Chapter 289: Rebirth in the Nineties: The Tyrant Flower, Chapter 290: The Villain Cries Out First

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

The next day, before dawn had fully broken, Chai Zhongxiao kicked Wang Huirong awake.

"Get up! What are you playing dead for!" Chai Zhongxiao's eyes were sunken, his voice hoarse, like a starving wolf.

He hadn't slept well all night, worried sick. The family had no money to begin with, and now he had taken out so much disaster relief loan he couldn't repay; the Credit Union would sooner or later sue Chai Zhongxiao, and by then Chai Zhongxiao would inevitably end up in prison.

Going to prison, for Chai Zhongxiao, was more unbearable than killing him.

He had lived his whole life high and mighty, had been the head of the Chai Family for a lifetime, and now in his old age he would actually have to go to prison—no matter what, he did not want that.

Of course, this wasn't a matter of what he wanted; he simply couldn't repay that loan, and sooner or later he would have to go in.

Although it might be an economic dispute, he wouldn't be in for long and could come out.

But whether it was his image or anything else, the blow to Chai Zhongxiao was simply too great.

Most importantly, whether Chai Zhongxiao went in or not, he had no money—that was the hardest part to endure.

Even if Chai Zhongxiao didn't go to prison, he still had no money to live on.

Living life, one always needs firewood, rice, oil, and salt; he didn't drink much, but he had to smoke a bit, yet he didn't have that money either.

Plus, this year's harvest was poor, and the crops' growth was especially bad; at Chai Mi's request, Chai Youqing hadn't watered Chai Zhongxiao's fields, causing Chai Zhongxiao's own crops to nearly fail completely.

Under these circumstances, what about next year's seed and fertilizer money?

How to get through next year was also a very real problem.

Chai Zhongxiao himself didn't want to work, and had no other income. Previously, counting on Chai Youqing and Su Wan to work, he just enjoyed the ready-made harvest, and life was prosperous.

But now Chai Youqing and Su Wan didn't work, and he and Wang Huirong didn't work either; even if there was a harvest in autumn, who would gather it?

That corn wouldn't return home by itself.

Hire people?

Hiring people for the autumn harvest wouldn't even earn enough to pay their wages.

So, either way, as long as Chai Zhongxiao didn't work himself, it was basically a dead end.

By now, the face Chai Zhongxiao hadn't intended to keep anyway was completely thrown away...

Wang Huirong was yanked so hard her arm ached fiercely, and cold sweat instantly soaked through her torn clothes.

She didn't dare cry out, trembling and duiwei-ing as she got off the kang.

Since she had been beaten yesterday and it hurt terribly, although her clothes were already torn, Wang Huirong couldn't change them.

After all, one arm was broken—she couldn't change clothes, right?!

Also, there were many places with abrasions that had bled, and the blood stained her clothes.

Moving hurt.

Wang Huirong couldn't change clothes even more.

Wang Huirong's clothes were already torn, and as a result...

Chai Zhongxiao also haphazardly wrapped her in the most tattered cotton jacket...

The purpose was to make it look like Wang Huirong had "authentic" destitution and grievance.

"In a moment you cry your heart out! Cry miserably! If we don't get money today, I'll kill you first!" he growled viciously, his eyes full of the ferocity of a cornered beast.

Wang Huirong wailed and began to cry.

Her tears poured out; she was truly crying from pain.

Anyone who has had a fracture knows that at first when the bone breaks, it doesn't hurt particularly badly. But after a night passes, it hurts even more.

As for why, it might actually be that the broken part of the body triggered inflammation, and then the immune system went to reduce inflammation, the body became hot, and the pain started.

Chai You De shrank at the door, sleepy-eyed, full of reluctance.

Especially upon hearing Wang Huirong crying so hard, Chai You De was even more unwilling to go.

Chai You De had been humiliated before, but never this humiliated.

Although Chai You De was shameless, he still wanted to enjoy being shameless without effort.

That is, if Chai Zhongxiao went to make trouble himself, or managed to get money, Chai You De would be only too glad.

But this time it was very obvious Chai Zhongxiao would definitely fail.

The Chai Family was no longer the Chai Family of a few months ago.

Although Chai Youqing had not changed particularly much, what Chai Youqing said didn't count; at home, whatever Chai Mi said counted.

Trying to cheat money from Chai Mi was too hard.

Rather than cheat Chai Mi, it would be better to cheat someone else's money...

"Dad, really going? This isn't..." Chai You De muttered.

As a result, before he finished speaking, Chai Zhongxiao shot him a knife-like glare: "Coward! Keep up! Less nonsense!"

Chai You De cursed in his heart, but could only harden his scalp and follow along.

If he didn't go along, Chai You De feared he himself would get beaten.

After all, Chai You De feared everyone.

Whoever was righteous, Chai You De feared.

At home he feared his wife, feared his father, feared his mother, and also feared Chai Youqing.

Of course, after drinking, Chai You De feared no one...

It was just that he got up too early today and hadn't had a chance to drink yet...

The broken gate was yanked open with a loud "bang."

Chai Zhongxiao dragged (or rather, hauled) a staggering, deathly pale Wang Huirong, with the dejected Chai You De trailing behind them, like a strange parade, straight for Liu Chang Gui Jia.

As mentioned before, the village was too poor; even the village office was gone...

So now the office of Sanjiacun was at Liu Chang Gui Jia's place.

Meanwhile.

In the ancestral hall, Chai Youqing curled up on the ground covered with corn stalks.

After spending the night there, he was frozen to the bone.

In the Northeast, once midsummer passed and early autumn arrived, the weather became bizarrely cold.

Especially in the mornings and evenings—the temperature difference between day and night was huge; scorching hot by day, freezing cold by night.

Of course, people in later times wouldn't feel it, mainly because they lived in better houses and didn't sleep out in the wild.

But Chai Youqing had indeed spent a night in that drafty ancestral hall.

Rather than saying he slept a night, it was more like Chai Youqing lay awake all night. He couldn't sleep at all; the cold was one thing.

On the other hand, Chai Youqing felt wronged.

Whether it was being disowned by his father after being a filial son for decades, or his heartless daughter kicking him out of the house.

All of this was hard for Chai Youqing to bear.

From Chai Youqing's own perspective, he felt he was in the right...

So, this idea was wrong.

That was the ending Chai Youqing should have now.

However, Chai Youqing naturally didn't know.

He just felt wronged and was narrow-minded; after all this, he basically didn't sleep all night.

As a result, he heard the village dogs barking and people making a commotion...

"Villagers! Come look! Come see what this unfilial beast has done!" Chai Zhongxiao's broken gong of a voice shattered the morning silence. He shoved the weak Wang Huirong into Liu Chang Gui Jia's house.

Then he tore at Wang Huirong's sleeve with all his might—revealing that purple-black, swollen, twisted arm.

Just looking at it hurt...

Truly shocking!

Chai Zhongxiao and the others had arrived; Liu Zhanggui's family, plus many people surnamed Liu, saw that the Village Chief's house had trouble, and all came to watch the excitement.

That fellow was surrounded by three layers inside and three layers outside.

It made Chai Zhongxiao envious.

After all, yesterday he had almost beaten Wang Huirong to death, and not a single person came to watch.

But as soon as they came to Liu Chang Gui Jia's place, it was full of people...

A sea of people.

Chai Zhongxiao felt choked up inside; he really had underestimated them!

When Wang Huirong's arm was revealed, the onlookers gasped.

Liu Zhanggui was stunned: Damn! If it's a blessing, it's not a disaster; if it's a disaster, it can't be avoided.

Why the hell did they come to my house to make trouble?

Who the hell did I offend?

Liu Zhanggui: I'm the Village Chief, so I should just die?!

Liu Zhanggui's wife Xue Haiyan was also furious...

Even Liu Zhijing was furious.

Isn't this bullying honest people?!

Fortunately, people held them back, and since Liu Zhanggui was the Village Chief, a fight was avoided.

Liu Zhanggui pulled a long face and asked: "What is this, Seventh Uncle? Early in the morning, you come to my house to make trouble?"

"See! My wife! Her arm is broken!" Chai Zhongxiao spat as he spoke, pointing toward Chai Mi's house, weeping and wailing...

But not a single tear fell; just dry howling...

Obviously fake.

"That dog Chai Youqing! His own mother! Injured like this, he doesn't give a penny! Yesterday he even deliberately brought a bowl of mutton dumplings to make things difficult for us old couple! His daughter Chai Mi is no better... his grandmother is like this, and they don't ask or care! Where is filial piety? Where is heavenly justice? What sin did the Old Chai Family commit to produce such a white-eyed wolf! Chai Mi! Chai Youqing! Come out! If you have guts, come out and explain clearly!"

Liu Zhanggui blinked: "Wait... was this Wang Huirong's arm broken by Chai Youqing or by Chai Mi? Surely not..."

The people around also discussed it animatedly.

"Chai Zhongxiao must be sick, seriously sick... this is purely looking for trouble. Her arm is broken, she has three sons, and Chai You De is right there, yet he comes to Chai Mi's house for money?"

"Heh! That's Chai Zhongxiao for you! You think he's a good person? Even his own daughter died a white death!"

"Maybe Chai Zhongxiao beat her himself. I think he's torturing her to death. As the saying goes, what's it called... picking teeth and getting diarrhea, poking ears and going deaf, long lawsuits and long poverty. Their teacher's Chai Family hasn't had a peaceful day lately; this life is ruined..."

"Can't live anymore, a poor wretch..."

Most people looked down on Chai Zhongxiao.

Of course, there were also many shut-ins who sympathized with Wang Huirong...

"Oh my, it's so dark... Wang Huirong's in so much pain her teeth are about to break."

"These children are truly unfilial! Their mother's arm is broken, and no one cares."

"When people get old? Is this their end?"

Chai Mi's home, the gate tightly closed.

Before long, Chai Xiu ran home, thump thump thump.

"Sister! It's started! Grandfather dragged Grandmother out for public humiliation! So many people!"

Chai Mi raised her head and glanced at Chai Xiu: "Huh? Didn't I tell you not to go out? How come you're so nosy? Who let you go out to watch?"

"Sister! They're all cursing us!" Chai Xiu was anxious.

"Let them curse." Chai Mi's expression didn't change: "Let them curse. The more fiercely they curse, the faster Chai Zhongxiao dies. You just pretend you can't hear. I can't go out on the street and curse that dog-thing Chai Zhongxiao either……"

Su Wan, however, was quite worried: "Why don't we go take a look! They're making a scene at Liu Zhanggui's house. This Liu Zhanggui has been quite good to our family. Chai Zhongxiao goes and makes a scene, you don't go, letting them bear it, that's not right either."

Su Wan said: "Outsiders don't know what's what, they just talk nonsense. If you don't go, whatever Chai Zhongxiao says is right. He twists black and white, you can't do anything about it. A person has a mouth, they just say it like that, and then you can't explain clearly. In the end, everyone will say you're not a good person."

Chai Mi sighed.

She originally didn't care, but……

Indeed, it had become a bit of a case of public opinion being formidable.

Just as she was conflicted, Song Qiushui came running in with a *ceng*: "Aiyo aiyo! Chai Mi, that old codger is cursing you again! I heard, you snapped that Lao Diao Pozi's arm? Awesome!"

"It wasn't me who hit her!"

"Everyone says so……"

"Chai Zhongxiao wants to extort money." Chai Mi said helplessly: "If I were to beat her, would she only have a broken arm?"

Song Qiushui froze for a moment, then nodded: "You could beat the two of them to death…… but, sister, don't do it like that. Killing people is illegal. You'd better just beat them bedridden, that's enough."

Chai Mi rolled her eyes at Song Qiushui: "Beating people isn't illegal? Where's your brain?"

Song Qiushui: "Uh…… forgot it at home, didn't bring it. Aiya, haven't eaten yet, you cook a bit of food to eat. Let them cry. I'm telling you, anyway you don't hurt, Wang Huirong hurts if she hurts. It's been a long time since the village had this much excitement, an extra monkey performing is pretty good. I see everyone's quite happy watching the excitement, that scene, it was great."

Chai Mi was so angry she almost laughed: "You…… you're even more outrageous than Xiu'er. Our family's like this, and you still have the mind to eat first."

"Then what to do? What can't wait until after eating? Wang Huirong isn't dead, what's there to be afraid of, let Chai Zhongxiao toss about. Whatever happens, happens, we'll go in a bit." Song Qiushui had a couldn't-care-less look: "He doesn't dare come to your house to make trouble anyway. At most, he'll just go make trouble with Liu Zhanggui. If he comes to your house, directly beat him, beat him until his own mother wouldn't recognize him."

Chai Mi shook her head: "Forget them, eat first then talk. If they aren't afraid of losing face, let them toss about. Anyway, now Chai Zhongxiao is shameless too, saying anything is useless. I still want a bit of face, let them make a scene. No rush, anyway, I don't hurt."

Since Chai Mi decided not to go over for the time being, she and Song Qiushui went to cook slowly.

Chai Zhongxiao was still crying and accusing with great effort, spittle flying in the morning light, as if he could already see the scene of Chai Mi being pointed at by thousands and obediently paying up.

Of course, it was merely as if he saw it.

After all, Chai Mi was at home cooking and eating, simply had no time to watch the monkey show.

So, this farce, after more than an hour, became awkward.

Chai Zhongxiao's voice went hoarse, Chai Mi problem Chai Mi still hadn't come……

Chai Youqing also had no shadow……

Chai Zhongxiao's face was completely black……

Wang Huirong was in so much pain she was swaying on the verge of collapse, Chai You De wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

It's said one palm can't clap.

Quarreling is the same.

Chai Zhongxiao and Wang Huirong tossed about for a whole bout, but as the "parties involved" Chai Mi and Chai Youqing both didn't come, so Chai Zhongxiao's tossing about was utterly meaningless.

Problem is Chai Zhongxiao still doesn't dare go to Chai Mi's house to make trouble, he's afraid Chai Mi will beat him……

Chai Zhongxiao is not young anymore, and knows Chai Mi likes to strike ruthlessly, naturally he can only run to the village to make a scene. Let people decide for him.

"Village Chief, you say how to handle this?! The village has such a filthy thing happen, do you care or not?"

Liu Zhanggui naturally didn't want to handle it, he just evaded: "This is an economic dispute. Wang Huirong's arm wasn't broken by Chai Mi either, how can the village handle this? If you feel the kids or whatever, don't support the elderly, or don't pay for Wang Huirong's treatment, you can go sue them in court!"