Old Wang’s smile froze on his face when he heard this. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Your father borrowed a lot of money from people in the village, saying he was taking your nephew to the big city for treatment. But after just three days, he came back and said your nephew didn’t survive, and didn’t even buy him a proper coffin—just wrapped him in a grass mat and buried him in the mountains. When the villagers went to him for the money, he said the debt would be paid by his son and told them to wait until you came back to collect it from you." Old Wang sighed and said helplessly.

Actually, everyone in the village was from the same community, so they wouldn’t have rushed to press Old Jiang for money right after he lost his son and grandson. Especially since Old Jiang had been the village head before, and it was the New Year.

But no one was really wealthy.

At first, they had been willing to lend money because it was tragic that the child died at such a young age.

Who knew that Old Jiang took the money, but never went to the big city for treatment. He didn’t even bother to buy a small coffin.

The villagers felt deceived and were now furious, demanding that Old Jiang pay back the money immediately.

Not only did he refuse, but he also acted like a rogue.

Thinking about how his family had lent five yuan and had yet to get it back, Old Wang almost felt like going to Jiang Yexun to see what he thought about it.

But remembering the conflict between Jiang Yexun and his father, Old Wang suppressed the urge.

Aunt Guo, infuriated, spat out angrily, "That shameless scoundrel! It’s his son, so what does it have to do with my son? If he had spent the money to save the child, I’d have respected him a bit. But he’s a beast who doesn’t even care about his own grandson’s life!"

Sighing, Old Wang tried to calm her down, "Aunt Guo, don’t be so angry. After all, you’re family. I’ve seen Old Jiang pinch pennies all his life, so the money was probably never spent. When you go back, talk to him about it, and make sure he gives the money back. Otherwise, if the villagers can’t get the money, they’ll definitely come to ask for it from your daughter... your son."

He paused awkwardly, as he had originally intended to say "your daughter-in-law" but stopped himself. He didn’t want to offend her since he knew how much Jiang Yexun valued his wife.

"If they come to me, I’ll just go straight to my dad’s house and get it," Jiang Yexun said coolly, stretching his long legs.

Aunt Guo lightly patted him, signaling for him to sit properly.

Old Wang didn’t know what else to say, so he just waited until everyone gathered to make a scene and then planned to join in.

The ox cart swayed slowly on its way back to the village, and many villagers saw them along the way, their eyes widening in surprise.

After the cart passed, they reacted.

"Hey, hey! Old Jiang’s youngest son is back, and he brought his delicate daughter-in-law with him! So, their marriage is official now?"

"Whether they’re officially married or not doesn’t matter, we better hurry to Old Jiang’s house. This is going to be interesting!"

The villagers whispered excitedly, then without another thought, they all rushed toward Old Jiang’s house.

"What’s going on? Are they here to demand money right after we returned?" Su Xiaoxiao asked in surprise, seeing a group of people following them.

Jiang Yexun narrowed his brows and hid the dark look in his eyes.

Aunt Guo shook her head with certainty, "Impossible. Although the villagers are poor, they still care about face. They wouldn’t come to ask for money just because we’ve come back."

She thought a few families might be in urgent need of money, but seeing seven or eight people following them, it was clear they were just looking for a scene.

Could something have happened at their house today?

Aunt Guo frowned, becoming more suspicious.

Before she could say anything, there was an uproar coming from their house.

"What are you doing?!" Jiang Yexun’s voice was cold and dark as he looked at the people from the Jiang family gathered outside his wife’s house.

His aunt and uncle, seeing him, instantly changed their expressions.

But they quickly plastered fake smiles on their faces and walked over to greet him.

"Yexun, you have to talk to your wife’s friends. They’ve been occupying your new house for months, taking all your things and not even letting us in," Jiang Yexun’s aunt said, raising her chin in a superior tone.

Jiang Yexun narrowed his eyes slightly, a chilling glint flashing across them like a sharp arrow.

"I asked them to take care of the house before I left, and I also told them not to let you in." His tone was stern and unyielding.

Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhou’s expression faltered. She wanted to argue but, faced with Jiang Yexun’s towering figure and intimidating presence, she instantly wilted.

Jiang Yexun’s uncle immediately smiled ingratiatingly, "Yexun, come on now, why would you ask outsiders to check the house? And this house is yours, we’re just coming in for a visit, how could we take anything?"

"Isn’t it disgusting?" Jiang Yexun scoffed.

"Enough! You little brat, how dare you speak like that? She’s your aunt!" Jiang Guoli shouted, furious.

"Get lost! I don’t even acknowledge you, let alone these chaotic relatives of Old Jiang’s!" Jiang Yexun sneered.

Jiang Guoli was so enraged that he almost couldn’t catch his breath. His vision blurred, and only when his eldest son supported him did he manage to calm down.

"You ungrateful son! Don’t think you’ve got wings just because you’re married. If it weren’t for me, your mother would have been dead by now!" Jiang Guoli spat bitterly.

Though the class struggle began nine years ago, those landlords who were considered the ruling class had been targeted and punished when China was founded.

If the Jiang family hadn’t lived in this land for generations and wasn’t considered a big family, how could they have protected the only daughter of Guo Hongxiang, the notorious country gentleman?