Human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. If people aren't on the same path, no matter how many benefits they're given, they will still feel it's not enough. It's better to go our separate ways!
"For those unwilling to travel with the village, please come here to retrieve your ox carts if you contributed one. Then, move your families' belongings off. We will part ways from now on!" Su Minghui had come to a decision, and after speaking these words, he felt a great deal of relief.
Some people didn't want to split from the village; their participation in the commotion was merely to gain more benefits. "Village Chief, we are all descendants of the same ancestor. Must we really split the village? Besides, our village has no precedent for such a thing!"
"If a family can split, so can a village! The lack of precedent is because our ancestors never encountered a situation like ours! Since you feel my actions are biased, then go find a more just village chief!" With that, Su Minghui went to take inventory of the belongings.
Su Mingfu and Ergouzi were quite pleased with this turn of events. One of their households had already been expelled, and the other was not well-regarded in the village.
If they could instigate everyone to split the village this time and demand more goods, wouldn't it be better to be in charge themselves?
The two men's thoughts on this matter were surprisingly unified. Thus, they each went to persuade those households that were dissatisfied with the village's arrangements. They even promised that if everyone went to make a fuss together, all the goods distributed in the end would be divided equally among them.
Consequently, those who were swayed spoke superficially, saying it wasn't necessary. But when it came to distributing the goods, they wanted this and wanted that, not letting go of even the smallest needle and thread!
However, this time Su Minghui showed no mercy. Since they were no longer part of the same village, there was no question of giving their own interests to people from another village.
In the end, a total of 17 households, comprising 63 people, chose to leave with Su Mingfu and Ergouzi. They formed a new village called Qianhe Village!
Qianhe facing Houxi! They even wanted to suppress them through the name. How naive!
Among their 17 households, only 4 families had donated ox carts for use. Apart from their own belongings, the village also gave them a large water vat. They also took away some of the grain collected from the village's ancestral land.
Nothing else was given.
Those who were misled were stunned. So what if there were no more goods? But there were only 4 ox carts. They couldn't even fit all of each family's belongings, meaning almost everyone had to push and carry to take their own things. This left no room for anyone to sit.
So, someone proposed that they should be given two ox carts seized from the rioters. Su Minghui immediately refused!
He explicitly stated that these ox carts were lent to them by Xu Fu. Once they were settled, the village would return them. If the people of Qianhe Village wanted them, they should speak to them directly!
Upon hearing Su Minghui's words, some people immediately regretted their decision! They claimed they hadn't thought clearly earlier and now, having reconsidered, they no longer wished to split the village.
After all, being part of a large village meant greater safety, not to mention the convenience of having an ox cart to sit in. Unlike now, where even small children had to carry things!
But it was too late to reconsider. After all the belongings were distributed, Su Minghui had quickly crossed out the names of everyone who had left from the village registry and marked them as having split.
Then, he shoved the household registration certificates into their arms and, without so much as an extra glance, turned and walked away. Naturally, he left them no room for regret.
Those people still wanted to pester Su Minghui about the ox carts. Seeing him walk directly towards Xu Fu and his group, they thought he was going to plead on their behalf.
A short while later, a few people approached from Xu Fu's side. Ergouzi and the others, thinking the ox cart issue could be negotiated, eagerly went to greet them.
To their surprise, these individuals drew their swords without a word and held them to others' necks, forcing the remaining 15 households to hand over the 5 taels of silver they had received.
The villagers naturally refused! Lao Shi, the youngest of the guards and the most indignant towards evil, directly drew a shallow but not deep cut on the arm of the person who resisted the hardest. It bled profusely but did not hit a vital spot.
Seeing that they had drawn their swords, the others had to part with their money to avoid disaster and handed over the silver. Lao Shi and the others took the silver and left without an extra word.
The newly formed Qianhe Village was left with continuous wails of sorrow! At this point, everyone regretted their actions. Everything had been fine! Why did they have to court disaster? They truly regretted it now!
Su Muqing, on her side, made simple arrangements for those people. Among them, only one family had sold themselves, carrying a few tattered bundles; everyone else came with just their mouths. Therefore, the empty ox carts were more than enough for them.
The wives who had been sold, along with the two adults from that family, were temporarily responsible for taking care of the younger children.
By the time Su Muqing finished making arrangements, the village splitting matter was almost concluded. Lao Shi, holding the 75 taels of silver he had recovered, gleefully ran to Su Muqing to claim his credit.
Su Muqing did not refuse and even praised him. After all, who would ever have too much money! "Well done. When we get settled later, I'll treat you to something delicious."
"Miss Qing, don't forget about us!" Lao San poked his head out from behind to get some attention.
"Don't worry! Everyone will get some! Today we'll all eat well! It's my treat!" Su Muqing readily agreed. She didn't lack supplies, so she might as well let everyone eat well!
Su Minghui looked up at the sky. It was almost the hour of Shen (9 AM). "Alright! Let's prioritize our journey. We'll see what the situation is like when we reach Shiqiao County, and hopefully, we can replenish our water supply."
Su Muqing nodded and then called out to everyone. "Okay, everyone get on the carts, and let's get moving! Oh, right… Uncle Xu, it might be more comfortable to ride in that carriage. Why don't we move Brother Lu to the carriage?"
Xu Fu originally wanted to let Su Muqing use it herself, but seeing her genuine concern for the young master, he readily accepted. "Alright! On behalf of my young master, I thank you, Qing… girl!"
Su Muqing waved her hand. Lu Yuzhi's condition was currently the weakest, so he should indeed be the one to use it. "What's there to thank! Let's go. I'll go and finish handling matters over there first, and then I'll go to the carriage and administer today's medicine to Brother Lu."
Madam Zhou got into that carriage. Fortunately, it wasn't very dirty. It seemed the third steward had taken good care of it. After a simple cleanup, she replaced the sheets and pillowcases with her own. Once everything was tidied up, Lao San carried the person over.
Although the main group had split off with four ox carts and over sixty people, adding the five ox carts and one carriage obtained from the third steward, as well as the over forty people they had bought, the entire troop had not diminished but had actually grown stronger.
Coupled with the fact that the Qianhe Village people had taken their own belongings, the empty space in the village's ox carts became larger and larger. Now, after all the items were loaded, those who were tired could lie down and rest.
Compared to the leisurely way the Houxi Village people were lying on their carts, while they themselves had to toil like old oxen carrying things, a group of people were resentful. They could only give Ergouzi and Su Mingfu another beating and curse themselves inwardly!