Chapter Six: Subjugate the Li Family!

The next day, before dawn, the two daughters-in-law had already prepared breakfast. The three of them ate up the leftover meat from the night before in the dim light.

“Father-in-law, are you really going to confront the Li family?” Yang Zhaodi asked with concern.

Zhang Xiao’e said, “Maybe it’s better not to. That widow Qin recently took up with the hunter Ma from the village’s edge. Those three brothers are unreasonable troublemakers.”

Zhao Zheng replied, “You two don’t be afraid. Just come with me.”

They entered the house, and Zhao Zheng took a portion of millet from his basket.

Damn, it was four or five times more expensive than rice.

Now it was certain: the system was pricing things according to modern standards. Rice was cheap, but these uncontaminated grains were absurdly expensive.

The two women dared not ask more and quietly followed Zhao Zheng.

Walking through the village, Zhao Zheng limped along.

Villagers, who all rose early, looked on curiously.

“Old Zhao, didn’t you go to Golden Rooster Mountain? Did you encounter any wild animals?”

“Old Zhao, was there much firewood at Golden Rooster Mountain?”

Hearing this, Zhao Zheng said, “Yesterday, while chopping wood at Golden Rooster Mountain, a small beast’s trap caught my foot. I taught it a lesson. But while I was away, they came to my house and caused a ruckus. It’s just outrageous! Today, I want to see if this world really has no justice!”

As he walked, he spoke to those he met along the way.

That’s how it was in the village—rumors spread quickly.

Even the dead could be said to be alive.

Especially in these harsh times, those with any shame had long starved to death. Only the shameless survived.

They finally reached the village head’s home at the edge of the village.

“It’s me, Zhao Zheng, the third Zhao!” he called out.

Xu Youde was the only educated man in the village. In his youth, he had been a landlord’s servant and used that connection to become the village head.

In this small mountain village, his word carried more weight than the county magistrate’s.

A middle-aged woman opened the door. Seeing Zhao Zheng, she wore a look of impatience.

“Zhao the Third, what brings you to see my father so early?”

“Madam Xu, I came to ask for Uncle Youde’s support for justice.” He handed over two jin of millet he had prepared in advance.

Madam Xu’s eyes brightened on seeing the millet and she immediately put on a smile.

“Why bring gifts when you come?”

She took the millet calmly, weighing it in her hand, her smile growing broader as she called into the house, “Father, the Zhao family brothers are here!”

Xu Dashan looked at the millet in his wife’s hands and smiled faintly. Even the village head’s family was struggling. If it weren’t for the old man’s ties to the landlord from years past, they too would be starving.

Yet, even so, they only ever ate about sixty percent full each day.

With this millet, they could eat for two more days.

“Come in and have some water.”

Zhao Zheng did not enter, instead standing at the door to state his case again.

“Madam Li’s family has gone too far, bullying the widows and families of soldiers. While I was away, they robbed all the valuables from my home.

“This is the act of bandits and thieves. According to the laws of Da Kang, this is punishable by imprisonment.

“Also, my left foot was caught in a trap set by Li family’s young man, and it won’t heal for at least ten or fifteen days.

“I ask Uncle Youde to stand up for me!”

Zhao Zheng squeezed out two tears and signaled his two daughters-in-law.

They burst into tears immediately.

This attracted many curious villagers.

Seeing the limping old man and two women in mourning, they all began to condemn:

“The Li family has gone too far. Their grandson trapped Old Zhao’s foot and then went to rob his house. Isn’t that just banditry?”

“Hmph, she was even more fierce in her youth, stealing other people’s husbands. All her evil deeds from back then have come back to haunt her son. Serves them right!”

“They’re a widow and orphans, but doesn’t Old Zhao have the same? He just lost two sons, leaving behind an old man and two widows...”

At that moment, Xu Youde slowly came out, his silver hair shining, dressed neatly in a blue jacket.

“Enough, all of you, stop yelling! I’ve heard everything!”

With one word, the village fell silent.

“Old Zhao the Third, I understand your request.”

He then spoke to his son, “Go and bring the Second and Third Uncles. The Li family’s behavior is outrageous—no different from bandits!”

“Yes, Father.”

Xu Dashan nodded. Those two jin of millet were worth the trip.

The Second and Third Uncles were the other village elders—one’s son served as a local militia, the other worked as a clerk for the landlord.

The three elders usually handled the village’s major affairs, weddings, and funerals.

Zhao Zheng sought them out to avoid appearing as if he was bullying a widow and orphans.

He either wouldn’t pursue the matter or would settle it once and for all to scare the Li family.

“Big Brother Xu, I’ll go with you.”

“What about your foot...?”

“It’s not broken, I can still walk!” Zhao Zheng forced a smile and hobbled along under everyone’s watchful eyes.

He also gave the Second and Third Uncles each a jin of millet.

They were delighted.

The three village elders, followed by a crowd of onlookers, marched to the Li family’s doorstep.

Li Erdan was in the courtyard whittling bamboo skewers, preparing to head back to Golden Rooster Mountain.

Seeing the crowd, he was startled and quickly ran inside.

“Grandma, mother, there are so many people outside!”

Li Grandma was cooking porridge with the white rice stolen from the Zhao family the day before.

The thick porridge looked delicious—surely good for her grandson to grow strong.

But upon hearing the village gossip, she frowned.

“Who’s come?”

“The old Zhao man and a whole crowd!”

Li Grandma immediately flared up.

“Good! That damned old Zhao we let off yesterday dares to come back today!

“He bullied my grandson and stole our game. I’ll tear his face to shreds!”

She grabbed a rolling pin and stormed out.

But when she saw the crowd and the three village elders, she froze.

“Elder Xu, Elder Wang, Elder Wu, what are you doing here?”

She suddenly panicked and hid the rolling pin behind her back.

“Please, come in and sit!”

“No need for that,” Xu Youde criticized. “Madam Li, you’ve been in our mountain village for twenty or thirty years, but you seem to be getting worse at handling things.

“Your grandson set a trap that injured Zhao Zheng’s foot, and instead of apologizing, you came to cause trouble and steal from his family. Do you still respect us elders or the village rules?”

Li Grandma was flustered.

“Elder Xu, it was that old Zhao who stole our game and hit my grandson. I only...”

“If you want to argue, I’ll tell you this: Zhao Zheng’s family are widows of soldiers, all registered in the township. To put it mildly, you’re bullying neighbors; to put it harshly, you’re bullying soldiers’ widows—and that’s a crime punishable by imprisonment!”