webnovelfull Chapter 246 Retreating to Advance
Chapter 246 Retreating to Advance
"I'm afraid my elders don't know what's going on in town. Madam Qian was abducted by bandits not long ago, tortured, and then thrown in front of the Qian family's gate.
However, the master and daughter of the Qian family were afraid of being embarrassed, so they did not acknowledge her identity, saying that she was just a beggar, and asked the servant to throw her into the mass grave.
I happened to be in town that day, so I followed her. This was written by the woman on her deathbed. She probably felt she was dying and feared the punishment she would face in the afterlife.
After Song Anning explained this, the villagers also sighed.
"Alas, these wealthy families may look glamorous on the surface, but they are also the most heartless. For the sake of fame and wealth, they even disown their own mothers. What a world..."
"If you ask me, Madam Qian deserves it. She has done so many bad things that even God can't stand it anymore."
"Yes, it's retribution."
Song An Ning had been observing everyone's expressions. Feeling that the time was almost right, he took Song Juan'er's hand with a sad look on his face.
"My dear, you have been framed by that woman like this, and my heart aches deeply.
We have told the elders everything that they should know.
If everyone still thinks the same as before, then let's move...
We won’t build the house anymore, let’s move to another place and plant peppers again.”
How could Song Juan'er not know that Song An Ning said this on purpose for everyone to hear? She suppressed her laughter, pretended to wipe her tears with a handkerchief, and nodded in agreement.
"Okay, I'll listen to Aning. Let's go somewhere else."
The aunt and niece's words frightened everyone. What was going on? They hadn't said they didn't agree with Song Juan'er staying, hadn't they explained it clearly? Why were they planning to leave at the end?
So where will they buy pepper seedlings next year? And who will they turn to if the peppers get sick or infested with insects?
Moreover, the Song family was very wealthy. If all of them left, Banyue Village wouldn't even have a village head.
I can’t leave, I can’t leave!
"Aning, your grandparents have lived in the village their entire lives. If they went somewhere else, they wouldn't be comfortable living there because they're unfamiliar with the place, right?"
"That's right. We all know that Juan'er was wronged outside. Even if this blood letter is taken to the government office, the county magistrate will recognize it.
Those were all misunderstandings before. Some words change their meaning as they are passed around. You won't blame your aunt, right?"
"How could you think that, kid? We're living well in Half Moon Village, but we can't leave. Stop saying that.
Juan'er, just stay here and relax. No one will say anything. If you are wronged, your sister-in-law will help you to scold them back."
Song Anning pretended to be embarrassed, and Song Erhe took over the topic at the right time, and his tone was not very good:
"We are all poor people. Our children have been abused like this, but we are powerless and cannot retaliate.
Every time I go to Ping'an Town and pass by the Qian family, I feel angry.
What Aning said makes sense. If we leave this sad place and start a new life, our lives will be better."
"Hahaha, why is your second grandfather so tea-eyed? So cute..."
Xiangxiang was amused by what her master and Song Erhe said. Is this what her master meant by retreating in order to advance?
Sometimes green tea is much more effective than direct hard steel.
"Uncle Erhe, Aning is just a child and doesn't understand things. Why do you say that?"
"Banyue Village can't live without you. What is Second Brother Song doing?"
"Aning, take your aunt back home quickly. She looks so thin. God has pity on her."
"Yes, our Banyue Village has good feng shui, which is good for supporting people.
Juan'er is living in the village and will be back to health in a few months."
How much they resisted at first, how much they longed for her now. What was Song Juan'er to them? There were many widows and divorced women in this village. If they were to delay their fortune because of Song Juan'er, it would be more trouble than good.
Listening to these voices, Song Erhe looked at Song An Ning with admiration. What a good move of retreating to advance. Who taught her this?
After a long while, he frowned and said, "Sister-in-law, Aning, take Juan'er back first. The wind is still a little cold now, don't stand in the wind.
Since everyone has said so, Juan'er, you can stay here with peace of mind.
We have spoken out today, and if any rumors start spreading in the future, I, as the village head, will be the first to object."
"Don't worry, Uncle Erhe, what else can we say? We all feel sorry for Juan'er."
"Well, I'm going home to check on Chili. I'll be back soon."
"Didn't Uncle Erhe say we should stock up on some food and salt? Let's go to town and buy some..."
The villagers scattered like birds and beasts, fearing that they might say something wrong and upset the Song family. Even the elderly men and women ran away as fast as they could.
If the Song family really moved away, Banyue Village would be finished. It doesn't matter where they are if they have money, but they can't. They are still waiting to make money by selling peppers.
In just half a cup of tea, everyone ran away. Song Erhe looked at them leaving in a panic and smiled.
"Aning is the one who has the solution, sister-in-law. Look how amazing your granddaughter is."
Zhang didn't say a word from beginning to end. When she first got off the carriage, she was a little scared, but after Aning's experience, there was only pride on her face.
Her granddaughter has really grown up and can stand on her own. The problem that has troubled them for a month was completely solved by Aning in just a quarter of an hour.
"Come on, aunt, I'll take you home."
There was still some distance from the big banyan tree in the village to their home, so Song Anning and her friends did not take a carriage, but walked back openly.
She has always believed that the interests that bind everyone together are always stronger than so-called feelings.
The people of Banyue Village have a good relationship with the Song family, but the friendship between neighbors is not worth mentioning when it comes to their own interests.
Nowadays, more than 90% of the families in the village grow peppers, and many men work in Song Anning's new house. The women help wash duck eggs, and duck eggs are only two cents all year round, so they no longer have to take them to the town to beg others to buy them.
There is also the land of Zuixianju on the other side of the river. Recently, many villagers have been hired to work there.
As long as Song Anning was in Banyue Village, they could make money. In this way, eternal interests came first, and the rest became unimportant.
"Aning, thank you so much. Did you let that guard follow you to the mass grave that day?"
"Well, I've been thinking about this day ever since then, so I prepared the blood letter in advance."
In fact, she forced Mrs. Qian to write that before taking her sister-in-law to the warehouse, in order to shut the villagers up.
"I……"
Song Juaner cried all the way from the banyan tree to the door of her home. She didn't know what she could do to repay Aning's kindness.
"Aunt, we are a family, there is no need to say those words of thanks.
The past is in the past, and we should look forward to it.
You are only a teenager and have plenty of time to do what you like.
From the moment you return to the village, from the moment you bring up the painful past in front of so many people, let's treat it as a new beginning, and start our lives anew."
"Well! I want to live well!
On the way, I heard you say that Miss Yingchun was teaching everyone calligraphy. Can I learn from her? I didn’t pay attention when my third brother taught me.
"Of course."
Song An Ning nodded and pulled her into the yard. Zhang followed behind and looked at her granddaughter and daughter, feeling very relieved.
But as soon as she entered the yard, she heard a quarrel coming from inside the house...
"Dad, I've never asked you for anything before. This is the only time. Please just agree to it."
"Get lost... Don't even think about it. Look at how useless you are."