This is just starting to act shamelessly and unreasonably.
The village chief was so angry he didn’t know what to say.
He clearly wanted to keep things quiet and not blow them up, but Mrs. Sun didn’t appreciate it, so he stopped caring about it.
"Zhang Fu, I can’t handle this matter, you should report it to the government. The government arrests those who deceive in marriage, at least twenty taels of fine silver, and a minimum of three months in jail. The fine is twice the amount gained from the fraudulent marriage," the village chief said with a stern face.
"Alright, I happen to know an arrest officer in the county, I’ll go find him right away." Zhang Fu said and immediately walked out.
With quick reflexes, Meng Qingshan grabbed Zhang Fu, "Nephew, calm down, it’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding."
Zhang Fu didn’t really want to make a big fuss, if it really escalated, even the Meng girl would have to be summoned by the government for questioning.
So, he was held back by Meng Qingshan.
Meng Qingshan kicked Mrs. Sun, "You disgraceful disgrace, get up quickly. Eldest son, stop pretending to be dead, your brother Zhang Fu knows how to pull his punches, get up quickly and apologize to brother Zhang Fu. Everyone disperse, disperse, it’s all a misunderstanding, once explained, there’s no issue. Come on, come on, let’s go inside and talk."
The village chief was also invited inside.
Of course, before entering, the village chief instructed everyone to disperse.
Soon, under the village chief’s witness, twenty taels of silver were returned to Zhang Fu.
At the same time, Zhang Fu forced the Meng family to promise in front of the village chief that they would not pursue Meng Yao anymore; otherwise, he would not spare them.
What could the Meng family do, Zhang Fu was so fierce; they were afraid he would treat them like pigs.
After the threats and getting the money back, Zhang Fu arrogantly left.
The village chief thoroughly berated Meng Qingshan, telling him to take charge of his household and not let his wife cause trouble.
Meng Qingshan nodded obediently, only then did the village chief leave.
With injuries on his body, Meng Cheng, and Mrs. Sun receiving a kick, the whole family was humiliated in front of the entire village.
Their original plan was to let the entire village know that Meng Yao and Zhang Fu were secretly involved, so that in order to settle things, Meng Yao would have to agree to marry Zhang Fu.
Even if Meng Yao didn’t agree, Zhang Fu, losing face, would surely find a way to force Meng Yao to submit to him.
As it turned out, Meng Yao was fierce, but Zhang Fu was fiercer.
Moreover, Zhang Fu, not thinking clearly, still came to stand up for Meng Yao after being rejected.
By dinner time, Meng Yao learned what happened with the Meng family.
There’s no way around it, the village is so small, anything that happens spreads quickly.
The news was brought back by Zhao Xiaohua while out strolling.
"My uncle got a good beating from Uncle Zhang, they say his head’s swollen like a pig’s head," Zhao Xiaoshu said gloatingly.
Clearly, before this, she was calling him butcher Zhang.
Now, because Zhang Fu did something satisfying, Zhao Xiaohua even changed the way she addressed him.
"My grandma even got a kick from my grandpa. I have to say, my grandpa is fierce, just one kick, and this matter was covered up," Zhao Xiaohua sighed.
Indeed, on reflection, although it seemed like Sun was in charge of the Meng family on ordinary days, the silent Meng Qingshan did not actually lack authority.
He seemed uninvolved, but with any major event, it was surely the old man making the decisions.
In short, "losing the wife and the army" surely describes the Meng household’s situation.
Meng Yao took it as a joke, not caring.
The Meng family was making a fuss, but in the end, they were just being laughed at by everyone.
"Mother, it won’t be long. Once I achieve fame, they wouldn’t dare," Zhao Dahe said.
"Alright," Meng Yao responded.
On the twenty-sixth of the twelfth lunar month, Meng Zhu came with her children.
Zhao Xiaohua dashed into Meng Zhu’s arms, "Auntie, why did you come? I was just telling my mother to take me to your house in the first month."
Meng Zhu is the older sister of the original body, and if anyone in the family treated the original body the best, it was Meng Zhu.
To be honest, the more daring personality of the original body was influenced by Meng Zhu.
Back then, Meng Qingshan and Mrs. Sun wanted to marry Meng Zhu off as a second wife to an old man whose children were already married, seeking a young capable stepmother to take care of the old man.
The betrothal gifts offered were significant.
Meng Zhu said she was willing to marry, but guaranteed that if she did, the old man would surely not see the next day’s sun.
Then, she would turn herself in to the government, saying it was the Meng family who incited her to commit murder.
This infuriated Meng Qingshan and Mrs. Sun, yet they were afraid Meng Zhu might really do such a thing, so they had to refuse the marriage and went around saying that the Meng family would never sell their daughter, even if offered a hundred taels, they would not be tempted.
It indeed gained them a good reputation.
Later, a young peddler came to propose marriage.
Of course, Mrs. Sun and Meng Qingshan were against it, how much money could a peddler have?
But Meng Zhu stood firm, speaking a single sentence that forced Mrs. Sun and Meng Qingshan to relent.
The young peddler’s bride price wasn’t minimal either, a full ten taels of silver.
Meng Zhu simply said it was alright if they disagreed, but who knew when she might let slip and reveal the previous incident to everyone. By then, even if it was a ten taels bride price, there might not be anyone proposing marriage.
Finally, Meng Zhu got her wish and married the young peddler.
Of course, now she is the owner of a general store.
There’s a decent-sized general store in Anyang Town, next to Fengyang Town.
"Elder sister," Meng Yao affectionately linked arms with Meng Zhu.
The original body had a good relationship with Meng Zhu, so she couldn’t slip up now.
"I’m here today to deliver New Year’s gifts, and all I’ve heard are grumbles," Meng Zhu said with a smile, "Not bad, you’ve improved. At least you aren’t being angered to tears anymore."
The original body was tough-looking but fragile inside when it came to the Meng family, always raising her voice, seeming like she wasn’t at a disadvantage, but crying pitifully behind their backs each time.
"With each incident, if I don’t improve, how can life go on? A few days ago, for some reason, they even set their sights on Dahe," Meng Yao said. "I cannot remain at a disadvantage and let the children suffer, too."
"You should have done this a long time ago," Meng Zhu gave Meng Yao a playful reprimand, "Dajiang is a filial child, Dahe is promising, Xiaohua is considerate, and Xiaoshu... huh? You’ve brought him back?"
"Yes, I brought him back. He won’t go back there again. After the New Year, come spring, I’ll send him to school," Meng Yao said.
Meng Zhu patted Meng Yao’s hand, "You have finally come to your senses. As a mother, how can you begrudge your child? Besides, would Xiaoshu want you to suffer?"
"Yes, yes, yes, it wasn’t great before, my mind just couldn’t wrap around it, causing Xiaoshu to suffer so much," Meng Yao pretended to be remorseful.
"It’s good to recognize your mistakes and change, that’s better than anything. Xiaoshu is a good kid, he won’t hold a grudge against you. Come, Xiaoshu, come here, your aunt has a gift for you," Meng Zhu called to Zhao Xiaoshu.
A delicate silver coin, small and shaped like a Ruyi.
Zhao Xiaoshu did not take it.
Meng Yao spoke up, "Your aunt gave it to you, so take it. Just don’t forget your aunt when you’re successful in the future!"
Only then did Zhao Xiaoshu reach out to accept it, not forgetting to politely thank Meng Zhu.
"Look at this child, how good he is. Handsome and well-mannered. Going to school, he might do as well as Dahe," Meng Zhu said happily.