novelapdf Chapter 18 Reporting the Severance of Kindness
Chapter 18 Reporting the Severance of Kindness
One hundred strokes of the cane—that could really kill a person!
Not to mention being demoted to a lowly status, from which one could never escape for life without special reasons.
Their children were forbidden from taking the imperial examinations, engaging in commerce, or becoming craftsmen; they even had to pay more taxes than others.
Lin Guiwan never expected that her usually obedient daughter would say such rebellious things.
Although the government allows reports of severance of kinship, how many people throughout history have actually done so?
"You, you..." Lin Guiwan trembled with anger, unable to speak.
Zhang Sanchun slumped to the ground, his face blank with shock.
What is the young lady saying?
He instinctively opened his mouth and said, "Young Miss, how could you say that..."
Lin Qiaoxi looked down at him: "If you don't marry me, the wedding in three days will be the day I die. Do you want to marry me, or do you want to watch me die?"
At this moment, the eldest daughter of the Lin family was extremely resolute.
Lin Guiwan shouted angrily at Zhang Sanchun, "Get out! Don't say a word!"
However, Zhang Sanchun did not move; he saw determination in Lin Qiaoxi's eyes.
If I leave, the young lady will really die.
He certainly didn't want Lin Qiaoxi to die.
But his lips trembled, and he couldn't speak.
Today's events were truly unexpected; how could he possibly bring it up?
Lin Guiwan summoned several servants, who forcibly dragged Zhang Sanchun out.
Then he had a maid support Lin Qiaoxi and take her back to her room.
As Zhang Sanchun was dragged away, he saw Lin Qiaoxi struggling and looking at him.
The despair in their eyes was so clear.
Even clearer was the growing sense of impending death.
This parting will surely be forever, separated by life and death!
When this thought arose, Zhang Sanchun's body trembled violently.
He must have found the strength from somewhere to break free from the servants who were dragging him.
Lin Qiaoxi seemed to realize something, and stopped struggling, looking in this direction.
She saw the honest, timid man who had always been submissive in the Lin family trembling and clenching his fists.
He shouted it out loudly, a rare occurrence, amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd.
"I'll marry him!"
He rarely spoke.
Now, when he opens his mouth, it's like a thunderbolt!
A day later, the whole town of Pingshui knew about it.
Lin Guiwan's daughter, Lin Qiaoxi, refused to marry Liang Zhifu's mentally challenged son and instead wanted to marry a simple-minded peasant.
She went to the county government to report the loss of her favor, but after failing to persuade him, the county magistrate had no choice but to follow the law and have her beaten with one hundred strokes of the cane.
One hundred strokes of the cane nearly killed Lin Qiaoxi.
He was beaten bloody and unconscious.
This incident caused Lin Guiwan to lose face in Pingshui Town and also cost him the opportunity to climb the social ladder.
He launched into a tirade, declaring that from this day forward, Lin Qiaoxi would have no further connection with the Lin family.
He wouldn't even glance at such a despicable person, even if she died out there.
As for Zhang Sanchun, he is no longer a day laborer for the Lin family. If he dares to appear in Pingshui Town, his legs will be broken!
Even Lin's mother, who was crying over the matter, was slapped twice by him.
"This is the wonderful daughter you raised! She's truly excellent!"
Lin's mother covered her face and burst into tears.
Unable to become the prefect's in-law, the daughter severed ties with him and was slapped twice more.
She felt she was the most wronged person in the world.
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In Songguo Village, Zhang Anxiu came out of her bedroom and saw Zhang Sanchun squatting against the wall, holding his head in his hands.
His gaze was so strange, as if he were looking at some rare and unusual object.
Is this really my own brother?
Everyone says he's as dull as a stone, so how did he manage to win over the eldest daughter of the Lin family?
Now, not only people in Pingshui Town, but also people in the surrounding villages know that Zhang Sanchun, the simpleton from Songguo Village, is going to marry a rich family's daughter.
This isn't just good luck, it's like going back and forth a hundred and eighty times!
After Chu Xun saw off the female doctor he had invited from another town, he returned to find the brother and sister looking at each other with curiosity, while the other was holding her head in her hands.
He couldn't help but chuckle and asked, "What are you two doing?"
Zhang Anxiu skipped over to his side and said, "Brother Xun, what did my brother do? What does that young lady want from him?"
Chu Xun glanced at the black stone that had been brought back along with Lin Qiaoxi on a cart and placed in the yard.
Some people may not necessarily be after something in particular; they may simply be seeing things that others cannot.
"What are your plans for the future, brother?" Chu Xun asked.
Zhang Sanchun looked up blankly, unsure of what to do next.
Even though he shouted "I'll marry you," how is he going to marry you?
They don't even have a new house, and they haven't saved much money.
How could a lowly peasant like himself be worthy of a young lady like Lin Qiaoxi?
Even though the Lin family was just a wealthy household, not a truly powerful one, Zhang Sanchun still considered them superior.
Chu Xun knew he couldn't figure things out, so she said, "How about this: we can build the new house while Miss Lin recovers. Once she's healed, you can discuss other things."
"I don't have that much money..." Zhang Sanchun said, hanging his head.
Building a house and recovering from injuries both require money.
Chu Xun chuckled and patted his shoulder: "You don't have it, but I do, why be so formal?"
Zhang Sanchun looked at him, opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Zhang Anxiu's eyes narrowed into slits with joy. Xun Ge said not to be distant, could it be that he considers them family!
Three days later, Lin Qiaoxi, who had a high fever, woke up in a daze.
The villagers all came to see the novelty and surrounded Old Zhang's house in layers.
Some teased Zhang Sanchun for marrying a golden phoenix, while others were jealous of him, complaining that Miss Lin must have been blind to have fallen for such a simpleton.
Not only did she want to marry him, but she also wanted to repay his kindness by severing ties with him.
Not only would he be punished with a hundred strokes of the cane, but he would also be demoted to a lowly status, and his descendants would suffer because of this.
If he were truly some dashing and talented scholar, that would be one thing, but does Zhang Sanchun deserve that title?
Lin Qiaoxi heard all of these words, and even her future sister-in-law Zhang Anxiu couldn't help but ask her what she had taken a fancy to.
Lin Qiaoxi only replied, "He's willing to boil stones for me."
Zhang Anxiu was baffled. Why boil stones?
I asked around and found out that Zhang Sanchun wanted to boil the stone into an egg.
Zhang Anxiu not only failed to understand, but found it even more difficult to comprehend.
Doesn't this prove that her brother is an idiot? You don't mind, but why would you be interested in him because of this?
Could it be that the eldest daughter of the Lin family is also an idiot?
Time passed day by day, and Lin Qiaoxi's popularity in Songguo Village remained high, becoming a topic of conversation among the villagers.
Unable to find odd jobs, Zhang Sanchun had no choice but to stay home and focus on building houses.
Chu Xun specifically sought out Li Shoutian to discuss helping him buy a new piece of land.
After Zhang Sanchun finishes building the new house, he will exchange it for the land of the old house.
He was a great contributor to the reclamation of the wasteland and also had the reputation of being a guest of honor at the village banquet, so Li Shoutian naturally wouldn't refuse.
However, due to the heavy rain, the new house was not actually built by the end of the year despite all the hard work.
It wasn't until the following summer that it was finally completed.
Chu Xun contributed both money and effort, while Zhang Anxiu and several aunts busied themselves with making arrangements.
Amidst the villagers' astonishment, Zhang Sanchun truly married Lin Qiaoxi. Her delicate and charming appearance was the envy of countless men.
Everyone says that Zhang Sanchun was simple-minded for half his life, but unexpectedly, his foolishness brought him good fortune.
It's such a pity about Lin Qiaoxi. She should have been the daughter-in-law of the prefect's family. Why couldn't she understand why she had to marry such a roughneck?