Chapter 14
Jing Weizhi was so furious with Liu Fang that he nearly lost his breath. His eyes shifted to Jing Xingzhi, who was approaching the door. Recalling Jing Xingzhi’s pedantic self, he decided to ignore Liu Fang, raised his head, and boldly called out.
“Jing Xingzhi, do you want your wife’s deed of sale?” Jing Weizhi thought, scholars were shameless individual.
“Your wife says he doesn’t want it, but I will sell him!” Lan Cao said.
She examined Liu Fang like merchandise, stating, “Although he’s a bit older, he can still fetch a good price.”
Jing Weizhi glanced at Lan Cao with satisfaction, then directed his gaze towards Liu Fang to emphasize the point.
He didn’t expect this farmer shuanger was so aggressive, daring to threaten him despite potential of being sold. Although his tactic almost nullified Jing Weizhi’s efforts, seeing Jing Xingzhi come out gave him a glimmer of hope.
Liu Fang followed the gazes of Jing Weizhi and his wife, turning around to see Jing Xingzhi approaching.
Liu Fang felt upset; Jing Xingzhi was disturbed by them. Jing Xingzhi touched Liu Fang’s face, smoothing his frown.
Jing Xingzhi, holding a small square, raised his head to address the couple at the courtyard gate. “The sale deed was completed years ago, and He never has been a slave. You can’t do false testimony. How do you plan to sell someone? I suggest you leave early,” he said while mentally sorting through his knowledge of his origin.
For someone like Liu Fang, sold as a child foster wife, the sale deed only existed to protect the Jing family’s rights. Consequently, unless officially registered, the Jing family couldn’t sell Liu Fang again, even if Jing Weizhi possessed the deed.
Of course, to prevent unregistered slaves from escaping, the exceptions to the law didn’t apply if a qualified person could prove the individual’s slave status. Given Liu Fang’s long residence in Jingjia Village, everyone there could vouch for his membership, making Jing Xingzhi’s point valid.
Although Liu Fang didn’t fully grasp the laws of this fictional era, he understood one thing – the contract deed held by the scholar’s brother and sister-in-law was useless.
Feeling at ease, like biting off a crispy fish bone. Liu Fang didn’t care about them anymore. These parents who spoilt their children too much, even the villagers often talk about the fat son. Making everyone didn’t dare to feed their children too much, least they grown like a pig-headed individual.
But still, Liu Fang didn’t find it pleasant to be graced by these two people’s present.
Jing Weizhi’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing his brother’s words. Despite his younger brother being pedantic, he had some legal knowledge. However, Jing Weizhi, having prepared in advance, was about to ask Jing Xingzhi to comply when Lan Cao intervened.
Lan Cao asserted, “Our family knows what you guys know. We’ve registered this little thing in our family’s name with the government. If we want to sell him, sell him!”
Jing Weizhi choked, feeling unhappy. Yet, Lan Cao’s domineering statement that they could sell Liu Fang if they wished somewhat improved Jing Weizhi’s mood.
Jing Xingzhi, however, felt embarrassed until blush appeared on his cheeks, he actually wanted to show off his knowledge but realized that scholars couldn’t fight with a gangster. There were truly people with amazing tongue!
He glanced at Liu Fang secretly, relieved to see him merely frowning and not paying attention.
Unaware that Liu Fang was struggling not to laugh, Jing Xingzhi failed to notice his acting skills. Nevertheless, Liu Fang grew increasingly irritated by the obnoxious brother and sister-in-law.
Liu Fang stepped forward, hand on the door. “I will tell you, if you want to sell, sell it quickly! Whether it’s your son or me, weigh your decision.”
He sternly added, “Get out,” slamming the courtyard door with force.
“Who do you think you are! How dare you compare with my son!” Lan Cao got angry when her precious son was touched, disregarded the shaking jewelry on her head and violently kicked the door.
Lan Cao was surprisingly strong, she kicked Liu Fang, who held the door, prompting Jing Xingzhi to intervene.
While Jing Xingzhi held the door, Liu Fang skillfully grabbed the hanging door bolt, swiftly solving the problem by inserting it into the door.
Closing the door, Jing Xingzhi and Liu Fang exchanged glances, then turned their attention to Jing Dazhi’s house simultaneously.
Considering facing the situation together, they realized they needed someone with high combat skills, especially dealing with a woman like Lan Cao.
Liu Fang, grinning, volunteered, “I’ll handle this. Watch our door.”
Jing Xingzhi nodded, observing Liu Fang happily sprinting toward the courtyard wall. Stepping on a barrel, Liu Fang shouted towards Jing Dazhi’s house, “Uncle Dazhi! Uncle Hua! Jing Weizhi and Lan Cao are here!”
“Uncle Dazhi! Uncle Hua! Jing Weizhi and Lan Cao are here!” Liu Fang’s shout echoed not only in Jing Dazhi’s house but also reached several nearby residences.
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In Jing Dazhi’s home, Liu Hua heard the noise and promptly seized Jing Dazhi’s arm. “Did you hear Fang Ge’er shouting that Lan Cao is here?” he asked urgently.
Jing Dazhi nodded, passing a bamboo brush. “I heard it. That little beast Jing Weizhi is here too!”
The two husband and wife exchanged glances, and Jing Dazhi handed over the bamboo brush used for disciplining. “Let’s go. Don’t let Fang Ge’er and the little scholar be bullied! I didn’t know about Jing Weizhi’s matter at the beginning.”
The Jing family, residing in the town, had a complex history tied to the village. Despite the little scholar’s mother dying in torment, the village remained unaware. It was the neighboring villagers that sent two young children to Jingjia Village, only later did the village learn about the little scholar’s mother had gone.
Living in the town as a widower, the little scholar family’s connection seemed distant from the village. However, the little scholar’s father understood the importance of the clan. Though he made no progress after becoming a scholar, he assisted the village during lean years and celebrated the New Year in his hometown with his children.
The boy from Jing Dazhi’s family had relied on the support of the Jing family, where a mouthful of rice meant more than sustenance—it was a lifeline for Jing Xingzhi’s little family.
Jing Dazhi harbored resentment as Jing Weizhi had avoided him in town whenever they saw each other. When he married a vicious woman, no one had taught him a lesson. Especially after what he had done to his little brother.
As the family next door to Jing Dazhi’s house came out, they bumped into Jing Dazhi’s family. The two families joined forces, rushing to the Jing Xingzhi’s courtyard gate.
Children, drawn to the excitement, started calling each other, creating a swarm of little ones eager to witness their parents having fun.
Before Jing Weizhi could curse Lan Cao in anger, a group of people appeared behind him.
Liu Hua, crossing his waist, sneered at Lan Cao, “How dare you come to the door of our Jingjia Village! You have nothing good except given birth to a son—why didn’t you make a fortune and die?”
After scolding Lan Cao fiercely, Liu Hua pushed Jing Dazhi to pull Jing Weizhi out for a beating, while he led shuangers and women to grab the Lan Cao.
Protesting Jing Weizhi shouted, “What are you doing? We didn’t come to your house!” But his protests were in vain.
Jing Dazhi pulled him over with one arm, delivering a kick to his backside. While the villagers knew beating someone to death required their life, they didn’t mind having a little fun.
Jing Weizhi fell to the ground with a painful “wuwu” sound.
Anticipating the dire situation, Lan Cao ran towards a group of children, lacking the presence of mind to pose any threat. In her anxious state, she ran out of the village.
Liu Hua, dissatisfied after almost catching someone, glanced angrily at Jing Dazhi’s side, finding the beating there quite effective. Feeling aggrieved, he kicked the ground, exclaiming, “Broken rocks! It’s actually getting in my way! If you weren’t in my way, and I would’ve caught her!”
Liu Hua, who ran fast, was closest to Lan Cao but stepped on a stone, slowing down a beat and allowing her to escape.
Sighing, Liu Hua turned to the opened courtyard door, seeing Liu Fang close to Jing Xingzhi. His big eyes widened, and the almost forty-year-old shuanger’s eyes showed distress. “Fang Ge’er, aren’t you afraid? Your uncle caught the person and beat him up! We said if they would come, he will beat him up one at a time; that’s not a lie.”
Liu Fang smiled shyly, “Hua Amu is so powerful; you almost caught her!”
“Oh, I stepped on a stone; otherwise, I would have beat her,” Liu Hua expressed a bit of regret.
Jing Xingzhi smiled, glanced at the stones on the ground, and whispered, “It’s better this way. I’m afraid their house will be lively when they turn back.”
Wang Hua immediately grasped the situation, saying in a low voice, “You are really smart, little scholar! Why not let them fight with themselves in their own nest?”
Curious, Wang Hua also asked, “By the way, why did they come to bully you?”
Wang Hua had heard Liu Fang’s shouting and immediately acted on Jing Weizhi. But they needed to know the reason of those bullying couple, so they could act as elders to help resolve the issue.
Jing Dazhi and others, having just finished beating people, wore dark expressions, furrowing their brows in concern, resembling the seriousness of the little scholar in Jing Xingzhi’s memory during a lecture.
Liu Fang explained the incident with a strong venting voice.
Liu Hua, with a worried frown, looked at the unsteady Jing Weizhi. He spat and cursed, “Your heart is as black as a crow!”
However, considering the official registration, he expressed concern, “He already registered it with the officials, but what should we do? Can we revoke the deed?”