Notes on Leisurely Living in the Farm

Chapter 32

"Mom, what's wrong with you!"

Shen Fuhai knelt down in front of the bed in panic, shaking the unconscious old lady's shoulders, Cheng also knelt down and sat down.In the past at this time, everyone in the main room would be busy, and any disputes would be put on hold.

Yiyou shook her head, this tried and tested method might not work today.With so many pairs of eyes watching, the uncle and fifth uncle's eyes were red, how could one person's fainting be solved easily.

Without her having to speak, Shen Fujiang pulled the doctor over and said, "Please go and get a pulse again."

The youngest, Shen Furui, also grabbed Chun's mother's arm: "I didn't see the master fainted, and he didn't boil water to serve him. If you have no eyesight, what's the use of you?"

There were people who treated him and others who took care of him, now Cheng had no reason to hide.With a bitter face, there is only one delay in the current situation, first press it down and then slowly figure it out.

"Fu Hai, I think today's clan meeting is here for the time being, mother can't stand the excitement now."

"How does this work?!"

The eldest and fifth child of the Shen family objected unanimously, Yiyou walked out from behind: "Second aunt, niece dare to ask: Who is the head of the Shen family now?"

There was silence in the room. This question seemed unreasonable, but it was actually extremely clever.Although the old lady actually has a high status, her position is dispensable.The once-a-monthly clan assembly is a heavy ritual of the Shen family, how could it not be dismissed because of a woman and child.

Uncle San, who hadn't spoken all this time, stood up: "Second Brother... In my opinion, Mother is now watching over from Lang Zhong, and Mother Chun is taking good care of her, and we are also nearby, so there shouldn't be any serious problems."

"Third brother, you, like fourth child, don't care about mother's life at all. Now that she's lying unconscious inside, do you still have the mind to open this outside?"

Years of lust is still there, Shen Fuhai's words escaped, Shen Fuyang shut his mouth hesitantly.

Yiyou, who was hiding beside her parents, took a step forward: "Second Uncle, why use my house as a raft? Everyone has a steelyard in their hearts about the cause of today's incident. Could it be that there is something bad hidden in the courtyard of this ancestral house, so we don't care about it?" Dare to let people see?!"

"Erya is young, but she has a sharp tongue."

Different from the calmness of the past, Cheng's voice was sharp.Yiyou raised her head, with calmness in her eyes: "Compared to Second Aunt's eloquent tongue, Erya has always been clumsy. But I believe that under this bright and sunny day, any filth will be invisible. What is the truth? It's not like two lips can easily conclude the coffin when they touch each other!"

"What's the truth, I can't tolerate a child like you talking nonsense here."

Yiyou straightened her body and stood like this among the crowd.The delicate face and serious demeanor instantly blocked Cheng's words.

"Second brother and sister, it's inconvenient for Erya to say more as a child, so I can always say a few words. There is something I have kept in my heart for more than ten years, so I simply said it in front of this opportunity."

Yiyou listened carefully, and gradually realized that things were more complicated than she thought.

The eldest son inheritance system is prevalent in Dayue, but there are different interpretations of what is the eldest son.It is understandable that the eldest son of the first wife is the eldest son of the first wife.However, when the first wife had no eldest son, there were two kinds of opinions from the government and the public to the people.One school insists that the eldest son born by a legitimate wife is the eldest son no matter how old he is; the other school, on the contrary, no matter who is born, the eldest son is the first son of an adult in the family, and the sons born by a direct wife are in order.Long or direct acquaintance is honored and acquainted, each depends on his own ability.

Dai Viet experienced three emperors, and the two factions fought with each other. There is still no conclusion on this matter.Her grandfather had an ingenious idea at the beginning, and wanted to set up a pair of patriarchs, the eldest son and the eldest son, to suppress each other and complement each other.It's a pity that it hasn't been implemented yet, and people have already driven the crane west.Both the uncle and Aunt Liu knew about this matter, and just about to take it out for the final struggle, Aunt Liu suddenly died of a sudden illness due to worry.

"After Mother died, I was the only one left. My fifth brother was young, so I had no choice but to take a step back. Now that I see this veil, I wonder if Mother died unexpectedly."

There were buzzing discussions in the courtyard, Yiyou listened attentively, but she already knew the truth in her heart.Uncle's prediction was completely correct. She overheard the old lady and Cheng's emotion in Qingming the year before last.The matter of arsenic was indeed made by the old lady, with Mrs. Cheng assisting.

A single spark can start a prairie fire, and my uncle has been greedy for a long time.She was stirring up people's hearts, and speaking out about this matter at the right time would definitely damage her prestige.As long as he no longer covers the sky with one hand, his family can slowly develop and grow.

"Nonsense! Aunt Liu has been dead for many years, and a handkerchief is just a matter of catching wind and shadow!"

Shen Fuhai's voice was not so sure, and Shen Fujiang pressed on step by step: "During the doctor's examination just now, he said that the arsenic and vomit had been left behind for a long time. When my mother died, it was the second aunt who was in charge of the meals in the ancestral house. You didn't even let me meet Fifth Brother. If it wasn't because of the poison, how could you be so secretive?"

"It's just an aunt. She shouldn't be buried in a grand manner. This is the rule."

"That being the case, I propose to open the coffin for an autopsy. Fifth brother, what do you think?"

"Brother, I will listen to you. You are doing this for your mother, and she will support you as before when she is under Jiuquan."

Yiyou kept watching, and now she admired Uncle and Uncle Wu a little bit.Also being suppressed, the two brothers supported each other, and their lives were more nourishing than her family's.Now in front of everyone, he has such courage.Compared with the greedy and domineering second uncle and the ambitious and talented third uncle, these two sons of Aunt Liu are indeed more important than the old lady, no wonder she was favored when she was alive.If grandpa's vision was realized, her family's life would be better.

"I read the almanac before going out, and today is suitable for groundbreaking. While everyone is here, let's go and have a look."

"Brother, do you want to disturb the peace of the Shen family's ancestors?"

Shen Fujiang smiled: "Second brother, my mother is buried at the far side, even if the grave collapses, it won't disturb anyone."

Xu Shi was stimulated by the truth, and regardless of everyone's dissuasion, Shen Fujiang carried the iron catalpa and started digging.The tomb of the concubine's room was nothing more than a small earthen bag. It was dug down with only a few shovels, and the coffin lid was exposed.

"Brother, is that really the case?"

Yiyou took her younger brother by the hand and looked at Cheng Shi who was sweating profusely.From just now, she has been resolutely opposing, even throwing soil on top of the catalpa.

With such efforts, is there really something strange in the grave?
With the sound of her heart beating faster and faster, the rivets were pulled out, and the poorly made poplar coffin was already somewhat rotten.The black-painted door was opened, exposing it to the sunlight, and the inside was empty, not even withered grass.

"Sure enough... where did you get my mother's body!"

Shen Fujiang grabbed Shen Fuhai, and his glasses were even redder.Yiyou covered her mouth, there were no outsiders in Yunlin Village, Shen's family was buried in the area below the mountain, and they could be seen farming in the past, there was no possibility of grave robbery at all.Now that the coffin is like this, it can only show that it was empty when it was buried.

"Fukue, don't get too excited, go back and talk if you have something to say."

The second uncle came out to mediate, Shen Fuhai stroked his sleeves: "This matter has nothing to do with me."

"Brother, the land closest to here belongs to the fourth family, and he has been planting it all these years. You can ask him if you need anything."

Yiyou sighed, knowing that this kind of "good thing" cannot do without their family.

Mrs. Li has been enduring it all the time, and seeing that things are similar, she also said: "Second sister-in-law, our family only cares about farming, and will not go to pick up other people's graves. I heard from Erya's father that after the death of his father-in-law, he only cared about crying. Never did anything."

The glaring evidence directly blocked all of Cheng's paths, seeing her always unkind expression, Yiyou waved her sleeves and fanned the wind leisurely, and walked leisurely towards the Shen family's ancestral house.

A few steps away from the ancestral house, she saw Huzi waiting by the door.He was wearing a blue jacket, and his sturdy body exuded a rustic air.

"Fourth brother, fourth sibling, you also let Huzi come?"

Cheng thought of Master Pei whom his relatives and daughters were thinking about, and his restless heart felt a sense of satisfaction.So what if you are quick-talking for a while, you still have to marry a farmer obediently, or go in under the name of marriage first, then ceremony, and you may be rubbed flat by your in-laws when you get married.

"Second Aunt, I asked him to come here. It happened to be clear when everyone was here."

Not dodging or evading, calm and composed, these people already accepted her love because of the embroidery, but now they have some doubts about the adultery.Could this be true?
"Huzi came just in time, tell me what happened that day."

Yiyou smiled sweetly at him, clenched her fists in front of her chest as a gesture of encouragement.Huzi curled his lips, his mother told him that Erya would be his daughter-in-law if he accepted it.If he categorically denies it, he will never get Erya again.

He really wanted to admit it!But Erya approached him, moved him with emotion and reason, and finally even threatened that if he dared to lie, he would hate him for the rest of his life, and he didn't want to make trouble like before.But Er Ya is so beautiful today, he hesitated again, what should he say?
"What is Hu Zi thinking, is it helping others to deal with me?"

Cheng smiled proudly: "Argh, in front of so many people, you can't collude a confession."

"Second aunt, didn't you see everything that day? Huzi, you are a strong young man who will kill pigs in the future, why are you more coy than me. To be honest, what happened that day?"

"I didn't. Didn't the second aunt of the Shen family see clearly? It was Erya sister who came back to meet me. The road was slippery that day, and we tripped. You saw me later, and you persuaded me... If I ruin Erya's reputation, you can give me money.

I see, you've been looking for someone and spreading rumors?It must be so!In this way, you can continue to bully Erya's family.Although I like her very much, I accept your wish, and the marriage has to be happy with Erya's younger sister. "

A group of crows flew by in the air, Yiyou silently wiped the sweat off her face.She just thought that Huzi was smart and knew how to proceed step by step, but she didn't expect him to say such a sentence in the last second.Now it's all right, his little meaning for her is on the surface.If he does something in the future, it's not easy for her to refuse directly.I really don't know if he is smart or stupid.

Fortunately, today's goal has been achieved, Yiyou pulled down her mother's sleeve, and Li Shi stood up.

"Second sister-in-law, Erya told me about this when she came back that day. The surrounding area of ​​the saline-alkali land was so empty, and you were the only one I saw at that time. I really didn't expect that you would be so cruel. How did Erya offend you? Get rid of her, you strike again and again, this time you even disregarded the reputation of the daughters of the entire Shen family."

"What nonsense are the four younger brothers and sisters talking about? I am busy in and out of Shen's house every day. With so many pairs of glasses staring at me, how could I do such a thing?"

Everyone woke up from the shock, and today's incidents happened one after another.First it was Aunt Liu's empty coffin, and now the rumors are closely related to the patriarch's wife. There are countless clues that make people have to think elsewhere.

Aunt Liu has a gentle nature and usually does not make enemies easily. Who on earth hates her so much that she cannot rest in peace after death?All kinds of things back then were vividly remembered, and the most likely one was the unconscious old lady lying inside.

And the attitude of these old ladies, once Tiansha Guxing said, it is really hard to determine whether it is true or a lie after the Dongchuang incident.

"Second Aunt, I used to treat you like my own mother. I never thought you would be like this. It doesn't matter if your hands are longer, but your tongue can't be too long. If it is too long, you will commit the crime of seven outs. "

"Erya, I am worthy of the heavens, but I..."

Cheng's words were righteous, the principal rooms were opened, and the frail old lady was helped out.

"I testify that Fu Hai's daughter-in-law has been filial to me these past few days. It is impossible for her to do the rumors. Erya, I apologize to your second aunt for disrespecting the elders."

"So that's the case, Erya, it seems that you have wronged your second aunt."

The old lady was so loud that she bluffed many people for a while.Yiyou touched the paper in his sleeve, do you want to throw it out now?No, now is not the best time, wait and see.

"Grandma, the evidence points to her. Your words alone can't prove anything, so there is no point in wronging the second aunt. It's just that the most important thing in a daughter's family is reputation. This matter will not come to light. If someone does this in the future, wouldn't it be popular?" Anxious?"

The second uncle stood up: "That's true. This person framed not only Erya, but even affected the reputation of the entire Shen family. Everyone in the clan is here today. Think about it, where did you hear about it?"

"My fifth uncle's house next door is too loud, I just heard..."

"When going to the market, people from the neighboring villages will talk..."

"I heard that someone went to the Risheng Grain Store in the county to buy grain, and the guy said it."

There was a lot of talk, everyone's information was gathered together, and the truth of the incident was quickly restored.

The second uncle rolled up his muddy sleeves: "Yunlin Village is more than ten miles away from the county seat, less than two days away, how did that person know about this?"

Doubt flashed in everyone's eyes, as they didn't go to the market in those two days, it's possible that the buddy had a tailwind.Even if he grows up, why would he be interested in this matter.

Cheng supported the old lady, her palms were sweating: "Second Uncle, how can we take care of the affairs of the county. It's not early in the morning, why don't we ask again tomorrow morning?"

It's time, Yiyou glanced at her, at this point in the matter, the advantage has completely turned to her side.

"Grandma, our Shen family is also an upright family of farming and education, why can't we control the affairs of the county. Although it is too late to leave for the county at this moment, the granddaughter dared to speak like that just now because there are other evidences."

Reaching into her arm, she slowly took out the paper she had been pinching for several days.

"Second Uncle, please take a look, this is the receipt of Risheng Grain Bank, and the guy who spread the rumor came from here."

"you……"

Cheng's face turned pale with shock, the paper was exactly the same as the one she opened that day.It's Pei Zihuan, it must be him!
"Fu Hai, come over and have a look too, you should be familiar with this seal and notes."

Sensing the cold gaze of the second uncle, her heart sank quickly.She has done a lot of tricks in Operation Liang, and both Niang and Fuhai can see this exposure.

"Second uncle, this...how is it possible?"

Shen Fuhai opened his mouth wide, his face full of disbelief, but in his heart he cursed Cheng for being stupid and ignorant.After being the patriarch for so many years, he managed it carefully, and finally bought such a property.Now, she was accidentally confessed by her.

"Stupid woman, you have been in charge of the family for many years, yet you actually cheated your superiors and enriched your own pockets!"

Lifting his foot and kicking it, he took the opportunity to vent the anger in his heart.Caught off guard, Cheng was kicked on all fours.The old lady she was supporting was also hit and fell on her daughter-in-law.As soon as Cheng fell down, he was hit hard again, so he raised his hands and feet reflexively to hide.With a kick, the old lady was knocked to the ground, and her back hit the chair leg.

A series of changes happened only in an instant, Yiyou lowered her head.The final hole card has been played, and she just needs to wait quietly for the expected result.

"Oh, Fu Hai, what's going on?"

The old lady leaned halfway on the chair, whimpering and screaming.

"Mother, this stupid woman is so rich in her own pocket that she even opened a grain store in the county without permission. Not only that, but she also tried to lure Chunsheng into it."

The old lady has always been sensitive when it comes to money.Chunsheng went to the grain shop, why didn't she know?Could it be that the guy in the shop has quietly turned to his wife?The more I think about it, the more I feel it is possible, and with the current situation, I can only push the boat along.

"Niece, how could you treat the Shen family like this. We have never shorted you for food or drink over the years, but you have enriched us for your own money. What will Si Ya and Chun Sheng do with you like this?"

The old lady burst into tears and pushed her out without hesitation as a stepping stone.The Cheng family on the ground also understood what she meant, this old man, he didn't have a good life for a few years anyway, why didn't he memorize it by himself?
"Mother, my daughter-in-law doesn't have..."

"You are still quibbling, do you want me to call Chunsheng back and ask?"

While talking, Shen Fuhai showed a pleading look while people were not paying attention.He also wanted his mother to take the burden off, but the daughter-in-law couldn't clear up the matter.She can only bear the sin she made herself!
Yiyou is not interested in watching them act, and she goes back and forth just to find a result: this matter is all done by Cheng alone, and has nothing to do with the upright patriarch.

Today has completely torn face with this side, if they are not suppressed, it will be her who will be unlucky!
Rubbing her hands together, she cleared her throat and reminded, "Uncles and aunts, the story of Er Ya was reported by Risheng Grain Shop, please return my innocence to Er Ya."

After she finished speaking, she bowed down and bowed down, and Mrs. Li pulled her husband up: "Second brother, let's return the ten mu of land and one cow that we deserve, please let Erya go."

It's just a plea, but the facts are here.Misappropriating the family's financial resources to fill his own pockets, Shen Fuhai's last image collapsed.And everyone is panicking, one day it will be their family's turn, so what to do.

The second uncle raised his head to bask in the sun and saw all this clearly.Presumably the eldest brother also expected this, and then came up with the idea of ​​the dual patriarchs.This method seems absurd, but now that I think about it, if there were really two patriarchs, then Fu Hai would not be like this, hurting the whole clan secretly for his own self-interest.

"The fourth child's family get up first, you two go and call Fu Jiang and Fu Rui back."

Yiyou got up: "Second Uncle, you have to make the decision for me."

"My child, I think you can make decisions for yourself. Go back and sit properly. The girl's house should be quieter."

"I would like to follow the teachings of my second uncle."

They retreated together with Mrs. Li, and it wasn't long before Uncle and Uncle Wu also came back.Different from the sad expression just now, the two came in wearing sackcloth and filial piety, with a yellow frame sandwiched between them, crying loudly.

"Second Uncle, please help me to ask my mother, let her tell me and Fifth Brother, where is my mother now? After all these years, she has been a lonely ghost, we are really unfilial sons!"

"Boss, old five, both of you, get up and take off this filial piety for me."

The scene was even more chaotic, the old lady had already fainted, and she could only have a headache at the moment.Yiyou took Changsheng's hand and sent the forgotten tiger to the door.

"Thanks to you today."

"Sister Erya, I..."

"It's a mess inside, let's talk about it another day."

"Okay, another day!"

What happened next, though dangerous, was calm.The courtyard where Mrs. Liu lived was swept again, and the same arsenic was found on the edge of the kang, and the handkerchief was confirmed to be correct. The old lady who has been in charge of the backyard of the Shen family is duty-bound.

"The Shen family respects the patriarch. I shouldn't have said such a thing. But this matter concerns human life and the interests of the whole family, so I have to say it. The Cheng family paid a high price for the grain that the family handed over to the public. Sell ​​it, then convert it into taels of silver at a low price, and deceive the superiors and inferiors to fill their own pockets. As the patriarch, Fu Hai did not investigate at all. You know what happened to this matter."

Shen Fuhai still refused, but the second uncle ignored him: "The Erya matter, and all of them, are all caused by Cheng's grievances..."

Under heavy pressure, for the sake of her children, Cheng finally shouldered these two things.She was fined to the family temple, where she was sent to practice.

The Shen Family Temple is different from the leisurely days of rich and noble families who eat, sleep and chant scriptures.People in the family temple not only have to undertake heavy labor such as threshing grain, sewing clothes, and grinding flour, but also chant sutras every hour of the morning and evening.Yiyou looked at the second aunt's body, can she bear it?

As for the matter of the Liu family, because it is too old, it is really impossible to pursue it.In order to make up for it, the clan decided to raise her as a flat wife and bury her in the tomb with the former patriarch.

"You... bully our orphans and widows so much."

There was deep hatred in the old lady's eyes, and she looked at her with the desire to eat it alive.Yiyou sighed, she had to be strong for a lifetime, but in the end she never competed with Liu's, her son was not as competitive as Liu's, and now even the advantage of the only position was almost wiped out.

Such a result might be worse for her than death.

Raising her lips, she persuaded loudly: "Grandma, please take care of your health. Your life is the greatest blessing for your granddaughter."

The second uncle's loss of power has become inevitable. She lives day by day, and seeing the prosperity of the past gradually fade away, isn't it the greatest torture?

"Finally, regarding the matter of the two patriarchs, after all, it is the eldest brother's last wish. I propose to leave it to the court to decide."

What happened to the Risheng Grain Store made Shen Fuhai the public enemy of all the clansmen.Yiyou's activities a few days ago made people's hearts flutter even more.The pent-up grievances broke out, and the second uncle's proposal was quickly approved.

"You...you..."

The old lady slumped on the chair, repeating these two words all the time.Seeing that compared to the servants and women in the past, not many people would try to curry favor with a frustrated and vicious old man.

"Father, mother, Changsheng, let's go home."

After saying these words easily, she looked back at the forgotten Erbo's family again.Seeing the resentful eyes of the second aunt, she no longer had any fear.Reincarnation of cause and effect, so far finally came back with revenge.Now her family is on the way up.But Erbo's family, it is difficult to have the glory of the past.

She could finally feel a little relieved, because they no longer had the strength to stop her arbitrarily.

(End of this chapter)