CHAPTER 777: CHAPTER 777: DENIAL

Scholar Shang heard this and immediately looked towards Ms. Jiang and Shang Yuanyuan, seeing that Yuanyuan only had reddened eyes without tears, he felt greatly relieved, but more so, he felt pained.

He hurried over, crouched down, and said, "Yuanyuan, don’t be afraid, with your parents, grandma and grandpa, and uncles around, no one dares to bully you."

Gu Jin’an also walked over, looked down at Yuanyuan, and said, "Your senior will also seek justice for Yuanyuan."

After speaking, he turned his head, looked towards Village Chief Shang, bowed respectfully, and said, "Village Chief, I hope you will handle today’s matter impartially and not let a single family tarnish the good name of the scholarly Shang Family."

Village Chief Shang had been sitting cheerfully in the front courtyard’s guest hall, waiting to enjoy the ceremony, not expecting such an incident to happen. His face now darkened as he nodded at Gu Jin’an in response... then turned to Shang Xiu Yue and asked, "Girl from Shisan’s family, is what Mrs. Jiang said true?"

Seeing the grim expression on Village Chief Shang’s face, Shang Xiu Yue became frightened, her previous arrogance gone, only crying and saying, "Woo woo woo... Clan Leader Grandpa, I didn’t know. I just wanted to play with Yuanyuan, but Yuanyuan only wanted to play with the Gu Family People."

Her words sounded pitiful. If Mrs. Jiang had not heard Shang Xiu Yue’s words herself, she might have believed her now.

Mrs. Jiang grew even angrier, coldness rising in her eyes. Such a young girl from the Shang Family was already playing such tricks. If the Jiang Family did not stand up for Yuanyuan and put Shang Xiu Yue in her place today, how could Yuanyuan alone be a match for Shang Xiu Yue in the future?

"Girl from the Shang Family, are you implying that I am falsely accusing you?" Mrs. Jiang asked.

Shang Xiu Yue sobbed, "Sister Yue did not mean that. Sister Yue knows Madam loves Yuanyuan, but I’m afraid that Madam has been deceived by people of other surnames."

Mrs. Chen was someone who loved gossip. She had followed the crowd to the garden earlier to enjoy the spectacle, but not feeling satisfied, she sneaked back to the guest hall in the front courtyard, initially wanting to see more excitement, only to overhear this conversation.

What did this mean?

It was clear that she was blaming everything on her, the Gu Family People. How could she tolerate this?

Mrs. Chen immediately jumped out and scolded, "Shang Xiu Yue, who would have guessed that someone as young as you could harbor such malice? There were more than twenty of us who saw with our eyes and heard with our ears. It hasn’t been that long, and with a change of audience, you dare to deny it. I have lived for so many years and have never seen a girl as vicious as you. No wonder your father got entangled with a widow; it seems your whole family is like this."

She went on, "Does your father know what the Cen Widow does for a living? To put it nicely, she’s a widow, but plainly speaking, she’s a private prostitute; at least five or ten lovers have shared her bed if not more. And here your father is, stupidly selling his fields to marry her. Your father isn’t taking a concubine; he’s clearly marrying a big green hat!"

"Marry if you want to marry, who’s stopping your father from loving green hats? But for the sake of face, he even has to throw a banquet, and he comes to our Gu’s Restaurant and the braised food shop to buy food on credit with no money, acting like a big shot. It really makes me sick to the stomach." Mrs. Chen, who had no qualms about being vulgar, after finishing with Shang Xiu Yue, also pressed Village Chief Shang for the debt: "Village Chief, our shop only gave credit to Shang Shisan’s family because of your stature, totaling one tael and six hundred copper coins. You must urge his family to pay it back."

Village Chief Shang’s face turned green upon hearing this, utterly embarrassed.

Gu Dagui hurried out to pull Mrs. Chen back, scolding, "You foul woman, do you even know how to speak? The debt was run up by Shang Shisan, what does it have to do with Village Chief Shang?"

He then apologetically said to Village Chief Shang, "Village Chief, please don’t be angry. Everyone in town knows my wife; she’s notorious for her brashness and foul mouth. Please, don’t take it to heart."

After that, he pinched Mrs. Chen, who hurriedly apologized to Village Chief Shang, "Oh my, look at what I’ve said again without thinking. Village Chief, please don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to insult you at all; I was just cursing Shang Shisan’s entire household. His family is just terrible, from the elders to the young ones, not a single good one among them. You mustn’t be fooled by Shang Xiu Yue’s young age. We all heard her talking about splitting Scholar Shang’s Family inheritance in the garden. She’s not even afraid to confront them at the government office!"

After speaking, she pinched Gu Dagui fiercely.

Gu Dagui almost cried out in pain and cursed inwardly: This foul woman, he only pinched her lightly, and she pinches back so hard – truly petty.

"Let’s go." Gu Dagui pulled Mrs. Chen aside. The rest was the Shang Family’s own business and had nothing to do with them.

Shang Xiu Yue was left dumbfounded by Mrs. Chen’s scolding, but now she regained her senses and pointed at Mrs. Chen, crying and scolding, "You wretched shrew, stinking beggar who fled here, what right do you have to curse me?"

"Shut up! How dare a young girl point at an adult and curse? You’ve completely ruined the reputation of the Shang Family." Village Chief Shang glared at Shang Xiu Yue, his face darkening, "Girl from house thirteen, I will ask you one last time, did you or did you not tell Yuanyuan in the garden that her family has no heirs and that you want to divide her family’s inheritance?"

Shang Xiu Yue was frightened but knew that admitting it would mean punishment, so she chose to remain silent and continued crying.

Seeing her silence, Village Chief Shang turned to the other five girls, speaking to the eldest one, "Girl from Laoba’s household, tell us, what exactly happened in the garden earlier?"

The girl from Shang Laoba’s household, about the same age as Shang Xiu Yue, had previously mocked Shang Xiu Yue in the garden yet dared not tell the truth now... Shang Xiu Yue’s family were aggressive people. If she spoke the truth, Shang Xiu Yue’s grandmother would not let it go and would create trouble at her home, and her parents would scold her.

The girl from Shang Laoba’s household dared not speak the truth, but the youngest daughter of Shang Laoliu was willing to speak, "Clan Leader Grandpa, Sister Yue previously said in the garden that Sister Yuanyuan’s family has no male heirs, and once Uncle Shang passes away, their family properties would be taken by the clan. By then, all clan members would get to share Uncle Shang’s inheritance... She also said that since her family has three brothers and one younger brother, they would get four shares."

Shang Laoliu’s daughter was a late-born child, not more than five years old. After speaking, she naively asked, "My family has five brothers, so does that mean we get five shares?"

Village Chief Shang trembled with anger upon hearing this, slamming his palm onto the table and ordered his servant, "Go and bring Shang Shisan to me!"

Shang Xiu Yue’s grandmother, who had been eavesdropping under the window of the guest hall, knowing there was trouble, immediately rushed out and started beating Shang Xiu Yue.

With two slaps, she made Shang Xiu Yue bleed from the corner of her mouth, "You money-losing good-for-nothing, who allowed you to talk nonsense? Split what inheritance? That belongs to your Uncle Shang’s family, meant for your Sister Yuanyuan. Since when is it our turn to divide it?"

She then turned to Village Chief Shang with a smile, "Clan Leader, please don’t be angry. I’ll discipline Miss Yue myself, ensuring she won’t dare to speak recklessly again."