After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 206: Based on Fairness and Justice

Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Based on Fairness and Justice

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"As for the Earth Character Land’s two pieces and Ren Pride Land’s two pieces, I think it’s better to divide them equally between the eldest house and the second house for the sake of fairness. As for the He Character Land, the eldest house gets two pieces, while the elderly retain one piece. With this arrangement, what are your thoughts?"

As soon as these words came out, Lady Zhao’s expression instantly darkened, like a lake surface swept by a frigid wind, with sudden surges of wave.

"Why should we? This isn’t acceptable!"

Her words were filled with an indisputable firmness, and the fury in her eyes seemed almost capable of igniting the air.

Though the Earth Character land was not as fertile as Sky Character land, it was still considered high-quality farmland in the village. An equal division meant that each person would only get one piece, which for the always diligent Lady Zhao, was akin to the pain of cutting flesh.

The village chief showed an embarrassed expression and turned his gaze to Jiang Xunzhong, hoping to find a way out of the dilemma from him.

Jiang Xunzhong was hunched over, his face etched with the marks of time, but when he spoke, he was unexpectedly decisive: "The harvest of the land depends on whether the cultivator is diligent. My old bones are long past the vigor of youth and lack the strength to carefully tend to those fertile lands. Therefore, for the sake of fairness, please leave the good land to the younger generation who need it more."

Upon hearing this, the village chief furrowed his brows and his displeasure was evident, yet constrained by the reality of Jiang Xunzhong’s advanced age and frailty, he found it inappropriate to refute too strongly.

Family disputes are always complicated, and even as the village chief, it isn’t easy to mediate. For a moment, he found himself in a difficult situation: "Then, according to you, how should we divide the land to be most appropriate?"

Mixed with resignation and determination, Lady Zhao’s voice came through: "Let’s do it my way, give the eldest house three pieces of He Character Land and one piece of Ren Pride Land. Don’t talk to me about more."

Her tone carried an air of finality that brooked no negotiation, clearly indicating a significant concession in the matter at hand.

As far as she was concerned, even though the He Character land was barren and remote, overgrown with weeds, it was still her own property. She was reluctant to part with it easily and was even more guarded against the unrelated eldest house, naturally feeling a combination of vigilance and reluctance.

Jiang Xunzhong remained silent on the side, his eyes conveying support and agreement with Lady Zhao.

In the crowd, there was a buzz of opinion about Lady Zhao’s proposal. Many felt that the distribution was too biased towards herself, considering the He Character land to be of the lowest quality and the Ren Pride Land barely an improvement.

Regarding the selfishness of the elderly, people whispered amongst themselves and shook their heads in private.

Just when the village chief was about to speak out in mediation and strive for fairness, the typically quiet Xie Xinghua suddenly spoke up. Her voice was clear and pleasant, but carried an undeniable force: "Let it be so. My husband and I understand my parents-in-law’s temperament and do not wish to trouble the village chief. Furthermore, even if we obtained the good land, if it led to family discord or even secret schemes against us, it would be better to step back for a broader perspective, not to covet what others cherish, seeking peace of mind and righteousness."

This magnanimous statement, like a breath of spring air, eased the previously tense atmosphere significantly and caused some embarrassment on the faces of the elderly.

Upon hearing this, the village chief sighed deeply, seemingly resigned and relieved with the outcome: "Since Aunt Zhou has made up her mind, then let’s proceed as you wish."

As he spoke, his tone changed, and his gaze became grave again: "As for the distribution of the silver coins..."

The village chief’s words suddenly hung frozen in the air, like a heavy stone thrown into the calm surface of a lake, rippling waves outward.

The surrounding villagers whispered amongst themselves, their eyes flitting between Lady Zhao and Jiang Xunzhong, curiosity spreading like wildfire as each person eagerly wanted to know how the next act of the drama would unfold.

The air was thick with a tense and delicate atmosphere, as if even the occasional summer breeze became cautious, not daring to disturb the critical moment.

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Lady Zhao’s face flashed with a myriad of complex emotions that were hard to capture, her eyes conveying both a sense of relief as if a burden had been lifted and a hint of wariness and unease.

Her hands, etched with the traces of years gone by, unconsciously gripped the corner of her garment as if this could bring her a trace of strength.

Jiang Xunzhong stood to the side, his gaze flickering uncertainly, his heart in turmoil. He was filled with trepidation about every word that the village chief would say next, yet he also faintly hoped for some twist of fate.

As the village chief slowly began to speak, announcing the exact amount of silver coin, the buzzing of the crowd was instantly replaced by a stunned silence.

Sixty-seven taels and five hundred seventy-five wen, this figure was astronomical for most of those present, enough to stir the heart of anyone.

On this barren land, such wealth could change the fate of a family, making countless people look on with envy.

The villagers’ sharp intakes of breath came one after another, their expressions varying, with envy, jealousy, and bewilderment.

Life in Willow Village had always been simple; most families earned just several taels of silver a year, and those who could save up three-figure sums of silver could be counted on one hand.

Even the aging village chief couldn’t help but secretly marvel in his heart, his face reflecting an exceptionally complex mix of emotions.

When the village chief proposed a plan for allocation, the enormous weight in Lady Zhao’s heart quietly lifted, her face slightly relaxing, revealing a subtle sense of relief that was not easily noticed.

However, this brief tranquility was quickly shattered by the words that the village chief spoke next.

A look of astonishment passed through her eyes, and then anger and dissatisfaction swiftly took over her entire being, her tone involuntarily rising as her questioning words fell like hail, sending a chill through those around her.

The murmur of the crowd surged up once more, a mix of voices intertwined, some sympathetic, some reproachful, and more still with a schadenfreude edge.

These voices came together into an invisible pressure, further tensing the already taut atmosphere.

The village chief, on the other hand, appeared altogether confident, his serious expression as if to tell everyone that all his decisions were based on fairness and justice.

Lady Zhao looked around; those accusatory and sympathetic stares cut through her like sharp blades, slicing at her heart.

She suddenly realized that this unexpected fortune had not brought her the peace and happiness she had hoped for. Instead, it was like a touchstone, testing human nature, and exposing the greed and pettiness of people’s hearts.

In the midst of all this turmoil, Lady Zhao and Jiang Xunzhong clung to each other, facing the impending storm, their hearts filled with an indescribable helplessness and a resilient defiance against fate.

The villagers had never seen such a mountain of silver. The cold, gleaming Silver Taels seemed magical, drawing everyone’s eyes and filling them with envy and desire.

It was like everyone had an itch they couldn’t scratch unless they expressed their sour remarks, seemingly the only way to settle the imbalance in their hearts.

In an instant, the alleyways, by the well, and under the shade of trees in the village were abuzz with gossip. The elderly Jiang couple had become the target of public criticism, pointed at and talked about by the villagers.