The daily life of a space tycoon raising children, doting on his husband, and farming.

Chapter 49 Sending Away the Beggar

Village Chief Lin was annoyed by Shang Wan's aggressive attitude and said irritably, "We only lost thirty taels of silver at home, and it hasn't been found yet. Where would we get eighty taels to compensate you?"

He took out a tael of silver from his sleeve and threw it at Shang Wan's feet. "This is all we have left at home. Please apologize to Scholar Lu on behalf of my son."

Shang Wan glanced at the small silver ingot at her feet, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

Who apologizes like this? Old Man Wu and the others were furious and were about to speak up for Shang Wan, but Shang Wan was faster. She grabbed Village Chief Lin's right arm and, under Village Chief Lin's astonished gaze, pressed the silver and mud into it.

A pig-like scream pierced the sky, and blood trickled down his arm. Village Chief Lin trembled with pain.

Everyone was stunned. Could this really be done?
After their initial shock, the Lin family rushed forward to rescue the person, but Shang Wan kicked them all aside, one by one.

Village Chief Lin's face was twitching with pain, but Shang Wan was too strong, and he couldn't even pull his arm back.

His pleading gaze swept over Old Man Wu and the others, his lips trembling. He was about to speak when another cry of pain escaped his lips.

Zhang Er couldn't bear to watch and wanted to say a few words of advice, but when he thought about how Village Chief Lin had humiliated him like a beggar and brought trouble upon himself, he gave up the idea of ​​persuading him and turned his face away.

Old Man Qiu, who had just dared to point his finger at Shang Wan and curse, was so frightened by the sight of Village Chief Lin's bloody and mangled arm that his legs trembled uncontrollably. He looked at Shang Wan with such fear that he seemed to be facing the King of Hell, and dared not utter a sound.

“An apology must be sincere. I believe the village chief understands this principle.” Shang Wan tightened his grip, the silver coin digging even deeper into the flesh.

Village Chief Lin's face was contorted, he screamed repeatedly, and cold sweat soaked his clothes again.

Xiao Huan and Shi Tou covered Yuan Yuan's eyes and ears, respectively, to prevent the little one from having nightmares.

As for Lu Chengjing, he not only didn't wake up, but his head tilted to the side, as if he were sleeping even more soundly.

Shang Wan stared at Village Chief Lin's distorted face, then put on a friendly smile. "I am the most reasonable person. Village Chief, go home and think it over. I believe you know what the best course of action is."

She let go, and Village Chief Lin collapsed to the ground, powerless. The two Lin brothers rushed forward to help him up. Lin Jianshan's hand had barely touched Village Chief Lin's right arm, which was inlaid with silver, when Village Chief Lin immediately let out a miserable scream, scaring the two brothers so much that they dared not touch him.

Shang Wanyou gently reminded, "If you send it to Dr. Yuan now, the arm can still be saved. If you wait too long..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood that if she waited any longer, the attempt would be ruined.

Without further delay, Lin Jianshui gathered up the hem of the village chief's clothes and stuffed it into his mouth to muffle his voice, then carried the man on his back and ran quickly toward the Yuan family.

Liu fainted from the shock. Lin Jianshan carried Liu on his back and was about to run to the Yuan family when Shang Wan stopped him, saying, "Jade pendant."

Lin Jianshan gritted his teeth in hatred, but dared not refuse, so he had Zhou take out the jade pendant from his bosom and hand it to Shang Wan.

Zhou's hand was trembling as she handed over the jade pendant; if Shang Wan hadn't caught it quickly, the pendant would have fallen to the ground.

Lin Jianshan carried Liu Shi away, Zhou Shi hurriedly followed, and Chen Guifang helped Old Man Qiu follow, keeping her head down and not daring to look at Shang Wan.

"Sister, wash your hands." Li Xiaoshan eagerly fetched well water with a small wooden bucket, his smile so wide it almost disappeared.

Shang Wan squatted down, washing the blood off her hands as she looked at him. Having witnessed what had just happened, this kid wasn't afraid of her at all.

Li Xiaoshan was not only unafraid, but also very proud.

Ever since Shang Wan saved Old Man Li, Li Xiaoshan had long regarded her as his own sister. He clearly saw that the Lin family was in the wrong earlier; if his sister hadn't been so capable, she would have been the one bullied. After Shang Wan washed the blood off her hands, Li Xiaoshan immediately offered his clothes to wipe them dry, acting like a devoted lackey.

Shang Wan didn't wipe the water off his clothes. After shaking the water droplets off her hands, she ruffled his hair and said, "Go play with Yuanyuan."

"Okay," Li Xiaoshan agreed and ran off.

Shang Wan then turned to look at Old Man Wu and the others who were still standing to the side, thinking to herself that Lu Chengjing's guess was quite accurate.

Old Man Wu and Old Man Liu exchanged a glance, and after a brief exchange of glances, Old Man Wu gave in.

"Madam Shang, I have a question to ask you."

Shang Wan waved her hand: "I can't accept your question, Uncle Wu. Are you asking if the Wu family and the Liu family can continue to stay in the village?"

“Exactly.” Old Man Wu nodded, glancing at the sleeping Lu Chengjing. Clearly, the person he really wanted to ask was Lu Chengjing.

"My husband told me this before he went to bed, and asked me to pass on the message," Shang Wan said. "The Wu and Liu families are both registered in Yushu Village, which is under the jurisdiction of the government. The village chief doesn't have the right to kick you out. If you really leave, that would be breaking the law."

Both the Wu and Liu families showed joy on their faces, and Old Man Wu couldn't help but ask to confirm, "Is the village chief really not going to kick us out?"

Shang Wan reassured both families, saying, "Not only the village chief can't, but even the village head can't. If the village chief does that, you can go to the yamen and sue him; you'll win every time."

Ordinary people don't go to the government office for no reason, but after Shang Wan said that, knowing that even the government was on their side, the Wu and Liu families were indeed much more at ease and could go back to work.

Old Man Liu stepped forward and asked, "Madam Shang, did the scholar clarify whether the method of calculating labor points can still be used?"

"Of course they can, it's been discussed and agreed upon by the village," Shang Wan said. "The village belongs to everyone. If the Lin family is dissatisfied, they can join in. We didn't stop them from working."

The Lin family's house was well-built and located in a good position in the village. It was basically undamaged in the earthquake. Who would want to work if they could just sit and collect their wages and pay? This is part of the reason why Village Chief Lin opposes the work-based reward system.

Shang Wan understood this, and most of the villagers understood this as well. Those families severely affected by the disaster, even for their own benefit, would firmly choose to stand on the side of those who earned their living through labor points.

Didn't Village Chief Lin know he had no right to drive the villagers away? Shang Wan thought he probably did know. The reason he said that was just to make an example of someone and scare the villagers into doing what he said. After all, there was no precedent for this, and the villagers didn't know whether the village chief had this right.

But now that Lu Chengjing, a scholar, is around, the villagers all think of asking him first when they encounter problems, so Village Chief Lin's plan naturally falls through.

"Then let's go back and keep working." Old Wu waved to encourage everyone. "Let's all lend a hand and get our village back to normal as soon as possible. The better days are yet to come."

The crowd chimed in in twos and threes, and Li Dashan scratched his head. "Madam Shang, I also have something I'd like to ask you."

Shang Wan looked at him, waiting for him to speak.

Li Dashan said, "No one in the village can write. Could we trouble you, sir, to help us keep accounts? If you're willing, we've already discussed it. Keeping accounts is work, so we'll give you two points too."

Apart from Yuan Musheng, no one else in the village knew that Lu Chengjing's right hand was useless and he could not hold a pen; they only thought that he was used to using his left hand.

Shang Wan didn't directly agree on Lu Chengjing's behalf, but only said, "I'll ask him for you when he wakes up."

"Okay." Li Dashan chuckled.

(End of this chapter)