Chapter 237 – They Were All Stunned
Tian Dazhuang scratched the back of his head with some hesitation.
“Mom, it’s not that I don’t want to cook. I’m afraid that Auntie Yan and the others won’t be used to the food I can make.”
Ms. Wang suddenly remembered that her own burly son could only make porridge. When he stir-fried dishes, either he put too much salt or there was no salt at all. How could such food be served to guests? Moreover, in their eyes, the Yan family’s Third House were distinguished guests.
For a moment, Ms. Wang was also hesitant.
She had just recovered from her injuries and was not yet able to cook.
“Auntie Tian, let me go to the kitchen with Dazhuang to make breakfast.”
Just as Ms. Wang and Tian Dazhuang were hesitating, Yan Shuqin stood up from her chair.
Hearing this, Ms. Wang hurriedly signaled Tian Dazhuang with her eyes. Watching Tian Dazhuang lead Yan Shuqin to the kitchen, she showed a satisfied smile and said to Ms. Zhong beside her, “Sister Suxin, let the two kids make breakfast. We’ll just sit here and wait.”
Ms. Wang calling her “Sister Suxin” took Ms. Zhong by surprise.
She had known Ms. Wang for nearly twenty years but had never seen Ms. Wang treat outsiders so amiably.
Seeing her surprised look, Ms. Wang appeared a bit embarrassed.
“Sister Suxin, there were many things I did wrong in the past. Don’t take it to heart. In the future, when Dazhuang and Shuqin get married, our two families will become one. When Shuqin marries over, I will definitely treat her like my own daughter.”
Previously, Ms. Wang had Tian Dazhuang take bacon and cloth to the cave on Big Sister Peak. Now hearing Ms. Wang’s words, Ms. Zhong completely believed her.
Half an hour later, Shaoyao Village began to have the sounds of roosters crowing, dogs barking, and villagers talking.
Tian Dazhuang and Yan Shuqin brought the steaming hot breakfast to the living room.
Before they finished eating, they heard the village become noisy.
The villagers’ conversations drifted into the Tian family’s home.
“Last night, the cave on Big Sister Peak caught fire.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“From the Yan family. Old Madam Yan, Ms. Jiang, had a stroke and is paralyzed, right? Early this morning, at the crack of dawn, a servant from the Yan family went to Big Sister Peak to find Yan Xiaosi to come down and treat Ms. Jiang’s illness. When he got there, he found the cave burned black.”
“Heavens, the Yan family’s Third House, all five of them, lived in that cave, right? The cave is burned black. What happened to the five of them?”
“What else could happen? That cave only has one exit. The entire cave is burnt black. The people must be gone too.”
“How pitiful, truly pitiful. The Yan family’s Third Master died early. Now his widow and children have also perished in a fire.”
Outside the Tian family’s house, two villagers of Shaoyao Village were discussing what happened while striding towards the three acres of land at the village entrance that belonged to the Yan family’s Third House.
“The Yan family’s Third House really has no luck. Not long ago, they bought the three acres of land from the Tian family. Their days had just started to look up, but in the blink of an eye, they’re gone.”
“Isn’t that right? Now that the Yan family’s Third House is gone, that three acres of land at the village entrance will fall into the hands of the Yan family.”
“The Yan family’s Third House came from the Yan family. Although the two sides fell out, the Yan family’s Third House is still surnamed Yan through the Third Master, Yan Bowen. Now that they’re gone, that three acres of land should naturally be taken over by the Yan family.”
“When the servant rushed back to report. The Yan family immediately went to seize that three acres of fertile land. Being in such a hurry, could it be that last night’s fire had something to do with the Yan family?”
“Shh, don’t talk nonsense. The Yan family has a lot of power in Shaoyao Village. Be careful not to bring trouble upon yourself.”
The two villagers passed by the Tian family’s door while the people in the Tian family’s living room heard everything.
Bang!
After hearing this, Ms. Wang angrily slapped the dining table.
“The people from the Yan family are really shameless. They set fire to your cave and now want to seize your three acres of land.”
Except for Yan Xiaosi, who continued to eat calmly, Ms. Zhong, her daughters, and Tian Dazhuang all had ugly expressions.
Tian Dazhuang, who usually had a good temper, was so angry that he slammed the table like his mother.
“Auntie Yan, Xiaosi, let’s go to the village entrance and confront the Yan family. The Great Chu still has laws. The Yan family can’t just do whatever they want.”
“Dazhuang is right. Sister Suxin, you don’t need to be afraid of the people from the Yan family. The more you fear them, the more they bully people.”
As Ms. Wang spoke, she angrily got up and supported her waist, leaving the dining table.
Yan Xiaosi saw her walk to the corner of the living room and pick up a carrying pole that was originally leaning against the wall.
“Auntie Tian, what are you doing?”
Ms. Wang, one hand supporting her waist and the other holding the carrying pole, said with furrowed brows and angry eyes, “Today, if the people from the Yan family dare to seize your three acres of land, this old lady will fight them to the end. Yesterday, this old lady suffered at the hands of the Yan family’s guards because I didn’t bring a weapon.”
Because of last night’s fire, Yan Xiaosi’s mood was originally a little depressed. Now, seeing Ms. Wang’s majestic stance, ready to fight for justice for her family, she couldn’t help but find it a little funny.
“Thank you, Auntie Tian. But for fighting, I’m enough. Your injuries haven’t healed yet. You should rest.”
She glanced sideways at Tian Dazhuang and said indifferently, “Dazhuang, you should take care of your mom.”
Tian Dazhuang felt admiration seeing Yan Xiaosi seemingly not flustered at all.
Was this kid missing a few screws, or did he truly have a plan to deal with the people from the Yan family?
“Xiaosi, what do you plan to do? Why aren’t you in a hurry at all?”
Yan Xiaosi finished a bowl of rice, wiped the corners of her mouth with her sleeve, and smiled with raised eyebrows, “That three acres of land is registered with the county court. Our family of five is not dead. What is there to worry about?”
Tian Dazhuang suddenly realized.
That three acres of land was registered with the county court. As long as the Yan family’s Third House was still alive, according to the laws of the Great Chu, the people from the Yan family could not take that three acres of land.
He was really anxious and muddled.
A quarter of an hour later, Yan Xiaosi estimated that by now, there should be many villagers gathered on their family’s three acres of land to watch the commotion. She got up and said to Ms. Zhong and the others, “Mom, Brother Dazhuang, are you all full?”
“We’re full, all full.”
Yan Xiaosi stepped towards the door.
“Since you’re all full, let’s go take a look at that three acres of land now.”
Ms. Zhong, her three daughters, and Tian Dazhuang followed. Ms. Wang also supported her waist and limped along.
At the three acres of fertile land at the village entrance, many people were standing there now, including Wang Sanbao and the craftsmen, people from the Yan family, and villagers watching the commotion. Several dozen people occupied the newly built foundation.
Yan Xiaosi and the others appeared silently, standing at the back of the crowd.
The villagers were all standing on tiptoe to watch the commotion. No one noticed them.
There was constant chatter coming from the crowd.
“I’m Wang Sanbao, the leader of these craftsmen. Who are you? Why won’t you let us continue building the house? This land belongs to Ms. Zhong Suxin’s family. Who are you to say we can’t continue? What is your relationship with Ms. Zhong Suxin?”
“You’re Wang Sanbao, right? This is Young Master Yan Wenfeng of the Yan family. The Ms. Zhong Suxin you mentioned is our young master’s third aunt, the Yan family’s Third Madam.”
The one talking to Wang Sanbao was a servant of the Yan family.
Yan Xiaosi instantly recognized that last night, it was this servant who went to Big Sister Peak with Yan Wenfeng to set the fire.
The servant acted arrogantly, relying on the Yan family’s power, and looked at Wang Sanbao and the others with an air of superiority.
“Our Third Master died early. The Third Madam had some disagreements with the Yan family, so she took her four children and left the Yan family. Recently, the Third Madam and her family lived in a cave on Big Sister Peak. However, last night, a fire started outside that cave and burned into the cave. The inside of the cave is charred black. The Third Madam and her family are all gone.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Sanbao, his wife, and the other craftsmen were all shocked.
How could a few people who were fine a few days ago be gone?
“Now that the Third Madam and her family are gone, this three acres of land should naturally belong to the Yan family. That’s why our young master is here to claim this three acres of land.”
According to the laws of the Great Chu Dynasty, if the Yan family’s Third House was completely wiped out, the property they left behind should be inherited by relatives.
Wang Sanbao sighed heavily. Only then did he loosen his grip on the hoe in his hand.
Earlier, he thought Young Master Yan and his servant had come to make trouble, so he was gripping the hoe, ready to fight back and drive them away. Now, he had no reason to drive them away.
“Alas!”
He sighed heavily again, lamenting the Yan family’s Third House for a while. Then he said to the other craftsmen, “Since the house won’t be built anymore, everyone pack up and let’s head back to Daxing Town.”
“Who said the house won’t be built? Uncle Sanbao, I never said that.”
A loud, earth-shattering voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice, and when they saw the face of the person speaking, some were shocked, and some were surprised.
“It’s Yan Xiaosi, it’s Yan Xiaosi of the Yan family’s Third House.”
“When did the people of the Yan family’s Third House appear? Are they human or ghost?”
Yan Xiaosi looked at the person who spoke, Chen Dahe of the Chen family.
She raised her eyebrows lazily at Chen Dahe and said, “Chen Dahe, do you think I’m human or ghost?”
“Ah, ghost! Yan Xiaosi, I have no grudge against you. Don’t haunt me after you die.”
Realizing Yan Xiaosi was looking at him, Chen Dahe let out a scream and hid behind Chen Erhe. Chen Erhe hid behind Chen Sanhe. The three brothers were so frightened that their bodies trembled.
“Three grown men with such little courage.”
Yan Xiaosi touched her messy hair and brought her gaze back. Facing the villagers, she said, “I am, of course, human. The sun is up now. Only living people can stand under the sunlight.”
Chen’s three brothers realized she had a shadow. The villagers also believed she was alive.
Chen Dahe jumped up and cursed, “Yan Xiaosi, you bastard, how dare you pretend to be a ghost to scare me?”
Yan Xiaosi had no time or mood to bother with the three brothers’ stupidity at the moment. She gave Chen Dahe a cold look and said in an icy voice, “Chen Dahe, I have important matters to attend to now. I don’t have time to bicker with you. Please shut your stinking mouth.”
Chen Dahe shut his mouth as if his voice had been sealed.
The villagers finally confirmed that the Yan family’s Third House were all alive. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Among the people present, only Yan Wenfeng and the servant beside him were still in shock and had not come back to their senses.
