Traveling through the farm, I just want to earn money by farming

"Shi Murei, have you thought it through?" Xue Jingtang's calm voice sounded, raising the hearts of people inside and outside the hall.

The village elders' faces were as dark as ink, and they were worried. If this old man Shi blindly protected Shi Zhong without any reason, then after leaving the government office today and returning to the village, they would expel this family from the village.

All the people in the village who are involved in kidnappings are relatives. It would be disastrous if everyone became like this in the future.

Old Man Shi listened to this seemingly fatal curse and bowed his head. "Master, my Erlang and his wife never did anything violent to us. They were just angry about Zhenzhen's matter and argued with us a little too intensely. There are always quarrels in a family. They were too eager to protect them and accidentally hurt them. Please investigate carefully. It was not intentional harm. This is all a family matter."

Then he turned to Shi Shuanghu and the other man, tears in his eyes, and said, "Erlang, your father has wronged you. Please forgive me and don't hold Chong'er responsible."

Seeing Old Man Shi in this state, Shi Shuanghu and his wife were both heartbroken and helpless. His father was reluctant to see his son die young, and he still had some lingering thoughts for them. But if Shi Chong was found guilty, he would be killed, and his third brother would be convicted as well.

Everyone in the hall fell silent for a moment. Shi Zhong, upon hearing what Old Man Shi had said, knew that today was a matter of life and death, depending solely on his uncle. But if he withdrew the lawsuit now, everyone would be punished.

"Shi Shuanghu, do you agree with Shi Mulei?" Xue Jingtang knew that even an honest judge couldn't settle family disputes. If this old man Shi and his group had no good intentions and showed no mercy, then today he would make an iron judgment based on the truth.

This is not a difficult task for them. Ordinary people are still afraid of them, and the government has its own methods.

But Old Man Shi still had a conscience. He didn't want to take his second son's life because of his concern, but he also loved his eldest grandson, so he was in a dilemma.

As the head of a county, you can be strict according to the law or handle it as a family matter. The parents of the officials are the parents of the officials. First they are parents, then they are officials!

"I agree." Shi Shuanghu said calmly, lying on the ground without looking up.

'Snap',

"Everyone, listen up. Shi Shuanghu sued Shi Zhong for malicious wounding, and both sides have denied the charges. However, Shi Zhong and Shi Shuangniu were found guilty of wounding, and each received fifty strokes of the cane. Zhao, for his unkindness and selfish pursuit of profit, received fifty strokes of the cane. Shi Murei, as the head of the family, you must discipline and educate the younger generation, and keep them from going astray. If there is a next time, I will not let them off so lightly."

Everyone bowed down and responded with a lot of yes.

The yamen runners tortured the three men at the yamen gate to warn everyone not to do evil and not to be unkind.

After watching the execution, the Shi family rented a bullock cart and took the three to the clinic. The doctor treated their wounds and applied medicine before returning to the village. Chen Changjiang wanted to let Shi Shuanghu and the other two recuperate in the county for a few days, but Shi Shuanghu refused. He insisted on returning to the village, hoping to use this opportunity to propose a separation of family from the village chiefs.

Why not continue the relationship? Because Old Man Shi still cared about their blood relationship, Shi Shuanghu changed his mind. However, after the family split up, they didn't plan to live at home anymore. He was disappointed and wary of Shi Chong and Zhao, both of whom were ruthless.

If it weren't for Old Man Shi still caring about his family, it would be hard to say who would live and who would die.

On the way back to the village, Shi Shuanghu told everyone about the division of the family. The village chief and the elders found it unexpected but reasonable, and they just said they would discuss it after returning to the village.

Shi Shuanghu said, "My dear uncles, this isn't something I did on a whim. I've thought about it for a long time before making this decision. I'm sure you all know how my husband and I have been doing, but we're grateful for your kindness in raising us, and out of filial piety, we've done our best and dared not complain. We just let Tan and Zhenzhen endure the injustices they've suffered, and most of the housework is done by our second wife, so that's fine. But they shouldn't have touched my Zhenzhen. When we were at home, Shi Zhong and his entire family didn't leave us any chance to survive. Although my parents felt a little reluctant, they acquiesced. I'm really heartbroken."

"Although my father changed his confession in court today, perhaps he still had some tenderness in his heart, but it was mostly for Shi Zhong and my third brother. Xue Mingfu is so shrewd and has been giving him chances. If he really used the means of the government, I'm afraid Shi Zhong and my third brother would be dead today. If he didn't show any tenderness today, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to leave the government. He knows that Mingfu is willing to give us a way out, and everything is just to save our lives."

"When we go back today, we must split up the family. If they want to sever the relationship, I will accept it. We don't want anything, and we don't want to take a single cent from the Shi family. If he still has feelings for us, this is the best option."

Seeing Shi Shuanghu's clear mind and determination, everyone kept quiet. At this point, if they continued living under the same roof, trouble would inevitably arise. Separating would also be a good thing, but alas, it would be a real injustice to Shi Shuanghu and his wife. I just hope Old Man Shi doesn't regret it in the future.

The group entered the village and went straight to the Shi family. Tan Yueya asked her family to pack only some clothes for changing, and she didn't want to take anything else. Looking at the old cloth bundle, she felt a little sad.

When Old Man Shi and his group returned home, they saw the yard was full of people. Old Man Shi was exhausted at this time, so he didn't greet everyone and just asked the younger generation to carry the injured person in.

"Village chief, uncles, is there something wrong?" He didn't bother to be polite.

"The two tigers want to separate, so let me wait here as a witness."

These words were like a heavy punch to Old Man Shi's heart. Ever since he did this, he knew that he and his second son had completely broken off relations. Today in the hall, he spoke mostly to protect his eldest grandson and third son. I think he could see it too.

Forget it, let’s break up. It’s meaningless to stay any longer.

Seeing Old Man Shi nod, the village chief said, "Shuanghu doesn't want anything. He will give you two elders two taels of silver as filial piety money every year, nothing else. He will no longer be in Xuexiang Village in the future. If you agree, please sign this division book."

The village chief shoved the already written separation agreement over to Old Man Shi. His mind went blank. He had never imagined his second son would leave the house empty-handed, even far from his birthplace. How was this any different from severing ties with his family?

He wanted to say something, but he couldn't find the words to start. He could only sigh, pick up the pen, sign and press his fingerprint. The village chief handed the documents to the two of them and left.

The Tan family took Shi Shuanghu and Tan Yueya back directly. Before leaving, Shi Shuanghu had someone help him kowtow three times to the old man Shi and his wife, then left without looking back.

After everyone dispersed, Old Man Shi and his wife were still in shock. Old Mrs. Shi was a woman with no opinion of her own, always following her husband's lead. Now she was actually heartbroken.

"I'm afraid Hu Zi will never come back from now on. How can this happen, old man?"

Old Man Shi stared at the gate of the courtyard in a daze. He was also in a trance when he heard his old wife crying. He was afraid that he would never see her again until he died.

Forget it, forget it, just let it go~