This is a blatant threat! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The villagers looked at Jingzhe and began to discuss.

"Didn’t they say Jingzhe wouldn’t be studying anymore? How’s he going to take the Scholar and Champion exams?"

"You’re listening to Tong Dajiao’s nonsense. How could she not let her youngest son study? Jingzhe has been working at home lately because there’s no money for schooling. Now that Tong Dajiao’s pastry shop is up and running, once she earns some money, I don’t believe she won’t let Jingzhe continue studying."

"You’re insightful, Aunt. Tong Dajiao has been working hard to make money; it’s definitely to support her youngest son’s education. Isn’t everything for our sons?"

"You know, even though the Xu Family has many sons, what are they like? If any of them have promise, it would be Jingzhe. He’s already a child student at such a young age. You never know, he might pass, even if he doesn’t become a Champion Scholar, becoming a scholar would be something the Xu Family can’t match together. If he becomes an official later, wouldn’t he avenge his mother? Wouldn’t you?"

These discussions reached the ears of Xu Yong and Xu Kun, and naturally also reached the ears of Xu Dayan and others.

The uncle-nephew pair, Xu Kun and Xu Yong, had mixed expressions.

Tong Dajiao actually used Gu Jingzhe to threaten them.

They agreed that Tong Dajiao’s threat has substance, and if Gu Jingzhe continues studying, he might indeed be the first Scholar or Champion from Qinghe Bay.

Not to mention anything else, a Scholar doesn’t even have to bow to officials; what is Xu Yong, just a village chief?

With Tong Dajiao’s vengeful personality, if she doesn’t get back what she lost today, as long as she and Gu Jingzhe are alive, Gu Jingzhe will eventually help Tong Dajiao settle the score.

"The doctor is here." The Liu Family had called a doctor.

Xu Family Patriarch Xu Kun found a way out, signaling the Xu Family members to carry Xu Si behind the haystack for immediate treatment.

"Tong Dajiao, we’re all from the same village. We always cross paths frequently. What Xu Si did to you was wrong, but your reputation remains intact, and Xu Si has learned his lesson. Reporting to the authorities and causing a scene won’t be good for your reputation; you’re running a business in town. How about we make a compromise? What conditions do you have to let Xu Si off the hook?" Xu Kun softened his tone, speaking to Tong Hua Qiong, "As the Xu Family Patriarch, if I can meet your conditions, I will do so."

"Right, as the village chief, I will make sure Da Shu’s mother won’t be wronged." Xu Yong said.

This statement had reconciliation, threat, and an intention to keep the peace.

Yet it also depended on Tong Hua Qiong’s cooperation.

At this point, the Xu Family Patriarch and the village chief were still acting high and mighty.

"In-law, just state your conditions." Liu Tie Chui said to Tong Hua Qiong on the side, hoping Tong Hua Qiong would seize the opportunity to propose conditions; given she’s already suffered losses, she should first get some benefits.

Yan Pozi wanted to speak but was taken by Xu Da to check on Xu Si.

Tong Hua Qiong’s gaze shifted from her son and daughter, looking clearly troubled.

"Mother, don’t worry about us. You should report it to the authorities." Gu Dashu said.

"Exactly, Mom, don’t listen to their nonsense about affecting my marriage. I can afford not to marry." Gu Taohua said, "I’d rather shave my head and become a nun than encounter someone as disgusting as Xu Si."

Gu Taohua was so angry that she even set aside her favorite Fan Tong, which moved Tong Hua Qiong.

Tong Hua Qiong pondered for a moment and said, "My children want justice for me and want me to report to the authorities. But the Xu Family Patriarch made a valid point earlier: we’re all neighbors. I don’t want to ugly this situation."

Xu Kun and Xu Yong’s mouths twitched. Such nice words, when things have already turned so ugly.

"However, Patriarch, it’s not appropriate to use my untainted reputation as a condition for reconciliation. Now everyone in the village knows Xu Si tried to bully me, and God knows how the rumors will spread. Ultimately, it’s my reputation that’s damaged, and I’m running a business in town. What if customers avoid my pastry shop because my reputation is destroyed?"

"Firstly, my youngest son will become an official in the future. When he becomes a court official, if people use his mother’s ruined reputation to attack him, who will compensate for this loss?"

"Secondly, Taohua is my beloved daughter. My tarnished reputation affects her reputation. She says she doesn’t care about marriage, but I do. Originally, Taohua could marry into a wealthy family and become the mistress. If my reputation blocks that path, won’t her happiness be compromised?"

The crowd listened, all feeling a gradual onset of cramps.

Especially Xu Kun and Xu Yong were so angry they wanted to curse.

Tong Dajiao was counting shadows as if they were real at Xu Si’s expense.

Jingzhe becoming an official makes sense, but which wealthy family would fancy Gu Taohua?

"Aside from Jingzhe and Taohua’s futures, my children, Man Er and Yaozu, will be affected. Speaking of my Man Er, she could end up marrying into the Royal Family. In the previous dynasty, an Empress was a farmer’s daughter. Why can’t my Man Er be one? My Yaozu is also quite handsome; he might become a son-in-law to a wealthy family. My tarnished reputation is not just about money affecting Man Er and Yaozu."

"Thirdly, I’m still not old, I’m only thirty-eight. There’s a saying that a woman at thirty-eight is a flower. I still have a chance to remarry, but with my reputation ruined, who would I marry?"

Tong Hua Qiong clapped her hands, listing every loss her family endured due to Xu Si’s harassment clearly and systematically.

Everyone sighed deeply.

Tong Dajiao really knew how to reel them in.

Even Gu Dahuan, Gu Dashu, and Liu Yueer thought Tong Hua Qiong was incredible at spinning tales.

However, you can’t say she’s wrong; if you think about it, her scenarios could very well happen.

"Then tell us how you’d like the Xu Family to compensate you." Xu Family Patriarch Xu Kun asked gloomily.

He would definitely have to admonish Xu Si and Yan Pozi, this mother-son duo, later. Of all people to provoke, they had to choose Widow Tong.

Widow Tong was like a donkey dung pellet; once stuck on you, you can’t clean it off.

"Such a huge loss can’t solely be measured in money, but since the Patriarch mentioned compensation, I can’t argue against that. Let Xu Si compensate me five hundred taels of silver, okay?" Tong Hua Qiong said.

She added, "I’m not asking for much."

Five hundred taels of silver, Xu Yong and Xu Kun both drew a sharp breath.

That’s a large demand, five hundred taels of silver would take ages to accumulate for a farming family.

Many families couldn’t earn five hundred taels in a lifetime.

The richest in the Xu Family was Xu Yong’s second brother, Xu Jin, who ran a small kiln factory on the mountain, but even he couldn’t produce five hundred taels.

"Compared to Gu Family’s loss, five hundred taels isn’t much, Da Shu’s mother indeed hasn’t asked for more." Liu Tieshan said, "Since you’re sincerely looking to reconcile, you must pay that silver."

"Village chief, Uncle Kun, Da Shu’s mother really hasn’t asked for much. She’s suffered such a grievance, offering silver to reconcile is her generosity. As Qinghe Bay’s representatives and the Xu Family’s representatives, you should understand this logic." Liu Tiechui addressed Xu Yong and Xu Kun.

"Pff, I’m not paying Widow Tong a damn penny."

Yan Pozi jumped up, clapped her hands, and ran from behind the haystack, wiping away tears and snot as she leaned against Xu Kun, "Uncle Kun, Si’ll never be a man again. Xu Si hasn’t even married yet; who’ll continue our family line?"

Just a while ago, the doctor checked Xu Si’s crotch and shook his head, saying "Luckily, your Xu Family has many sons, you’ll have to pass on the family line."

Even knowing Xu Si’s end, Yan Pozi still held out hope until the doctor definitively pronounced the end of the family line, and she finally couldn’t hold back and cried fiercely.

Xu Kun shifted back a bit, this niece-in-law was truly unstable, why was she leaning so close to him.

Widow Tong will likely start spreading scandalous rumors about them again, and his reputation is also very important, okay?