CHAPTER 1053: CHAPTER 1052: HIT WITH A FEW STICKS, THEN GIVE A SWEET DATE

Wang Yonggui felt as if cold air was seeping through his bones; the potential of a person is limitless. When one’s life is under threat, Wang Yonggui had a sudden moment of clarity, recalling what his old mother said when he entered the courtyard earlier?

What was it? The Old Master Graduate, the brother-in-law, has returned?

Ah! He knew where he was mistaken.

Seeing the bamboo pole in the old sister’s hand about to strike his body, he hurriedly shouted, "Mother, I know where I’m wrong! I shouldn’t have relied on my brother-in-law’s influence—"

"Bah! Is that taking advantage of your brother-in-law’s influence? You have even more clout than your brother-in-law, don’t you? To outsiders, it seems you’ve become a Graduate too! Whose aura in the village is greater than yours? They call you Third Master Wang, and you really think you’re a master?"

"You should examine your conscience yourselves: what face do you have to act so arrogantly? Does Chongjin eat your family’s rice or wear your family’s clothes? You haven’t helped at all, and seeing Chongjin achieve the title of Graduate, your face has become thicker! Let me tell you, as long as I and your old sister are around, if any of you dare misuse your brother-in-law’s influence and harm your sister’s reputation, I’ll take care of you one by one!"

Old Granny Zhang wasn’t just speaking to Wang Yonggui and Lady Jiang; she surveyed everyone in the Wang Family.

"Today I’m making myself clear, and you all better remember it! Chongjin achieved the title of Graduate due to his capability, it’s your sister’s good fortune, but what’s it got to do with you? Because Chongjin became a Graduate, the Wang Family is looked up to everywhere, and future marriage arrangements for the children can be easily settled, and there’s no worry about the family business."

"Not to mention, as long as your brother-in-law is around, no one in Qilidun dares to bully the Wang Family, and they have to respect you! Having reaped these benefits, you are still not satisfied? What more do you want? Do you really think you are some influential figure? Or do you believe you can take over your brother-in-law and sister’s household? I’m still alive, so you better rid yourself of this notion!"

"Others only see Chongjin and your sister’s surface glory and don’t consider their difficulties; haven’t you profited without reason considered? You don’t know, but I, this old lady, knows how Chongjin endured to achieve Graduate status! Is it so easy to pass the Graduate exam? Is it so easy being an Old Master Graduate? There are countless eyes watching from behind, waiting to seize your brother-in-law’s weak spot!"

If another family has a Graduate, their kin treats them with utmost respect and caution, afraid that the family’s reputation might be tainted, impacting future prospects. But you, only days after your brother-in-law becomes a Graduate, have become so arrogant that you forget your worth? Are you trying to exhaust your brother-in-law so that he loses the Graduate status, and have your entire family ridiculed? Is that how you hate seeing your brother-in-law and sister flourishing?

The repeated admonitions came crashing down, not only Wang Yonggui and Lady Lin felt ashamed, even Wang Yongfu and others were doused with cold water and awoke to reality.

Indeed, if this brother-in-law remains a Graduate, the days of the Wang Family would be prosperous.

Without them needing to do anything, just looking at the attitude of the Lizheng and Clan Leader, they could see that the Wang Family’s future in Qilidun would be unparalleled.

If the brother-in-law’s Graduate title were truly lost, then...

No one dared to imagine.

Naturally, no one doubted Old Granny Zhang’s words; even Wang Yongan’s Scholar title was stripped away, so the Graduate status certainly can be too.

Suddenly alert, Wang Yongfu immediately knelt down, "Mother, we all know our wrongs! Earlier, we were too arrogant, knowing brother-in-law achieved the Graduate, praised by fellow villagers, unaware of the heights and depths. The Wang Family’s current status today is entirely due to brother-in-law! In the future, we will certainly not cause trouble for brother-in-law or create problems!"

Jinguan, along with Wang Yongping and Liu Xiaoqiao also hurriedly knelt down.

Old Granny Zhang finally softened her tone, "I’m saying this for your own good! Think carefully, if we don’t drag Chongjin and your sister down, if we act honestly and work honestly, Chongjin and your sister won’t treat you unfairly, right? If Chongjin and your sister’s reputation improves, if he eventually achieves Scholar status and becomes an Imperial Court Official, who would deny you the benefits you deserve?"

"Not mentioning that the Wang Family currently is exempt from labor duties and taxes; the entire village is benefiting from Chongjin’s good fortune. Just based on this alone, who in Qilidun dares to offend you? Who would dare compete with you over business? We are a family originally scraping a living from the dirt, now managing to run a mountain goods business thanks to your sister. Being able to do it well, not worrying about food and drinks a plenty, what more do you want?"

"Even for the marriage arrangements of Jinguan and Jinhua, don’t aim above reach for people that aren’t meant for us. Think carefully, why would those highly eligible families’ children want to marry into us? Truly because our children are good? Nonsense! If they were so good, why didn’t anyone connect with us before? Isn’t it all to leverage the marriage, climbing onto your brother-in-law? Saying they won’t use your brother-in-law’s name for mischievous deeds, ruining your brother-in-law’s reputation."

"If a scandal truly occurs, those outsiders will shrink their necks and throw it onto your brother-in-law, whether he acknowledges it or not. Then those five families of different surnames gain benefits, stuffing your brother-in-law in, would you be pleased?"

The Wang Family collectively shook their heads, of course, they wouldn’t be willing.

"Therefore, be honest, according to our family’s current conditions, match with those honest families, don’t invite troublemakers to mess up the household! If I hear of anyone doing things behind my back, don’t say I won’t go all out, I’ll go to the Clan Leader and have you expelled! Heard me?" Old Granny Zhang shouted sternly.

The Wang Family shivered, and responded in unison, "Heard."

Everyone knew Old Granny Zhang was truly warning them; everyone knew, Old Granny Zhang favored the old sister the most, next was the brother-in-law. If the brothers truly committed any wrong against the sister and brother-in-law, with Old Granny Zhang’s temperament, she might actually go to such lengths.

Moreover, now the entire village is sheltered by Song Chongjin, with Song Chongjin treating Old Granny Zhang as his own mother, now Old Granny Zhang is the most formidable old lady in Qilidun; if she really raised the issue, the Clan Leader might actually agree.

Wang Yonggui thought a bit deeper; if it were truly to come to that day, the Clan Leader might even be happier, and the clan might adopt one or two over, otherwise—

Shivering, Wang Yonggui vowed he absolutely wouldn’t let one come.

His own brother-in-law’s sturdy thigh, aside from their brothers, no one else could hold onto it!

Old Granny Zhang was finally satisfied with a nod, giving several sticks, how could she not offer a sweet date: "Rest assured, for these younger brothers’ marriage, I as grandmother and your sister as the elder aunt, certainly won’t just stand by. Let’s set a rule, starting from Jindou: in the future when the boys marry, I and Yongzhu will provide fifty taels of silver; when the girls marry, we’ll add jewelry and clothing ensemble."