing to guarantee anything, no one dares to guarantee anything for people without a clan.
On the stage, Ruan Xingkui's slightly cloudy old eyes swept over the Ruan family members below the stage one by one, "Who else is envious of the opportunity to sell out their savior for a hundred taels of silver? Why not stand up? Our Ruan family temple is too small to accommodate a big Buddha like you!"
Those who had spoken lowered their heads to their chests, fearing that they would be expelled from the clan on the spot by the clan leader.
"Go on! Weren't you talking very happily just now?"
The Ruan family disciples even wished they could breathe more lightly.
"I'm making this clear today. If any of the Ruan family members dare to betray or harm their clan members for a little immediate gain, get out of the Ruan family!"
After the three loud knocks of the cane on the table, Ruan Xingkui walked down the platform slowly, hunched over.
Village Chief Li seemed to suddenly wake up and found his voice again.
"What Chief Ruan said just now is what I want to say. We in Zaoziling can die of poverty, starvation, and disease, but we must not die of evil hearts! You are lazy and greedy, and no one will care about you except your parents. But if anyone listens to the instigation of outsiders or colludes with outsiders to harm our people, I must take care of it! Apart from the government's tricks, we in Zaoziling have no place for such people!"
Village Chief Li's words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back, and Ruan Wanqiang collapsed.
"Ruan Wanqiang, you have three days to move out of Zaoziling. The land you reclaim can be used for your parents and brothers to grow crops. If you can't grow crops on it, it will be returned to the clan. Once the clan is full, it will belong to everyone in the village!"
This was the sharpest cut of a blunt knife, which directly deprived him of the capital for his livelihood - the land.
I originally thought this was the final ending, but I didn't expect there would be a sequel.
Ruan Qingqing had just sold all the rice seeds she had when she saw Ruan Pinghuai stumbling in. Before she could even say a word, he knelt down in front of Ruan Qingqing with a thud. Ruan Qingqing was so frightened that she hurried forward to support him, "Grandpa Jiu, aren't you trying to embarrass me? If you have anything to say, get up first and talk slowly."
"Qingqing! You are very capable and are familiar with Lord Fu and the others. Could you please ask Lord Fu for mercy and spare your good-for-nothing Uncle Qiang?" Ruan Pinghuai grabbed Ruan Qingqing's hand tightly and begged.
"Uncle Jiu, if you have something to say, get up first. Aren't you going to shorten my daughter's life span? You're not asking for help, you're clearly harming her!"
Ruan Wantie, who heard about the situation later, rushed over and saw this scene. He couldn't help but get angry.
Ruan Pinghuai jumped up instantly as if he was burned by something.
"Old Four! Qingqing! I was too anxious and inconsiderate before, please forgive me! I really have no other choice now. We all accepted that the clan leader expelled Wan Qiang from the clan and the village before, after all, he was the one who did the wrong thing first. But Master Fu wants to drive him out of Lulin Mansion... Wan Qiang has never set foot out of Qingshui County in his life. Asking him to leave Lulin Mansion alone, isn't this forcing him to death?"