He could have had an easy trip back. Instead, despite not carrying anyone, he had a harder time than the one who did. He practically ran himself out of breath.

"Everyone says Chen Song and the old lady have a strained relationship, but how is this strained? Even a biological son, who could do what Chen Song has done?"

"He’s an official, after all. He handles things with decorum and does everything by the book."

"The old lady did raise Chen Song, so in the end, he’s just repaying her kindness."

’Is Chen Song repaying her kindness?’

’Repaying her kindness, my ass!’

’Before he was six, he had grown up under his grandmother’s care. With her protection, his life had been a little easier.’

’But after his grandmother passed away, he became like a lonely cabbage in a winter field—utterly miserable.’

’When the old lady was in a good mood, she might toss him a steamed bun. When she was in a bad mood, it was common for her to deny him food for days.’

’To keep from starving, he and Chen Bai learned at a young age to search for birds’ eggs in the mountains and grope for loaches in the riverbeds.’

’They were always half-starved, but they somehow managed to pull through and grow up.’

’Because he grew up neglected, he had nearly died from sickness or starvation several times. Chen Song had not an ounce of affection for the old lady.’

’If the old lady had been on her deathbed a few years earlier, Chen Song would have wept and wailed in public, only to climb onto the roof in the dead of night to set off celebratory firecrackers.’

’But now, the old lady absolutely could not die!’

’His son was to take the county examination next year!’

’The exam was, at most, only one month and four days away!’

’If the old lady died now, wouldn’t it derail his son’s chances?’

’Granted, based on De’an’s abilities, his chances of passing this time were about fifty-fifty. But every attempt was another opportunity. Even if the old lady had to die, it would be best if she waited until after his son finished the exam.’ 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Fortunately, the old lady had only suffered from excessive blood loss. After a slice of old mountain ginseng was stuffed into her mouth, her life was temporarily saved.

Chen Song gritted his teeth and had the doctor prescribe expensive medicine. It cost him five taels of Silver, but the effect was noticeable. The old lady’s complexion improved, and her breathing grew stronger.

Only then did Chen Song finally breathe a sigh of relief. He walked out into the courtyard and kicked Chen Lin hard.

"You damn bastard! It’s one thing for you to get bullied, but you dragged our mother down with you! And you just stood there like a mute? Are you an idiot? Let’s go. We’re going to the county government to report this. I’ll investigate this case myself. I’d like to see just what kind of bandits have the gall to commit murder at a time like this."

Wincing, Chen Lin rubbed his aching waist where he’d been kicked. He shifted his position and said, "Forget it, big brother. What if those people have accomplices? We all have families to think about. If any one of them gets hurt, wouldn’t we be heartbroken?"

"So according to you, we should just let this go?"

Before Chen Lin could reply, Chen Song slapped him hard across the head. "Let it go, my ass! These are vicious criminals. Today they dare to attack you, tomorrow they’ll attack someone else. If we don’t catch them now while the trail is still fresh, are we supposed to just let them run wild?"

Mr. Zhao spoke up, "Dasong is right. Chen Lin, you and your big brother need to make a trip to the county seat. This must be reported to the authorities."

Chen Dasheng added, "If you report it, you might even recover some of your losses. Otherwise, with one of you injured and the other lame, your family will only have expenses and no income. Are you all just going to wait to starve?"

Chen Lin said, "I’m mainly worried about my mother."

"We’re all here, what’s there to worry about? And what about your wife and daughter? Have them come out and stand guard. You just hurry up and go to the county seat with your big brother."

When Chen Lin heard the uncles mention Mrs. Li, his heart skipped a beat. "Mrs. Li’s mother hasn’t been well, so she went back to take care of my mother-in-law a couple of days ago. As for my daughter... Wanyue, Wanyue, where are you?"

Chen Wanyue shook out her sleeves and ran out from the west wing.

"Grandmother injured the back of her head, so she definitely can’t be exposed to the wind for a while. I was sewing a hat for her to wear when she goes out in the future."

"Go and attend to your grandmother for now. The rest can wait..."

Chen Wanyue reluctantly agreed and, under the thoughtful gazes of the crowd, headed for the main hall.

As the two brothers, Chen Song and Chen Bai, took Chen Lin to the county government, Xu Su Ying left the old family house with her son, daughter, and son-in-law.

On the way home, Xu Su Ying said, "Who knows what that family was plotting this time. They just didn’t expect it to backfire and get themselves caught in it. Your grandmother really suffered this time."

Chen Wanqing linked arms with her mother and asked, "Mother, you don’t believe that nonsense Third Uncle was spouting either?"

"You called it nonsense yourself, so of course not. Only a ghost would believe him. Claiming your grandfather was having sleepless nights from dreaming about the family ancestors? If your grandfather had that much of a conscience, would he have allowed your father to be so cruelly treated by his stepmother? If they really did summon back the spirits of the relatives who died on the road, that couple would be the ones who couldn’t sleep at night. Your own paternal grandmother is down there watching your father be abused like this. She must hate those two with a passion. If she ever saw them, she’d probably eat them alive!"