CHAPTER 286: CHAPTER 276: NO ONE WITHIN TEN MILES WILL MARRY HER

When the Wang family heard that Yu Xiaolian was related to Prince Jin, they were so terrified that they began to kowtow repeatedly, promising they would never dare offend again.

Yu Xiaolian hadn’t expected that bringing up Prince Jin would have such a powerful effect. Not only were the Wang family frightened, but the eyes of other villagers looking at their family also changed with trepidation.

Even the woman who previously sided with Mrs. Zhang, blaming Sun Fengshou for hitting someone and not paying for their medical treatment, turned pale and was dragged home by her husband amid curses.

"Why do you have such a loose tongue? What’s good about that old Wang family for you to speak up for them?

Coming out to watch the spectacle, why are you chiming in? ... Why are you chiming in? Can you not keep quiet for just a moment?

Now look, you’ve offended a family with officials. You can’t go a day without causing trouble, can you? I ought to smack you..."

The man’s angry cursing and the woman’s wailing gradually faded away.

Village Chief Qi, fearing that Yu Xiaolian held grudges, hurriedly came forward speaking kindly, "Yu Family girl, no, Yu Xueguan, that wife of Jiang Mangzi has no filter on her mouth, always likes to gossip, but has no malicious intent. Please don’t..."

Yu Xiaolian waved her hand, "Village Chief Grandpa, stop talking, please. My family is not one to bully others with power. You can rest assured, ah!"

Village Chief Qi wanted to argue, "Your father calls me ’old brother,’ yet you call me ’grandpa,’ making me older without reason." But remembering that Yu Xiaolian was an official, a Civil Servant at that, he decided not to argue this with Yu Xiaolian, turning to look for Yu Changhe.

Oddly enough, he dared to speak openly with Yu Changhe, but when talking to the girl, his heart faintly trembled with nerves.

It’s not like he hasn’t seen officials before, logically he shouldn’t be feeling timid.

Ay, it’s certainly when that girl was about to run someone over with a carriage that scared him. When that horse dashed forward, his heart sank, thinking it was over, that a life might be lost.

If a life were indeed lost in Taohua Village, then his tenure as Village Chief would certainly come to an end.

He didn’t want that. He hoped to pass the position of Village Chief on to his son, then for his son to pass it to his grandson. There absolutely cannot be trouble.

Village Chief Qi thought to himself that, when he has time, he should go door to door reminding the villagers not to provoke the Yu family and the Sun family.

Otherwise, with the fiery temperament of that Yu Family girl, there could very well be a murder case in the village.

When his father abdicated the Village Chief position, it cost half of their family’s savings. It was painstakingly ’recommended’ by an official that he continue as Village Chief of Taohua Village. What his father accomplished, he can accomplish too.

Village Chief Qi had already made his youngest son, Qi Shanbao, take the county-level exams twice, although he didn’t pass either time. He hopes Qi Shanbao can eventually succeed before he turns seventy. Having the scholar’s title would allow him to smoothly take over his position.

Village Chief Qi is only fifty-three now, leaving seventeen years until seventy. He figures even if his son isn’t great, in seventeen years, he should be able to pass as a scholar.

Yu Changhe knew that Yu Xiaolian’s previous action of driving the carriage terrified Village Chief Qi, so he gently reassured him, also speaking well on behalf of Yu Xiaolian trying to restore her daughter’s reputation.

Upon returning home, the first thing Yu Changhe did was to criticize Yu Xiaolian. She could have directly used the Token to intimidate them; why drive the carriage and run people over? Look at your reputation in the village now!

Who’s going to dare marry you?

Just mentioning your name, people’s faces turn pale with fear. Who dares to bring you into their home?

You’re a young lady, not a bandit; why would you want to run people over?

Yu Changhe wasn’t the only one nagging; Mrs. Sun joined in too.

She pointed out that after the new year, Yu Xiaolian would be thirteen and reached the age to discuss marriage. At thirteen, they could settle the marriage agreement, raise her for another two years, and she could marry at fifteen.

Both parents were full of worries, thinking after today’s incident, Yu Xiaolian wouldn’t be able to get married within the neighboring villages.

Yu Xiaolian was utterly unfazed. What was there to be afraid of? She was single for thirty years in her past life, and she was quite happy!

Moreover, she felt that being single was great unless someone treats her like a daughter; otherwise, she’d rather stay single.

"Father, mother, you don’t have to worry about my marriage. I won’t get married before eighteen."

"Ah???"

"That’s not right! That makes you an old maid!"

Yu Xiaolian clicked her tongue, "A woman at eighteen is a blossoming flower; what old? Are you eager to marry me off?"

"But at the age to marry, you should marry. Otherwise, people will say you’re an old maid who can’t find a husband." Mrs. Sun frowned.

"I’m not afraid of gossip. Even at twenty-eight, without marrying, I can afford the single tax. You all don’t have to worry about that.

Recently, those two little ones have started walking. You must keep a close eye on them, and don’t feed them things too salty or oily, it’ll ruin their taste buds.

Also, the chili peppers are beginning to twist; over time, they’ll become thicker and thicker. Every piece of our land needs a tent built over it, with people stationed to watch. We can’t afford to lose those chili peppers."

Seeing Yu Xiaolian deliberately change the subject, Mrs. Sun sighed and no longer pursued the topic of marriage.

Yu Changhe had his attention successfully redirected, "Our land is scattered, ten acres in six locations. Do we really need six people to keep an eye on the peppers?

Is there a need? After today, who else in the village dares to mess with us?"

Yu Xiaolian did not believe that the Wang family’s compliance was genuine, "Dad, you shouldn’t have harmful intentions, but you must be wary of others."

Mrs. Sun also spoke up, "Listen to the girl, choose six people to watch the fields."

If some family might steal a bit here or there for their own meals, it would be fine, but we’re worried about those with ill intentions, who might uproot our hard-grown chili plants, then all our efforts will have been for nothing.

These chili peppers are not easy to grow. In winter, we started nurturing seedlings indoors. Once sprouted, they were transferred one by one into individual paper cups. When the weather warmed up a bit, we had to open the windows to let them acclimate, so they wouldn’t be so fragile and could grow sturdier.

When they could withstand the wind and rain, we had to bend down and plant them into the fields one by one. This contrary crop is different from typical farming; it’s not drought-resistant. When planting, each pit needs to be watered. After planting, we have to immediately irrigate again.

Ay, very laborious indeed.

During those days of planting peppers, everyone’s backs were aching, unable to straighten. It would be a shame to work so hard and end up with no harvest.

If someone intends to harm and spoils the peppers at night, wouldn’t that mean all our work was for naught?

Yu Changhe nodded to agree, "Then let’s have people set up tents in the fields. Though living there means mosquitoes, with nighttime patrols, should we raise the wages?"

Yu Xiaolian exclaimed, "Then raise them! The six people keeping an eye on the fields will earn double wages, sixty coins each."