Upon hearing the constables arrive, some people panicked, while others grew anxious.
"Could it be that the taxes have been increased again? If taxes go up any further, life will truly be unbearable."
"Could something bad have happened?"
"Village Chief, what exactly has happened?"
Village Chief Luo raised his hand to calm them. "The royal villa under construction has collapsed, crushing and injuring many people..."
"What?!" The villagers erupted in an uproar.
"My spouse was working on the royal villa construction, Village Chief, is my spouse alright?"
"Please, let it not be the child's father. Our mother and child rely entirely on him."
"Is my son okay? Village Chief, is my son alright?"
Cries and helpless voices mingled, creating a cacophony.
Village Chief Luo shouted several times before he could barely quiet the villagers. "The constables have brought a list..."
He read out the names of the injured and deceased villagers one by one, instructing their families to go to the county yamen to claim the bodies.
He also stated that those who were injured were not allowed to return and would have to continue working on the royal villa construction.
Families whose members were safe or only injured wept with joy, repeatedly saying it was good they were alive.
Families whose members had perished sat on the ground, wailing and on the verge of fainting.
Village Chief Luo waved his hand, telling everyone to return and not to linger.
Uncle Wang San and Uncle Shen Er saw this and immediately went to Tao Lengshuang's home to explain the situation.
"Heaven be praised, my son is unharmed," Aunt Shen Er clasped her hands together, constantly thanking heaven.
Aunt Wang San, pulling her daughter-in-law and grandson, knelt on the ground and kowtowed to heaven, offering repeated thanks.
Uncle Shen Er sighed. "I counted, about ten households in the village have had incidents, and over twenty households have injured members."
"If this continues, what will become of us?"
Tao Lengshuang's brows furrowed into a deep frown. Although she had already heard about the matter from Mo Lingxi, she still felt a lingering sense of dread.
If things continued like this, who knew how many people would die.
"We need to keep a close watch. The village might descend into chaos."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Shen Er said she would go out with Aunt Wang San to see if they could gather any news.
The two women left without delay, rushing out the door.
Uncles Wang San and Shen Er, finding it awkward to remain in the main hall, returned to the room where they were temporarily staying to rest.
Tao Lengshuang pondered what arrangements she needed to make next.
The situation was even worse than she had anticipated.
She would have to be even more careful in the days to come.
By the time Aunt Shen Er and Aunt Wang San returned from their rounds, it was already time to prepare dinner.
Both families insisted on not using anything from the Mo family's kitchen, except for the stove itself, and firmly used their own utensils.
Tao Lengshuang understood their intentions and let them have their way.
As the three families were eating, Old Master Tao and his wife arrived, stating that Tao Lengshuang was to provide for them in their old age.
Upon hearing this, Tao Lengshuang knew that the other branches of the Tao family, having acquired money, were unwilling to care for Old Master Tao and his wife, who could no longer be exploited for profit, and had driven them out.
With nowhere else to go, the couple thought of their youngest daughter and came to her expectantly.
"I have no relation to you two, why should I provide for you?"
Old Master Tao and his wife shivered from the cold, their faces tinged with purple.
"Lengshuang, no matter what, we raised you for over ten years..."
Before Yu Shi could finish speaking, Tao Lengshuang interrupted with a scoff, "Don't talk to me about that."
"I have no connection with your Tao family. If you want to be provided for, go find your sons.
If you dare to cause trouble at my doorstep again, I'll give each of you a packet of powder."
With that, she slammed the door shut.
Old Master Tao and Yu Shi exchanged a look, then resentfully pounded on the door, demanding that Tao Lengshuang provide for them.
"Serves them right!"
Aunt Shen Er stood at the entrance of the main hall and spat, "Back then, how did Old Master Tao and his wife treat their own parents? Worse than livestock."
"Now, it's their turn to be abandoned by their children."
As the saying goes, you reap what you sow.
Old Master Tao and his wife's parents were worked to death, and after they died, they were unceremoniously dumped in the wilderness, without even a grave.
Now, it was Old Master Tao and his wife's turn to suffer.
Tao Lengshuang smiled. She truly did not care about the fate of Old Master Tao and his wife.
If she were to help them, not only would she be burdened by them for life, but the other members of the Tao family would also latch onto her.
Seeing that Tao Lengshuang would not open the door, Old Master Tao and his wife went to find their three sons and Tao Fangfang.
By whatever means the couple employed, they were taken in by Tao Fangfang's family, but were forced to work like beasts of burden.
Upon learning this from Aunt Shen Er, Tao Lengshuang knew that there would be more trouble ahead and that she needed to guard against the Tao family.
A family like the Tao family would not let go of her, a valuable asset.
As expected.
That very day, Tao Fangfang came to find Tao Lengshuang, saying she wanted to sell her husband and son to Zicheng as servants.
She named a price of twenty taels.
"Your husband and son are quite valuable, aren't they?" Tao Lengshuang said mockingly.
Tao Fangfang rubbed her hands together, looking at her with a flattering smile. "Lengshuang, you know how capable my husband and son are."
"One of them is worth five, and they are diligent workers. They are worth this price."
She had already planned that once the child's father and the child became servants to a noble young master, they would have an opportunity to get close to the noble young master.
Since she couldn't marry a daughter of the Tao family to a noble young master, she would cling to the noble young master's coattails.
Tao Lengshuang, knowing Tao Fangfang's intentions, directly refused, adding that the young master did not lack servants.
Then, she closed the door.
Tao Fangfang was furious, but since she couldn't do anything to Tao Lengshuang, she angrily walked back home.
Halfway there, she was stopped by a thin, seemingly formidable young man.
"Are you selling family members? The price is high." He took out a silver pouch and dangled it in front of Tao Fangfang.
Upon hearing the melodious sound of silver, Tao Fangfang stared intently at the silver pouch, almost unable to resist snatching it.
"Yes, yes, the two elders, as well as my husband and son. How much silver will you give me?"
This was her beloved silver.
The young man held up ten fingers. "Ten taels of silver. If the people are good, I might pay more."
Tao Fangfang was not entirely satisfied with ten taels and smilingly said she wanted more, asking him to go and see the people first.
The young man followed her to her home and looked at the people she had mentioned.
"Twelve taels, no more."
He took out twelve taels and weighed them. "I'm offering the best price. The neighbors would only offer five taels at most."
Old Master Tao and his wife, who did not want to be sold, tried to run, but Tao Fangfang struck them down with a stick.
Tao Fangfang's husband and son cowered weakly to the side, not daring to resist at all.
Tao Fangfang gritted her teeth and agreed. Twelve taels were better than selling for five.
As soon as she received the warm silver, she heard the young man mention a profitable business.
"I need good-looking children. Each child is worth at least two taels of silver. The better-looking they are, the more silver they fetch."
Upon hearing this, Tao Fangfang's mind was filled with silver, and she readily agreed.
"There are many children in our village. I promise to find you several more."
Good-looking children, good-looking children...
She thought of whose children were good-looking!