Chapter 46: Father
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Li Zhuangshi’s face changed once again. He knew very clearly that if Qin Xuelian announced this incident, he would definitely be denounced by the entire village, and even exiled from the village.
"Village chief! I didn’t reveal Fang Zhengzhi’s whereabouts to Zhang Yangping. The illustration was indeed given by me, but that was because I have my own sorrows. Firstly, it is for the peace between the two villages. Secondly, it is about the money Zhang Yangping promised to give me. I did something silly for the sake of my studies, but now, Zhang Yangping evidently regretted, and ganged up with Fang Zhengzhi to sabotage me!"
Li Zhuangshi could only refuse to admit, and made use of the situation to put forth his own ideas, pushing all the blame onto Fang Zhengzhi and Zhang Yangping.
"Hmph! You say my Zhengzhi and Zhang Yangping ganged up to sabotage you? If you can say this, where’s your evidence?" Qin Xuelian instantly stood up.
She never realised that a person’s skin could be thick to such an extent.
Li Zhuangshi didn’t rush to retort, and instead, stealthily observed the change in expression on Village Chief Meng Bai’s face. He knew very clearly that even he himself didn’t believe what he had just said. But, if there was one person who believed, or if there was one person who was willing to believe, then things would be easier…
There’s hope!
Village Chief Meng Bai actually didn’t speak?
Yes, if Village Chief Meng Bai didn’t speak, that means that there is hope!
"Village Chief Meng Bai, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have believed the Northern Mountain Village and eyed that bit of silver. But I was thinking for the future of the Southern Mountain Village. Studying is expensive, I am sure you know how hard the Law of Dao examinations is. But, I have confidence! General Li of the Divine Constabulary even praised me personally. As long as I work hard, I would definitely be able to pass the Law of Dao examinations. Then, the Southern Mountain Village would become prosperous! These people here are afraid… they are jealous!"
Li Zhuangshi immediately struck while the iron is hot. Disregarding everything else, he could only stake his chances on the Law of Dao examinations and on Village Chief Meng Bai. Furthermore, he also skilfully portrayed his own importance in the village.
He was betting, betting that Village Chief Meng Bai would not exile him from the Southern Mountain Village.
"All of you shut up! Wife… close the door!" Village Chief Meng Bai couldn’t take it anymore, and glared fiercely at Li Zhuangshi. The hand holding his cigar trembled slightly, and a heavy sigh came out of his mouth.
…
The room wasn’t very big. The atmosphere was fairly strange, everybody sat silently on their chairs, all their expressions different from one another. Village Chief Meng Bai pondered intensely.
Convince the Fang family?
Ask the Fang family to keep this secret?
Firstly, seeing Qin Xuelian’s attitude, he was no idea if they would agree. Secondly, paper cannot contain a fire, the truth would eventually spread. Even if the Fang family remained silent, who was to say that the Northern Mountain Village people won’t speak about this?
Problems would definitely arise sooner or later once it was known that Li Zhuangshi had sabotaged Fang Zhengzhi.
No, this cannot happen. Li Zhuangshi was the hope of the Southern Mountain Village, the person which the Divine Constabulary had praised.
Furthermore, his family occupies two slots in the Hall of Dao, that was something that had to be reported up to the Divine Constabulary. The previous time, the Divine Constabulary’s Missus had even personally tested Li Huer.
This meant that the Divine Constabulary had pinned their hopes on the Li family.
If the Fang family’s actions were made known to the Divine Constabulary, would they be disappointed in the Fang family, or even because of this, be disappointed at the Southern Mountain Village?
Village Chief Meng Bai frowned deeper, habitually placing the cigar in his mouth, yet realising that the cigar had already finished burning. This made him even moodier.
Sacrifice the Fang family?
When this thought crossed Village Chief Meng Bai’s head, he felt a bleeding sensation in his heart. Fang Houde is also someone who had contributed to the village.
Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi’s performance in the hunting squad was excellent, and even drawn the Rock Formation Illustration for the Southern Mountain Village hunting squad. How could he bring himself to let the Fang family to be mistakenly accused?
"Sigh…"
Village Chief Meng Bai sighed deeply, feeling as if he had aged another ten years. At this moment, he felt a huge mountain pressing down heavily on his body, pressing so hard that he couldn’t even straighten his back.
"Village chief, it’s obvious. Li Zhuangshi wants to use the Northern Mountain Village to harm my son. If this incident isn’t properly dealt with, we refuse to accept it!"
"Refuse to accept it!"
"Refuse to accept it!"
Qin Xuelian’s voice echoed around the small room, causing Village Chief Meng Bai to feel as if he had been hammered in his heart.
Mrs Li’s mouth twitched, wanting to speak, but was slapped across the face by Li Zhuangshi. "It’s all your fault, asking me to participate in the Law of Dao examinations, look what happened now? People are offended! People are jealous! No matter how hard I work in the future, there would be no rewards. The Southern Mountain Village can only remain poor forever!"
Slapped in the face by Li Zhuangshi, Mrs Li was indeed taken aback. Just as she prepared to start a fight with him, she quickly realised what was happening.
"It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have allowed Zhuangshi to enter that Hall of Dao. Our Li family used to be reputable in the Southern Mountain Village, but ever since he entered the Hall of Dao, our portion of meat had decreased, and the cost of studying for the two people in our family had increased so much. All those paper, ink, they are all money, we can’t be carrying on living like this…"
Mrs Li used the tantrum-throwing technique. Village Chief Meng Bai’s expression instantly changed again. He knew it was time for him to make the decision.
On one side was the future of the Southern Mountain Village, on the other was the Fang family which had contributed to the Southern Mountain Village.
"Old Fang family, I’m sorry! I represent all the villagers in the Southern Mountain Village and hereby kneel down to you. The Southern Mountain Village can’t lose its hope…" Once Village Chief Meng Bai finished his sentence, he instantly slammed to the ground on both knees. His entire body started to tremble.
Fang Houde was stunned.
Qin Xuelian was also stunned.
A cold glint shone in Li Zhuangshi’s eyes. He knew that he won the bet.
Mrs Li covered her face and stopped her bawling. She paused her act, her eyes filled with satisfaction as she looked at Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian.
Fang Zhengzhi stared at Village Chief Meng Bai kneeling on the ground, then looked at Qin Xuelian and Fang Houde, their faces filled with disbelief, and didn’t say a word.
He knew that since this village chief in front of him had made a decision, then any further arguments would only contribute to making them a laughing stock.
"Dad, mom, let’s leave!"
"Yes… Zhengzhi, let’s leave!" Qin Xuelian instantly recovered from her shocked state after hearing Fang Zhengzhi’s words. There were no tears in her eyes, she only wanted to leave this place as soon as possible, and not expose Fang Zhengzhi to such personalities. Because, Fang Zhengzhi was only seven.
"Village chief!" Fang Houde still didn’t dare to belief. He had done so much for the Southern Mountain Village, yet he didn’t even have the ability to acquit his own son. How could he accept this?
"Fang Zhengzhi and Zhang Yangping of the Northern Mountain Village had conspired together to sabotage Li Zhuangshi, now as the Southern Mountain Village village chief, I declare that the Fang family is now exiled from the Southern Mountain Village!"
"Exiled from the Southern Mountain Village!"
"Exiled from the Southern Mountain Village!"
The voice of Village Chief Meng Bai rang out like thunder in Fang Houde’s heart, causing the walking stick on his hands to tremble.
"Ha ha ha… alright, alright! Li Zhuangshi, today the Southern Mountain Village has protected you. But, I, Fang Houde, will definitely avenge for my son!" Fang Houde’s laughter suddenly rang out.
Then, his gaze turned cold, and the walking stick on his hands instantly swung towards Li Zhuangshi.
So what if he was simple? So what if he was kind and sincere? As a father, he only had one wish, that was to protect his one and only son as well as he could.
What to do if his own son was wronged?
Then he must fight, even if he cannot win, he still must fight!
Because…
He was a father!
"Hmph, overestimating yourself!"
Li Zhuangshi saw the walking stick smashing towards him and was completely unconcerned.
Even when Fang Houde was at his peak, he still couldn’t compare to Li Zhuangshi. Moreover, now Fang Houde had a broken arm, and his leg was heavily injured as well.
A fist punched out. Li Zhuangshi wanted to use reality to let Village Chief Meng Bai understand, his decision… was absolutely right!
"Hmph, overestimating yourself!"
Right at this moment, another huff rang out coldly. Then, a figure flashed past Village Chief Meng Bai, and stood in front of Fang Houde.
"Boom!" One small fist and one large fist smashed into each other.