Chapter 28: Pick A Suitable “chicken” To Kill For Monkey To See
“Alright then, I’ll keep Nan Nan’s matter in mind. As soon as we get back, I’ll find a tutor for him. Once I find one, I’ll arrange for them to meet. If it’s suitable, we’ll settle it. Nan Nan is already three years old and can start his enlightenment education.”
Lin Xin couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Lin Nan in her heart. She had thought only children before the apocalypse were stressed out, but she didn’t expect to see even more stressed ones in ancient times. Three years old!
“Alright then, you handle the arrangements. I know you wouldn’t harm him, right?” Lin Xin’s gaze was full of threat.
“You stinky girl, this is my precious disciple that I found after much hardship, my last disciple. How could this old man harm him!” The little old man was so angry at Lin Xin’s words that he blew his beard and glared.
“Alright, alright, I was wrong. You two hurry up and leave! People are coming over.” Catching sight with the corner of her eye of Lin Shenzi dragging her grandson—who was crying with a face full of snot and tears, rolling on the ground covered in dirt and some sticky unidentified things—heading this way, Lin Xin quickly reminded the little old man.
“Good then, this old man will take his leave first.” Although the little old man really wanted to watch Lin Xin beat someone, the ginseng in his arms needed handling. He needed to process it quickly and send it over there. Besides, he was afraid that staying would affect Lin Xin’s performance, so he agreed very readily.
After speaking, with the help of his little disciple, he quickly climbed onto the horse carriage. When the horse carriage started moving, he suddenly lifted the rear curtain. “Girl, remember this: my surname is Cui. Don’t call me old man anymore; call me Uncle Cui.”
After saying that, he dropped the curtain, and the horse carriage sped up, leaving this place of trouble before Lin Shenzi arrived.
Seeing the horse carriage leave, Lin Shenzi’s little grandson immediately threw a tantrum. He flung Lin Shenzi’s hand aside and rolled on the ground again, howling while rolling: “Wahhh~ My horse carriage is gone! Grandma, go chase the horse carriage back for me! I want the horse carriage! I want the horse carriage! Wahhhh~”
Actually, Lin Shenzi had completely had the chance to stop the horse carriage just now, but she didn’t dare. In her eyes, anyone with a horse carriage was either rich or noble, someone she couldn’t afford to provoke. That’s why she used coaxing her grandson as an excuse to not come over until the horse carriage was gone and completely out of reach before she perked up. She was afraid of people with horse carriages, but not of Lin Xin and her sibling.
“Let me tell you, Xin Yatou, you’re one of us villagers after all. My child just wanted to get on the horse carriage to play for a bit—why wouldn’t that be allowed? You could at least say something! Is it because you’ve climbed up the social ladder and now look down on us villagers? Otherwise, why wouldn’t you let the kid who loves the horse carriage go up and see it?”
Lin Shenzi struggled to pull her grandson up from the ground while questioning Lin Xin.
“Heh, you know it’s their horse carriage, not yours? If your child wants to get on the horse carriage, he gets on? Then your child also wants to enter the imperial palace! Why don’t you let him in?” Lin Xin hated people like this the most and didn’t hold back with her at all.
“Oh my, what kind of talk is that? I know my child isn’t likable. If you don’t like him and won’t let him on the horse carriage, fine. But there are so many kids! Even letting one or two go up for a look would be okay! But you didn’t let a single one. Tell me, we’re all fellow villagers— is that appropriate?”
If she had only talked about her own child, everyone would have thought nothing of it. So what if it’s their horse carriage and they won’t let you in?
But as soon as she brought up the village kids, everyone stopped thinking that way and began to feel Lin Xin was too much. They’re just kids who haven’t seen a horse carriage and want to check out the novelty—what’s the big deal? The horse carriage won’t get damaged just from looking. Do you have to let it leave?
So, some villagers began to echo Lin Shenzi and criticize Lin Xin.
“Yeah, Xin Yatou, it’s just kids being curious. Letting them take a look wouldn’t hurt anything.”
“What wouldn’t it hurt? She looks down on us for being poor! Thinks we don’t deserve to ride in a horse carriage!”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Xin Yatou. We’re all from the same village. You can’t let your elbow turn outward.”
“Exactly!”
······
Seeing everyone surrounding Lin Xin and chattering away, Lin Shenzi was smug. Pointing at Lin Xin, she said: “Let me tell you, Xin Yatou, you let the horse carriage go as soon as we came over. Could it be there’s something inside you shouldn’t have that you’re afraid we’ll discover? I saw that old man lift the horse carriage curtain to talk to you before leaving. The silver you had before—wasn’t it from him? Your relationship with him······ Is it normal? Huh?”
These words were like a big stone thrown into water, immediately stirring up waves on the surface.
No matter the era or place, scandalous gossip is always the most attractive and the most talked-about.
After Lin Shenzi said that, everyone’s gazes toward Lin Xin immediately took on a different flavor.
Lin Xin looked at Lin Shenzi through the crowd, meeting her smug gaze.
“Hehe,” Lin Xin suddenly sneered coldly. “Lin Shenzi, you have to have evidence when you speak. You say our relationship is improper? Then show the evidence. If there isn’t any, don’t blame me. I’ve heard the county magistrate of this county is upright and incorruptible. I’ll definitely ask him to judge this matter for me and see if casually slandering someone is a crime.”
Lin Shenzi had lived this long, and the highest official she’d seen was the village head. Just hearing “county magistrate” made her legs go weak.
Moreover, farming families were accustomed to handling matters within the clan or village. Only Lin Xin was unique in casually mentioning the county magistrate.
“Well······ It’s not just me saying it. So many people are saying it together. Why are you picking on me!” Though Lin Shenzi was afraid, she still argued softly in dissatisfaction.
People far away couldn’t hear what she said, but those nearby heard clearly and immediately turned their dissatisfaction toward her. “Hey, Shenzi, you better explain yourself clearly. None of us said Xin Yatou had something going on with that old man in the horse carriage. That’s what you said. You can’t drag us all down with you.”
“What? Xin Yatou has something going on with that old man in the horse carriage? Real or fake?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. That’s all made up by Lin Shenzi. She wants to use us as guns to make trouble for Xin Yatou to vent for her grandson!”
“Ah? Lin Shenzi made it up? I thought it was real.”
The messy discussions quickly went off-topic. Lin Xin stood expressionlessly in place listening. Lin Nan, whom she had sent into the house early, stood behind the door, hearing the villagers’ discussions clearly. Though he didn’t fully understand the meanings, he could feel the full malice from them, and he couldn’t help but clench his little fist.
In his heart at this moment, the thought of “becoming very powerful” was especially strong. He wanted to learn “singing” well from his master, take the imperial examination, become a high official, then take his sister away from this place and never return. The people here were all too bad.
Lin Xin, unaware that he had already made a major life decision, looked at the crowd in front of her with extreme irritation in her heart. She sighed again about why she had awakened wood and water supernatural abilities that couldn’t intimidate people, instead of lightning supernatural ability. If it were lightning, one bolt would make all these people shut up for sure.
It seemed that making Lin Lao Er manifest before hadn’t scared the villagers, or rather, even if they were scared, it wasn’t of her. She needed to find a way to settle it once and for all. Otherwise, too many such annoying things would really affect her mood.
But she couldn’t offend everyone completely. She still needed to pick a suitable “chicken” to kill to warn the “monkey.” Who to choose?
Watching Lin Shenzi from afar glancing smugly this way while verbally sparring with the villagers talking about her, Lin Xin narrowed her eyes slightly. This old lady was the worst. It would be her.
Thanks to Happy Lucky Star, Song of the Goat and Story of the Eyes, Zhang Wenmei, and reader20231124208007 for the votes; thanks to caroletu for the tip; thanks to Ying Jie for the monthly ticket. Thank you everyone!
