Uncle Li looked embarrassed. "Let her speak for herself."
He didn't have the face to say it himself. The only reason he had come along was because he couldn't stand being tormented by Wu Guihua. Instead of letting her cause trouble for everyone, it was better to come to Cheng Duo and have everything explained.
"What can't be said?" Wu Guihua shrunk her neck a bit, still a little afraid of Cheng Duo, but with so many people present, she said, "I'll say it! If you hadn't bought our land, we wouldn't have been able to gather so much silver… Without the silver, we wouldn't have fallen for the scam. You coincidentally appeared while the scammers were deceiving people. Who knows if you were working together with them?"
Wu Guihua's voice was small when she said the last sentence, probably afraid that Cheng Duo would get angry. But quickly, she regained her righteous tone. "If you hadn't come, the villagers wouldn't have been able to afford to buy our land, and Feng-ge's forced marriage wouldn't have happened. If you have any conscience, you should return the land to us!"
Cheng Duo was speechless. "According to your logic, if I bought grain from an old man in the village of Twenty-Li Slope, who would not have gone home if I hadn't bought it, and he had an accident on the way home, does that mean I'm responsible for his accident?"
He glanced at Uncle Li and the elders behind him. "If that's the case, I should go out and make it clear to everyone. From now on, anyone who buys goods from the villagers of this village should be careful. The transaction is not complete with just the exchange of silver and goods. You should ask how the other party will take the silver home and how they will spend it, otherwise, you might be blamed."
Uncle Li and the elders were extremely embarrassed. If Cheng Duo really said that, would the people of Village still have the face to go out and sell grain?
"It's not the same!" Wu Guihua instinctively retorted.
"What's different? Didn't we complete the transaction? Did Li Man Cang take the silver home? Let's say, if you didn't want to sell, but I forced you to sell?" Cheng Duo, as a modern person, had abundant theoretical knowledge. Even if he didn't have a valid argument, he could still make Wu Guihua speechless!
Cheng Duo followed one question after another, leaving Wu Guihua unable to answer. In the end, she could only sit on the ground and cry out loudly, "I don't care! It's your fault for buying our land! We've lost all our silver, our land, and Feng-ge's dowry! You've caused us such misery, and you refuse to return the land. Are you forcing our family of four to hang ourselves at your doorstep? God, I can't live anymore. Outsiders bully the people of our village, and even the elders in the village turn a blind eye. I can't live anymore…"
Cheng Duo wasn't afraid at all. "Okay, your family of four can hang yourselves at my doorstep. Do you want me to prepare the ropes for you?"
Wu Guihua froze for a moment, then continued to cry and wail loudly, cursing at the same time. In the past, she would cling to the victim, but she didn't dare to do that in front of Cheng Duo. She could only sit on the ground, crying and complaining.
"Cheng Duo…" Uncle Li couldn't stand seeing him speak so rudely, so he tried to interrupt.
Cheng Duo was well-prepared for this. Seeing Uncle Li intervene, he suddenly changed his tone. "If you want the land back, it's fine."
Upon hearing this, Wu Guihua quickly got up from the ground. "Really?"
"Of course," Cheng Duo said, changing his tone again. "But the forty-one taels of silver for buying the land, the two taels for the land deed to be handed over to the authorities, as well as the wages and accommodation for the three days of managing the fields… let's say it's three hundred wen in total. A total of forty-three taels and three hundred wen. Bring them here, and I'll give you the land deed."
"Why should we pay the two taels for the land deed? And this little amount of work doesn't deserve three hundred wen!" Wu Guihua retorted.
"We have a deed, and it wasn't me who changed my mind about the sale. I'm not even asking for compensation for the lost work. If you think it's unreasonable, shall we go to the authorities and discuss it?" Cheng Duo asked.
"You…" Wu Guihua didn't dare to go to the authorities. She had heard what her family's head said, that Cheng Duo was powerful and even the constables in the authorities would give him face!
Cheng Duo then asked Uncle Li, "Do you think the price I mentioned is reasonable, Uncle Li?"
"It's reasonable," Uncle Li nodded impartially and scolded Wu Guihua, "Wu Guihua, Cheng Duo has already paid two taels of silver for the land deed, and I witnessed it with my own eyes. Now Cheng Duo is willing to return the land. You shouldn't cause trouble unreasonably."
In fact, during the process of exchanging the land deed, Cheng Duo had given more than just silver. Invisibly, he had intimidated the constables and scribes, which made everything go smoothly. Since Cheng Duo wasn't asking for anything more, Uncle Li made a good deal by stepping forward and scolding Wu Guihua.
However, it was obvious that Wu Guihua's family couldn't come up with the silver. They had just been swindled of all their money, and even if they shamelessly asked for a loan, no one would give it to them.
Cheng Duo smiled, knowing this. "What? The silver I gave to Li Man Cang isn't real? You want to take back the land without giving a single penny? Is there such a good deal in the world?"
He had predicted that Wu Guihua couldn't come up with the money, which was why he made the offer. Even if Wu Guihua managed to come up with the money, it wouldn't matter much to him. It was just a waste of time.
Blushing with embarrassment, Li Changsheng, who was supporting his younger brother from behind, approached and pulled Wu Guihua. "Mother, let's forget it and go back."
They didn't have the money to give back to Cheng Duo.
"What kind of calculation is that?" Wu Guihua refused to give in. "Even if we don't return the land, shouldn't we receive some compensation? Boss Hong from the pork shop suffered losses!"
Li Wang couldn't help but angrily say, "Boss Hong is the middleman who connected you. He deserves to lose money. Cheng Duo doesn't owe you anything!"
Wu Guihua ignored him and lowered her head, with her disheveled bun. Then she wiped away her tears and said, "Our family is already in such a miserable state. What's wrong with him compensating us with a little money?"
An elder, either annoyed by her or feeling pity for their family, actually tried to persuade Cheng Duo, "Why don't you consider it and compensate her a little?"
Cheng Duo didn't budge, saying firmly, "I'll give you the land contract, but give me back my money first. As for compensation, I haven't done anything wrong. Why should I give it?"
He had long seen through Wu Guihua's tricks. It was just a step-by-step attempt to test his bottom line. She started by demanding the return of the land, and when that was refused, she resorted to seeking compensation.
Most people would find it bothersome at this point and would settle the matter by spending a small amount of money.
But Cheng Duo wouldn't give in. If he did, it would mean accepting Wu Guihua's arguments. Such shameless people would continue to take advantage if given an inch.
Cheng Duo's approach left Village Head Li and others speechless. They had agreed to return the land, so what business was it of theirs if he couldn't produce the money?
That was the clever part about Cheng Duo. If he had been too strong-willed and repeatedly refused, even if he was originally in the right, onlookers would consider him too cold and ruthless. But if he compromised a little, it would be different. Although the end result was the same, when Wu Guihua tried to make another move, he could reject others with harsh words.
However, he never expected that Wu Guihua had one last move. "Since you don't want this or that… How about this? Why don't you marry our Feng-ge? It's a good deal for you!"
Feng-ge had already been engaged, and he had even accepted gifts from Young Master Yan before. However, due to the scandal of a fraudulent marriage, it had become widely known in the surrounding villages.
It wasn't a big deal for the two of them to interact privately and accept gifts from each other. But since he was a fraud, some busybodies spread rumors privately, saying that the fraudster would never let Feng-ge go, and his innocence must have been lost long ago!
Since their reputation was already tarnished, they decided to go all out. If all else failed, they would force Cheng Duo to marry Feng-ge. After all, as an orphaned hunter, he was considered unlucky in the village. It was better to marry Feng-ge than to be single his whole life, right?
Feng-ge's pale face suddenly turned red. Despite being mentally prepared, he felt like he was standing naked outside, being scrutinized by others with strange eyes.
If it wasn't for knowing that his reputation was ruined, he wouldn't have willingly faced such an embarrassing situation. But he had no choice, and his mother had also said that if Cheng Duo agreed to return the land or compensate them, she wouldn't mention it again…
He desperately tugged at his sleeve, his thin body trembling uncontrollably. He couldn't help but harbor a glimmer of hope, hoping that Cheng Duo would agree, so that he could still salvage some dignity…
Feng-ge's eyelashes trembled as he timidly looked up at Cheng Duo. His awkward and embarrassed demeanor was completely different from his previous arrogance at the village entrance.
Cheng Duo actually admired his ability to understand the situation. Such a person wouldn't thrive in the apocalypse, but at least he wouldn't lose his life inexplicably. In the face of life and death matters, what did pride matter?
This young ger was willing to go to such lengths. If Cheng Duo hadn't encountered him, perhaps he could have really turned his life around…
Yong-ge's heart tightened when he saw Cheng Duo looking at Feng-ge. Then, for some reason, his gaze quickly dimmed, his eyes lowered, and his face showed neither sadness nor joy.
Li Wang also became worried, but when he noticed Yong-ge's expression, he began to feel sorry for him. "This Wu Guihua has no shame! Even if Feng-ge's matter doesn't work out, we can't bring up Yong-ge's anymore…"
But Cheng Duo's next words shocked Li Wang and extinguished any thoughts he had, as Cheng Duo said, "It's impossible. I already have a fiancée."
Village Head Li sighed inwardly. He hadn't known that Wu's family would say such things. Seeing Feng-ge's teary eyes and his crumbling appearance, he quickly intervened, "Cheng Duo's parents had already arranged his marriage. What nonsense are you all talking about?"
Feng-ge's hopes were shattered, and he suddenly burst into tears. Covering his face, he ran away, overwhelmed with despair.
"Feng-ge…" Li Changsheng hurriedly went after him, leaving Wu Guihua standing there in a daze, unable to snap out of it.
Village Head Li was afraid that she would make more embarrassing demands, so he discreetly signaled the eldest daughter-in-law who had come to watch the spectacle to pull her away.
Li Wang couldn't believe his ears. He had planned to match Yong-ge with Cheng Duo, but it turned out that Cheng Duo already had an engagement?
He couldn't help but look at Yong-ge and noticed that there was no surprise on his face; he seemed to have known all along.
If he knew, then why did he continue to associate with Cheng Duo? Did he want to be taken advantage of?
A surge of anger welled up in Li Wang's heart, but it wasn't directed at Yong-ge; it was directed at Cheng Duo and himself.
Feeling upset, Li Wang didn't even bother to confront Cheng Duo. He didn't even go to collect his wages and went home with Yong-ge instead.
Even at home, Li Wang couldn't calm down. He paced back and forth in the main room and finally, as he looked at the memorial tablet placed on the ancestral altar, he made up his mind. "Yong-ge, come here."
Yong-ge washed his hands and face and entered the room. Seeing his father assuming a serious posture as if for a heart-to-heart talk, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. "Father, what's the matter?"
Yong-ge wasn't stupid. Over the past few days, he had sensed that his father seemed to want to pair him up with Cheng Duo. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, his father didn't object to their conversations and even encouraged him to persuade Cheng Duo, telling him not to waste this opportunity…
Such an attitude was completely unlike how he had dealt with previous employers.
He thought his father wanted to talk to him about Cheng Duo, but he never expected Li Wang's next words, which startled him. Li Wang said, "Yong-ge, you've grown up, and I've decided to tell you about your origin…"
Yong-ge's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly interjected, "Father, what are you saying?"
Li Wang saw him turn pale with fright and inexplicably felt relieved. He patted him on the hand and said, "Don't be afraid, I'm not rejecting you. You probably already guessed what I'm about to say, right? Yong-ge, you're actually not my biological child."
Yong-ge looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Father…"
"Do you remember anything before the age of three?"
Yong-ge subconsciously nodded. "I remember that when I was three, you brought me home from outside."
Li Wang knew from his response that he didn't remember anything, and it made sense. He was so young at the time…