After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

After leaving the village chief's house, Gu Lin didn't linger for a moment. He got into the oxcart driven by Brother Zhao and returned to the county town.

It took Gu Lin an entire afternoon to resolve the matter in Xiahe Village. By the time he returned home, Zheng Hao had already finished school.

Upon seeing Gu Lin walk in from outside, Zheng Hao, who had been sitting on the stone bench, immediately stood up and went forward to greet him, "Uncle Gu."

He first scanned Gu Lin up and down, and seeing that the man was neatly dressed and did not seem to be injured, he felt relieved and asked, "Uncle Gu, how is the matter in Xiahe Village being resolved?"

Gu Lin's cold expression had long since disappeared. Facing Zheng Hao, who looked worried, he said, "Don't worry, they won't get away with this."

"Lin-ge'er, you're back." Hearing the noise, Sister Zhao came out of the kitchen.

She stepped forward to approach Gu Lin and, like Zheng Hao, first checked whether Gu Lin was injured.

Seeing that the other person was unharmed, Sister Zhao patted her chest and said, "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright." She completely ignored Brother Zhao behind Gu Lin.

Seeing this, Brother Zhao, holding the black ox in his hand, sighed silently.

Sister Zhao then asked, "What was the reaction of the village chief and the villagers after you went back?"

Seeing Zhao's sister-in-law's anxious look, Gu Lin felt somewhat helpless.

Zheng Hao said, "Auntie, Uncle Gu must be hungry after being away for so long. Let's eat first, and we can talk while we eat."

"Yes, yes, yes! Look at my brain, Lin-ge, go wait at the table, the food will be ready in a little while."

After saying that, Sister Zhao immediately ran to the kitchen.

Brother Zhao tied the cow to the yard, washed his hands, and followed behind Sister-in-law Zhao to help.

Seeing that there were already two people in the kitchen, Gu Lin and Zheng Hao went to the main hall on their own.

Soon, Sister-in-law Zhao and Brother Zhao brought out the food.

After everyone sat down, Gu Lin ate his meal while telling them how he had handled the situation in Xiahe Village that afternoon.

After learning about the villagers' reaction and attitude, Sister Zhao angrily cursed, "A bunch of ingrates! How dare they ask for higher prices? If it weren't for Brother Lin buying up the village's melons and vegetables, they would have so many that they would have rotted in the fields and no one would have wanted them!"

In the afternoon, when Gu Lin saw the villagers greedily discussing how much to raise the price of melons and vegetables in the village chief's courtyard, he appeared calm and composed, but inwardly he was filled with anger.

But when he looked at the villagers, their expressions and eyes were filled with greed, their bodies were thin and yellow, and their faces were as withered and wrinkled as dried tree bark.

The anger in Gu Lin's chest gradually dissipated.

Then, he couldn't help but laugh at himself, laughing at how an orphan like himself was sympathizing with others.

They sympathized with the villagers who toiled from dawn till dusk all year round but still couldn't get enough to eat or wear.

Compared to Zhao's sister-in-law's excitement, Zheng Hao calmly said, "Uncle Gu did the right thing. Let them cool off for now. When Uncle Gu stops buying vegetables from them later, they will naturally get anxious. If Uncle Gu directly takes action against them, he will inevitably be accused of being profit-driven and heartless."

Gu Lin was somewhat surprised, and even pleased, that Zheng Hao could see through his thoughts.

From the very beginning, Gu Lin never intended to break ties with the villagers of Xiahe Village. It would be a pipe dream for him to be an enemy of an entire village on his own. Therefore, he never considered stopping buying the melons and vegetables from the villagers of Xiahe Village.

However, this does not mean that Gu Lin should just humbly endure their mistreatment.

Gu Lin will not let this matter go lightly. He wants the villagers of Xiahe Village to remember this lesson deeply and never dare to have any improper thoughts again.

Although Zhao's sister-in-law couldn't understand the conversation between Gu Lin and Zheng Hao, she frowned slightly and asked, "Where can we buy the fruits and vegetables from the shop?"

Nowadays, Xingfuju needs far more vegetables and fruits every day than it did when they were just setting up a stall. The large oxcartload of vegetables and fruits that Brother Zhao delivers every morning is just enough to sustain the shop's business for the day.

Gu Lin reassured Zhao's wife, saying, "There are plenty of villages near the county town. I've already spoken with Brother Zhao, and we'll start buying vegetables and melons from nearby villages from tomorrow."

Brother Zhao, who was eating nearby, nodded in agreement.

.

The braised dishes and cold dishes at Xingfuju are selling like hotcakes. As the weather gets colder, the sales of cold dishes have dropped slightly, but at the same time, the sales of braised dishes and milk tea drinks have increased.

An old man, supported by a young man, stepped off the oxcart. He came to a street and saw a crowd of people ahead. The village chief sighed and said, "This must be Brother Lin's shop!"

No wonder the orphan and widow were able to move to the county town to rent a house. No wonder the other party was not afraid of the villagers' coercion a few days ago. Lin Ge'er is not the Lin Ge'er of the past. His confidence is beyond their imagination.

Thinking of how the villagers of Xiahe Village had been coming to his door in droves ever since Gu Lin left, begging him and Lin Ge'er to intercede on their behalf.

And today, a group of people came to his house to tell him about Gu Lin buying melons and vegetables from other villages. Now, even the village chief, who wanted to teach the villagers a lesson, was afraid that Gu Lin might actually get angry and abandon Xiahe Village, and start buying melons and vegetables from other villages in the future.

Although he was anxious inside, the village chief remained calm on the surface. Looking at the haggard villagers in front of him, he said in a deep voice, "Now you know you're in a hurry? You used to live a good life but now you're all begging and pleading. Who cares about you? Do you really think that the few melons and vegetables in your fields are worth anything? Don't you remember how in previous years, when the melons and vegetables fell on the ground and no one picked them up, they just rotted there? You're all just not destined to enjoy good fortune. Good days are delivered to you, but you squander them."

Listening to the village chief's harsh and merciless lecture, none of the villagers dared to refute him; they all hung their heads and endured the scolding.

In fact, the villagers regretted it as early as the day Gu Lin left.

After returning home these past few days, they felt increasingly that they had been blinded by greed. They used to earn only a few taels of silver a year, but now they were earning several hundred coins a month. What more could they possibly want?

The villagers pleaded with the village chief one by one, and some even cried and knelt down before him, repeatedly saying that they knew they were wrong and would never do it again.

Even if he was angry with the villagers, the village chief couldn't really ignore them.

They were all from Xiahe Village, and their ancestors were fellow villagers who had fled together during a period of hardship. In order to avoid being bullied, their ancestors abandoned the distinction between surnames, emphasized the importance of being of the same blood and family, and established Xiahe Village.

Over the decades, they gradually established themselves in this place.

Zhang Daniu helped the village chief and escorted him into the Happiness Residence.

The village chief saw Gu Lin in the shop and called out, "Brother Lin!"

Seeing the village chief and Zhang Daniu arrive, Gu Lin showed no surprise. He turned to Zhao Saozi and gave her a few instructions before leading the two to the house behind the shop.

The villagers' disturbance in Xiahe Village had little to do with the village chief, so Gu Lin didn't hold a grudge. He invited the village chief and Zhang Daniu to sit down, then poured them each a bowl of licorice drink, saying, "Village chief, Brother Zhang, have some water to soothe your throats."

There's no reason to just come and ask for something. The village chief picked up his tea and started drinking. When he tasted the sweet flavor, he was reluctant to swallow it.

He looked down at the tea in his hand and sighed again. No wonder Gu Lin was so successful in the county town. Having such good skills meant he was destined for wealth. Why couldn't the villagers see that?

The village chief put down his teacup and remained silent for a long time. Gu Lin was also in no hurry and did not speak.

The village chief looked up at Gu Lin and said, "Brother Lin, I know it's unfair to ask you to forgive them. But please, for the sake of our fellow villagers over the years, forgive them this time! The villagers rely on selling melons and vegetables to collect their autumn tax, and then they'll have extra money to buy winter clothes. But if they lose their means of selling melons and vegetables, next year I'm afraid..."

Although the village chief didn't say what he was going to say, everyone understood.

Gu Lin could tell that the other party was only half sincere and half trying to appeal to emotions. He said, "I can't really be cold-hearted towards the villagers, but this time they were easily provoked and did such a disheartening thing. I'm afraid that if someone stirs up trouble again, my uncles and aunts will criticize me again."

"I'm all alone and weak; I'm afraid I won't be able to clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River."

Seeing that Gu Lin didn't completely destroy Xiahe Village, the village chief immediately said, "Brother Lin, don't worry, I've already driven Wang Mazi out of Xiahe Village. Also, I've decided that I will no longer buy vegetables from those families who caused trouble in the village. If anyone else in the village causes trouble like Wang Mazi and his group, instigated by Liu Sanlai, I will drive them out of the village directly."

Gu Lin hadn't expected Liu Sanlai to be involved in this incident. However, considering that Liu Sanlai could only instigate Wang Mazi and his gang to cause trouble from behind the scenes, he figured Liu Sanlai wasn't very capable.

Gu Lin didn't take him seriously.

Gu Lin sensed the sincerity in the village chief's promise.

In ancient societies where villages and clans were still important, being driven out of a village was a very serious matter.

This is because it means that he will have no grave after death, will become a wandering ghost, will be bullied by other ghosts, and will affect his reincarnation.

Therefore, for people today, being driven out of the village is a very cruel and severe punishment.

Even so, Gu Lin was unwilling to suffer this loss and still wanted to vent his anger: "Not only that, for the next two years, I will not accept the melons and vegetables from those families in He Village who came out to cause trouble, but we will accept the melons and vegetables from other families who did not cause trouble."

Knowing the other party was angry, the village chief could only grit his teeth and say, "Then, Brother Lin, two years from now..."

Gu Lin said, "As long as the villagers behave themselves and don't cause trouble in these two years, I will continue to buy the melons and vegetables from the village after that."

“Alright!” the village chief said. “They really need to be taught a lesson, otherwise they’ll think that others should give them what they deserve.”

After the matter was resolved, the village chief was about to leave, but Gu Lin tried to persuade him to stay a few more times. As he saw the two off, Gu Lin packed several tubes of braised meat and cold dishes and drinks for the village chief and his companion to take back with them.

When Zheng Hao returned for lunch, Gu Lin told him about the decision he had made that morning.

In fact, according to the current social norms, since the village chief personally came to the county town to apologize on behalf of the villagers, make punishments and promises, Gu Lin should have stopped while he was ahead, let bygones be bygones, and shown his kindness and tolerance.

Gu Lin doesn't like to suffer losses. He can suffer losses, but only when the enemy is strong and he is too weak to resist.

Now that the villagers of Xiahe Village are in the wrong and need his help, why should Gu Lin pretend to be tolerant and magnanimous after being wronged because of worldly opinions?

Zheng Hao nodded in support, saying, "Uncle Gu did the right thing. If we repay evil with kindness, how will we repay kindness? If we forgive them easily, they won't learn their lesson. Only by making them feel fear and apprehension will they dare not do it again in the future."

Seeing that the other party agreed with his approach, Gu Lin felt even more at ease. As expected of the child he raised, he was clear about right and wrong and would not restrain himself with benevolence and propriety like others.

Not knowing what Gu Lin was thinking, Zheng Hao recalled a name that the other person had mentioned earlier, a name that hadn't appeared in his life for a long time.

A chill ran through Zheng Hao's eyes.

After lunch, Zheng Hao closed his eyes and took a nap at home for a while before getting up to say goodbye to Gu Lin and go to school.

Instead of going directly to Wuliu Academy, he came to a small alleyway next to the street, where several disheveled beggars were sitting.

Upon seeing Zheng Hao enter, their eyes were filled with greed; such a fine young man could fetch a lot of money if sold.

Just as someone was about to make a move, the man who had been keeping his eyes closed slapped him: "Open your dog eyes, that's a scholar from Wuliu Academy."

Although Zheng Hao had no official rank, it was indeed difficult to deal with a scholar, especially since the other party was a student from Wuliu Academy. Xu Xiucai was known throughout the county for being difficult to deal with, and this boy was not someone they could afford to offend.

The man who had just hit the beggar said to Zheng Hao, "Young master, don't wander around, hurry home!"

Zheng Hao didn't leave. He looked at them and calmly said, "I want to discuss a business deal with you."

The beggars were disdainful until Zheng Hao took out two taels of silver, at which point they all shut up.

Zheng Hao said, "I will only talk to those among you who are capable of speaking."

Niu Qiang, the man who had just spoken, looked at the teenager not far away and said, "I am their leader, young master. What business do you want to discuss with us?"

"I need you to help me get rid of someone." Zheng Hao said this in an extremely calm tone.

Niu Qiang narrowed his eyes and said, "We don't kill people."

Zheng Hao smiled slightly and said, "You don't need to kill anyone."

Seeing Zheng Hao say this, Niu Qiang stepped forward and bowed his head. Zheng Hao whispered a few words in his ear, and Niu Qiang's eyes flickered a few times.

Ignoring the other party's reaction, Zheng Hao took out ten taels of silver from his purse and gave it to Niu Qiang along with the two taels of silver he had just received. He looked at him and said, "This silver is a deposit for you. There will be additional rewards after the matter is completed."

After saying that, Zheng Hao turned and left.

He carried a heavy satchel on his back, his body slender yet upright like a bamboo shoot. Watching the other person's receding figure, Niu Qiang's mind was filled with the image of those cold, black, beast-like eyes. At the same time, recalling what the other person had just said to him, Niu Qiang's body slowly grew cold and drenched in sweat.