After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 258 Shen Zhuang's Explanation

Su Changxi quickly pressed him down and looked innocently at Gao Zhi, "Although Xiong Kai is not here, we really have no reason to smear him. People who have returned from our village can testify, and there are probably quite a few people who haven't returned yet. You can deny it now without evidence, but you won't be able to deny it when you have witnesses. You'll have to give us a satisfactory explanation then."

Gao Zhi was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. "Su Changxi, just say what you want! Don't beat around the bush with me!"

“It’s simple, just get the Xiong family to give us an explanation,” Su Changxi said.

Gao Zhi shook his head with a serious expression. "It's impossible."

Su Chunlin was furious. "Hmph! With your attitude, I'll go find them and demand an explanation myself!"

Su Changfu's face also turned cold.

Gao Zhi, in a fit of despair, plopped down on the ground like a rogue. "Even if you go to the Xiong family yourselves, you won't get any answers. Xiong Kai's heartless wife abandoned her mother-in-law and children and ran back to her parents' home, causing them to split up because of her."

The Mo couple were also confused. They preferred to keep their daughter rather than compromise. Now the old couple are raising their daughter alone, while their two sons are living their own lives. They have completely broken ties with Mo Chunxiang.

"On the Xiong family side, only Xiong Kai's mother, Niu Shi, and a young boy remain. It's not easy for the grandmother and grandson to survive. What good will you gain by causing trouble there?"

"What's going on? Didn't they say Xiong Kai's mother was very satisfied with her daughter-in-law?" Su Chunlin raised his eyebrows and lay back down in a good mood.

Gao Zhi sighed repeatedly, "Good my foot! Mo Chunxiang has been spoiled rotten by Mo Laotian and his wife. I've never seen a woman in the village more unruly than her. Anyway, I can't control her anymore. If you really want to make trouble, then make trouble!"

Su Chunlin gave Su Changxi a wink.

Su Changxi coughed twice and said with a long face, "Forget it, we'll just consider ourselves unlucky. You can leave!"

Now it was Gao Zhi's turn to be confused. "Why are you being so agreeable today?"

Su Changxi said meaningfully, "I know what kind of person you are. I'd rather make a scene myself than expect you to seek justice. I'm only bringing you here to let you know what's going on, so you won't turn around and blame me later."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Gao Zhi was completely confused.

Su Changxi did not continue to explain to him.

After Gao Zhi left, they also left Su Chunlin's house.

Gao Zhi returned to Dongmen Village with a belly full of anger. He went to Xiong Kai's house immediately and berated Niu Shi, which made the villagers know that Xiong Kai had seriously injured Su Chunlin of Dongmen Village. The story became more and more exaggerated as it spread.

By the time Xiong Kai returned, everyone was convinced that he had injured Su Chunlin, and he couldn't explain himself no matter how hard he tried.

After leaving Dongmen Village, Xiao Xi immediately went to pick up Shen Zhuang and take him back to Shenjiazhuang.

Shen Zhuang's return caused a stir throughout Shenjiazhuang, and even the township head, Liu Guangyao, personally visited him.

"Shen Zhuang, how did you get back safely?" Liu Guangyao stroked his chin, deep in thought, his mind racing.

Xu retorted angrily, "Village head, my husband has both legs broken, and you call this peace? Why don't you try breaking both legs yourself?"

Liu Guangyao's expression immediately changed. "Hey! What are you saying? Haven't you seen how many people have died in the past two years? He's alive and back, so you can't call that safe? My son is still on the battlefield, and there's not a single word from him!"

Everyone nodded.

Fearing that she would offend the public, Xu suppressed her anger.

Shen Zhuang explained patiently, "My injury is really serious, it won't heal for at least a year or two. Plus, I'm getting old, even if I recover, I might not be able to go to the battlefield. The army's food and medicine supplies are limited, and we can't waste them on me. The best solution is for me to return home. Of course, this trip will cost a lot of money. Fortunately, Shen Yi brought some silver, and he gave it all to the constable, who then helped us rent a carriage." "How much?" Liu Guangyao continued to ask.

Shen Zhuang muttered, "Five hundred taels, I guess."

"Hiss!" Everyone gasped.

Liu Guangyao's face darkened. "Shen Zhuang, speak properly! Five hundred taels for just this one trip? Do you think I'd believe that?"

Shen Zhuang smiled bitterly, "Besides me, there's also Shen Yi's father-in-law. They were also sent back. Each carriage cost several dozen taels of silver. Traveling such a long distance to see a doctor, get medicine, eat, and stay at inns—doesn't that cost money?"

"You mean Shen Yi's father-in-law also came back injured? What a coincidence!" The more Liu Guangyao thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.

Just then, Shen Liang invited Doctor Li over.

Liu Guangyao immediately instructed Doctor Li to examine Shenzhuang.

As soon as the gauze was removed, Xu was stung by the wound and turned her head away, bursting into tears.

Dr. Li frowned. "The injury is too severe! Fortunately, the doctor who treated you was skilled, otherwise your leg would have been ruined!"

Shen Zhuang looked relieved. "It's a miracle that I survived. My injuries are nothing serious; I'll recover slowly."

"You guys are really amazing, you were gone for so long and still came back alive!"

Dr. Li spoke for everyone.

Shen Zhuang was both amused and exasperated. "We're not that great! It's Shen Yi who's great. He's the one who protects us every time we go to the battlefield. But on the battlefield, swords have no eyes, so he can only protect his own family. Like me, his father-in-law, his wife's relatives, and some friends and relatives, he can't take care of anyone else. Oh, by the way, he's been promoted to junior commander now."

Upon hearing this, Liu Guangyao's face turned pale instantly, and he dared not be as aggressive as before.

Madam Xu turned around and asked, puzzled, "What does the Junior Commander do?"

"He's an officer in the military camp. He was previously promoted to centurion, in charge of a hundred soldiers. A junior commander commands a thousand soldiers. Pretty impressive, right?"

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!" Madam Xu burst into laughter through her tears.

Shen Zhuang continued, "Everyone was well protected by Shen Yi before, and after several battles, no one was injured. But he can't always stay by our side. This time, he charged into the enemy lines and killed many enemies, thus making a great contribution."

But we were in trouble. Without Shen Yi's protection, we all revealed our true colors. Su Chunlin was a little better off, as he was tricked by Xiong Kai from Ximen Village, otherwise he wouldn't have been injured. But Xiong Kai didn't get the better of him either.

After this battle, it's impossible for us to stay in the camp any longer. Even if we wanted to, the general wouldn't allow it. After all, how many medicines would be needed to treat us like this? Even if we were healed, it would be useless and a complete waste.

Shen Ying was speechless. "It's a good thing you guys were cowards, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to come back!"

Shen Zhuang smiled憨厚ly.

After his explanation, the villagers stopped doubting him, and even their initial discomfort disappeared, leaving only helplessness and regret.

If they had treated Shen Yi better back then, would Shen Yi have been able to help their families when they went to the battlefield?
They didn't agree, but everyone knew that Shen Yi had made meritorious contributions in the military camp, and Su Tai and her widowed children had someone to rely on, so no one could bully them.

When Liu Guangyao left, he was preoccupied. Upon returning to Liujiazhuang, he immediately went to find the village chief Liu Zhu and Niu Cuihua and gave them a thorough dressing-down.