It was just after lunchti, when the n and won from each household had just returned ho to have lunch and rest, not yet gone out to work. There isn’t much in the way of entertainnt in the village, but the nature of gossip is the sa everywhere. The loud quarreling of the Sang Pingliang couple had already drawn the neighboring n and won to co out to watch the excitent, quickly gathering a crowd of more than a dozen people.
Seeing Sang Yufei standing there with a face full of embarrassnt and helplessness, almost being pointed at his nose by the gesticulating Sang Pingliang, the crowd couldn’t help but start discussing among themselves, inwardly sympathizing with Sang Yufei.
So older and more mature onlookers couldn’t resist stepping forward to persuade Sang Pingliang, "After all, he is your own nephew. Brother Sang, if you have sothing to say, say it nicely. Why get so furious!"
"This disgraceful wretch! I’m angry because he’s not living up to expectations, really! Just like your deadbeat dad, never listening to advice, always ’exam, exam, exam’, huh! Do you even have the fate for it!" Sang Pingliang ranted bitterly, then turned to the crowd and said, "He spent who knows how much silver going to Hangzhou, he’s bound to squander all of this family’s assets sooner or later!"
"Exactly! You’ll probably end up not even having porridge to drink in the future!" Mrs. Li gave Sang Yufei a scathing glance.
It was common knowledge that Sang Yufei went to Hangzhou for the rural examination. Seeing him return alone, dressed in old cotton clothes, and knowing the Sang family’s prestigious history, there was no need to ask—the crowd subconsciously assud that he must have failed the exam. Although to a certain extent they felt that Sang Pingliang had a point, after all, where would rural people have so much spare money to squander? There were old scholars who never passed exams all their life and died without a coffin or decent clothes!
However, the words of the Sang Pingliang couple didn’t seem befitting of elders.
Sang Yufei was also annoyed and spoke firmly: "I just ca to borrow so flour from my second uncle and aunt. If you are unwilling to lend it, let it be, why say so much? I, Sang Yufei, didn’t spend a penny of your money for my exams. You can badmouth , but why do you also speak ill of my dad? Second uncle, by disrespecting my dad this way, don’t bla for not acknowledging you as my second uncle!"
"As if we care that much!" Mrs. Li spat back scornfully: "You think calling ’second uncle’ makes you so precious? If you don’t acknowledge , then so be it! Let it be heard by everyone here! It’s you who said you won’t acknowledge us, so don’t co to us for anything in the future!"
"You, you, how dare you talk back!" Sang Pingliang was also infuriated.
"You were the first to disrespect my father!" Sang Yufei stood his ground.
"Second brother, what is all this about!" Mrs. Fang and Sang Hong arrived as well, with Mrs. Fang saying, "It’s just asking to borrow so flour, how did it turn into this ss!"
"Oh, you’re playing the good Samaritan with my things!" Mrs. Li retorted sarcastically: "If you’re so generous, why don’t you buy it yourself? Now you want to offload this burden and use our food to feed him? Don’t even think about it!"
"Second aunt!" Sang Hong’s face darkened as he spoke angrily, "Axian simply ntioned borrowing, she never intended to take advantage of you. Even if I have to support my younger brother for a lifeti, I am willing to do so. Second aunt, don’t make such unpleasant remarks!"
"Fine! Then you support him for a lifeti! Don’t bother borrowing from us, there is none!" Mrs. Li snorted.
"Then we shall not borrow!" Mrs. Fang scoffed coldly, "Still calling yourselves elders, showing such cold-heartedness! You talk big, but over the years, when have you ever lent a helping hand even as small as a thread? Don’t put on the airs of an elder and just lecture. If you look down on us that much, from today on we’ll sever ties completely. Even if Xiaofei never succeeds in the exams, we are willing to support him; we’d rather beg than to co near your doorstep! If he becos successful and you refuse to revel in his success, then I shall admire you!"
Hearing this, the onlookers rembered what the Sang Pingliang couple had done to the main family over the years, and couldn’t help but start discussing, although the criticism was not overt, the way they looked at Sang Pingliang and his wife changed sowhat.
"You hussy, you, you—" Sang Pingliang, furious and embarrassed, pointed at Mrs. Fang, expecting Sang Hong to co forward to chastise his wife, but Sang Hong just stood there with an iron-blue face, motionless, clearly in agreent with his wife’s words.
Even he has turned against ! Sang Pingliang, about to explode with anger, sneered: "Fine! If he ever becos a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, I’ll write my na, Sang Pingliang, backwards—from then on, I won’t take any advantage even if he begs to!"
"As if he has a chance to pass the exams! His ancestral grave would have to spout green smoke first!" Mrs. Li scoffed dismissively.
Mrs. Fang raised her eyebrows and mocked: "You all talk lightly now, but words alone are no proof. I’m afraid when the ti cos, you’ll still act all high and mighty with the airs of elders! Heh, who in the village doesn’t know? Second uncle and aunt are the sharpest at penny-pinching! Wouldn’t miss a chance for a bargain!"
The crowd couldn’t help but laugh out loud with a "bang", covering their mouths. Thinking of the Sang Pingliang couple’s usual behavior, like squeezing every last drop from a toad, almost nobody hadn’t been taken advantage of by this thick-faced couple. Hearing these words, they were quite pleased and began to talk softly, recounting the couple’s ’glorious’ deeds.
Sang Pingliang, unused to such treatnt, suddenly turned red in the face, furious and embarrassed, he retorted: "Nonsense! I, Sang Laodi (younger brother), am always a man of my word. When have I ever been untrustworthy? Fine! We will go to the Li Zheng’s house and write a deed of separation, you brothers can fend for yourselves from now on, and even if you freeze or starve to death, I will not care! Don’t even think about taking my things!"
"Is second uncle really willing to do this?" Mrs. Fang sneered coldly: "Maybe this ti around, second brother might just pass the rural examination! The good news hasn’t arrived yet, who dares to say for certain he won’t pass! Perhaps second uncle should think twice? Don’t end up unable to save face later!"
"Good news, go on with your wild dreams!" Mrs. Li jeered: "What? Got scared hearing about the deed of separation? Still thinking of taking advantage of our family later on? Let tell you, it’s too late for regrets now. Let’s go, we’re off to Li Zheng’s house right now!"
"Why must family turn on each other like this!" Soone in the crowd sighed and urged.
"Indeed, indeed!" others in the crowd agreed.
"Hmph!" Mrs. Fang sneered with disdain.
Sang Pingliang and Mrs. Li, unable to bear this treatnt, beca enraged, insisting they go to Li Zheng’s house to sign the deed right away.
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