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

Chapter 61 Guessing the Truth
“I suspect that it was Madam Sang, Madam Ma’s second wife, who had the Sang family secretly poison Ma Xingteng. I didn’t expect Ma Xingteng to survive like that and even make a big fuss about it. Madam Sang must have been worried that the Sang family would betray her, which is why she married her daughter to Sang Rong, right?”

If Madam Sang had intended to marry her daughter to her nephew, there wouldn't have been the matter of Sang Rong asking Su Yan for a marriage proposal! The only explanation is that Madam Sang looked down on her nephew and never considered forming a marriage alliance with her family. Now, she is marrying her daughter to her nephew out of necessity.

The thing that could make the Sang family make such a big sacrifice must be no small matter, and it is most likely related to Ma Xingteng's injury.

Shen Yi was amazed by his fiancée's intelligence. He affectionately patted her head and instructed her, "Whether it's the Sang family or the Ma family, it has nothing to do with us. Town Magistrate Liu is a smart man, and his wife and Ma Xingteng are not fools either. If you can think of it, they probably already have."

However, all of this is just speculation. Without evidence, they can't do anything to the Sang family. Besides, Ma Xingteng has lost a leg, while the Sang family has a healthy son. Master Ma can't possibly ruin another son for the sake of a crippled one.

After hearing that the marriage between the Ma and Sang families was arranged, Master Ma stopped going to the Liu family's house to demand that they catch the murderer. However, Master Ma also knew what was going on and had already made his choice.

Su Tai shook her head, feeling sorry for Ma Xingteng. "They say that having a stepmother means having a stepfather, and all those vows of eternal love are just bullshit!"

Shen Yi's expression hardened, and he quickly stated, "Little Tai, I'm different from them! What Master Ma did has completely broken the hearts of his eldest son and daughter. The Ma family will only become more chaotic in the future. We can't be as foolish as him."

Su Tai's expression softened somewhat.

The two bought many wedding items at the market before going home separately.

Before you know it, it's time for the annual autumn harvest.

This year, Zhaohua County has enjoyed favorable weather and abundant harvests, and the county magistrate is full of energy, ordering his yamen runners to spread the word well in advance.

When the first gong of the autumn harvest was sounded, the villagers of Dongmen Village all swung their sickles and worked in the fields without even looking up.

Su Tai didn't know how to use a sickle, so she could only follow behind the adults and help them. It took her four days to get all the wheat from the field to her own yard to dry.

The constables have been living in the village for the past few days, keeping a close watch on the villagers as they collect their grain, and they dare not slack off in the slightest.

While drying the wheat, Su Tai's family was also busy, as they still had soybeans and peanuts to harvest.

Once the soybeans and peanuts are harvested, the wheat is almost ready to be bagged and weighed.

Su Chunlin's eight mu of wheat yielded eight thousand jin of wheat. Other families in the village had similar yields, ranging from nine hundred to one thousand jin per mu. This yield truly astonished the two constables.

They immediately sent the message back to the county government, and County Magistrate Liang Shiqiu personally led a group of people to investigate. Upon receiving the message, Ma Yuanwai and several other township heads followed closely behind.

The group was astonished as soon as they entered the village by the wheat drying in the yards of every household.

Looking at the large amount of grain, Master Ma was filled with anxiety and suggested to Liang Shiqiu, "Sir, I believe that the grain from Dongmen Village should be handed over to the central government and distributed as seed grain."

Sang Yong immediately chimed in, "That's what I think too, Mayor Su. Isn't this the kind of good thing that benefits the people the thing you like to do the most? I'm sure you don't have any objections!"

The others looked at Su Changfu expectantly.

Su Changfu sneered, his expression indifferent. "Mayor Sang is joking. I am a mayor, not a bandit. I would never do such a thing as robbing or seizing property. The people's property should naturally be decided by the people themselves."

Sang Yong's face darkened, and he said angrily, "I was just giving you advice. If Mayor Su doesn't want to listen, that's fine. There's no need to misinterpret my good intentions."

"Your good intentions? What good intentions do you have? I think you have ulterior motives."

"you!"

The two men were on the verge of drawing their swords. Liang Shiqiu frowned.

Liu Tiechui immediately snapped, "Enough! What's all the noise about? You're such a troublemaker!"

Liu Tiechui glared at Sang Yong.

Sang Yong's face turned red with anger.

The group arrived at Su Changxi's house.

Su Changxi respectfully invited Liang Shiqiu inside, but kept Sang Yong outside.

Sang Yong tried to squeeze in twice but failed, and got angry. "Su Changxi, what do you mean?"

Su Changxi said casually, "We don't welcome people with the surname Sang in our family. If you know what's good for you, get out of there and go back to where you came from!"

Master Ma squinted at Su Changxi, "The Sang family is related to our Ma family by marriage. Village Chief Su, could you do me a favor?"

"No way!" Su Changxi said impatiently, not even glancing at Master Ma. "If Master Ma wants to stand up for Sang Yong, then please come with him."

Master Ma stared wide-eyed in disbelief. He was a respected man in town, and everyone bowed and scraped before him. Su Changxi was just a minor village head, yet he dared to speak to him like that!

Just as Master Ma was about to get angry.

Standing next to Su Changxi, Su Chunlin suddenly spoke up, saying with a look of disgust, "The Sang family is a den of snakes and rats, not a single good one among them. Master Ma even married his daughter to Sang Rong. I don't know what he was thinking? Are all the good men in the world dead, or does Miss Ma have some kind of hidden illness that prevents her from finding a good family?"

Master Ma's expression changed drastically, filled with shock and rage. "You scoundrel! You're just a lowly peasant, yet you dare to gossip about the Ma family! You're tired of living! Believe me or not, I'll have someone kill you!"

"Ma Rencai!" Liang Shiqiu rebuked sternly.

Ma Rencai seemed to wake from a dream, his face turning pale and then flushed, a rather comical sight. He thought Liu Tiechui would at least speak up for him, but to his surprise, Liu Tiechui acted as if it were none of his business.

Master Ma's heart sank. He gritted his teeth, angrily turned and left.

Sang Yong was stunned for a moment, then quickly caught up, "Brother-in-law, are we just leaving like this? We don't want the grain seeds anymore?"

"What do you want? You can't even get through their door, so why do you think they'll sell you their grain seeds?" Master Ma roared furiously.

Sang Yong looked unwilling. "Aren't you the town official's father-in-law? The county magistrate is also here. We can't just let Su Changxi act recklessly! That's a grain crop that can yield a thousand catties per mu. We can't just give it up like this!"

Of course, Master Ma didn't want to give up, nor was he willing to. But after that commotion, the magistrate was clearly furious. If he went back, firstly, he would be looked down upon by the Su family, and secondly, he would be disliked by the magistrate. Moreover, his son-in-law clearly didn't intend to continue maintaining appearances, so he wouldn't gain any benefit at all.

After thinking it over, he gritted his teeth and left Dongmen Village without looking back.

After thinking for a moment, Sang Yong went to a farmhouse and asked to buy grain at a high price.

The other person paused for a moment, then shouted at the top of their lungs, "You want to buy grain before you've even paid your taxes? Which village are you from? I have to tell the township head!"

This is clearly malicious.

Sang Yong never expected that the villagers of Dongmen Village would be so foolish as to ignore the huge profits right in front of them and flee in panic.