Chapter 119: This Is the Rule

"Daliu, tell me, is there really no room for negotiation?" Old Mrs. Chen asked, her aged face etched with profound distress.

Chen Daliu pondered for a moment before retorting, "Old sister, let me ask you: if this had happened to someone else, do you think there would be any room for negotiation? Furthermore, your family has received so much grace from the Ancestor Bai over these years—the entire village knows this. Surely you haven't forgotten?"

"I haven't, I haven't..." Old Mrs. Chen replied hurriedly. "How could I ever forget? I will never forget it as long as I live." She hesitated, then added, "But, but Tianming is still just a child, he..."

Chen Daliu cut her off, "Old sister, the Great-Aunt is even younger than Tianming."

At these words, Old Mrs. Chen was rendered speechless.

Chen Daliu did not intend to stop there. He continued, "To put it bluntly, your family is returning kindness with enmity. You are ungrateful, heartless, and shameless!"

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Chen’s face turned pale. She twitched her lips, but in the end, she could find no words to refute him. It was the truth. If it were her, and someone had treated the Great-Aunt this way, she would certainly have gathered a group of people to dump manure on that person's doorstep. The fact that her family was currently only being shunned by the villagers was already a testament to the villagers showing mercy, both out of old ties and the spirit of the New Year.

"Old sister, it is not that I enjoy being harsh. Think about it: if the Great-Aunt hadn't been trying to save a life, why would she have come to your house?"

"As soon as the Great-Aunt heard that Hongbing's wife was having a difficult labor, she rushed over immediately. She nearly tripped several times on the way." Fortunately, Xiao Hei was always by her side, guarding her, which prevented her from falling. (If Bai Xi had heard Chen Daliu say this, she would have covered her face in embarrassment; she had simply stepped on a pebble and slipped.)

Chen Daliu continued indignantly, "Everyone knows it is bad luck for a child to enter a delivery room, but did the Great-Aunt hesitate for even a second?"

"The Great-Aunt acted this way, yet what did Tianming say?" At this point, Chen Daliu’s anger flared again. "When the village distributes meat, does the Great-Aunt not always look after the families struggling with the elderly and the young, giving them extra? Has she ever treated you unfairly?"

"Is this how a person with a conscience behaves?"

Chen Daliu did not lower his voice in the slightest. Tianming, who had not yet fallen asleep, heard every word. He clutched the mattress beneath him in remorse, gritting his teeth to remain silent, though he could not stop the tears from streaming down his face.

"The Great-Aunt is only a child herself, yet you had the heart to bully her so. If the Ancestor Bai knew of this from beyond the grave, he would surely regret ever saving your family."

In truth, Old Mrs. Chen did not know that Xiao Shunzi and the others had initially clamored to teach them a lesson. Bai Xi had listened with interest, but as soon as she heard about the messy methods they proposed, she immediately expressed her distaste. Manure and filth were disgusting, and it would make the village paths unbearable for everyone. Once they realized Bai Xi disliked the idea, the villagers abandoned the plan; no matter how angry or resentful they were, they limited themselves to cursing under their breath.

As Old Mrs. Chen listened, her face cycled through shades of red, white, and blue. She wished she could dig a hole and hide in it.

"Village Chief, please, say no more. I know—everything you say, I know. It is my fault for not raising Tianming well. It is our family’s transgression, and I have no defense." Now that she thought about what she had said earlier, she felt her face burning with shame.

Seeing this, Chen Daliu softened his tone. "Old sister, I know your heart aches because Tianming is young, but a mistake is a mistake. Without rules, there is no order. Regardless of age, in Niuluo Village, those who commit a wrong must face strict punishment."

There had never been a precedent in Niuluo Village for leniency. If they were to let things slide simply because someone was young or old, would anyone respect the rules in the future? Rules exist to be followed, to be respected, and not to be trampled upon.

"I came today to speak with you in advance. You should send Tianming away to learn a trade. Having a skill will provide him a path forward, and it won't be difficult for him to marry and start a family later."

"But there is one condition you must keep firmly in mind: once he is out there, he must never again claim to be from Niuluo Village!"

"What? Then, that..." Old Mrs. Chen’s heart tightened, and she asked in a panic, "Are you exiling him from the clan?"

Chen Daliu pondered and said, "The village has not yet made a final decision on that. However, if you take the initiative to send him away, perhaps his status can be temporarily preserved. We shall see what the future holds."

Many in the clan had already suggested exile, but seeing the state of Old Mrs. Chen’s family, Chen Daliu had held back, leaving a small opening.

Just as they were discussing this, footsteps were heard. They turned to see Xiao Tao lifting the curtain and standing outside the door.

"Uncle, could you please..." Before she could finish, Xiao Tao knelt down.

"No!" Chen Daliu knew what she was going to ask before she even spoke, and he shook his head, cutting her off. "Get up."

"Uncle, Tianming is still just a child..."

"Stop talking!"

"Aunt, please, stop!" The first was from Old Mrs. Chen, the second from Tianming.

Tianming propped himself up and leaned out of his room's window. "I know I have committed a grave mistake. I accept the punishment, and I will go away to learn a trade." He looked at Chen Daliu, earnest and sincere. "But if I leave, only Grandmother and Aunt will be left to look after my cousin. They are old and young. I have done wrong, and I accept it, but I ask that you please look after my grandmother and aunt."

Chen Daliu stared at Tianming for several long minutes before nodding slowly. "Rest assured. The Great-Aunt always says that our Niuluo Village is united, and the villagers have always helped one another. I will keep an eye on your family."

Hearing this, Tianming let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Uncle-in-law."

Seeing Tianming struggle to speak, his face deathly pale and covered in cold sweat, Chen Daliu felt a flicker of sympathy. "Rest and recover your strength first. When you are feeling better, then you can go." He did not wish to drive the boy to his grave; letting him heal before leaving was for the best.

"Yes, yes, thank you." Old Mrs. Chen responded hurriedly, then urged Tianming, "Quick, thank your Uncle-in-law."

"Don't thank me. Thank the Great-Aunt," Chen Daliu said as he stood up. "Since we have settled the matter, I will be going. Tomorrow is the eighth day of the month; we must pay our respects to the Great-Aunt. Your family is in no position to go, so please stay home."

It was customary to pay respects to elders on the eighth day. This was not only for Bai Xi, but also for the elders within one's own family and the village. It was a way to deepen the bonds of the community. Unless there was a grave falling out or a vow of enmity, everyone would go out to pay their respects on this day.