"Sister-in-law, how can you say that about me?" Luo Yang cried, feeling wronged. "I sincerely came to apologize, and I didn't mean anything else."
Tao Lengshuang nodded repeatedly and said understandingly, "I know you came to apologize sincerely, that's why you dressed up so nicely, as if you were going to the palace for the imperial selection."
Neighbors who had come to watch the drama happened to overhear Tao Lengshuang's words and immediately looked at Luo Yang.
"Oh, oh, oh, Luo Yang, isn't that a new dress you're wearing? It's made of cotton and linen, which is the best kind of clothing. If it were me, I'd only wear it during the New Year or for major celebrations."
"It's obviously new. Look at Luo Yang's face, she's wearing makeup. She even has a gold hairpin in her bun. Oh my, the village chief's family is so rich! Everything his daughter wears and uses is top-notch." kuAiδugg
"Luo Yang dressed like this to apologize to the Mo family. If you say there's nothing wrong with it, I wouldn't believe it even if you beat me to death. Who apologizes dressed like it's the New Year?"
"You all know about the relationship between Luo Yang and Mo Lingxi. She dressed so nicely to come to the Mo family, surely not to apologize, but to see Mo Lingxi."
"Say less, everyone say less. Be careful not to bring trouble upon yourselves, she's the village chief's only child."
Hearing this, Luo Yang felt hatred and fear, but more than anything, she felt hatred and anger towards Tao Lengshuang. If it weren't for this fatty, her reputation wouldn't be tarnished. She would never forgive Tao Lengshuang.
"Sister-in-law, I always dress like this." She put on a look of immense grievance, still searching everywhere for Mo Lingxi.
Isn't Brother Mo at home? Why isn't he coming out to help her?
Tao Lengshuang was also surprised that Mo Lingxi didn't come out to help Luo Yang. Could it be that Mo Lingxi and Luo Yang had a falling out and hadn't reconciled, so Luo Yang deliberately dressed so nicely to make up with Mo Lingxi?
Thinking of this, she glanced at Luo Yang with a chilling smile. "Yes, it's because your family is rich."
"However, according to the law, the village chief's monthly salary is one hundred copper coins. Your family doesn't have much land, nor do you have any other means of making money. How is your family so rich? You can wear new clothes every day and buy whatever you want, living a life like a young lady of a noble family."
At this point, she lightly patted her forehead as if she had just realized something. "Could it be that the village chief has done something illegal?"
"For example, the tax increases a few times ago. It was the village chief who announced it in the village, not the constables from the county office. I should go to the county office in town another day to ask about these taxes, to avoid our money ending up in someone else's pocket."
If Luo Yang had come to apologize properly, she wouldn't have said anything. But Luo Yang had to play these tricks and even tried to seduce Mo Lingxi in front of her, as if she didn't exist.
The neighbors gasped and started discussing.
"Speaking of which, the village chief's family's life has indeed gotten much better. The village chief's family only has ten mu of land and no other business. Where did all this money come from?"
"It's true that the village chief said the taxes were increased a few times ago, and we pay our taxes to the village chief, who then submits them. If the village chief wants to tamper with them, it's incredibly easy."
"No wonder the village chief's family's life is getting better and better. Look at Luo Yang's attire; it probably cost at least one tael of silver. That's one tael of silver, enough for my family to use for a whole year."
Luo Yang felt a little flustered upon hearing this, but she still managed to calmly retort, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
"This is the tax the imperial court requires. Is it something my family can move around freely? Our family isn't like those fools who disregard the law and commit evil deeds in the village every day. Don't forget how my father has taken care of the village."
How could Tao Lengshuang not know that Luo Yang was scolding her? She smiled and said, "Your family basically eats well and drinks heartily every day. Your clothing changes every year without repetition, and you have various jewelry and good things, and you've been pampered."
"Where did your family get so much money? Did it blow in with the wind?"
The neighbors, who were already suspicious, became even more suspicious of the village chief's family upon hearing this. Their gazes towards Luo Yang were very unfriendly.
Luo Yang knew that staying any longer would be detrimental. She glared fiercely at Tao Lengshuang and hurried home, needing to tell her father about this matter quickly.
Seeing this, some neighbors returned to their homes, while others went into the village to spread the news.
Tao Lengshuang smiled with satisfaction, believing that for some time, Luo Yang would stay at home obediently, and even the village chief and his wife would not dare to do anything to her.
Carrying her basket back to the kitchen, she stored the eggs and continued making preserved eggs and pickles. If Luo Yang weren't so annoying, she would really hope that the village chief's family would visit more often, preferably bringing something each time.
After Tao Lengshuang finished cleaning the chickens, ducks, and pigs and was preparing to stir-fry the offal, the village chief, carrying heavy gifts, quietly came to her house.
In the main hall.
Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi sat on the kang. In front of them were several chickens, ducks, and geese, a large basket of eggs, duck eggs, and goose eggs, two bolts of new blue cotton and linen cloth, a silver pouch estimated to contain twenty to thirty taels of silver, and a land deed.
The village chief's eyes were gloomy, and he rubbed his hands with a big smile. "Mr. Mo, you see, we're all from the same village. It's not good if things get blown out of proportion, right?" He truly hadn't expected Tao Lengshuang to know about his secret dealings. This woman really couldn't be kept around.
Tao Lengshuang didn't believe the village chief would try to bribe her. She glanced at him with a faint smile. "That's true, but it's true for you."
"As the village chief of Shili Po Village, you've always done whatever you wanted in the village. Who dares to say a word against you?"
The village chief could see that Tao Lengshuang wouldn't easily accept these heavy gifts, and his smile increased. "That's not true."
"Mr. Mo, times are hard this year. If you accept these, not only can you supplement the health of Mo Lingxi and his son, but you can also get through this harsh winter."
Tao Lengshuang knew too well the consequences of accepting these heavy gifts. She calmly refused, not wanting to have any leverage in the village chief's hands.
The village chief's smile froze slightly, and he tried to persuade Tao Lengshuang with kind words, while secretly plotting how to get rid of her without a trace.
Tao Lengshuang still refused, even throwing the person and the gifts out. She shouted loudly, "Village chief, no matter how many gifts you give me, I will not be complicit with you." With that, she slammed the door shut.
Her shout alerted the neighbors. Now, the news about the village chief embezzling part of the taxes spread even wider in the village. However, due to fear of the village chief's authority, no one dared to question it, but the villagers' dissatisfaction grew day by day.
...
These matters were temporarily unrelated to Tao Lengshuang. She was busy finding ways to make money and stock up on supplies. Every day, she would take Xiao Feng to the mountains to find anything useful, not even letting go of wild vegetables, and then make preserved eggs and pickles at home.
However, she didn't know that she had narrowly escaped several dangers, all of which were resolved by hidden guards arranged by Mo Lingxi.
After resolving another danger, the hidden guard reported to Mo Lingxi, who was hunting in the mountains, as usual.
"Master, they should be hidden guards trained by noble families."