Listening to Su Jiancheng’s words, everyone’s expression turned extremely unsightly, because it was the truth.
Among the exiled people, some had ancestors who committed offenses, while others were merely collateral branches, caught up as one of the nine familial extermination groups.
How innocent were they? Clearly, they weren’t the ones who had done anything wrong.
Resentment blossomed in everyone’s hearts, and their gazes began to shift from numbness to anger.
This was Su Nianyuan’s first move, and as always, it was the most effective one.
The reverse psychology tactic.
As Su Jiancheng spoke on and on, he himself began to feel somewhat aggrieved. He wasn’t the one in the wrong; why should he be the one to suffer grievances?
His voice grew heavier once more: “We did nothing wrong! So, they want us to die? We refuse!”
“If our houses collapse, we can rebuild them; if the crops are gone, we can plant them again. Once our family members leave us, we must still live well, and live even better than those who look down on us! We are going to tell them that we are no cowards!”
The more passionately he spoke, the more spittle even sprayed out.
Yet not a single person laughed at him. A surge of fury and agitation stirred within everyone’s chests.
That’s right, those bureaucratic old men in the city wanted them to die? They simply refused!
The most excited of all was Huzi. In an extra loud voice, he declared, “Village Chief, you’re right! When I grow up, I’m going back to the capital to become a great general! I’m going to let everyone know, and I’m going to make sure my mom and dad live a good life!”
A child’s words were actually far more moving than the heartfelt sentiments of adults.
Those adults who had already been swayed looked at Huzi, tears streaming down their cheeks.
Mother Hu’s eyes also grew somewhat hot. Reaching out to stroke Huzi’s head, the gaze she directed at her son was brimming with pride.
Did you see that, child’s father? Our son has great aspirations; he wants to be just like his grandfather and become a great general!
“Village Chief, we’ll listen to you! We can’t just die like this. What should we do next?”
More than half of the people looked at Su Jiancheng with excited expressions, waiting for his subsequent arrangements. As for the other half, although a hint of hesitation still lingered in their eyes, none of them uttered words of dissent.
They simply listened in silence.
Su Jiancheng let out a breath and continued. By this point, all his previous timidity was completely gone. Once a person took the first step, the remaining ninety-nine steps would become much easier.
“We’ll split into two groups. First, we need to tidy up our homeland, and additionally, we need a batch of people to go look for a way out. If we can bring back reinforcements, all the better; if we can’t, we still need to purchase food.”
Every word Su Jiancheng spoke was exceptionally earnest.
Su Nianyuan squatted there, looking up at the eloquent Su Jiancheng, and exchanged a glance with Lin Shoufeng on the other side. Both saw the smiles in each other’s eyes.
Who said Su Jiancheng was a weak and incompetent village chief?
It was simply that everyone hadn’t given him the chance before. This person, once he had people supporting him, would progress faster than anyone else.
Su Nianyuan hadn’t said all that much; what she mentioned amounted to just a few points:
1. Dig drainage ditches, clear away silt, and rebuild houses.
2. Find a way out and go to the county town to check on the current situation.
Just those two simple items had been stretched by Su Jiancheng into a full incense-stick’s worth of time, making Su Nianyuan yawn.
Su Jiancheng delivered his concluding speech: “We in Qingzhu Village must not let them look down on us! I will definitely lead everyone toward a new life!”
“Village Chief! Village Chief!” Listening until his blood boiled with passion, Huzi couldn’t help cheering. Many people joined in shouting, and for a time, the dilapidated temple was filled with an atmosphere of fiery passion.
“Let’s disperse. Rest well tonight, and official operations begin tomorrow!”
With Su Jiancheng’s words, the crowd finally scattered.
Having searched for people and handled caretaking duties since the early hours of the morning, everyone was indeed exhausted.
There was nothing else to ponder; everything could wait until tomorrow.
Su Jiancheng cradled Su Nianyuan in his arms, gently patting her back to coax her to sleep.
The main hall fell quiet, with no one speaking.
Closing their eyes one by one, they listened to Su Jiancheng’s gentle humming, resembling a lullaby, and gradually drifted into deep slumber.
Su Nianyuan had initially felt somewhat unaccustomed to this. In her previous life, she was older than Su Jiancheng, yet here she was being coaxed to sleep like a baby—how embarrassing!
And yet, a father’s chest felt so utterly reliable that Su Nianyuan slowly closed her eyes as well.
The sun had already set, and the entire world plunged back into darkness. Lin Shoufeng sat at the entrance of the dilapidated temple, gazing far into the horizon.
A hand suddenly rested on his shoulder, giving Lin Shoufeng a start.
Turning back to look, it was his own mother.
Lin Shoufeng said helplessly, “Mom! You scared me to death!”
“Hush!” Old Madam Lin quickly covered his mouth, pulled a warm sweet potato from her bosom, and shoved it into Lin Shoufeng’s hand, urging him, “Eat quickly, Mom dug this out from a rat hole this morning, nobody else knows!”
The sweet potato wasn’t large, less than half the size of a palm, and had a missing chunk in the middle.
It was warm; heaven knew how long Old Madam Lin had hidden it.
Lin Shoufeng wanted to cry. Choking back a sob, he said, “Mom, why aren’t you eating?”
Old Madam Lin looked at Lin Shoufeng with maternal love, shaking her head with a smile: “Mom isn’t hungry, you eat it.”
How could she possibly not be hungry?
With his head lowered, Lin Shoufeng took a bite of the sweet potato and chewed it thoroughly.
It tasted so sweet.
He recalled ten years ago, when his father had spoken the wrong words during a morning court audience, displeasing the emperor and causing his entire Lin family to be exiled.
That had been in the winter; his wife hadn’t made it through, his two-year-old son hadn’t made it through, and his father, unable to bear it, had jumped into a river and committed suicide.
If not for his mother’s resilient character, he would have wanted to die too.
After arriving at the exile village, he had languished for a long time, while his mother went up the mountain every day to dig wild vegetables and wash clothes for others, earning just one single cash coin per winter garment.
Eating the sweet potato, Lin Shoufeng’s mind conjured up the immense hardships Old Madam Lin had endured over these past ten years, and large tears dropped down.
He made not a sound, simply weeping in silence.
Old Madam Lin’s rough hands stroked her son’s head. Sighing, she said, “Ah Feng, if not for the Little Village Chief this time, you probably would have died.”
“From now on, you must help out more with the work. Mom doesn’t have many years left to live.”
Of all things, what Old Madam Lin found hardest to let go of was this son. What would become of him after she died? This Little Village Chief possessed great fortune; following her might perhaps lead to another path of survival.
Lin Shoufeng wiped away his tears and said earnestly, “Mom, stop talking nonsense, you’re going to live a long, healthy life.”
“I truly do wish to follow the Little Village Chief. I believe she might just climb to a height even greater than Grandfather’s. I want revenge.”
Startled, Old Madam Lin hurriedly covered his mouth, saying anxiously, “What nonsense are you uttering!”
Lin Shoufeng pulled Old Madam Lin’s hand down, looking earnestly into her eyes: “Mom, before Dad jumped into the river, he said something to me.”
Thinking of her husband, Old Madam Lin drifted into a trance.
“What did he say?”
“Flatterers surround the throne, blinding the holy sight; receiving grace and upholding righteousness, we must purge the sovereign’s side.”
Old Madam Lin stared blankly at her son. At that moment, she seemed to see her husband—that hot-headed youth of days gone by, who had vowed to become the most upright and incorruptible official by the emperor’s side.
The Lin family had received imperial grace in the past; therefore, he had to return.
The seed in Lin Shoufeng’s heart completely broke through the soil and sprouted.
“Mom, I am going to follow behind the Little Village Chief, return to the capital, and return to the emperor’s side!”