"Our Zhou Family may use a lot of electricity, but we also pay the most. Everyone knows that. The money we spend is proportional to the electricity we use. I don't see anything wrong with what our Zhou Family has done."
"Of course, as I've said, if it really is our Zhou Family's fault, I won't have any complaints."
"But if it's not, why should our Zhou Family bear all the responsibility?"
"Our Zhou Family isn't short of this bit of money, but that doesn't mean we're easy to bully. Zhou Yueshen's pig farm has boosted the entire village's economy, single-handedly making Xingfu Village the leading village in the surrounding area, allowing everyone to eat the best fresh meat at the lowest prices. I believe this is more than enough proof that he is not the kind of person to covet such petty gains. Such words are meant to chill the hearts of us Zhou Family members."
After hearing this, the village head and the crowd were stunned. Then someone snapped back to reality and hurriedly tried to placate Si Nian.
"Mrs. Zhou, don't listen to Aunt Zhang's nonsense. She has a foul mouth. She doesn't want to pay herself and tries to drag others down with her. She's an ungrateful wretch."
"That's right, she's utterly ungrateful. Otherwise, she wouldn't say such hurtful things."
But Si Nian waved her hand, looking deeply saddened. "Let it be. Our Zhou Family hasn't made any profit off you all, yet now someone is taking advantage of our family running a factory to bully and even morally blackmail us over such a matter. This deeply chills the Zhou Family's heart. It is an extremely cruel and heartless act. Therefore, I request that if I prove this incident was not caused by our Zhou Family, the village head must severely punish those who slandered us! Otherwise, I will advise Zhou Yueshen to withdraw all preferential benefits for the villagers."
As soon as these words fell, Village Head Huo and the other village committee members turned serious. Anything involving Zhou Yueshen was treated with the utmost importance by those managing the village.
After all, Zhou Yueshen was Xingfu Village's golden goose.
"Mrs. Zhou, rest assured, I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter. I will certainly not let your Zhou Family suffer this injustice."
"Xiao Zhou always pays the highest electricity bill, which is why our village's electricity fees have always been the lowest. What Zhang Qian's mother said was truly inappropriate, simply not something a decent person would say!"
Village Head Huo's words were sharp.
Si Nian's words also frightened everyone present. In the end, all eyes turned angrily towards Zhang Qian's mother, looks that wished they could devour her.
It was all because of her crow's mouth.
They had been buying meat from Zhou Yueshen for so many years, saving who knows how much money.
Half the households in the village still had family members working at Zhou Yueshen's pig farm.
He had driven the economic development of most of the village.
If they relied solely on farming, Xingfu Village would have people starving to death!
If Zhang Qian's mother's words really offended the Zhou Family, and Zhou Yueshen stopped hiring people from their village and hired from other villages instead, wouldn't that be disastrous?
Especially those with sons working at the factory, they wished they could deal with Zhang Qian's mother on the spot right then and there.
Zhang Qian's mother, being targeted by Si Nian, scolded by the village head, and blamed by the villagers, instantly flushed bright red with shame and anger.
She also panicked a little, saying, "I... I was just saying."
"Is this something you can just say casually? Before, any repairs were always done by Xiao Zhou, and none of you ever paid. And now you say such things? You're nothing but a heartless, ungrateful wretch!"
"Apologize to Mrs. Zhou right now, or as long as your Zhang Family stays in this village for a single day, don't even think about using electricity!"
The surrounding people chimed in in agreement: "That's right! Apologize or get out of our Xingfu Village! Our Xingfu Village has no place for such heartless, ungrateful people!"
"Xingfu Village has always been harmonious. It's because of rotten eggs like you that our whole village gets a bad name..."
"Get out of the village!"
Zhang Qian's mother was terrified. Her husband, Zhang Laosan, who was beside her, came to his senses and slapped her. "You foolish woman! Apologize to Mrs. Zhou right now!"
Zhang Qian's mother's head was left ringing from the slap. By the time she regained her senses, her husband had already dragged her by the clothes to stand before Si Nian, apologizing and begging for mercy.
Especially Zhang Laosan. His family had been villagers for generations. If they were driven out of the village because of this, what would he do in the future? How would he face his ancestors!
He immediately assured the village head that he knew he was wrong and would go back and properly discipline his wife.
He was practically on the verge of kneeling.
Zhang Qian's mother was also scared pale. She never imagined that just a few words of dissatisfaction towards Si Nian would land her in a situation where everyone wanted to condemn her.
Now she was completely dumbfounded.
Si Nian was genuinely angry. Although Zhou Yueshen wasn't talkative and wasn't good at expressing himself, his influence on the village was undeniable, and he had never shortchanged the villagers.
His wealth didn't come at others' expense. Instead, he chose to help the villagers, driving the local economy, which was why Xingfu Village had leaped ahead to become the most economically developed village in the area.
And now, just because a transformer broke down, he was being blamed like this.
Of course Si Nian was furious.
Of course, the matter had to stop at a certain point. With the whole family apologizing and practically kneeling, and in front of so many people, she couldn't be too harsh.
It was enough to let them know that their Zhou Family was not to be trifled with.
So she said, "Out of respect for Village Head Huo, I'll let it go this time. But if anyone slanders our Zhou Family again, I'll leave the matter for Zhou Yueshen to handle. At that time, he won't be as easy to talk to as I am."
Thinking of Zhou Yueshen's stern face, everyone shuddered and quickly said it wouldn't happen again.
The final outcome was naturally that every household, regardless of size, would contribute five yuan, and the village committee would figure out the rest.
The Zhang Family was punished with feeding the village's cattle for a month.
Although they still had to pay in the end, no one dared to object. Everyone then dispersed.
……
Zhou Tingting, having been notified by Little Zhang Qian, hurried to Xingfu Village.
Only two days had passed, but she looked haggard, as if she had aged ten years.
This time, Zhou Tingting was really going to get a divorce.
Her husband was having a secret rendezvous with another woman outside, and she had caught them again.
This time, her husband showed her no face, telling her right in front of the other woman that he would definitely divorce her.
Zhou Tingting made a huge scene, thinking she was finished.
However, her mother-in-law, Li's Mother, surprisingly stood by her side this time. She told her that as long as she could get the recipe for the braised meat from Si Nian, she could persuade her son not to divorce.
After Li's Mother was reported by someone because of Si Nian and lost her job, she used connections to get a job at a relative's restaurant.
While buying groceries, she noticed the bustling sale of braised meat.
People were lining up daily to buy it, and everyone who tasted it praised its exceptional flavor.
Li's Mother had never eaten the stuff, but seeing how well it sold, she couldn't help but feel envious. After some inquiries, she learned it was actually supplied by the Zhou Family.
Later, she heard from Zhou Tingting that it was related to her sister-in-law, and an idea immediately formed.
Her life working for relatives was tough. Seeing how well the Zhou Family's braised meat sold, she hatched a plan.
Wasn't Zhou Tingting Zhou Yueshen's sister? Si Nian was her sister-in-law. Teaching her shouldn't be too difficult, right?
But Li's Mother hadn't expected Zhou Tingting to be so useless.
Even her own son didn't want her anymore.
Although she also disliked Zhou Tingting, she was, after all, the mother of her own grandson, and the Zhou Family was indeed wealthy, so she still had some value in staying.
So she used this matter as an exchange.
Sure enough, Zhou Tingting, who had been driven into a corner, agreed immediately.
Now, without even taking time to rest, she hurried back to the countryside after getting some information from Zhang Qian.
Finding no way to make headway with the eldest brother and Si Nian, the clever Zhou Tingting wisely set her sights on the children.
The Eldest Child was too smart and not easy to fool; Zhou Tingting was even somewhat afraid of this child because he looked so much like his eldest brother.
Yaoyao, being a girl, was too young, couldn't even speak yet, and was useless for her purposes.
Finally, Zhou Tingting's plan naturally settled on the Second Child, who was just at the right age to understand things.
The Second Child was simple-minded, a bit clumsy, and loved to eat. Though not very old, he was already in school and aware of things, just the right age to be easily coaxed.
Zhou Tingting didn't dare to alert anyone. After lurking by the entrance for a while, she indeed saw the Second Child come out and quickly called to him in a low voice: "Little Han, come here. Your auntie has something to discuss with you."
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