Chapter 187: and translation of chapter title

Gu Daye's family has been growing and selling vegetables these years, already becoming a farmer-merchant combine; they often have chances to deal with county town restaurants and eateries, and over time naturally have more scheming than ordinary farming households.

But Gu Erye's family, generation after generation, only knows how to grow grain; their descendants rarely go to the city and have seen little of the world.

Suddenly scolded by Gu Xixi, several men in their thirties and forties were left speechless, mouths opening and closing.

Gu Youfu saw this, silently cursed these piggish teammates as useless, and had to speak himself:

"Niece Xixi, don't misunderstand; we came today with no other intention, just to fetch my second uncle."

"I heard you two had some quarrel, and he came to you on his own to seek an explanation; the family couldn't stop him."

"Out of respect for his age, you should not make things hard for him; just hand him over."

Gu Xixi thought, what a smiling tiger.

Speaking seemingly gently, saying they were only here to fetch Gu Erye.

But the implication behind the words was that Gu Xixi had first bullied the old man, then detained and made things difficult for him.

Qin Dasao whispered to Gu Xixi, "He's saying this for everyone to hear, just wants you to have no standing in the village."

Gu Xixi naturally knows Gu Youfu harbors ill intent.

Since Gu Youbei was sentenced to exile for poisoning, Gu Daye's family has never again sought trouble with Gu Xixi.

But can they really swallow this anger in their hearts?

The answer lay right before them.

Gu Erye's action today, whether provoked by Gu Daye's family or colluding with them,

ultimately amounts to the two families joining forces with ill intent.

Gu Xixi looked at Gu Youfu, deliberately raising her voice: "You only say there was a quarrel; why not explain clearly what caused it—are you ashamed to say?"

"Old Chen, tell everyone what we've lost recently and how many times we've been stolen from."

Chen Dafu took a breath, his voice like a great bell: "Whenever we fertilize and water the fields, Gu Erye sneaks over to steal our wooden watering buckets."

"I went to Gu Erye's wheat field to retrieve the buckets; besides those beside me, many villagers saw. In total fifteen times, starting from a month and a half ago."

Gu Xixi looked at Gu Erye's several sons: "You haven't split the household; you've always farmed together."

"Gu Erye comes to my house to steal things; surely several uncles aren't completely unaware?"

The villagers murmured in discussion.

Everyone coveted Gu Xixi's secret method for growing grain.

But someone like Gu Erye who directly goes to steal is the first.

Qin Dasao laughed loudly, "They get the old man to go out stealing, then sit back and enjoy the fruits, never worrying about their father being caught. Now they run over to pick a fight and extort people, yet they act more filial than each other!"

The onlookers burst into laughter.

Gu Erye's family's faces flushed red then turned pale.

In the standoff, Gu Erye suddenly lunged out from among the wheat straw.

He fell onto the road, covered in dirt, trembling as he cried, "Someone's going to be killed! I only came to ask Gu Xixi for an explanation, but she, she actually threw her weight around and had her hired hands beat me!"

Gu Youfu's eyes lit up; he pointed at Gu Xixi, indignant: "Too much bullying!"

"No matter what second uncle did wrong, he is after all your elder; as a grandchild you actually laid hands on your grandfather!"

"And you struck so viciously! Someone as arrogant as Gu Xixi—does she even deserve to be a descendant of the Gu clan?"

The relatives behind Gu Youfu all echoed in agreement.

"The Gu clan has no such person! She probably forgot her ancestors!"

"She just relies on knowing how to farm, having a bit of family wealth; today we must give her a lesson!"

……

Gu Erye's sons and daughters-in-law, taking advantage of the chaos, were about to step forward to help him up.

But Gu Xixi shouted sharply, "Don't move! Until things are clarified, let him lie on the ground if he wants to!"

From the opposite side came a chorus of curses: "A woman's heart is the most poisonous; the ground is damp—do you want to kill the old man?"

Chen Dafu and the others suddenly raised their hooves, eyes gleaming, pointing straight at the opposite side, taking a defensive stance. =

Gu Xixi said coldly,

"I am just vicious; what will you do about it?"

The relatives were furious; some could no longer restrain themselves, picking up stones on the spot and throwing them at Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi's pupils contracted; seeing the stone fly toward her face, she was already unable to dodge.

Chen Dafu also hadn't expected anyone to throw a stone; he startled, lost color, lunged forward to block, but still fell short.

In the blink of an eye, Gu Xixi braced herself for pain and bleeding.

At that moment, something unknown came breaking through the air, striking the stone and sending it flying away.

At the same time, among the crowd of Gu relatives, several people cried out in pain.

"Who! Who hit us?"

"Me."

Under everyone's gaze, Mu Nan Zhao walked toward the Gu clan crowd, his expression stern, his eyes sharp.

Gu Youfu was still questioning, "Out of respect for your former role as a teacher, we only seek an explanation from Gu Xixi; we won't make things hard for you—please step aside quickly."

However, Mu Nan Zhao not only did not step aside, but continued walking forward.

He Jinglan, An Qinghe, Shitou, and Zhang Shen shoved open the crowd and ran toward Gu Xixi.

Four faces surrounded Gu Xixi, all written with anxiety and concern, vying to say:

Zhang Shen: "Xixi, are they not hurting you?"

He Jinglan: "Xixi, they outnumber us and bully the few; if you were to fight, why not call us? Fortunately the village chief came to our home and told us, so we learned of the incident!"

An Qinghe: "Bullying Xixi is bullying me! If it's a matter of numbers, give me two days and we will definitely not lose to them!"

Shitou: "Xixi, don't worry—I've memorized the faces of these people, hum!"

Gu Xixi looked at them, the fright from just having stones thrown at her instantly eased.

Even a faint warmth rose in her heart.

"I'm fine; it's they who should be worried."

She lifted her head, her gaze firm as she looked toward the opposite side.

Mu Nan Zhao walked on as if no one else were there, straight into the midst of the Gu clan relatives.

Gu Youfu angrily said, "You scholar! What do you want by coming over here?"

The next moment, Mu Nan Zhao answered him with his actions.

Only a miserable cry was heard; the youth who had thrown stones at Gu Xixi clutched his right shoulder and fell to the ground.

He rolled about, crying out in pain, frightening the others until their faces turned pale; looking at Mu Nan Zhao's expression, it was as if they had seen a ghost.

Gu Youfu's teeth chattered as he hastily retreated, "You-you-you! How bold!"

"You're intentionally injuring someone; aren't you afraid I'll go to the government office to report you..."

"What's there to fear?!" Gu Xixi interjected, raising her voice, "It's merely a temporary dislocation of an arm."

"Later we'll set it back, and he'll still be a fine person."

She signaled Chen Dafu and the others to watch over Gu Erye, not allowing anyone to touch him.

Then she stepped forward while saying,

"Besides Gu Erye's own one-sided account, who else saw me hit him? Step forward."

"In a moment we'll go to the county office to file a report; the government office will itself have a doctor examine Gu Erye's injuries."

"If it truly turns out that Gu Erye has fresh injuries from being beaten, you can serve as witnesses so the government office can charge me with intentional injury."

"But if they can't find any..."