Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 41: Clan Council Meeting

The system was monitoring Leng Qi. Today, after returning from the temple, the Tree-man didn’t return to the tree but stayed hidden on the roof. He heard everything Cheng Xiaoxiao and the others said.

Cheng Xiaoxiao told the system not to worry; she also wanted to know what would happen if Yanlan found out.

She took a risk. If Yanlan figured out something was off, she’d be in trouble.

But she gambled on it. If Yanlan found out, maybe more people could be saved. After all, Yanlan had a high status. She, being insignificant, could only try to protect the villagers. If Yanlan intervened, perhaps more lives could be saved.

In the end, it was her pitiful empathy at play.

----------

What was the Tree-man Leng Qi doing?

In the midst of an inner struggle...

A little voice said, "This is a matter of life and death. It needs to be reported to the Pavilion Master immediately to make arrangements as soon as possible."

Another little voice said, "Without evidence and proof, if it’s proven untrue, he’ll face severe consequences, possibly sent back to the Dark Camp, wishing for death."

Report!

Or not report!

Leng Qi was torn countless times on this night!

Life—Future—Consequences—Conscience----

At dawn, Leng Qi finally made up his mind to report it!

Whether it was true or not, he was only responsible for gathering intelligence. Whether the Pavilion Master believed it or not was up to him to decide. He just needed to execute orders. Understanding this, Leng Qi felt much relieved, flew back to a tree branch, whistled, and sent out the eagle with the letter.

If nothing happened, he’d just have to accept it!

The next morning, early in the morning, the Clan Leader sent someone to summon Cheng Qiang and Cheng Yong. Since Cheng Xiaoxiao was also involved, she had to go for questioning as well. Cheng Xiaoxiao had expected it but thought it was too early!

The ancients had this habit of not sleeping in, regardless of age. She, a night owl, had been here for so long and still wasn’t used to it.

Yawning, she got up slowly.

Beside her, Erya urged her. She had already gotten up and prepared breakfast, yet her sister was still lazing in bed. Ever since her sister fell into the water, she especially liked to sleep in. If there wasn’t something big going on to wake her up, she might throw a tantrum.

Cheng Xiaoxiao groggily said, "Erya, you’re acting like you’re eighty years old. What young girl wakes up this early? Be careful; you might not be beautiful in the future."

Early to bed, early to rise, good health! That’s non-existent for Cheng Xiaoxiao.

Erya helplessly went along with Cheng Xiaoxiao’s words, "Everything you say, Sister, is right."

What could she do with such a sister!

In the morning, one’s mind is always foggy. If you don’t agree with her, she might lecture for half an hour, and if you annoy her, you might get punished to write calligraphy.

What else can you do but go along with her!

Cheng Xiaoxiao pouted, "Just knew you’d humor me, get up, get up!"

Sigh!

Sister is just destined to work, having to hustle for life before dawn.

The system overheard the host’s inner grumbles, feeling quite speechless, "Host, it’s already daylight. You’re the only one in the whole family who hasn’t gotten up yet. Even Qi Fei is here grinding medicinal powder."

Cheng Xiaoxiao often forgot about the system, thinking that her inner complaints were her private voice, and the system was quite unethical to eavesdrop every time.

Upon hearing the host complain about it, the system got annoyed, "Host, you’re wronging me... Oh, it’s not! Blaming the system. I’m in your mind; whatever you think, I naturally receive. You don’t want me to hear it, and still blame me?"

"Who wants to hear your complaints, clearly it’s your impure mind, with lots of little schemes. I haven’t even minded your noisiness yet!" The system looked disdainful... if it had a face.

Cheng Xiaoxiao "....."

Is this system revolting?

For such a useless system to even have the face to disdain its owner?

Maybe it’s better to just discard it!

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t block these thoughts from the system.

Instantly, the system went silent.

Is it useless?

The host wants to abandon it?

What should it do?

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t care what the system thought; lately, it had been too uppity, acting as if without it the world wouldn’t turn. What now! A splash of cold water to wake it up.

Then, she directly blocked it.

After breakfast, she went to the Cheng Family’s ancestral hall with Mr. Cheng. It was Cheng Xiaoxiao’s first time hearing about a meeting there, and according to her father, holding a meeting at the ancestral hall was quite elaborate.

First, they had to choose the date and time, with the Clan Leader burning incense, washing, and praying to the ancestors, bowing deeply before entering the ancestral hall. Only significant matters warranted such an event, which showed how much the clan valued this issue.

The ancestral hall was in the middle of the village, behind the Clan Leader’s house, close to the foot of the mountain.

The entrance was surrounded by women and children who hadn’t been informed, all curious about what major event had caused the ancestral hall to be opened, chattering intensely.

Cheng Xiaoxiao stepped inside to find it filled with prestigious clan members, like the Third Uncle who had helped them before, the Fourth Uncle and Seventh Uncle from the Clan Leader’s line, and about a dozen people from the Village Chief’s line, some familiar, some not.

Facing such a big occasion, Cheng Xiaoxiao was calm. In her previous life, she had seen big moments like this. These elderly villagers, though looking dignified and solemn, were really just paper tigers.

In contrast, Mr. Cheng was a bit nervous, even his voice trembling as he greeted the clan elders.

All around, people whispered, exchanging the information they received. Some elders looked puzzled, wondering why, for such an important meeting, a young girl was called. What was the point?

Those in the know explained the reason, and they seemed to understand, no longer speaking.

Seeing everyone had arrived, the Clan Leader coughed, hinting for his grandson to close the door. Once the hefty door shut, cutting off the thoughts of those watching the commotion outside, he solemnly said, "Since everyone is here, let’s get straight to the point. This matter is serious, so I’ve gathered everyone to hear your suggestions or thoughts. Cheng Yong, please explain the situation."

Nervous at heart, Cheng Yong dared not delay and repeated the words his daughter had advised him to everyone. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

As his words fell silent!

The ancestral hall fell into collective silence for five seconds, as if the impact of Cheng Yong’s words hadn’t been absorbed.

Then people started criticizing Cheng Yong...

No one believed such baseless talk.

Someone asked, "That Master Jing Yuan you’re talking about isn’t Master Liao Ming. Can his words be trusted?"

Another said, "If we’re to harvest early and can’t pay the grain tax, who’s responsible for the loss?"

Someone else was more direct, "Utter nonsense, I, for one, don’t believe it."

Then someone added, "A young girl’s nightmare linked with natural disasters, why haven’t we had such dreams? So she alone received divine instruction, trying to fool us!"

Most of those speaking were from the Clan Leader’s line, along with some neutrals.

People from the Village Chief’s line, from Cheng Xiaoxiao’s perspective, seemed half-convinced, but since the Village Chief hadn’t spoken, they also didn’t rush to jump out.

The stern uncles kept strict faces, looking disapprovingly at Cheng Yong, thinking this child must be spouting nonsense.

The Third Uncle once respected this young man, honest and reliable, respectful to elders, diligent and steadfast, couldn’t help but remind, "Little Cheng, you can eat recklessly, but not speak recklessly. You must be responsible for over 200 people in our village with your words; it’s no joke."

Initially so many were denouncing Mr. Cheng, he felt flustered and unsure of what to do, and with Third Uncle’s words, he felt even more anxious. How could he be responsible for something that hadn’t happened? He didn’t even know... he did it for the village’s good, so why was he being denounced now?