NCCnovel Chapter 124 Our Family Will Not Break Up
Chapter 124 Our Family Will Not Break Up
It was not yet dark, but all the lights in Jiaoyang Valley were already on.
There were tables of different sizes arranged from the courtyard to the outside of the meeting hall. At the largest table sat Zhao Xuan, Gu Zhanghua, Xiao Yixian, Hao Xiong and others, as well as the elderly people in the valley.
After a while, the unique delicacies of Jiaoyang Valley were served, filling the entire table.
Cold wild vegetables, roasted rabbit, grilled mushrooms, fish stewed in a big pot, wild fruit platters, etc. All the dishes, without exception, are served in basins the same size as washbasins. Although they are not delicacies, they are green, natural, simple and rough.
Zhao Xuan called out and everyone started eating immediately.
Gu Zhanghua took a bite of each dish and tasted it. They tasted unique and he couldn't help but admire it inwardly.
Zhao Xuan picked up a bowl of wine, jumped onto the bench and looked at everyone.
Seeing that Gu Zhanghua looked confused, Hao Xiong whispered to him.
"My sister is going to start with a long speech again. She's like this every time we have a gathering in the valley. Just bear with it and you'll get used to it."
Gu Zhanghua looked at Hao Xiong and smiled: "I don't need to get used to it. This is my first time hearing it."
Zhao Xuan looked at each table one by one, as if she wanted to remember every single person firmly in her heart. She opened her mouth, but no words came out, and she only felt a blockage in her throat.
Jiaoyang Valley is about to fall apart! Our family is about to fall apart!
Two years ago, she followed Hao Xiong into Jiaoyang Valley in order to fill her stomach. In those years, the Henghe River was flooded, refugees were everywhere, and epidemics were rampant. The miserable situation in Jiaoyang Valley was unbearable to watch. The simple thatched houses were filled with refugees infected with the plague. They had no money, no food, no medicine, and could only linger and wait for death.
Hao Xiong had tricked her into taking the Evil-Slaying Blade, hadn't she done it willingly? She risked her life to win the Evil-Slaying Blade, and now she's selling it. Didn't she know the consequences would be? She knew it would anger Hu Yiba, and when that happened, she'd stay far away, making sure Hu Yiba couldn't find her.
But she never expected that the Evil-Slaying Sword would be obtained by Liang Changping by accident, who was the mortal enemy of Hu Yiba's brother.
Hu Yiba wanted to settle the score with her and took his anger out on everyone in Jiaoyang Valley.
She was afraid of being a burden to everyone, so she had to flee to Fengcheng for a while. At that time, she was thinking that she would never return to Jiaoyangyu. Anyway, she had found a way out for everyone, making money to support the family and making Jiaoyangyu the warmest and most stable home for everyone.
Who knew that Hao Xiong rescued a princess of Yue State but failed to save her. She had no choice but to replace Tian Shiliu and go to Liyang to get married.
She had gone through many ups and downs along the way for two years. Jiaoyang Valley finally saw some improvement and her family could finally live a better life, but the government wanted to send troops to encircle and suppress the people.
No matter how hard she tried, no matter how desperately she tried, Jiaoyang Valley was still going to fall apart.
Our family is still going to break up.
Zhao Xuan finally held up the wine bowl and said only one sentence: "I toast to everyone!"
After saying that, she tilted her head back and drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp.
Someone started to make a noise: "Big Boss, why don't you say a few more words? We're not used to it! What do you think?"
"That's right! Big boss, please say a few words!"
"Yes! Say something!"
Zhao Xuan waved the bowl in her hand.
"I've said everything I need to say before, so there's no point repeating myself. Tonight, we're not looking for anything else, just for everyone to have a good time! Let's eat and drink!"
After Zhao Xuan finished speaking, she jumped off the bench. Gu Zhanghua hurriedly used his hand to wipe the mud prints that Zhao Xuan had stepped on. Zhao Xuan never expected Gu Zhanghua to be so attentive. She sat down directly and heard Gu Zhanghua exclaim "ouch". Only then did she realize that she was sitting on something soft. She was startled and hurriedly stood up. Turning around, she saw Gu Zhanghua grinning as he retracted his hand and rubbed it with his other hand.
Zhao Xuan couldn't help but get angry: "What are you trying to do?"
Gu Zhanghua felt a little aggrieved: "I'm not making a fuss. You just made the stool dirty with your feet. I'll help you wipe it off."
Zhao Xuan was speechless. Is this what they call an accidental injury?
Hao Xiong watched from the side, shaking with joy.
"Brother-in-law! You are so considerate to my sister! Well done! Keep up the good work!"
Everyone at the table laughed.
Grandpa Fu was sitting on the other side of Zhao Xuan. He was twirling his long silver beard but didn't smile.
He asked Zhao Xuan, "Boss, there's something I don't understand. You said accepting the amnesty is indeed a good thing, but does that mean our family is gone? Will everyone be scattered?"
Zhao Xuan almost shed tears. When she was six years old, she lost her only home, Qingfengyuan. When she was sixteen years old, she lost the mud-brick house in Heyan Village where she and her daughter depended on each other. Now, she was about to lose her home in Jiaoyangyu. She didn't know how to answer Grandpa Fu's words and just remained silent.
Hao Xiong was waving his fists and was about to play a drinking game with Zhao Xuan, but when he heard Grandpa Fu's question, he immediately lost interest and sighed as he gulped down the wine.
Aunt Wang came over with a bowl of steamed buns and put them on the table.
"What's the matter with you, little bear? Isn't it good to drink wine and eat meat? Why are you sighing?"
Hao Xiong threw the wine bowl on the table, stood up and greeted loudly.
"Aunt Wang, you're right! Everyone, eat and drink well. This is our last family reunion dinner. Tomorrow, Dongtian and I will go to the government to confess our crimes! We promise not to implicate anyone! But, our family will be gone! You all should live your lives well in the future and don't worry about Master Xiong!"
The laughter and noise gradually died down with Hao Xiong's voice. Everyone understood that accepting the amnesty meant that Jiaoyang Valley would be disbanded and their home would be gone.
The sad atmosphere spread, and soon, someone started crying. Soon, the crying became a continuous sound. Although the children didn't understand why their elders were crying, they could feel the depressing atmosphere and started crying too.
Zhao Xuan held back her tears and filled up the glasses for herself and Grandpa Fu.
"Come! Grandpa! I toast to you!"
Gu Zhanghua suddenly stood up, imitating what Zhao Xuan had done just now, stepped on a stool, and shouted at everyone.
"Don't cry, everyone! Listen to me! Jiaoyang Valley will not be disbanded, and your home is still here!"
Sure enough, when everyone heard what Gu Zhanghua said, they all wiped their tears and looked at Gu Zhanghua with expectation.
Gu Zhanghua tried to speak as loudly as possible so that everyone could hear him.
"After accepting the amnesty, everyone has three options. First, for those who want to reunite with their relatives in the county town, I will provide money to subsidize their rent, ensuring that everyone has a home. The subsidy will be for one year. I believe that one day you will be able to support yourself. If one year is not enough, then two years will do. Remember, I will not ignore you!"
Zhao Xuan was startled first, and she pulled Gu Zhanghua's sleeve.
"Have you thought about it? You can't fool everyone!"
Gu Zhanghua looked down at Zhao Xuan.
"I've been thinking about this for the past two days, and I've already thought about it."
At this time, someone was already asking, "What about the second place?"
Gu Zhanghua replied, "The second place is to introduce some of you who have some skills to work at my estate outside my home. Food and accommodation are provided, there are fields to farm, and chickens and ducks to raise. In short, everyone can earn wages and support themselves with their skills!"
Some people have already raised their hands to Gu Zhanghua, shouting: "I'm willing to go! I can farm!"
Gu Zhanghua nodded to the man and continued.
"The third option is to stay in Jiaoyang Valley and be self-reliant. I won't force anyone to leave, but I don't recommend that elderly people like Grandpa Fu and the children stay. After all, there are clinics in the city and doctors at the manor. Even if they suddenly fall ill, they will receive timely treatment. I will provide money for the elderly's retirement and for the children to go to school. Do you all understand?"