12dz Chapter 206 Based on Fairness and Justice
Chapter 206 Based on Fairness and Justice
"As for the two plots of land and the two plots of pride, I think it would be better to divide them equally between the first and second wives, for the sake of fairness. As for the plots of land with the same name, the first wife will take two plots, and the second wife will keep one. What do you think of this arrangement?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao's face instantly darkened, as if the surface of a lake suddenly became rippled by the cold wind.
"Why? This won't do!"
Her words were filled with unquestionable determination, and the anger in her eyes could almost ignite the air.
Although the Di-grade land is not as fertile as the Tian-grade land, it is still considered top-quality farmland in the village. Dividing it equally means that each person only gets one piece, which is like cutting off one's own flesh for the Zhao family, who has always been hardworking and managing their family.
The village chief looked embarrassed and turned to Jiang Xunzhong, hoping to find a solution from him.
Jiang Xunzhong was hunched over, his face full of traces of time, but he was surprisingly decisive when he spoke: "The key to the harvest of the land lies in whether the tiller is diligent. My old bones are no longer as brave as they used to be, and I am no longer able to take good care of those fertile lands. So, for the sake of fairness, please leave those good lands to the younger generation who need them more."
Upon hearing this, the village chief frowned, unable to conceal his displeasure. However, due to Jiang Xunzhong's old age and frailty, he could not refute too forcefully.
Disputes between families have always been complicated and difficult to resolve even for the village chief. For a moment, he was in a dilemma: "Then according to your opinion, how should the land be divided most appropriately?"
Zhao's voice was mixed with helplessness and determination: "Just as I say, give the eldest wife three pieces of land with a name, plus one piece of land for personal pride, and no more will be discussed."
There was a determination in her tone that brooked no room for negotiation, and it was obvious that she had already made a huge concession in her duties.
In her opinion, even though the land was barren, remote and overgrown with weeds, it was her own property after all and she was unwilling to give it up easily. Moreover, she could not help but feel a little more wary and reluctant to give up the eldest wife who had no blood relationship with her.
Jiang Xunzhong remained silent, his eyes revealing his support and recognition for Zhao.
The crowd was discussing the plan proposed by Zhao. They all felt that this allocation was too biased towards themselves. They believed that the He brand name was the lowest, and that the pride of people was just better than nothing.
Everyone discussed the two elders' selfishness in private and shook their heads secretly.
Just as the village director was about to speak out to mediate and strive for fairness, Xie Xinghua, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke. Her voice was crisp and pleasant, but it carried a force that could not be ignored: "Let it be. My husband and I understand the temperament of my parents-in-law, and we don't want to embarrass the village chief. Besides, even if we win the good land, if it causes family discord and even leads to conspiracy behind the scenes, it is better to take a step back and not take away what others like, so as to have peace of mind."
These generous words were like a gust of spring breeze, easing the originally tense atmosphere a lot and making the two elders look a little embarrassed.
Upon hearing this, the village chief sighed deeply, as if he was both helpless and relieved by the result: "Since Aunt Zhou has made up her mind, then let's do as you wish."
At this point, he changed the subject and his eyes became heavy again: "As for the distribution of silver and money..."
The village director's words suddenly froze in the air, as if a heavy stone was thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.
The villagers around were whispering to each other, their eyes moving back and forth between Zhao and Jiang Xunzhong. Curiosity spread like wildfire, and everyone was eager to know how the next drama would unfold.
There was a tense and subtle atmosphere in the air, and it seemed that even the occasional breeze in the summer had become cautious, not daring to disturb the atmosphere of this critical moment.
An elusive complex emotion flashed across Zhao's face. Her eyes showed a sense of relief, mixed with a bit of vigilance and uneasiness.
The pair of hands, full of traces of time, unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes, as if this could bring her a little strength.
Jiang Xunzhong stood aside, his eyes flickering, his heart in turmoil. He was filled with uneasiness about every word the village chief would say next, but he was also vaguely expecting some kind of turn of events.
As the village director slowly opened his mouth and announced the specific amount of the money, the noise in the crowd was instantly replaced by a shocked silence.
Sixty-seven taels, five hundred and seventy-five coins, this amount was undoubtedly an astronomical figure for most people present, enough to make anyone's heart ripple.
In this barren land, such wealth is enough to change the fate of a family and make countless people envious.
The villagers gasped one after another, and their expressions varied, including envy, jealousy and confusion.
Life in Liushu Village has always been simple. The annual income of most families is only a few taels of silver, and there are only a handful of families that can save three-digit silver.
Even the elderly village chief couldn't help but marvel in his heart, and his expression looked particularly complicated.
When the village director proposed the distribution plan, the huge stone in Zhao's heart fell quietly to the ground. Her face relaxed slightly, revealing a barely perceptible relief.
However, this brief peace was soon shattered by the village chief's next words.
There was a flash of surprise in her eyes, and then anger and dissatisfaction quickly took over her entire mind. Her tone rose involuntarily, and her questioning words fell like hail, making everyone around her feel a chill.
The discussions in the crowd boiled over again, with various voices interweaving together, some expressing sympathy, some blaming, and more of them just wanting to watch the fun.
These voices combined into an invisible pressure, making the already tense atmosphere even more tense.
The village director looked confident, and the serious look on his face seemed to tell everyone that all his decisions were based on fairness and justice.
Zhao looked around. Those accusatory or sympathetic gazes were like sharp blades, cutting her heart.
She suddenly realized that this sudden wealth not only failed to bring her the peace and happiness she expected, but instead was like a touchstone, testing human nature and exposing the greed and narrow-mindedness of people's hearts.
In this turmoil, Zhao and Jiang Xunzhong stuck to each other tightly. Facing the coming storm, they had an unspeakable helplessness in their hearts, but also a tenacity that refused to bow to fate.
The villagers had never seen such a mountain of silver before. The silver coins shining with cold light seemed to have magic, attracting everyone's attention and filling their eyes with jealousy and desire.
Everyone's heart feels itchy as if being scratched by a cat, and it seems difficult to calm the inner imbalance without uttering a few sour words.
For a time, people in the alleys, by the wells, and under the shade of trees in the village were talking about it. The two elders of the Jiang family became the target of public criticism and were pointed at by the villagers.