At a little past nine on a summer night, many neighbors were outside sitting together in groups to enjoy the cool air.
Hearing that the Liang household was arguing again, they all brought small stools over to watch the excitement.
The Liang family frequently created topics like this, adding a lot of entertainment to the villagers’ otherwise dull lives.
What was it this time? Something about borrowing money?
Another good show to watch!
Hearing Liang Hui’s voice, Yu Yao confirmed that reinforcements had arrived and decisively switched from defense to offense.
She slid the bolt open, pushed the rickety old door open, and walked to Liang Hui’s side to support him.
“Liang Da Niu, say it clearly in front of everyone—did you or did you not borrow my money?” Yu Yao declared energetically, launching her attack.
Liang Haifeng immediately snapped, “Are you sick? I’m not called Liang Da Niu…”
Yu Yao cut him off. “You were called Liang Da Niu before! Everyone here watched you grow up—do you think they don’t know your dirty little past?”
“Just because you changed your name to something fancy doesn’t mean you can escape Tiger Pit Village and become a city person!”
“So you think ‘Da Niu’ sounds bad? Then your eldest brother is Liang Da Jun, your second brother Liang Da Zhu—are their names also not good enough?”
“You went to school for a few years and now look down on farmers? You’ve forgotten your roots!”
The accusation of “forgetting your roots” hit hard, and Liang Haifeng couldn’t take it.
The neighbors began pointing at him and whispering among themselves.
“So Da Niu thinks his old name is too rustic?”
“He was born and raised in Tiger Pit Village—no matter how rustic, that’s still where he came from.”
“Da Jun and Da Zhu are his own brothers too. Why is only Da Niu’s name not good enough?”
Farmers despised those who looked down on farmers the most.
Especially someone who came from the same village, was supported through school, and then turned around to despise the very name he grew up with.
Liang Haifeng’s face turned red as he argued, “I already changed my name! Can you stop calling me that old name?”
It was all because his parents were uneducated and gave him such a vulgar name.
Da Jun and Da Zhu weren’t as embarrassing as Da Niu—why was his the worst one?
Ever since he went to middle school in town, his classmates had mocked him. Later he changed his name to Liang Haifeng, but “Liang Da Niu” remained like an ugly scar in his memory.
Yu Yao linked her arm with Liang Hui’s, full of confidence.
“I’m used to calling it that. Who told you to be Liang Da Niu since childhood? My husband’s name, Liang Hui, was also given when he was young—why didn’t you pick a fancy name from the start?”
Although Liang Hui’s name wasn’t especially grand, it was still far better than “Da Niu,” “Cat Egg,” or “Dog Remaining,” etc.
This was largely thanks to his mother, a wealthy young lady from a capitalist family, whose naming taste was far above the local standard.
At that moment, Liang Haifeng felt deep envy toward Liang Hui’s educated mother.
Why did he end up with uneducated parents who gave him such a humiliating name that haunted him for life?
A sharp voice rang out again—Zhao Chunhua.
“I’m asking you why you forced Haifeng to write an IOU! Stop dragging in unrelated nonsense!”
Yu Yao nodded. Good timing—back to the main issue.
“Liang Da Niu, you borrowed money and refused to repay it! I’ve asked you several times, and now there are even rumors saying I’m clinging to you. Who’s clinging to whom? I’m just collecting a debt!”
Yu Yao patted her pocket and continued:
“So I made him write an IOU. He promised to repay everything before marriage. If he can’t pay it back, then furniture and appliances prepared for the wedding will be used to offset the debt!”
Zhao Chunhua was furious. “I asked why you forced him to write an IOU!”
“He borrowed money, so of course he should write an IOU!” Yu Yao blinked. “What, does a so-called university student want to default? Did he study his books into a dog’s stomach?”
The neighbors burst into laughter.
At first, they had respected Liang Haifeng as the only university student in the village, but after this incident, everyone felt he had forgotten his roots, and their goodwill dropped sharply.
When a wall is about to collapse, everyone pushes it down—no one defended him anymore.
“Where’s the IOU? Take it out and let me see!” Zhao Chunhua stared at Yu Yao’s pocket.
If not for Liang Hui standing nearby, she would have snatched it directly.
Yu Yao curled her lips. “You think I’m stupid? If I take it out, wouldn’t you tear it up on the spot? I’ll show it to the village head and respected elders—but not to you!”
“Am I not an elder?” Zhao Chunhua exploded.
“Pah, do you even look like one?” Yu Yao sneered.
The crowd agreed. Zhao Chunhua clearly looked like she wanted to destroy evidence.
Yu Yao, however, was clever and not falling for it.
After the chaos, not only did they fail to retrieve the IOU, but the entire village now knew about Liang Haifeng’s debt.
And of course, the label of “forgetting roots and looking down on farmers” was firmly attached to him.
The Liang mother and son lost completely, while Yu Yao left with only slightly dirty clothes.
Liang Hui’s main role was just backing her up—he didn’t even get his clothes dirty.
The rest of the Liang family hid inside the house and didn’t dare come out.
Even Liang Man Cang pretended to be deaf and stayed completely invisible.
Liang Haifeng’s face burned with humiliation. His skin was thin, and the slap marks from Yu Yao earlier in town hadn’t fully faded yet.
Luckily, the courtyard was dim, so his swollen face couldn’t be seen clearly.
He angrily turned and hid in the east room, slamming the door shut.
Zhao Chunhua stomped her feet in frustration and continued cursing:
“Yu Yao, ever since that troublemaker entered our family, the Liang household hasn’t had a single peaceful day…”
“The land for the house has already been approved. Once it’s built, Liang Hui and I will move out.”
Liang Hui interrupted her.
Zhao Chunhua froze. “What? When did you apply for land?”
This was rebellion!
Was he trying to fly off on his own now that his wings were strong?
“How much will it cost to build a house? Your third brother isn’t even married yet, and you’re wasting all the money!”
Liang Hui looked at her coldly.
“Have you ever spent a single cent on me?”
Zhao Chunhua felt a chill under his gaze.
But thinking that such a profitable nephew was about to leave the family and his earnings would no longer belong to them, she felt like her heart was being cut apart.
“I raised you! Your money should be managed by your second uncle and me!”
“If you marry that troublemaker, she’ll eventually waste all your money!”
“Listen to your second aunt—this family cannot split. Give your earnings to me for safekeeping. I won’t harm you…”
Liang Hui interrupted again:
“Wasn’t it you who insisted on splitting the family yesterday? And now you don’t want to split anymore. Which is it?”
He looked at her as if she were insane.