Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 343 - 179: Blackmail

The village chief was so angry that his nose almost went crooked; he hadn’t expected Gu Chengyu to be so shameless. He genuinely invited a wolf into his home!

"Mr. Gu! What’s this, daring to do but not daring to admit? My son was crippled by your men, and you wouldn’t know? Last night, the noise in the yard was so loud; how could you not hear?"

Gu Chengyu replied with confusion, "Your son was crippled? We truly didn’t know! We were exhausted from the journey yesterday and retired early. Perhaps I slept deeply and didn’t hear any noise. Mrs. Gao, did you hear any sounds?"

Mrs. Gao certainly wouldn’t undermine Gu Chengyu, "Village chief, indeed, we were all tired yesterday and rested early; we really didn’t know!"

The village chief was so mad he nearly lost it, realizing that this old woman was one of theirs and wouldn’t help his side. Yet, letting them walk away like this, he was still unwilling!

"Fine, since you don’t admit it, then let’s involve the government!" Originally, the village chief wanted to settle privately, hoping to get more silver. Who would have thought these people would commit such deeds and utterly deny them, their attitude extremely vile.

"Village chief, your words are not right. If we haven’t done something, what are we supposed to admit? Is it because your son got hurt, you’re trying to blame it on us? Do you think we’re outsiders, easy to exploit?"

Gu Chengyu also calmly replied with a stern face.

"If not you, then who else? My son was fine before you arrived, and the night you came, he got hurt. Isn’t this obvious? If you don’t want to involve the government, you have to compensate us with a thousand taels of silver." The village chief decided to drop all pretenses; there’s no need for politeness.

Gu Chengyu was amused by his blatant demand, "Following your reasoning, if we pass by somewhere and someone’s pigs or dogs die, should we be responsible? Is there such rationale in the world?"

The village chief hadn’t confirmed it was them and already approached them, attempting to extort a thousand taels? His son wasn’t dead, and typically when a farmer dies during conscription, compensation is merely ten taels!

Upon hearing this, the village chief was furious, feeling they were comparing his son, Gouwa, to pigs and dogs. These people are truly shameless!

Mrs. Gao couldn’t hold back anymore, "A thousand taels? You’ve gone crazy for silver, haven’t you? When did my Master hurt your son? You’re trying to extort silver? Such a pipe dream."

After Hua Laoda returned, Old Man Hua increasingly felt it was wrong and decided to visit the village chief’s house.

He hadn’t entered yet when he heard Mrs. Gao mention a thousand taels. A thousand taels? He gasped; he hadn’t even seen a hundred taels before, let alone a thousand!

"Think a thousand taels is too much? Then let’s report to the government." When Gouwa was at the town’s medical clinic, he speculated on the matter, leading the village chief to genuinely believe Gu Chengyu and his group feared the government.

Gu Chengyu rolled his eyes, "If you want to report, then report; anyway, my followers didn’t do it!" Not technically uttering a lie, because it wasn’t the followers who did it—it was him.

They were preparing to depart early; Gu Chengyu didn’t have time to waste. He turned and instructed Mrs. Gao to let them board the carriage first. Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu wouldn’t come; they’d wait at the village entrance.

Old Man Hua was slowly understanding as Hua Laoda had already explained Gouwa’s injury to him. Honestly, as far as he was concerned, this act was well done!

Using his father’s position as village chief, Gouwa bullied the village wives and girls. This place was far from the town; the village chief was the highest official here. People were usually angry but didn’t dare speak out; without this menace, let’s see how he could continue his arrogance.

It’s unlikely the village chief didn’t know his son’s true nature. There were plenty of rumors, yet he appeared decent and didn’t strictly discipline his son.

Since Gouwa was young, he liked watching women in the village bathe, hoping he’d restrain himself after marriage. Yet, he got worse.

"Village chief, was Gouwa hurt by Mr. Gu?" Old Man Hua quickly inquired, hearing these noble folks also brought female companions.

Possibly Gouwa’s lustful thoughts caught up with him and resulted in being caught, eliminating the source of trouble.

The village chief glanced at Old Man Hua, what was the meaning of this? He believed him wrongly accusing them? The doctor at the clinic said the wound resulted from a sharp sword or blade—clean cut, leaving nothing visible, barely bearable to look at.

During their argument, Mrs. Tian came out of the house. She’d been listening inside for a while, and upon hearing her father-in-law mention silver, she had thoughts in mind.

Gouwa was most certainly ruined and couldn’t be a man anymore. So having silver in hand was crucial, or else, what’s left of life to strive for? Thus, she exited the room, intending to help her father-in-law by saying a few words.

"If it wasn’t them who hurt, then who? I saw it clearly in the yard." Mrs. Tian was trying to be a witness, asserting the truth.

"Oh? What were you doing outside in the yard at night, instead of sleeping?" Gu Chengyu initially intended to let Mrs. Tian go; her husband was ruined, which was punishment enough.

Unexpectedly, when he intended to let Mrs. Tian go, she instead decidedly stepped out, seeking attention.

Mrs. Tian wanted to testify, without considering much. Caught off guard without knowing how to reply.

The village chief glanced at Mrs. Tian, this blockhead was more harm than help, coming out to undermine?

"What else to do at night? Certainly to visit the toilet!" The village chief couldn’t help but prompt.

"Right, right! We went to the toilet, then Gouwa got hurt by you." Mrs. Tian wiped the sweat from her brow, recalling last night’s thievery, feeling a bit guilty inside.

"Why would you end up in the yard visiting the toilet? Besides, why would we hurt Gouwa? Yesterday was the first time we met; no previous grievances nor recent feuds, why would we do that?"

Gu Chengyu was skeptical. The village chief and his daughter-in-law dared to disclose their theft? If facing the government office, they’d certainly thoroughly investigate, ensuring their deeds got exposed.

Even without mentioning Gouwa’s attempt to sneak into the women’s quarters, one charge of theft would be enough to strip them bare. Mrs. Tian probably wasn’t aware of Gouwa trying to crawl through the dog hole?

The village chief was left speechless, unable to confess Gouwa was a licentious rogue? How could that be? Yet allowing these people to walk away like this, he was truly reluctant! A duck in hand was about to fly away, leaving Gouwa suffering in vain.

Mrs. Tian had indeed pondered this after lying in bed the previous night, waiting for Gouwa but not seeing him. Where did Gouwa go? If he truly returned to the east wing, how did he get hurt and end up thrown in the yard?

The west wing housed the female companions; she suddenly recalled a dog hole behind the house. Her teeth were grinding in vexation—truly, how foolish! It’s impossible not to resent Gouwa; anyone stuck with such a man would harbor resentment.

Therefore, she wasn’t profoundly sad, even faintly relieved, as without that thing, he wouldn’t commit any further wrongdoings.