CHAPTER 129: CHAPTER 128: WITHOUT EDUCATION, POVERTY PERSISTS; WITHOUT EDUCATION, WEALTH CANNOT LAST

Village Chief Wang frowned. How dare Xu Shi, this ignorant village woman, question his authority?

He had seen many instances of parents and siblings acting on behalf of divorces. Moreover, he was the leader of the village, the official of several nearby villages, responsible for household registrations and taxation.

Not only did he manage household registrations and taxation, but he also had to regulate and discipline the behavior of the people in the area. Acts of kindness as well as law-breaking had to be reported, and he also had to implement the court’s policies.

This Xu Shi actually said he had no right to interfere in her family’s affairs?

Village Chief Wang showed an unhappy expression and was about to reprimand Xu Shi when he saw a carriage stop at the Sun Family’s door.

Yu Changhe was the first to jump off the carriage, followed by Sun Shi, then Sun Daji and Sun Fengshou. They all helped Grandma Sun off the carriage, with Yu Changhe carrying her into the yard.

Although Grandma Sun was now conscious, she was very weak. Faced with inquiries and concern from several elderly sisters in the village, she only responded briefly before being carried into the house by Yu Changhe.

As for Sun Fengshou, after only ten days of conscription service, he looked ten years older, with a face full of stubble and a haggard appearance, devoid of energy.

Sun Fengshou’s lethargy disappeared entirely upon seeing Xu Shi, as if possessed, he charged at Xu Shi.

Xu Shi couldn’t dodge in time and was seized by the throat by Sun Fengshou, rolling her eyes on the spot.

"Dad, don’t kill Mom..." Little Huzi cried out loudly.

"Fengshou, let go quickly. Killing is punishable by death. It’s not worth losing your life over such a filthy wretch."

Fifth Uncle Sun loudly stopped him while calling a few sons to pull Sun Fengshou back.

Thinking of how close his mother came to being tortured to death by Xu Shi, Sun Fengshou was infuriated, regretting that he hadn’t divorced Xu Shi earlier.

When the Sun family brothers, after great effort, finally pulled Sun Fengshou back, Xu Shi had been choked by Sun Fengshou to the point of nearly losing consciousness, weakly collapsing on the ground.

Eldest Xu hurriedly went over to hold Xu Shi in his arms, "Your Sun Family bullies with power and numbers. If my sister suffers any mishap, we’ll see each other in the county government."

Sun Shi, with a protruding belly, first paid respects under the introduction of Fifth Uncle Sun, then accepted the divorce letter handed over by Ma Tongsheng, for Sun Fengshou to imprint his hand on it.

Sun Fengshou didn’t use the ink pad brought by Ma Tongsheng but bit his finger and fiercely imprinted a bloody handprint on the divorce letter.

Sun Shi tossed the divorce letter onto Xu Shi’s face, "Get out!"

Xu Shi, clutching her throat, coughed a few times, "I can leave, but give me back my dowry, and I want Huzi to come with me."

Sun Shi laughed angrily, "Isn’t your dowry just two camphor chests? You can take them away, but as for Huzi, he’s a child of our Old Sun Family—you can forget about it."

Xu Shi crawled and scrambled toward Huzi, "Huzi, come with Mom? Mom can’t live without you!"

Little Huzi, frightened by Xu Shi’s deranged appearance, retreated repeatedly, hiding behind Yu Xiaolian, poking out a small head and saying, "If you really couldn’t live without me, you wouldn’t have left me at home and stayed away for so many days."

Sun Shi felt a pang of heartache after hearing Little Huzi’s words, followed by a touch of relief. Thankfully, Little Huzi matured early; otherwise, if he hadn’t starved to death these few days, no one would have taken care of Grandma.

Had Little Huzi not boiled the fever-reducing herb water for Grandma to drink, Grandma might not have lasted until Mom’s return.

"Huzi, oh, my poor child, from now on, you’ll be an unfortunate child without a mother!"

Xu Shi turned her head angrily to glare at Sun Shi, "You must remember, it’s all because of your sister-in-law that our family has broken apart. Who knows what illicit business she was up to, making dirty money, just to come back and disrupt her brother’s family..."

Seeing Xu Shi still slandering and attacking his sister, Sun Fengshou rushed over and kicked Xu Shi, knocking her down.

Sun Fengshou seemed unsatisfied, intent on hitting again, but was pulled back by Sun Shi.

Village Chief Wang spoke up in time, addressing Eldest Xu, "About your theft of Silver’s matter, I discussed it with Fifth Uncle Sun earlier, and we won’t pursue charges against you. Quickly take the divorce letter, take your sister home, and don’t forget to return the fifteen taels of silver to the Sun Family. If you take my words lightly, I’ll have a word with your village chief."

Eldest Xu replied gruffly, "I’ll let my father know when I return."

Whether his father would be willing to bring out the silver, he didn’t know.

But if they didn’t return the silver, they would confiscate his family’s farmland, and presumably, his father would have to begrudgingly comply.

Eldest Xu had been beaten enough today and, considering that he had to endure the pain as he walked step by step back from Upper River Bay, cursed Xu Shi in his heart.

Enduring the pain, Xu Shi got up from the ground, intending for her brother to carry her. But Eldest Xu gave her a glare, "Walk on your own."

As the siblings exited the main gate, Eldest Xu couldn’t help glancing at the Yu Family’s carriage.

Clearly, good days were just ahead; why couldn’t his sister hold onto the fortune?

Truly, unable to hold two taels of aromatic oil!

After the Xu siblings limped away, Village Chief Wang said he was busy allocating labor service and took his leave.

Sun Shi hurriedly handed a lump of silver to Village Chief Wang as compensation for his troubles.

Village Chief Wang pushed the silver back, refusing to take it.

Just as Sun Shi thought this Village Chief wasn’t greedy for money, Village Chief Wang turned the conversation, saying that the villages under his management, especially Upper River Bay Village, were the poorest, without even a school. Poverty without education is a hard cycle to break, and wealth without education does not last long. If Sun Shi has the heart and the means, she should help the village build a school, which would be a good deed for posterity.

Sun Shi was taken aback, looking towards Yu Xiaolian.

She had no concept of money; building a school would require a lot of money, right?

The family didn’t seem wealthy enough to casually promise a school?

Yu Xiaolian smiled sweetly, "Village Chief Grandpa, establishing a school benefits both others and ourselves; it’s a great and virtuous deed, but it’s something our family needs to discuss."

Village Chief Wang sighed, knowing that setting up a school was a massive expense, and previously, when he discussed it with other gentry, they had all politely declined.

It seemed like the Sun family would struggle as well.

Village Chief Wang didn’t press further, gave a slight nod, and left.

Fifth Uncle Sun asked Sun Daji, "Why did you return with Fangzi and the others?"

Sun Daji said, "When I went over, Fengshou had already been redeemed from the government officer by Fangzi. I had to return with the carriage."

Sun Shi sighed, "Yesterday, after sending my mother to the town pharmacy, the doctor revived her with a silver needle and fed her herbal medicine.

This morning she seemed better in spirit; the doctor said it might be a momentary recovery. My mother was preoccupied with Fengshou, saying if Fengshou died out there, she’d never rest easy in her grave. I had no choice but to take her to find where Fengshou was working. Upon seeing Fengshou unharmed, my mother’s spirit suddenly deflated."

Sun Shi understood that her mother was just holding on to see her son. Once she saw Sun Fengshou safe, all her strength ebbed away.