Chapter 93: The Chen Clan Gathering

Chen Xiao Mi looked at Lu Lin, he puffed up his cheeks and said angrily, "You want me to lend some money to Chen Jing. No. I don't want to give him a cent."

'I have nothing to do with Chen Jing. Why do I need to help him out? I'm trying so hard to not to drop down a stone on him when he is down!'

"I heard Grandma Chen say that if you don't give him money, she will hang herself at our store." The farce in the Chen family became quite big, so the villagers liked to talk to Lu Lin when they came to deliver the embroidery products.

Chen Xiao Mi said with indifference, "If she wants to die, then die. See if I care."

Lu Lin said helplessly, "I know you don't care, as a matter of fact, neither do I. But we will be in trouble if she dies in our store."

Filial duty prevailed in this time and space. If Grandpa Chen really hanged herself in their store, others would not care about the truth and what previous grudges they had, they would accuse Chen Xiao Mi of being unfilial.

"She's just saying it. Don't I know her? In the past, when my father didn't listen to her, she would repeatedly attempt suicide. But that was all a show. Unfortunately, my father valued filial piety too much, he would just act at her beck and call even though it was at the cost of his own life."

Lu Lin rubbed his forehead and said, "You and the Chen family just have a verbal renouncement, and there is no conclusive evidence. This is an opportunity. You can ask them to write a renouncement letter. With the written letter, it will become a fact that you, Cai and Mai have nothing to do with them in the future, both parties should stay away from each other's life, they cannot harass us."

'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' One must observe the customs of a new place. Although Lu Lin found filial duty stupid, he decided to endure it now that he couldn't change the environment.

The Sino Commercial House belonged to Chen Xiao Mi on the document, and Lu Lin had been worried that the matter would be exposed sooner or later. Once it was exposed, it would definitely cause a great disturbance.

Chen Xiao Mi thought about it and said, "100 taels is too much."

Lu Lin pouted and said, "Of course, it doesn't have to be 100 taels. If we just give them the money too easily, they will inevitably take advantage of that and ask for more. Take this opportunity to dispose of our house in the village, what do you say?"

Chen Xiao Mi frowned and asked, "Do you want to sell our house in the village?"

Lu Lin nodded, "Yeah! We don't live in the village any more, it doesn't make sense to keep an empty house."

Lu Lin had been to the village house a few times and found that there were some suspicious marks. Some people must have sneaked into their house while they were away.

"We spent a lot of money on our house! It's a pity to sell it," Chen Xiao Mi muttered.

Chen Xiao Mi blinked. He and Lu Lin had spent a lot of effort to repair the house.

Lu Lin sighed and said, "If we stay in town, someone else in the village will definitely break into our house."

Chen Shou Ren had two sons, Chen He and Chen Qu. Chen He, the elder son, seemed to have reached marriageable age.

Their village house was hotly pursued by Chen Shou Ren. He didn't make a move at the moment, but as time went by, it was possible for Chen Shou Ren to take forcible possession of the house. And there was nothing they could do, they all lived in town now, no way would they had time to deal with the Chens.

Grandma Chen surely would make a scene, Lu Lin didn't want to have anything to do with that old woman, what if she fell on the ground and accused Lu Lin or Xiao Mi of pushing her.

There was too much drama in the village. Neither the Lu family nor the Chen family was easy to deal with, and Lu Lin did not like the lifestyle of village that much.

Lu Lin pondered it for a while and thought they better sell the house now to avoid trouble.

Chen Xiao Mi scratched his head. The village house was a retreat for him. Chen Xiao Mi still felt a little reluctant to say goodbye to the house.

" Let me think about it," Chen Xiao Mi said, then he thought to himself, 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard on that house, the renovation, the new room, the veggie patch... ...'

......

Granny Shen was surprised to know that Lu Lin wanted to sell the village house.

" Lin! Are you guys so tight on cash?" Granny Shen asked.

Lu Lin shook his head and said, "No, Gran, it's just that we have no plan of moving back to the village, so it's a waste to leave it empty."

Granny Shen nodded in agreement, "That makes sense, Lin, if you and Mi need a place to stay in the village, you can live in my house."

Lu Lin nodded and said, "Thank you so much, Gran."

Granny Shen hesitated for a moment and said, "Lin! This is Chen Jing who owes money. It has nothing to do with you guys."

The news that Chen Jing owed money had already spread to Granny Shen's ears.

This was a topic that most villagers liked to talk about at the moment. Recently, when the villagers came to deliver the embroidery products, they liked to sound Granny Shen out first. They wanted to know if Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi would help Chen Jing, if they would, how much money they were willing to give Chen Jing. Many people sighed at what had happened to the Chen family.

Lu Lin nodded and said, "Granny, I know. But the thing is they won't leave us alone if we don't offer some money, I don't intend to satisfy their reasonable demand, I will give them 50 taels tops."

Lu Lin narrowed his eyes and was speechless in his heart. He thought to himself, 'Grandma Chen and Grandpa Chen are really biased! Chen Jing has caused such a big disaster, and the two of them are willing to clean up the mess for him. But they forced Xiao Mi's father to venture his life in the deep mountain, and they had sold Xiao Mai for money!'

......

Chen Xiao Mi pondered for a while. He agreed with Lu Lin, the Chens would visit him sooner or later about Chen Jing's matter. However, if the Chen family didn't look for him, he would pretend he didn't know anything.

Soon there came the news that the Chen Clan Leader wanted to see Chen Xiao Mi in the ancestral hall.

"The Chen Clan Leader is looking for me?"

"The Clan Leader?" Lu Lin scratched his head. The Clan Leader was very powerful, Xiao Mi was supposed to respect the Clan Leader and do what he is told. However, they were now living in town, the Clan Leader couldn't force them to do anything.

Chen Xiao Mi had no idea what the Chen family had done to convince the Clan Leader to interfere. The Clan Leader had a high virtue and a glorious name, and he had secluded himself from society for a long time.

"The Chen family is holding a clan meeting in the ancestral hall," Chen Xiao Mi pouted, and his respect for the Clan Leader was limited.

Lu Lin frowned and said, "A clan meeting in the ancestral hall? Grandma Chen surely has drawn in a lot of people!"

Chen Xiao Mi narrowed his eyes and said, "Grandpa Chen must have bribed the Clan Leader." Most of the people in the village were people who only minded their own business. The more Chen Xiao Mi thought about it, the more he was sure that Grandpa Chen had bribed the Clan Leader.

"It is very possible," Lu Lin thought to himself 'The Clan Leader is a grand old man, but he is a human being, I won't be surprised that if he takes bribes.'

......

The news that the Chen family was about to hold a clan gathering spread across the village.

The villagers were very curious about the Chen Clan gathering.

"Why is there suddenly a clan gathering?"

"It's probably because of Chen Jing. Chen Jing has borrowed so much money and that needs to be solved."

"Why does Chen Jing owe so much money? Grandma Chen said that Chen Jing was conned by some people, but she couldn't explain it in detail."

"Let me tell you, but you need to promise me that you won't tell others! Chen Jing used that money to buy fake exam papers, that's why!"

"Fake exam papers?"

......

The villagers who had heard that were greatly frightened.

It had been a long time since the Lu family and the Chen family had been holding a grudge against each other, so Tang had spread her son's theory as the truth.

......

The next day.

Chen Xiao Mi and Lu Lin went to the village together and went straight to the ancestral hall of the Chen family.

"Xiao Mi, you're here."

"Brother Xiao Mi, long time no see."

The Chen clan held a clan gathering and many other clansmen came to watch.

Chen Xiao Mi had been living in town. Rumor had it that he saved the boss of the Sino Commercial House and got a job there. Quite a few people in the village were relying on Sino Commercial House to make money, so as soon as Chen Xiao Mi appeared, a lot of them greeted him warmly.

As soon as Chen Xiao Mi entered the hall, he saw a lot of elders in the clan.

Grandma Chen looked Chen Xiao Mi up and down with sharp eyes.

Chen Xiao Mi wore a light blue robe and his hair was tied up with a hairpin, he looked so handsome.

In Grandma Chen's impression, Chen Xiao Mi was just a punk in tattered clothes. Looking at Chen Xiao Mi's change, she felt very upset.

The space in the ancestral hall was limited. There were only a few elders in the clan who could sit and the others could only stand.

Chen Xiao Mi was one of the younger kids in the clan and naturally he could only stand.

"Xiao Mi, I heard you've made a fortune in town!" Chen Qi, who was sitting aside, looked at Chen Xiao Mi and called Xiao Mi.

Chen Qi was 70 years old. The villagers all respected him as 'the god of longevity', he was invited to attend this gathering.

Chen Xiao Mi replied casually, "Elder Chen Qi, you are flattering me. I'm just lucky enough to work for my boss and earn a wage."

"Xiao Mi, you should have heard about your cousin's matter. After all, you are a family member and blood is thicker than water. You are the only one who can help your cousin this time," the Clan Leader Chen Ding looked at Chen Xiao Mi and said.

Chen Xiao Mi glanced at the Clan Leader and said with indifference, "I don't understand what you have just said, Clan Leader. Did something happen to Cousin Jing? I doubt it, Cousin Jing is privileged enough to read books and get education at school, unlike me, who had been hunting for a living. I don't think Cousin Jing will ever need my help, it doesn't make sense, right?"

Grandpa Chen sighed, "Xiao Mi! Your cousin is in big trouble this time. You can't just leave him alone and let him be!"

Lu Lin frowned when he heard this. Grandpa Chen was too biased. He directly accused Chen Xiao Mi of being heartless.

Lu Lin chimed in, "Grandpa Chen is Cousin Jing going to die? Is he critically ill? I think you need to send for doctors instead if me and Mi!"

Grandma Chen heard what Lu Lin had just said and suddenly exploded. "Shut up, who do you think you are! "

Chen Xiao Mi glanced at Grandma Chen and said, "Ah, grandmother, you certainly look well! Cousin Jing must be fine, otherwise you will be too worried to raise a ruckus, so I don't have to worry about Cousin Jing."

The Clan Leader glared at Grandma Chen and said angrily, "Keep quiet."

The Clan Leader frowned. They called Chen Xiao Mi over in the hope of asking him to help out. Everyone was surprised that Grandma Chen still assumed great airs.

The Clan Leader could tell that Chen Xiao Mi was playing dumb. Chen Ding didn't believe that Chen Xiao Mi hadn't heard what happened to Chen Jing. However, the Clan Leader was at the end of his rope when Chen Xiao Mi played dumb.

"Your cousin owes someone 100 taels. We are holding this clan gathering in the hope of you helping him get out of debt. Otherwise, those people will probably take Jing's life!"

Chen Xiao Mi said unhappily, "Clan Leader, I just had a baby, I'm really struggling to support my own child, how do I have extra money to give Cousin Chen Jing?"

When Grandma Chen heard Chen Xiao Mi talking about his baby, she felt a little disdainful. 'You baby is just a useless Bio!' In Grandma Chen's opinion, a Bio baby was unworthy. But she didn't say it out loud for fear that Chen Xiao Mi would be offended.

Grandpa Chen glared at Grandma Chen angrily, he knew what his wife was thinking. But the situation was they were begging Chen Xiao Mi to help out, they couldn't afford to offend him, they literally could not.