Chapter 168: Farming: Saving the Substitute Husband 11

The village chief had maintained his prestige in Fengshu Cun for so many years precisely because he never took sides, and even when handling trivial matters, he could make both parties convinced.

But this matter really made him feel it was a headache.

After all, ten taels of silver is no small sum.

After weighing it over and over, he finally advised Jin Chen earnestly.

"Chen Xiaozi, I know this money and house belong to your father; what should be taken back must be taken, but coming up with ten taels of silver at once is not something your uncles can afford."

The village chief glared angrily at Jin Lao San and Song Shi, saying, "Why not let them give you half first, owe the rest, and pay it back slowly?"

"Even setting aside that you're relatives and fellow villagers, you'll still see each other around; you can't really ruin the harmony, can you?"

"Half! Not even half! Our family's money is all being scrimped and saved for Bei zi to take the scholar exam!"

Song Shi was the first to object.

She screamed, heedless of her long hair tangled with straw ash, claws bared, wanting to rush at Jin Chen and the others, her eyes blood‑red, like a madwoman.

"Impossible! Don't even think about taking a single coin from me!"

"You bitch! Is it you who stirred up Jin Chen? Ah! Is it! How did this idiot Jin Chen suddenly come asking us for money?"

Song Shi wanted to go pull Yelin's hair.

When Yelin heard the insults aimed at him, he showed no expression at first, but upon hearing Song Shi also call Jin Chen an idiot, he frowned, disliked it, and shoved her away forcefully; even his soft voice took on a hint of chill.

"My husband is no longer an idiot; you're not allowed to say that!"

He had done farm work since childhood; although his skin had become tender from being pampered lately, his strength was still there. With a sudden push, Song Shi couldn't block it, twisted her ankle, and fell flat on her face.

The village chief's gaze at Yelin showed some surprise.

I thought there was at least someone who could talk sense into Jin Chen, but he's just as impulsive; truly, you can't get two different kinds of people from the same blanket.

Jin Chen held Yelin close, preventing Song Shi from going mad and hurting him further; his glance swept over the crowd, landing on Jinbei, who stood there suddenly silent.

The crowd's incessant resentment and energy were being absorbed by Jinbei, but it didn't seem like voluntary action; rather, it seemed controlled by the Exterminating Flower.

Jin Chen kept a trick up his sleeve, planning to meet tonight, so for now he couldn't completely break ties.

"Alright, I agree with the village chief; giving five taels is fine."

Jin Chen put on a show of compromise, his tall frame stepping forward a few steps, his gaze intimidating: "Today you must give it, or else I won't back down."

"Give!" the village chief echoed, shoving Jin Lao San, "Tell your wife to pay up, or else if this blows up and we really go to the county yamen, you'll all be out on the streets!"

After asking the clan elders to no avail, the village chief kept urging, but instead he ended up injured all over, and Song Shi had no other recourse.

She stormed into the inner room, trembling as she counted out five taels from a floral handkerchief, then glared at Jin Chen with eyes full of resentment and handed it over.

"Here you go! You heartless, gutless thing!"

Jin Chen clicked his tongue, then suddenly gripped the hand receiving the silver; Song Shi clearly felt her right hand jolt, followed immediately by excruciating pain as if her bones were being dug out and her skin peeled.

She let out a miserable cry, quickly shook it off, her arm still trembling involuntarily, yet upon close inspection there was no wound at all.

Song Shi's disheveled state fell into everyone's eyes.

Several village aunts and brothers‑in‑law sucked in a cold breath, regarding Jin Chen and his spouse with newfound respect.

Yelin looked at the disheveled three of the Jin Family; the darkness in his eyes faded somewhat, his gaze becoming clearer.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -10, total 55!】

0731 let out an 'Ah—'.

"Then let's end this matter here; no one should threaten anyone else," the village chief felt a stone drop in his heart, breaking out in a cold sweat.

"As for whether to let them stay in the house with the unpaid debt, that's up to Jin Chen; you lot sort it out yourselves."

He wiped his face, "Alright, disperse! Everyone get back to work!"

Today's farce clearly involved five parties, yet only the three members of the Jin Family got hurt and had to pay compensation, while Jin Chen smiled smugly, embracing his husband.

"You'd better not play any tricks."

Having said that, he took Yelin back to the room.

"Husband, aren't we going home?"

After the two returned to the room and closed the door, Yelin pursed his lips at the unfamiliar yet familiar room, really disliking it.

"I have something to take care of tonight; I'll return tomorrow."

Jin Chen took Yelin's hand and sat him on the bed's edge, tidying the husband's loose strands, and softly coaxed, "Linlin, if you don't want to stay here, shall we go out for a walk?"

"Then let's forget it."

Yelin recalled his childhood bits and pieces in Fengshu Cun; hardly any memory was vivid, all were gloomy and lifeless shades.

He clung, nestling into his husband's embrace, his clear almond eyes also growing moist.

"I won't go anywhere; I'll just stay by my husband's side."

"I'll listen to you." Jin Chen also didn't insist; everything followed his husband's wishes.

——

After Jin Chen and his partner returned to the room, they didn't come out for a long time, as if resolved to stay the night; although Song Shi still resented them, she dared not say much, only muttering outside the door, not even preparing their dinner.

But Jin Chen didn't care at all.

At dusk, he spurred his horse to town and back, bringing plenty of rich, meaty dishes whose fragrant aroma made one drool; without even glancing at Song Shi and the two others, whose eyes seemed able to snag a hook, he strode straight into the room.

"Pah! Who wants it!"

Song Shi chewed a mouthful of salty vegetable chunks; the meaty scent swirling around her nostrils grew stronger, she suppressed the itch in her heart and cursed a few times.

"Eating so well, you really think you're some big master, not knowing how to spend money—you'll go broke before long!"

The more she thought about it, the worse she felt, especially thinking of the five taels of silver spent today; her heart felt as if it were bleeding.

Jin Lao San shoved two mouthfuls of rice into his mouth, didn't lift his head, but his clouded eye sockets were red, burning with jealousy.

Jinbei smelled the meat and grease, then lowered his gaze to the few plates of salty vegetables and coarse‑grain buns on the broken table, and suddenly found it hard to swallow.

In a daze, he again heard someone speaking in his heart.

"What's there to fear? Once I pass the scholar exam and become a high official, what delicacies from land and sea will I not be able to eat?"

"You are the sole Heaven's Mandate protagonist of this world……"

"Exactly! I am the Heaven's Mandate protagonist; this temporary glory counts for nothing!"

Jinbei's eyes turned ruthless, his jealous thoughts diminished a bit; he didn't know since when this voice had appeared in his mind, and then it began to bring him a continuous flow of luck.

According to that voice's words, I am the protagonist of this world, and all people and matters must make way for me.

And the price to pay for success is to marry Ye Yun, and incidentally pass the scholar exam!