Chapter 55: Inferior in strength, even worse in connections (Added chapter, asking for follow-up reading)

Linhu Village.

The whole village was boiling!

Lin Chen had defeated Zhou Fei of Liuzhuang, and the news spread rapidly throughout the village.

Even spreading to areas toward other villages.

"Still our village's Lin Chen who is powerful. That Zhou Fei learned in the Martial Hall for two years and was defeated by Lin Chen in two moves."

"That's natural. Lin Chen is the Martial Hall's number one. What is that Zhou Fei? He only produced Qi after practicing for two years. They were never on the same level to begin with."

"Still the Village Chief who is powerful. Back then when the Village Chief asked everyone to pool money, there were still people being sarcastic. Now they know how much benefit Lin Chen can bring to our village."

Zhao Canghu, as the old Village Chief, had high prestige in the village and could order the villagers to do things, but when it came to asking the villagers to pay money, there was still a small group of villagers who were somewhat unwilling.

However, after today, these villagers had no more complaints!

The Linhu Village villagers were very excited, discussing this matter. As they talked, someone mentioned something, and then it returned to a topic.

"Lin Chaoyang, you are muddled!"

Lin family ancestral home.

Since the family split, the ancestral home had lost its former liveliness.

Lin Chaoyang sat in the courtyard, basking in the sun, the age spots on his face clearly visible.

From before the New Year to after the New Year, the aging changes were visible to the naked eye.

"Eldest, what happened in the village? I just heard a burst of discussion outside."

Eldest Uncle Lin Hai heard his father's inquiry and laughed: "Father, earlier the people from Liuzhuang and our village fought. That Liuzhuang Village Chief's grandson Zhou Fei went to the Martial Hall for a year, and relying on being a martial artist, he made a move against our village, but was beaten down by Xiao Chen in two moves. It was so satisfying!"

Lin Hai was also at the scene at the time, and at this moment, he vividly described the scene at that time.

"That so-called Zhou Fei, Liuzhuang boasted about how powerful and talented he was, but he can't compare to Xiao Chen at all."

"Still Xiao Chen, you recognize him as a nephew, but he might not necessarily recognize you as an eldest uncle."

The Eldest Aunt on the side curled her lips at this moment. As soon as these words came out, the expressions of both Lin Chaoyang and Lin Hai, father and son, became somewhat awkward.

The courtyard fell silent instantly.

"What nonsense are you spouting, woman!"

Lin Hai saw his father silent and glared at his wife.

"I'm not spouting nonsense. Now the whole village is spreading it like this, all saying Father is muddled."

The Eldest Aunt no longer had the respect she used to have for Lin Chaoyang, this father-in-law. Lin Chaoyang looked at his eldest daughter-in-law and understood.

In previous years, his eldest daughter-in-law served him wholeheartedly, saying nice things every day, because in her eyes, he still had value.

Now the Lin family had split, the fields were gone, and he, an old man, couldn't come up with money, so the eldest daughter-in-law stopped pretending.

As for the third family, only the third son would come to the ancestral home during festivals to send some food. As for the second son, although he wasn't forced to split the family like the third son was back then, he had many complaints in his heart about him, the father, over the years. Xi'er and Hui'er also didn't come to the ancestral home much.

Don't blame others, blame himself.

He was indeed muddled, misrecognizing the Lin family's unicorn son.

"Can you say less?"

"Is it useful if I say less? Do you expect Lin Chen to recognize you as his eldest uncle and recognize him as his grandfather? Now the only thing we can rely on is Ming'er."

"I said you woman..."

Lin Chaoyang's vision was somewhat dazed. He didn't want to hear the quarrel between his eldest son and daughter-in-law anymore.

Regret!

Linhu Village, ancestral hall.

Zhao Canghu, the old Village Chief, had brought Lin Chen to offer sacrifices again.

Lin Chen didn't know what to say. He had defeated a martial artist from a neighboring village, just like a general leading troops to defeat a general from a neighboring country.

"Fighting with neighbors is no different from a general going on an expedition. First, pay respects to our village's ancestors."

The old Village Chief knew what Lin Chen was thinking, lit the incense, and handed it to Lin Chen. After Lin Chen finished bowing, he inserted the incense into the incense burner.

"Village Chief, will there be any follow-up to this matter?" After the sacrificial ceremony was over, Lin Chen asked with concern.

He couldn't stay in the village for long and was afraid that Liuzhuang would cause trouble later.

"There won't be any follow-up. You established your prestige today. Those people in Liuzhuang were scared out of their wits by you and won't dare to cause trouble for our village again."

Zhao Canghu's old eyes narrowed: "On the contrary, our village can expand the fishing area a bit more."

"You and the people in the village can discuss and handle this matter. My attitude is supportive."

Lin Chen was very satisfied with the Village Chief's style of handling things. It had to be like this. Liuzhuang reached out first, and there was no reason to end it just by chopping off that hand.

If they dared to provoke, they had to pay the price.

"I will handle the village matters well, so don't worry. Liuzhuang won't dare to do anything to your family either. However, for the sake of stability, during this period, when your father and eldest brother go out to fish on the lake, let others from the village go together."

Zhao Canghu looked at Lin Chen and said worriedly: "On the contrary, will the Martial Hall in the county town cause you trouble?"

"No."

A martial artist, to put it bluntly, still relies on strength to speak. Zhou Fei was at the fourth stage of Open-Acupuncture and was defeated by his third stage. The Mantis Martial Hall would not stand up for Zhou Fei.

The Mantis Martial Hall couldn't afford to lose that face!

"I reckon that after our village occupies Liuzhuang's fishing area, that old thing Zhou Quan will go to town to file a complaint. But we are in the right. This time it was Liuzhuang that made the move first, so we aren't afraid of him filing a complaint."

"I'll leave the town matters to you, Village Chief."

"What's hard about it? If it weren't for you this time, our village would really have suffered. Practice martial arts well. If you encounter any difficulties, write a letter back. This old bone of mine can still think of some ways for you."

Zhao Canghu patted Lin Chen on the shoulder. Lin Chen understood the Village Chief's meaning. If he ran out of money, he would find a way to pool money for him again.

"This time Liuquan compensated twenty-one taels. For the seven people injured like Luo Si, let them keep one tael each, and give the remaining two taels to you. You take it to the Martial Hall."

"Village Chief, wouldn't that be not so good?" Lin Chen hesitated.

"Without your move, they wouldn't have gotten a cent of compensation. I've checked, the injuries aren't too heavy. They'll be fine after lying down for ten days. One tael of silver is already considered a profit."

Zhao Canghu smiled and continued: "I've already agreed with them, and everyone has no opinion. Let's do it this way."

"I'll listen to you, Village Chief." Lin Chen smiled slightly and didn't refuse again.

Liuzhuang.

"Father, this Lin Chen's move was too ruthless. The physician said Fei'er won't be able to get out of bed for three months. We should tell the Mantis Martial Hall instructor about this, and the Mantis Martial Hall instructor will stand up for Fei'er."

"Stupid!"

Zhou Quan looked at his son and said unhappily: "That Lin Chen entered the Martial Hall this year, and Xiao Fei has already been in the Martial Hall for a year, but Xiao Fei still lost to Lin Chen. Do you think the Mantis Martial Hall will stand up for Xiao Fei? If the matter spreads, the Mantis Martial Hall instructor will only be dissatisfied with Xiao Fei!"

"Then just let it go like this?"

"Then what else do you want?" Zhou Quan glared at his son: "You go find Lin Chen for revenge, I won't stop you."

Zhou Quan's son looked sullen. Where would he dare to find Lin Chen for revenge.

"That old thing Zhao Canghu is not easy to talk to. This time Linhu Village has the upper hand, I'm afraid they will occupy some of our village's water territory."

"Ah, then what should we do?"

"Can only find the town mayor to solve it, let the town mayor persuade that old thing Zhao Canghu."

Zhou Quan's old face had a look of pain. Finding the town mayor definitely required giving gifts, and another sum of money would have to be spent. But if this money wasn't spent, once Linhu Village encroached on Liuzhuang's fishing area, the villagers would blame their Zhou family and harbor resentment toward them. By then, if the eldest and second wanted to continue being Liuzhuang Village Chiefs, it would probably not be so easy.

Three days later!

Still that pine forest.

Only Lin Chen's figure was no longer shuttling through the forest, but at the top of the pine forest, his figure like a swallow, stepping on the branches of the pine trees.

Standing at the top of the tree, Lin Chen saw the Village Chief walking toward this side from the corner of his eye. He stepped lightly with his right foot, and a swallow returning to its nest landed steadily on the ground, waiting for the Village Chief to arrive.

"Xiao Chen, finished practicing martial arts?"

"Knew you were coming, Village Chief, so I specifically waited for you."

Zhao Canghu heard this and was happy: "Don't be poor. Tell you a piece of good news, that old thing Zhou Quan really went to find the town mayor, saying our village encroached on Liuzhuang's fishing area, but was directly kicked out by the town mayor. He brought gifts to the door, but the gifts weren't even put down before he was kicked out."

"Why is this?"

Lin Chen was somewhat surprised. Logically speaking, even if the town mayor of Gaohe Town was dissatisfied with Liuzhuang's provocation against Linhu Village, he shouldn't have kicked people out directly.

Was he going to beat Zhou Quan?

"I inquired about it. The things that happened in our village were spread to the town that very day. Several big families in the town expressed their stance, saying Liuzhuang brought it upon themselves."

"The proprietor of the Cheng Family Cloth Shop, the proprietor of the Zhao Family Restaurant, the proprietor of the Lu Family Pharmacy... and also the Xu family and the Yan family..."

Hearing the Village Chief's words, Lin Chen instantly understood what was going on.

The families of those junior brothers of his were backing him up.

Martial arts connections, he had already formed them in Gaohe Town.

That Zhou Fei's strength couldn't compare to his, and his connections were even worse.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 56 =====