Chapter 32: Schemes

Ge Xiulan's head was "buzzing": "Mom, you've misunderstood. You don't know—since my in-laws didn't give any money to treat my brother-in-law's leg, that mother and daughter from the second branch went absolutely mad. They wanted to make a scene so big the whole village would know. In a fit of rage, my father-in-law kicked them out of the family."

"What? They split the family? If they've split up, how are you going to speak up for your nephew?"

As expected of mother and daughter, they thought exactly alike: "Mom, don't worry, I definitely won't let Baocheng end up a bachelor."

Old Lady Ge's face was full of doubt: "You've thought of a way?"

Ge Xiulan glanced out the window and gave her nephew a meaningful look.

Ge Baocheng had some wits about him and immediately realized his aunt's intention. He went outside and stood by the door to prevent their conversation from being overheard.

Once Ge Xiulan saw the door was closed, she grabbed her mother's hand and whispered, "Aside from that brat Chunxiao, everyone from the second branch has gone to the hospital. Anyway, as long as that brat Chunxiao's reputation is ruined, they will fulfill their promise. So, why not take advantage of the time they aren't here to make those rumors a reality?

That way, when that girl Chunxiao returns to the village, she won't be able to clear her name even with a hundred mouths. After all, it's a fact that she didn't come home that night."

Old Lady Ge said with some displeasure, "But that has nothing to do with our Baocheng, unless you can give up that job quota?"

Ge Xiulan didn't realize how bold she was being: "Mom, what are you thinking? Shanguang knows about this too. If I really gave the job quota to Baocheng, would he ever let me off the hook?"

Not hearing what she wanted to hear, Old Lady Ge's head began to ache again. She covered her forehead and started "moaning" in pain.

Ge Xiulan hurriedly said, "As long as that girl's reputation is gone, it won't be easy for her to find another match. Besides, we live in the same courtyard; with me keeping a constant eye on her, there will always be an opportunity for our Baocheng. It's just a matter of waiting a little longer."

Just as the mother and daughter reached a consensus, a commotion came from outside the courtyard: "Village Chief, you saw our current situation. With such a huge loss, don't even think about expecting us to just let this matter rest."

"That's not what I meant. I was just thinking that if we could resolve it within the village, we wouldn't trouble the police. Besides, the thief even took most of your firewood and the large stones prepared for building your house. What kind of petty thief do you think has that kind of capability?"

"But we just searched half the village and didn't find a single clue. We can't just wait around forever; if we wait any longer, the thief will be even harder to find."

The eldest Ge brother also agreed with the Village Chief's deduction. The thief must be a villager; otherwise, it would be impossible to transport so many things out in such a short time. Furthermore, elderly people chat under the old locust tree at the village entrance all year round; it was impossible for them not to have seen anything.

As they were speaking, the second Ge brother returned with his younger sister and brother-in-law: "Big Brother, Village Chief, how is it? Have you found anything?"

The eldest Ge brother shook his head with a dark expression.

The Village Chief felt somewhat embarrassed. After all, he was the one who had stopped the Ge family from reporting it to the police, and now that not a single clue had been found, he truly felt awkward.

Before he could speak, he heard the youngest daughter of the Ge family, Ge Xiuqiao, say in an unfriendly tone, "Village Chief, you stopped my eldest and second brothers from reporting it to the police. If the things aren't found, will you be the one to compensate us?"

Hearing this, the Village Chief's face turned very ugly, and his voice carried a hint of anger: "I was only thinking of the village's reputation! Look at the way you're speaking!"

(End of Chapter)