The village chief said, "I am already drafting the list, and once the whole village has selected the candidates, I’ll report it to the township."

Saying this, he let out a helpless laugh, "My body really can’t take it anymore. I should hand it over to the young ones while I still have some energy to guide them a bit; it saves us from panicking when the time truly comes."

Hearing this, the town elder of Jinshi Town replied reluctantly, "Don’t say such dispiriting words. I haven’t even had my turn to die before you."

The village chief chuckled as well, and the two old men over a hundred years old congratulated each other on their longevity.

However, the matter of the village chief stepping down was finalized.

For others, this was a concern of another village, and they didn’t care. They would just bring it up at their own dining tables as gossip to amuse themselves.

The topic of watermelon farming was temporarily set aside due to this distraction.

After the Clan Leader and the people of Liu Family Village saw off Song Zhang and others, he suddenly noticed the banner that read, ’Welcome Lord County Magistrate and representatives from various townships to Liu Family Village,’ and sighed emotionally.

Now, their Liu Family Village has become famous in Kaiyang County.

Just as the County Magistrate was leaving, he mentioned that in a couple of days, he would send people to bring materials for building a house, planning to spend the summer here.

The scholars, who had stayed in Liu Family Village hoping to catch a glimpse of the scholars, were moved by this news as well.

After all, whether sitting or resting while waiting, daily transportation costs were inevitable, so they might as well build a house in the village and wait slowly.

While the entire village was still immersed in the joy of the County Magistrate’s visit, the atmosphere in the small courtyard on the northern hillside of the village was somewhat gloomy.

Inside the courtyard, Mrs. Li and Ah Wang exchanged a glance, their anxious eyes fixed on the tightly closed door of the main room.

Inside the main room, Qin Yao sat boldly in the Taishi Chair.

Below her were Da Lang, Second Lang, Sanlang, and Si Niang, seated in order on small stools.

The four siblings sat with their knees together and hands resting on their knees, looking obedient.

The prolonged silence made the siblings nervous, but they didn’t know what mistake they had made, feeling quite uneasy.

Today, Uncle Ah Wang brought them back from school, and as soon as they arrived home, they heard their Mother coldly shout from the main room, "Put down the book boxes and come inside!"

The four siblings immediately froze in place, exchanging an inexplicable guilty look.

Nevertheless, they quickly put down the book boxes and entered the main room.

Once inside, their Mother shut the door, leaving Uncle Ah Wang outside.

Then she told them to sit on the stools, while she sat on the Taishi Chair, silently staring at them.

The four siblings, accustomed to seeing the adults in the family quarrel, had developed strong mental resilience, and they stayed still, silent for a quarter of an hour.

Sanalang raised his small hand nervously.

Qin Yao asked, "Speak."

Sanlang said with a struggling expression, "Mother... I need to fart."

Second Lang and Si Niang almost couldn’t help but burst out laughing, but quickly restrained themselves when met with Qin Yao’s stern face, stifling their laughter.

Sanlang: "Mother, I... I can’t hold it anymore..."

Before he finished speaking, a loud "pfft" sound erupted, and Da Lang, Second Lang, and Si Niang who had been sitting upright, immediately covered their mouths and noses, scattering away.

Qin Yao couldn’t maintain her stern expression and quickly turned her head, holding her breath for a moment before turning back.

"Sit down!"

Da Lang, Second Lang, and Si Niang quickly returned to their places.

But that suffocating atmosphere of fear was gone for good.

Qin Yao asked coldly, "Tell me what you’ve been up to at school recently."

Not expecting her to ask this, the four siblings showed surprise in unison, then stole a guilty glance at each other. Da Lang, being the eldest brother, stood up first.

"Aunt Yao, it was me who forbade my siblings from telling you. If you want to punish someone, punish only me..."

His voice grew weaker as the pressure before him was too imposing, making his throat dry and speaking increasingly difficult.

Qin Yao let out a cold snort, "So you guys really were bullied at school?"

Da Lang was shocked, realizing only then that Aunt Yao was tricking them.

Indeed, even Uncle Ah Wang who picked them up every day hadn’t noticed anything, so how would Aunt Yao know at home!

Wait!

Uncle Ah Wang really didn’t notice?

Da Lang sighed softly, regretting how foolish he was to think he could deceive the adults.

Their little tricks stood no chance against the adults in the house, even their dumbest Father wouldn’t be fooled!

Qin Yao called the remaining three siblings to stand up and pointed at each one, "Speak, who bullied you? How did they bully you? Did you give back as good as you got?"

The last question was the critical part. Si Niang sensitively caught onto it.

The little girl immediately gave her brother a look, urging him to confess honestly.

Da Lang swallowed his saliva and nervously explained, "Actually, it wasn’t much, just trivial matters..."

Like tripping, throwing dead rats or frogs at them.

He wasn’t afraid of wolves, let alone these trifling things, which made him laugh.

Da Lang promptly led his siblings to catch a book box full of living creatures and returned them, scaring the culprits sick for half a month, and it was said they even hired someone back home to do rituals.

As for those classmates who tried to teach them a lesson during the noontime break, Da Lang and Second Lang thought if they hadn’t held back, Ding Family Manor would have had to add parents invoking spirits for their sons.

In any case, even Si Niang could drench the opponent in ink, knowing to report to the teacher in advance. She mimicked her father’s roguish manner, weeping so incessantly that the teacher didn’t dare inform their parents.

Of course, they really didn’t dare inform their parents.

After all, with Miss Qin’s reputation, even two bullies of Kaiyang County were wiped out, so Ding Family members were cautious too.

Thus, these little tactics were of no threat to the four siblings.

On the contrary, they were subtly becoming known in school as the three tyrants.

Why three and not four?

Because Liu Sanlang was excellent at hiding, only emerging after his brothers and sister finished their business.

Sanlang had his standards and said, "Mother, I’m not afraid. I just know I’d hold back my brothers and sister, interfering with their brawling, so I hide."

Qin Yao: Suddenly, why do I feel like the kids are somewhat accomplished?

But she also noticed the four siblings didn’t want to tell her who bullied them.

They wanted to address the problem by themselves, and they proved they could handle the trouble on their own.

Da Lang seriously stated, "Aunt Yao, you don’t have to always treat us like little kids such as Da Mao, I’m already eleven, and Second Lang is nine, we can protect ourselves and our younger siblings."

Si Niang nodded in agreement, indicating she had grown up.

Sanlang felt a bit uneasy and softly said, "Mother, we realized our mistake... Could you not hit me, my brothers, and sister?"

Qin Yao thought: How come I never realized Sanlang is such a clever kid before?

Maintaining a serious face, she said, "As I mentioned earlier, you’re not allowed to bully others, but now I add this – if I find out you were bullied, prepare to eat a bamboo paddle stew!"

Having said that, she flicked each of their foreheads, leaving the teary-eyed four siblings behind and walking out briskly.

Afraid her uncontrollable grin would be seen by the siblings, allowing them to get cocky.

Ah Wang looked suspiciously at Qin Yao’s almost crooked smiling face, cautiously asking, "Is dinner ready?"

With a high brow raised, Qin Yao waved her hand grandly, "Serve the dishes!"