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"Village Chief, I wonder… does our village have any houses for sale? If so, I'd very much like the chance to acquire one."
Han Yan's calm voice broke though the silence. For a moment, the courtyard was still, but then every gaze turned to him, expressions shifting in surprise.
Madam Wei's face twisted. The sting of her earlier reprimand still burned, and now this boy dared to speak of buying a house? Her hands flew to her hips as she let out a sharp snort.
"Buy a house? You?" She jabbed a finger at him, eyes narrowing dangerously. "Where would you even get the money for that? Unless…" Her words trailed off, but the suspicion flashing in her eyes said more than enough.
The villager's began to murmur softly.
Madam Zhang the first sister-in-law clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes widening in feigned disbelief.
"Second Brother-in-law, don't tell me… you've been hiding money from us all this time? How could you? We're supposed to be one household!" Her voice wavered, soft and pitiful, as though her heart had just been betrayed.
Not wanting to be outdone, Madam Liu the third sister-in-law stumbled forward almost tripping she awkwardly adjusted herself, her sleeve pressed dramatically against her eyes.
"Second Brother-in-law! So that's why you're leaving without taking anything? Ah, how heartless! How could you treat our family this way?" She whimpered loudly, wiping at imaginary tears, as though she had been orphaned on the spot.
Old Man Han's face sank like stone, his brows pressed together in a deep frown. His fingers twitched behind his back. No one could read his thoughts.
Han Qiang the first brother stepped in, his chin tilted upward, his eyes cold with arrogance.
"Little Brother, is that really true? Are you really doing all this just to keep money for yourself? I expected more from you." His voice dripped with disappointment as he shook his head slowly, theatrically, as though Han Yan had offended the Heavens.
While Han Sheng the third brother, on the other hand, scratched his cheek and sighed.
"It's not Second Brother's fault. he just saved a little for himself… I don't think there is anything wrong."
"Idiot!" Madam Wei spun toward her son like a storm. Her glare was so fierce it could have burned holes in his forehead.
"Shut your mouth! What do you know?!"
The third son winced, lowering his head. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, muttering nothing further, his shoulders hunched like a beaten dog.
Han Yan, meanwhile, only smiled faintly, his composure unshaken.
"I never hid money from our household. I simply kept some aside for safekeeping."
Before he could say more, Madam Wei screeched over him, her voice shrill and piercing.
"Safekeeping? Don't twist words with me! When you married that lazy ger, you didn't bring any single copper coin into this household!" She rolled her eyes dramatically, her gaze cutting toward Lin Xin with contempt, as though he were a burden not worth the dirt on her shoes.
Han Yan's eyes sharpened, but his tone remained even.
"Are you so sure, Mother? Because I remember clearly. Every job I took, every field I plowed, every coin I earned I handed most of it over to this household. And tell me, is it really a crime for a man to have a little spare change saved from his own sweat and blood? What do you think, Father?"
The villagers all turned at once to Old Man Han.
The old man's jaw clenched, the deep lines on his face tightening. His eyes flickered with greed and suspicion, but before the watching crowd, he could not press the matter. Losing face in front of the entire village would wound his pride more than losing the money itself.
At last, he waved a hand dismissively and forced out a rough cough.
"It's just some spare change. Madam Wei, don't make a mountain out of a molehill."
The courtyard erupted.
Old Zhao, the butcher, slapped his thigh with a loud laugh.
"Hah! Looks like the second son isn't a fool after all." His broad shoulders shook as he chuckled.
Auntie Liu, the widow with a sharp tongue, smirked as she leaned on her cane.
"Tch, I always said Madam Wei's heart was greedier than her stomach. She just wanted to wring him dry!" She spat to the side, her voice dripping with disdain.
Old Wang, the village elder who loved gossip, stroked his beard and nodded thoughtfully.
"Good for Han Yan. A man should have some backbone. Not like some families who eat their sons clean and still complain." He gave Madam Wei and Old Man Han a meaningful glance.
The tide of opinion shifted fast. Villagers chuckled, pointed fingers, and shook their heads. Madam Wei's face burned red as she stood stiffly, glaring at the crowd, but every murmur and every laugh only tilted the scale further in Han Yan's favor.
The village chief cleared his throat, his sharp gaze settling once again on Han Yan. Stroking his long beard with deliberate calm, he finally spoke.
"Young Han Yan, if you are truly searching for a house… there is one that comes to mind. But" He paused, letting out a weary sigh as his cane tapped against the floor, tok, tok, tok, "honestly, it may be difficult to acquire."
Madam Wei's lips curved into a mocking smile, though she kept her laughter buried in her chest. Hatred flickered in her eyes like venom. She had never liked this boy never liked hearing him call her mother. That face of his, that expression… hateful enough to choke on.
Han Yan arched a brow, refusing to be unsettled.
"Village Chief, if you could enlighten me… or better yet, show me, then I might know where to go next."
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