Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 131: Venting Anger

Village Chief He, upon hearing these words, said to He Dacang, "Go, grab the clan’s copper gong and sound the gong to notify all He Family People. Everyone must come to the ancestral hall, men, women, and children, nobody except those who are bedridden may be absent!"

He Dacang did not know why his father suddenly wanted to gather the clan at the ancestral hall, but seeing the stern look on his father’s face, he could only take the copper gong to inform all He Family People.

Village Chief He grabbed the key to the ancestral hall and said to the He Family People present, "Let’s go to the ancestral hall; today I will make things clear to all of you."

Widow Qiu, He Daqian, and Fourth Son He were thrilled upon hearing this, thinking that Village Chief He was intimidated by them and had conceded. They immediately followed Village Chief He cheerfully to the He Family Ancestral Hall.

The He Family Ancestral Hall, a building made of green bricks with roof tiles, had an extremely large courtyard, where the He Family Members would gather to discuss any significant matters.

The sound of copper gong resounded throughout Da Feng Village, as He Dacang was striking the gong while urging all He Family People to quickly head to the ancestral hall, saying that there was an important matter to be discussed.

After much hustle and bustle, by evening, all the He Family Members were assembled at the ancestral hall.

There were quite a few He Family People, hundreds in total, young and old, but they all wore clothes patched here and there, showing that the He Family People were quite poor.

"Village chief, why have you suddenly called us to the ancestral hall? Has something serious happened?" asked the He Family Members.

Village Chief He had not yet responded when Widow Qiu stepped forward, hands on her hips, and shouted, "Of course, it’s a serious matter! The Gu Family promised to give our He family a batch of tofu, to be taken to other villages for sale, allowing us to earn some money. But the village chief kept this matter secret, only notifying He Wazi, He Laotian, and He Wanli, hoping to hand over this tofu business to their three families, excluding us. We are all He Family People, why not let us all participate in the tofu business?!"

The He Family Members were shocked to hear this, and asked Village Chief He, "Village chief, is this true?"

When Widow Qiu had made a scene at Village Chief He’s house, they had in fact already heard some rumors, but they had restrained themselves from causing trouble; however, hearing about this now truly made them uncomfortable.

Widow Qiu, hearing the questions from the He Family People, was extremely pleased. If the He Family People joined her in making a ruckus, not only could they secure the tofu business, but they could even pull Village Chief He down from his position.

The Lu Family despised Village Chief He and had long wanted to overthrow him and replace him with Lu Laosan as the village chief. If she could make this happen, she could go to the Lu Family and claim credit.

Village Chief He did not answer the He Family Members. Instead, he pointed at Widow Qiu and said, "This is a critical place in the ancestral hall, where the Clan Leader and clan elders have not even spoken yet. What right does a woman have to make noise here? You have violated the clan rules. Come, restrain her and give her twenty lashes."

The words had just left his mouth when ten He Family Members, who specifically enforced clan rules, stood up. Ignoring Widow Qiu’s screaming, they grabbed her, pinned her on a long bench, and started hitting her hard with a paddle.

"Ah—" Widow Qiu screamed in pain, trying to break free but unable to escape, and could only issue threats, "Stop, stop! If you hit me, the Lu Family won’t let you off!"

Hearing this, the He Family People, remembering how they had been bullied by the Lu Family, hit her even harder.

Many He Family Members cursed, "Beat her, beat this shameless prostitute harshly, and vent anger for Shanwa’s father!"

Shanwa’s father was a good man; while he was alive, he often went hunting in the mountains, and the He Family People had all enjoyed the game he provided.

But Widow Qiu was shameless – using her looks, Shanwa’s father had barely been dead for two months, and she was already cozying up to the Lu Family Brothers.

Although Great Chu allowed widows to remarry, the He Family People initially did not want Widow Qiu to keep mourning Shanwa’s father forever. After rumors circulated in the village, the clan had an elderly woman who had been with them for years talk to Widow Qiu, telling her that if she couldn’t remain chaste, she could remarry instead of causing such a scandal.

However, Widow Qiu, not knowing what got into her, claimed she would not remarry and intended to raise Shanwa herself.

The clan had no other solution as they saw she wasn’t willing to remarry, and couldn’t just tie her up and send her to the Lu Family, so they could only warn her to properly look after Shanwa as he grew up, and not to cause further disgrace to the He Family and Shanwa and his father.

But unexpectedly, Widow Qiu became more and more excessive. Not remarrying was one thing, but in the end, she created a huge mess, completely tarnishing the reputation of the entire He Family.

By the time Village Chief He wanted to drive her out of Da Feng Village, it was already too late, as Widow Qiu had enchanted the Lu Family Brothers into stepping forward and warning them not to drive her away.

In fact, the He Family People were well aware that the Lu Family intended to use Widow Qiu to disgrace them, but since the daughter of the Lu Family was the concubine of the County Governor, and with the County Governor’s protection, they dared not offend the Lu Family.

They could only endure, and this endurance lasted for many years.

The twenty heavy beatings were quickly executed, and Widow Qiu was beaten until she fainted, then a few women from the He Family took her aside to guard her.

He Daqian and Fourth Son He were frightened and shivering, having not expected the usually ineffectual Village Chief He to suddenly assert his authority.

With Widow Qiu under the protection of the Lu Family, and Village Chief He daring to beat her, weren’t they likely to be beaten to death too?

Village Chief He, seeing He Daqian and Fourth Son He trembling all over, showed no courtesy towards them but ordered people to pin them down and gave them each ten heavy beatings.

He Daqian and Fourth Son He screamed in pain and, after the beating, were pushed aside. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

After disciplining these troublemakers, Village Chief He said to the He Family People: "The tofu business was personally secured by me from the Gu Family, meant for those deserving among you, who earned the right to work it."

"The tofu from the Gu Family is in short supply; they can’t produce enough to meet demand. The portion I secured for the He Family is already a gesture from the Gu Family out of respect for our being fellow villagers."

"But before the business could even start, you were already causing trouble. Do you think by making a fuss, tofu will just appear? Let me tell you, in your dreams!"

"This tofu business I’ll delegate only to those honest and hardworking clan members. Children’s families, Old Tian Family, Wanli Family are all more reliable and hardworking than you. If you’re not convinced, fine, get out of Da Feng Village and find your fortunes elsewhere!"

Village Chief He, almost out of breath from scolding, rested for a while then continued: "And don’t even think about bypassing me to create trouble at the Gu Family’s; let me tell you, it’s pointless!"

"If you wish to get tofu from the Gu Family, you need to sign a contract with a fingerprint. Our family has already signed it. The Gu Family only signs with one representative per village; don’t think about causing trouble at the Gu Family, if you provoke them enough to report to authorities, you’d be dealing with the Lord County Captain. You can’t afford to mess with them!"

Farmers all fear officials, and upon hearing this, the He Family People visibly balked, their prior thoughts of demanding tofu from the Gu Family dissipating.

Seeing them subdued, Village Chief He finally said: "If you want to engage in the tofu business, you must behave and wait patiently. I’ve already spoken with the Gu Family, and once they produce more tofu, they’ll provide the He Family with a few hundred extra pounds, enabling more of us to engage in this business. As the He Family Patriarch, wouldn’t I consider your well-being?"

The He Family People, upon hearing this news, were overjoyed and hurriedly asked Village Chief He: "Uncle Chief, is this true?"

He Dacang sneered: "Believe it or not, could my father possibly lie to you?"

Hearing this, the He Family People dared not press further.

Village Chief He made such a scene today precisely to shake the He Family People, seeing that they learned their lesson, he tiredly waved his hand: "Go back, I’ll keep the business matters at heart, whether it’s tofu or any other ventures. Even if I die, I will secure some options for you, so you won’t spend your lives in poverty!"

These words were spoken with such gravitas that Village Chief He’s voice choked with emotion, compelling the He Family People to disperse without further delay.

He Daqian and Fourth Son He were also helped back by their family members.

As for Widow Qiu, no one bothered with her; she woke up later and limped away, but instead of going home, she went to the Lu Family and sought out Lu Laosan to weep about her grievances.