Chapter 167

Xu Ran ignored him and said to village head, “Village head, Xu Cheng and I are brothers, which everyone in the village knows. But he never treated me as a brother. Everyone knows that I had suffered from dementia for seven years, but I didn’t get sick by rolling down the cliff. I was drugged first and then pushed down from the mountain. Fortunately, I was lucky that someone passing by found me.”

“Fellow folks, maybe you don’t know that the person who drugged me is my good brother. I remember it clearly. Even after I became a fool, I still remembered it. Before I recovered, Xu Family chased my family out of the home. Apart from being badly battered all over, Xu Family didn’t give us anything. Thankfully, I recovered after being chased out. I need to credit my recovery to them.”

“So I won’t pursue the case that Xu Cheng poisoned me and wanted to kill me. However, they caused me trouble again and again. Consequently, I was forced to break up with them, which everyone knew. Thus, our family had lived peacefully for a period of time, but it did not last long.”

“Xu Cheng caused grievous injuries to his husband and then carried him to my house, trying to frame my family. Fortunately, there were many people on spot and we escaped it. I knew that they sold their fields in order to treat Zhang Yue and couldn’t make ends meet. So I sent food to their family, but Xu Cheng, instead of appreciating my kindness, even schemed with others to poison my one-month-old child. Fellow folks, please bear witness for me. If you want to check the goat, come with me to my home later.”

Xu Ran exposed all the dirty linen in public. Seeing the villagers’ expression of dawning comprehension, Xu Ran was relieved. He was counting on this incident to strip Xu Cheng’s chance of rising again.

If it was not for the nasty things he had done before, Xu Ran would not do anything to him only because of this incident. After all, people in ancient times valued the concepts of fathers being benignant, sons being filial and brothers being friendly and harmonious. If he sued Xu Cheng in Yamen just because he had used croton seeds to poison Baozi, very probably he would end up as a merciless guy in everyone’s eyes.

Their family still had to live in Xu Village, and their kids were still too little. He absolutely couldn’t let himself bear this reputation, especially after he became Xiucai. This was a stain for life and it would seriously affect his two kids.

For a long time, no one said anything after Xu Ran finished his words. No matter how despicable Xu Cheng was, they were still brothers, so they could only condemn him a bit at most.

Seeing that no one was speaking, Xu Ran turned to village head. “Village head, I’ve also explained everything. Liu Tiezhu can also bear witness that Xu Cheng is the one who fed my ewe croton seeds to poison my kid, and killed the ewe. Xu Cheng was also found by Gao Quan in the cave on the mountain. He was wounded by the trap so he couldn’t escape. Please uphold justice for me.”

Village head sighed, “Xu Ran, untie Xu Cheng! I will ask him about the ins and outs of the matter. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely uphold justice for you. Doctor Liu can also testify for you.

Xu Ran thought about it. Since he had told the truth, and even Xu Houcai and Elder Daddy Xu didn’t say anything, he was not worried. Thus, he nodded and said, “Okay, Gao Quan, untie him and take off the trap from his foot.”

Gao Quan nodded and untied Xu Cheng as well as his foot.

Village head walked to Xu Cheng and asked, “Xu Cheng, you have heard what Xu Ran said. What do you wanna say?”

Xu Cheng didn’t say anything. After a long time, he said, “What he said is true. I know I was wrong, but there is one thing I don’t understand. How did he know I was on the mountain?”

The person Xu Cheng was referring to was Gao Quan, so everyone’s eyes turned to him.

Xu Ran suddenly smiled. “Didn’t you guys sneak into my house when my dogs were not home? But how could you escape the second time? Don’t forget that the dog’s nose is most acute, not to mention that you still carry croton seeds with you.”

What Xu Ran didn’t say was that the places that Xu Cheng could go to were limited. When things went wrong, he would definitely run up the mountain and sneak back home in the middle of the night. If he ran somewhere else, he would probably be starved to death.

“How do you know I carry croton seeds with me?” Xu Cheng looked shocked. He clearly remembered that Xu Ran had not frisked him.

Xu Ran spread his hands, “I don’t know. I just spoke without thinking. I didn’t expect you to admit it yourself. Gao Quan, take out the croton seeds on him and let Doctor Liu see if it is the same thing.”

Gao Quan started to frisk Xu Cheng and finally found a paper bag. As it was opened, it turned out to be some white powder. Doctor Liu took it and smelled it. “It is exactly croton seeds.”

“Since we have both secured the witness and material evidence, we will count on village head to rule on it. How should we deal with this matter, or leave it to the Yamen to handle it?” Xu Ran asked village head.

Village head said, “There is no need to trouble the Yamen. If words spread out, it will implicate the reputation of Xu Village. Xu Cheng will be dealt with by our own village. As for Liu Tiezhu, send him back to Liu Village and let village head of Liu Village uphold justice for us.”

Xu Ran said, “Since village head said so, I have no objections. How should village head do with Xu Cheng?”

Village head glanced at the crowd. Xu Houcai and Elder Daddy Xu supported each other and waited for the answer. Elder Daddy Xu didn’t come out to cause a ruckus as he usually would do.

Village head said, “I announce that Xu Cheng is expelled from Xu Village. In this life, he is not allowed to step into Xu Village and not to take anything away from the village. Once Xu Cheng appears in Xu Village, we will break his legs and throw him out of the village.”

Village head’s last sentence was really ruthless. As village head, he could punish people. As long as he did not take one’s life, the Yamen would not interfere in such affairs.

However, Xu Houcai and Elder Daddy Xu couldn’t help but rush out, “Village head, don’t chase Xu Cheng out of the village. He has nowhere else to go!”

This time, Elder Daddy Xu didn’t make a scene of himself and said a coherent sentence.

“How can you have the face to beg for mercy? It’s all because you failed to teach your son that Xu Cheng is like this today. A person who could even harm his own brother and nephew can never be allowed to stay in Xu Village. If you say one more word, then you can leave the village together!” Village head’s words were ruthless.

Xu Houcai had wanted to say something, but when he heard village head’s words, he bit his tongue. If Xu Cheng left, would his two kids go with him? As they were his grandsons, he couldn’t leave them alone!

Xu Houcai pulled Elder Daddy Xu. “Enough. Stop pleading. If we are all driven out, what will happen to Xu Hui and Xu Qiang? They are still young, can they support themselves?”

Thinking of his two grandchildren, Elder Daddy Xu calmed down and stopped pleading with village head. He just looked at Xu Cheng sadly.

On the other hand, Xu Cheng wore a completely indifferent look from beginning to the end. He thought that village head was right about one thing, which was that Elder Daddy Xu failed to teach his kid.

Half of the reasons why he was like what he was today were because of his own daddy. What a pity! He had realized it too late, and he was not prepared to make changes.

As village head had said so, the villagers would not say anything. After all, their relationship with Xu Cheng was not good. Perhaps the life philosophy of these people was minding their own business.

Village head called two people over and asked them to send Xu Cheng out of the village.

When Xu Cheng was pulled up and passed by Xu Ran, Xu Cheng looked at him with a sinister gaze. “Xu Ran, your child almost ends up the same as that ewe. Do you really think I just wanted your child to have loose bowels? No, I wanted him to die but there was just no enough time. He was lucky to have survived.”

“Xu Ran, do you know why I targeted you everywhere and even harmed your child? Because I want you to die! Why are you better than me in every aspect?! Don’t worry, even if I’m not in Xu Village, I won’t let you live well.”

The more Xu Cheng said, the more malicious he became. Even his expression was full of such hatred as to want Xu Ran to die.

Hearing what Xu Cheng said, Xu Ran smiled. “Only cowardly and incompetent people will be jealous that others are better than him, and you are doomed to be a failure in this life. Don’t worry, I will wait for you to take revenge on me. Maybe next time it won’t be as simple as being chased out of the village.” Xu Ran glanced at Xu Cheng’s feet with his eyes casually.

“You!” Xu Cheng wanted to say something more but he was suddenly pulled away from Xu Ran.

Xu Ran didn’t care whether the two people or others had heard his conversation with Xu Cheng or not, but this time he won. At least in the village, no one would plot against his son all the time.

Outside the village, Xu Cheng would scheme to retaliate against him, so wouldn’t he make plans?

He couldn’t violate the law, but he would never allow a saboteur targeting on him all the time.

After dealing with Xu Cheng, it was Liu Tiezhu’s turn.