Chapter 28

Chapter 28

◎ Rift Between Two Families ◎

In the main hall, a scattered group of men were seated.

They claimed to be discussing plans, but in reality, they were merely venting their frustration. Some slammed their fists on the table, others picked at their feet, and some puffed on hand-rolled cigarettes while spitting out curses. They talked about everything and anything, yet no sensible solution was presented.

In the midst of the commotion, one man abruptly pounded the table and shouted a series of reckless ideas. He suggested finding people to dismantle the butcher's stall in the town or persuading pig farmers in neighboring villages not to sell to Butcher Zhu anymore, as he was too ruthless in his pricing, offering less silver than he should. Apparently, his wife's family also dealt with pigs, and they paid half a tael more than Butcher Zhu. Just look how expensive the pork in his shop was compared to what they received! The fools had been swindled!

In any case, they couldn't let that Butcher Zhu have an easy time!

Chen Second Uncle, sitting under the eaves and picking at his feet, threw his straw sandals at the speaker's face upon hearing this. "Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. Do you think the villagers are fools who don't know that he's suppressing the price for pigs? So what? Do you see another butcher around here who buys pigs? It's not that nobody wants to get involved; it's that no one dares to!"

Still fuming, he pointed at the man's nose and continued to berate him, "Idiot! Idiot! You're completely brainless!"

Third Uncle, with his small eyes narrowed, puffed away on his precious hand-rolled cigarette. Normally, he only indulged himself by sniffing the tobacco for satisfaction, but now, in his distress, he had been smoking it for half a day.

Upon hearing such detrimental words come from a fellow clansman, he raised his pipe and struck the speaker on the head. "No wonder your mother gave birth to you so effortlessly, still working in the fields one moment and delivering you the next. She must have focused on giving you strong limbs and forgot to bring your brain along!"

Chen Erniu's face flushed red from the scolding, yet he stubbornly protested, "Third Uncle, where did I go wrong? Are we just going to let this slide?"

"Let it slide? Hmph, if we do that, how will our Chen family maintain any respect in the village? People might spit on us without a second thought!" With a fierce expression, Third Uncle reprimanded him, "Think before you speak or act. Everyone knows Butcher Zhu is not someone to be trifled with; do you think those are just empty words? This is still an issue between our Chen and Li families. If you were to really dismantle his money-making stall, do you believe he wouldn't come after you with his slaughtering knife? Your life may be at stake, but if things escalate, it would become a major affair involving our three Chen, Li, and Zhu families, or even both villages! You fool, if someone were to expose your livelihood, you'd probably plow them into pieces with your hoe!"

Chen Erniu stood there, huffing and puffing, his forehead glistening with sweat from anger. "What do you mean, Third Uncle? How can it be a small matter if I get cut down?!"

"Because you're foolish, hmph."

Third Uncle lost interest in further conversation and turned to survey the other clan members in the hall. They were all strong and robust, but unfortunately, lacking in wit.

Disdaining to engage with this group of vexing individuals, he turned his head to address Wei Dahu, who had yet to speak. "Big Hu, do you have any thoughts on this matter? Share them with us."

Wei Dahu didn't have any particular ideas; he simply asked, "What was our original request from the Li family?"

"Big Shi's wife would pay for the doctor's consultation and medicine, and offer a chicken as an apology, along with thirty eggs to aid in recovery," Third Uncle explained, taking a puff of his pipe and narrowing his eyes, his tone calm.

If it were merely a conflict between two women, such compensation might seem excessive. But considering that the men from both families had also come to blows, it now boiled down to which party was in the wrong and should offer an apology.

In rural areas, it was customary that when two women got into a feud, as long as no one died, the matter could be settled with a mediator's intervention and the guilty party compensating the innocent with a dozen eggs at most.

However, Fang Qiuyan's conflict with Zhou Miaohua couldn't be treated so simply. Ignoring the fact that Third Uncle and others believed Wei Dahu had indirectly saved Li Dalang's life by preventing him from hunting wild boars, Zhou Miaohua's sharp tongue had provoked Fang Qiuyan first. Moreover, Fang Qiuyan hadn't dared to leave her house for days after the beating, her face so disfigured that it was pitiful to look at.

On top of that, there was the incident where Li Dalang and Chen Dashi had clashed. The Chen couple, one foolish and the other wicked, had brought an unforeseen calamity upon themselves!

Given how severely Fang Qiuyan had been beaten, demanding a half-ounce of silver for medical treatment seemed reasonable, didn't it?

After enduring such physical torment, it wouldn't be excessive to kill a chicken for nourishment, would it?

Considering she still needs to recover, is it too much to ask for thirty eggs?

The Chen family believed their request was entirely reasonable!

However, the Li family thought it was utterly outrageous! Asking for money, a chicken, and eggs? What do they think? That just because her son went into the mountains to hunt wild boars, something terrible had to happen? Wasn't Fang Qiuyan beaten as well? Their daughter-in-law couldn't even get out of bed and they were already preparing a coffin!

Let's see who suffered more!

Anyway, rumors in the village were already spreading that the Li family's daughter-in-law was on her last legs, and the family was making funeral arrangements.

Uncle Chen adjusted his seating position, rubbing the soles of his feet with his large hands, not lifting his head as he grumbled, "Who knows, Zhou Miaohua's parents might hear their daughter is on her deathbed and rush over here to make a scene."

His words were purely out of a desire to provoke a reaction.

Wei Dahu found the Chen family's request entirely reasonable. Imagining that it was his wife Tao Hua who had been in a fight with Zhou Miaohua and had been incapacitated for three days, he would have no qualms about bundling Li Dalang and his wife up and leaving them in the mountains for the beasts.

Forget about paying half an ounce of silver for a chicken and thirty eggs, even if they offered him a hundred ounces of silver, a hundred hens, and a hundred eggs, he wouldn't let the Li family off the hook.

Though these thoughts swirled in his mind, he didn't voice them. After all, he was no longer an innocent child. The reason he hunted game in the mountains to sell for silver, bought rice and coarse grains, good wine, and snacks in town, preferring the mountain trails to the village road, was because his father once told him that when eating wild vegetables, one should do so openly, but when enjoying meat, it should be done behind closed doors. This was because what you possessed that others lacked could incite envy, and envious people would plot against you, spoiling your peace and happiness.

If he could earn silver, he couldn't let others know that he did.

If he had meat, wine, and food to eat while others were hungry, he couldn't allow them to see the pleasures of his life.

Half an ounce of silver for a hen and thirty eggs was a simple task for him, merely a trip into the mountains. But for farming families who had spent generations digging in the dirt for sustenance, every copper coin was cherished, let alone such valuable items?

A bag of grain could fetch a wife, and half an ounce of silver could sustain a family for half a year on a tight budget. How could the Li family possibly afford it?

Now, the Li family relied on nothing more than Uncle Li Dalang, a butcher who supposedly had experience wandering the world and was well-connected in the neighboring villages, and some dubious official whose authenticity was uncertain.

To unworldly peasants, these titles sounded intimidating at first.

Yet, Wei Dahu felt indifferent. He had faced countless dangers in the mountains every day. In his heart, he didn't take those fearsome butcher officials seriously. Even if he offended someone, he could just follow in his father's footsteps, pack his bags with his wife and father, and flee deeper into the mountains where there was no shortage of food and water. There, they could live freely and comfortably, out of reach of anyone who sought to find them.

However, while he could retreat to the mountains with his family, he had two uncles, his mother-in-law, and his second and third siblings living down in the village. If he acted solely for immediate gratification, it would be easy – he could simply go to the Li residence and take what he wanted. If Butcher Zhu came seeking revenge, he could beat him so severely that he couldn't get out of bed. Or, if he provoked Zhu too much, he could hunt him down like a wild animal. When the authorities arrived, he could just retreat to the mountains with his family once more.

But if he truly acted that way, his father would likely use the sole of his shoe to knock some sense into him.

"What kind of trouble could force you to hide in the mountains? How embarrassing," Wei Dahu said with a stern expression, maintaining a composed demeanor. "I'll visit the town tomorrow to gather information. Sitting at home won't accomplish anything. We need to understand the situation before we act."

Uncle Chen burst into laughter. "Exactly! That's how it should be! First, we must learn their background before making any moves. I've only heard that Butcher Zhu has connections with the local officials. But during this year's grain collection, those officials didn't seem friendly towards the Li family. Perhaps the Zhu family is merely trying to save face by mentioning these titles?" The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. Running a pork shop in the town, one needed a powerful backer; how much money would one have to pay in tribute without one? Could one rely on being a simple peasant to conduct business peacefully?

After all, this was his own maternal uncle, so Wei Dahu didn't feel comfortable refuting him. They were easily intimidated by the mere mention of "officials" and didn't bother to ponder further. What did it matter if Butcher Zhu had connections outside when he was young? He had merely made acquaintances with people of influence.

These influential people knew other influential people – what significance did Butcher Zhu hold in comparison?

He might intimidate others, but not Wei Dahu.

Those with capabilities befriend one another – that's called interpersonal exchange.

Those without capabilities seeking connections with the capable – that's called bribery through silver and flattery.

If money can pave the way, then why can't Butcher Zhu do it, while Wei Dahu cannot?

Officer, there's more than one in the county office.

Wei Dahu has only two uncles, and he cares about his elder uncle's family. Thus, after leaving his elder uncle's place, he first took Tao Hua home. Then, he separated the wild pears meant for his uncles' families and delivered them to each household, before telling Tao Hua that he was going into the mountains.

Tao Hua had walked all day yesterday on mountain paths, and her legs were aching terribly today. She couldn't possibly have the same energy as him. Hearing this, her legs trembled, "I'll stay back. I heard Father coughing all night last night. I'll boil some pear soup for him; it soothes the lungs and helps with coughs – it's very beneficial."

"Alright, boil plenty, and save some for me when I return. I'm also coughing," Wei Dahu fibbed.

Tao Hua glanced at him. There wasn't anything he wouldn't eat. With his sturdy build, how could he be coughing?

She chuckled inwardly but nodded with a smile, "Understood, I'll boil more and save some for you to drink tonight."