Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 20 Who kneels for whom
"Mother, look at the mess this has caused, how am I to return in the future?" Third Aunt whined with an aggrieved expression.
"Enough, all of you be silent," Grandfather bellowed. He turned his head and glared at Feng Xi, "What did you just say, about leaving the Feng Family?"
"Yes, I am taking my sister and leaving the Feng Family," Feng Xi unflinchingly met Grandfather’s daunting gaze as he spoke.
"Hahaha, very well. The Feng Family has raised a pair of ingrates. In my old age, to have my own grandson shame me before outsiders, having lived such a long life only to be disgraced within my own home, you want to leave the Feng Family, do you? I shall grant your wish. Santian, go, call your eldest uncle and your several uncles, along with your cousins. Have your eldest uncle bring the family tree, and your second brother and sister-in-law should take a detour to invite the village chief over," Grandfather ordered, no longer looking at Feng Xi but instructing Feng Santian by his side.
"Alright then, Father, I’m off," Feng Santian glanced at Feng Xi, then left to carry out his father’s order.
"Go, and hurry," Grandfather dismissed him with a wave of his hand, eyes closed.
About half an hour later, several elders and a bunch of young people arrived in the courtyard. The eldest spoke first, "Second brother, it’s drizzling, what’s so urgent that you called us all here, and even had me bring the family tree?" Feng Youfa, Brother Youcai’s eldest brother, said.
"Yeah, second brother, whatever it is, couldn’t it wait until the weather clears?" Grandfather’s eldest brother, Feng Yousheng, said.
"Exactly, second brother, looking at everyone gathered here, what on earth has happened that you summon such a crowd?" Grandfather’s younger brother, Feng Yougen, said.
"Ah, it’s a long story, Big Brother, Yousheng, Yougen, come inside," Grandfather Feng Youcai sighed in dismay.
"How have you been feeling lately, second uncle?" Eldest uncle’s three sons Feng Da, Feng Fang, and Feng Gang approached and asked.
"Same as always, just idling until death," Grandfather chuckled.
"Hahaha, Second Uncle seems to be still full of vim and vigour," "Indeed, very sprightly," chimed in the two sons of the youngest brother, Feng Jian and Feng Yong.
"You two rascals, so you’re mocking me now," Grandfather glared and retorted with a grumpy face.
"Second Uncle, you’re more than just sprightly, you’re lively and vigorous. Isn’t that right, Feng Li, Feng Xiang?" Feng Guang asked his two younger brothers. "Yes, yes, Big Brother is correct," the two brothers agreed, joking about their second uncle along with the three sons of Grandfather Feng Youcai’s youngest brother.
"Enough, you few little scamps, always joking at your second uncle’s expense when there’s nothing going on. Stand over there," the eldest uncle reprimanded, prompting the youngsters to immediately behave and exchange glances with each other as they stood to one side.
"What are you all discussing here? I could hear your voices from afar," the village chief said as he entered the courtyard.
"The village chief has arrived, please come inside," Grandfather Feng Youcai gestured invitingly to the village chief, who didn’t put on airs and, after some back and forth, was the first to enter the house, followed by several elders and the younger ones, one after another. The village chief and the eldest brother Feng Youfa took the main seats, followed by Grandfather Feng Youcai, the second brother Feng Yousheng, and the youngest brother Feng Yougen. A few of the cousins either squatted or stood to one side, listening quietly to the impending matter.
"Youcai, now that everyone is here, what is the matter? Tell us," Grandfather’s eldest brother Feng Youfa twisted his beard as he spoke.
"Alas, it’s a family misfortune. Today, I had arranged a marriage for my eldest daughter with a well-off family, the only child in their household, simple kin. But Feng Xi and Feng Xuxu disapprove, one wanting to break the engagement, and the other declaring she would rather be a corpse than comply. They both openly defied me in front of them, and I’ve lost face. Therefore, I called everyone here today, firstly, to witness this, and secondly, to fulfill Feng Xi’s wish to leave the Feng Family, to be removed from the family tree. There’s nothing else I can do but to acknowledge the raising of ungrateful children," Grandfather Feng Youcai spoke sorrowfully, feigning tears that weren’t in his eyes. After Feng Youcai finished speaking, murmurs of pity rose among the standing cousins.
With a loud "smack," Feng Youfa slapped the table and rose, "Silence!" His sidelong glance at the cousins ensured their immediate silence before he turned back and commanded, "Santian, fetch those two ingrates, Feng Xi and Feng Xuxu. I want to see for myself, these youngsters who haven’t fully grown their hair, having the audacity to defy their elder, it’s an outrage."
Santian nodded at his eldest uncle and hurriedly said, "They’re in mother’s room, I’ll go fetch them right away." No sooner had he left than Feng Xi and Feng Xuxu entered the main room. They had just taken their positions when the eldest uncle addressed them, "You two, kneel down." Feng Xi began to lift his robe to kneel, but Feng Xuxu grabbed her brother, looking firmly at her eldest uncle as she asked, "Great Uncle, why should we kneel?"
"Hmph, kneel when you’re told to kneel, no need for so many questions," Feng Youfa said indignantly.
"If Great Uncle cannot point out our wrongdoing, then we have no reason to kneel," Feng Xuxu stated resolutely.
"You little wretch, I’ll make you admit to your fault. I ask you, was your grandfather not arranging a marriage for you with a prosperous household, an only child no less? Is this true? Next, I ask you, did Feng Xi disrespect his grandfather and voluntarily ask to be removed from the family? Is this also true? Both of these points, are they not factual?"
