The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 467: One More Jab

Chapter 467: One More Jab

Xu Zeng found himself panting as the words poured out of him, a torrent of frustration and pent-up emotions bursting forth. He had gone from giddy to a tangled mess of feelings he had never dared to explore before.

His dad had moved to this village to keep him safe, but hadn’t his ger dad also been true to the man he married?

His dad had been a devoted spouse, transforming their humble thatch hut into a sturdy clay house with tile roofing— the envy of the village.

He rebuilt the thatched hut the others lived in into a sturdy clay house complete with tile roofing. There were no brick houses in the village, but their house was one of three with tile roofing.

Livestock flourished under his care, ensuring a steady supply of food and income. Their home was adorned with luxuries that even the village chief couldn’t afford.

Xu Zeng’s dad was responsible for this, no he and his husband worked together to build a happy home— back then, his father worked hard in the fields, and the two supported each other to build their happy home.

Together, they built a harmonious but humble household, supporting each other through hard work and dedication. But all that changed when his dad passed away, and Xu Zeng became a pariah overnight.

His loving and hardworking father went from grieving to a new wife in a matter of days, and things were never the same.

Now, staring at the man who had replaced his dad so callously, Xu Zeng felt a surge of anger he had long suppressed. It was all too easy to blame himself— if only he had been the man’s real child, would his dad have been cast aside so heartlessly?

The weight of guilt and betrayal bore down on Xu Zeng, threatening to overwhelm him. For years, he had buried these emotions deep within himself, but now they surged forth like a raging river, impossible to contain.

Bai Mo’s question cut through the tense air like a knife, his expression shifting from icy cold to genuine shock and disgust. "Not even once?" he demanded, his voice thick with incredulity.

"My father visited my dad every single day, and he sent offerings to the shrine every month. The first year is the most important. How can a husband not..."

His words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the unspoken laws of respect and tradition in Donghua. Not everyone married for love, but even those who didn’t still observe the rituals of mourning. The first year was a hold time, a time of solemn remembrance and tribute to the dead— especially a wife who died in childbirth.

The nobles with several wives and concubines would at the very least go through the motions to uphold their reputations. This one couldn’t even be bothered to pretend.

The look on Bai Mo’s face spoke volumes—confusion mixed with disgust. The man Xu Zeng was glaring at had not only neglected the legal time for mourning, but he had also remarried before the allotted period had passed.

It was a blatant disregard for tradition, a slap in the face to the memory of Xu Zeng’s dad.

"Go retrieve your dad’s memorial tablet," Bai Mo commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Once we return, we’ll arrange to have him enshrined at home. He can stay in our home or... whichever home you prefer."

Xu Zeng’s gaze shifted to the woman still clinging to him, her mouth agape in shock. "Let go of me," he said, his voice firm and commanding. "Or are you going to continue to speak nonsense?"

With a pointed look at the faces in the crowd, Xu Zeng continued, his voice ringing out clear and unwavering. "Do you have more stories to tell, or should I start telling stories for anyone who doesn’t know what happened last year?"

His gaze settled on Old Hua, the last person he saw before his journey to the other world, before turning his attention back to the gathering crowd. There was no doubt in his mind that she had spread the word to at least one person.

The woman’s grip loosened on reflex, and the crowd instinctively parted as Xu Zeng darted through them like the wind, racing back to the village shrine.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would have the opportunity to take his dad’s memorial tablets or consider the possibility of moving his place of enshrinement.

It was a fear that had always lurked at the back of Xu Zeng’s mind—that he would be forcibly married off to a distant village, making it difficult to visit his dad. The thought of being sent days away by carriage, instead of just a day’s trek, had never even crossed his mind.

Back then, a day’s journey seemed like an impossible burden to bear, a distance that was too far for his heart to bear.

But things had unfolded differently, and he had managed to avoid marriage thus far. Xu Feng was instead married off in his stead.

Yet, his dad had still been neglected.

As Xu Zeng swiftly collected his dad’s tablet with the incense still burning, a smile spread across his face. He would ensure his dad received more than just yearly tributes now.

He could barely afford it when he was younger, but now he could hunt for silver. With the resources at his disposal, he could afford to honor his father properly, perhaps even alongside Bai Mo’s parents. His dad wouldn’t be lonely anymore.

Returning to the gathering, Xu Zeng sensed a new wave of excitement rippling through the crowd. What could it possibly be this time?

His heart clenched at the thought of anyone speaking ill of Bai Mo. He couldn’t allow that—not while he still had breath in his body.

Picking up his pace, Xu Zeng arrived just in time to hear his "father" engaged in a heated argument with another familiar voice—a voice he knew all too well.

"It’s unfilial for a son, ger or not, not to return to visit his parents," the voice declared, cutting through the air with a sharpness that demanded attention.

"Yes, my... my... husband is right." The stammers couldn’t be considered anything else but fear, the woman’s greed wouldn’t let her hold her tongue. "How can a child we raised not even support his parent with monthly coin? It’s unfilial. We found a great match for him outside of the village, and he can’t even—"

As the woman continued her tirade, her words dripping with entitlement, Xu Zeng felt a surge of frustration rising within him. But before he could utter a word, a commanding voice cut through the air like a blade, silencing her in an instant.

"Shut up!"

...

The abruptness of the command echoed in the sudden silence that followed. Xu Zeng recognized the voice immediately—it wasn’t Bai Mo’s, but rather a deeper, more authoritative tone. It was Xu Hu Zhe.

Even with his face concealed, the intensity of Xu Hu Zhe’s anger was palpable. He exuded a sense of power and control that was unmistakable, sending a shiver down the spines of the villagers.

Xu Hu Zhe controlled his energy much better than Bai Mo did, but he stirred an even greater response in the villager’s hearts.

And why wouldn’t he? Xu Hu Zhe was a towering figure, his muscular frame casting a formidable presence over the crowd. While Bai Mo’s height was notable for a ger, they were used to seeing Xu Zeng— the tallest ger most would ever see in their lives.

Xu Hu Zhe’s stature was truly imposing for everyone and towered over both the fox and the silver-haired ger. It was a reminder that he wasn’t a man to be trifled with.

Yet, despite the obvious threat he posed, the villagers seemed blinded by their own greed, oblivious to the danger they were courting.

Xu Zeng couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief at seeing his raven-haired mate standing beside Bai Mo. The warmth in his heart swelled at the sight of them both, here to retrieve him.

But alongside the warmth, a fluttering sensation stirred in Xu Zeng’s chest once more. Concern gnawed at him—was his body failing him? Would he need medical attention when they returned to Nanshan?

"This young master must understand that Xu Zeng is still a member of our Sun Village. He might be marrying into a noble family, but his parents are correct, he is being unfilial. It’s not something that can’t be forgiven, but the youth must obey their elders. You understand don’t you?"

The village chief’s words hung heavy in the air, laden with caution and veiled threat. He addressed Xu Hu Zhe, acknowledging his formidable presence but daring to assert the village’s authority over Xu Zeng.

But Xu Hu Zhe’s response was swift and unyielding, cutting through the tension like a blade slicing through silk. "Xu Zeng may spare your face, but I will not."

The village chief visibly flinched at the blunt response.