Chapter 186 - 186 Indenture
186 Indenture
On the side, Aunt Guihua chimed in, “Jiaojiao’s contract clearly states that nobody is allowed to use the money earned from leech keeping to get concubines. We haven’t started keeping leeches yet so it’s okay for Xie Laogen to get a concubine.”
She then looked at the crowd, “Since they’ve announced their wishes and want to be with each other, I think it’s something to be celebrated.”
Aunt Guihua was close to setting off fireworks. However, since she was the person who exposed this today, she didn’t want to make her intentions too obvious.
She truly didn’t think the person who snuck into Widow Wang’s place was Xie Laogen. If she did, she would’ve told Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao first.
Aunt Guihua peeked at Lu Jiao, worried that she would be mad.
Lu Jiao appeared normal.
Aunt Guihua’s words did speak to the villagers. Many people nodded, “I think that’s the best way to do it. If others find out that we have people fooling around, it would affect our reputation.”
The leaders nodded and felt that was appropriate.
The Xie family’s eldest daughter-in-law, Chen Liu, was not happy. How did this family randomly get a concubine? One for her father-in-law at that? That would mess up the entire family dynamic.
“No, I object to this.”
Xie Daqiang pulled Chen Liu aside.
His dad wanted a concubine, and objecting to that would put them on his dad’s bad side.
As expected, Xie Laogen angrily glared at Chen Liu.
Xie Daqiang interrupted timely, “Shut up, this is my dad’s business.”
Xie Laogen looked at his eldest son in satisfaction. He liked his eldest son the best because he always knew what to say and do.
Inside the room, Lady Ruan started to curse again after she heard that her eldest son accepted Widow Wang.
Xie Laosi and Xie Lan were not married and couldn’t say much. However, they could tell that their dad wanted Widow Wang.
Xie Erzhu wanted to speak but he didn’t know where to start.
Lady Ruan glanced at the family and saw that nobody was taking her side. She cursed endlessly and called everyone names.
The Clan and Village Leaders saw how crazy Lady Ruan was acting and said to Chen Liu and Xie Lan, “Take your mother home.”
Chen Liu and Xie Lan were too scared to get close to Lady Ruan. However, Lady Ruan was far too emotional and ended up fainting.
Chen Liu and Xie Lan went to help her out and brought her home.
With Lady Ruan gone, the entire area quieted down.
The Clan and Village Leaders said to Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao, “Well, you saw what happened. What do you two think?”
Xie Yunjin raised an eyebrow and stared at Xie Yunjin and Widow Wang.
The two were a little scared after they saw how emotionless he was.
Xie Laogen did his best to be supportive, “This isn’t her fault. It’s mine.”
Xie Yunjin snickered. His dad must think Widow Wang liked him. He didn’t even question why this woman would like an old man? Of course, she only wanted him because she wanted an easier life.
However, that woman was dreaming.
Xie Yunjin said to the leaders, “She can come into the family, but she must sign an indenture. Once she enters the Xie family, she’s considered a cheap concubine.”
Widow Wang’s expression changed and she spoke quickly, “I’m not signing that.”
She knew what it meant to sign an indenture and be a cheap concubine. If she signed it, she would be considered a servant, and the family would treat her however they wished. She would also be giving up the right to marry Xie Laogen and be his wife. Her plan was to get into the Xie family as a concubine and get rid of Lady Ruan when Xie Laogen’s had enough of her.
Then, she will manipulate the old man to make her his wife. That way, she would be considered the mother of a scholar. She may even get an honorable title in the future.
Widow Wang had it all figured out and didn’t expect Xie Yunjin to ask her to sign an indenture. There was no way she was willing to do that.
Xie Laogen also didn’t want Widow Wang to sign that and started to yell, “Why would she need to sign that?”
Xie Yunjin’s eyes sharpened and Xie Laogen got so scared he stopped speaking.
Xie Yunjin continued to speak to Widow Wang in a calm manner, “You have three choices right now, one, sign the indenture and be my father’s concubine. Two, leave the Xie village with my father and live elsewhere. Three, drown in the pond.”
Widow Wang’s face paled. She stared at Xie Yunjin and opened her mouth but no words came out.
Xie Yunjin scanned the room, “We have to severely punish the parties involved in this matter. Or else things like this will keep happening. Our village would be a mess if that happened”
Xie Yunjin’s words earned the villagers’ approval, and the leaders also nodded in agreement.
Everyone was a commoner here and having concubines was not normal practice. If this couple here were just let off the hook, many more people will think that similar actions would be tolerated. Therefore, it was important to punish them.
The leaders nodded, “We’ll do as Yunjin suggested.”
Everyone turned to Xie Laogen and Widow Wang.
Right now, Widow Wang was truly afraid. Her face was white and she shook like a lotus in the wind.
Xie Laogen thought of the options Xie Yunjin listed and said to Widow Wang, “How about you sign the indenture?”
She was going to be a concubine anyway, signing that indenture made no difference.
Widow Wang stared at Xie Laogen in disbelief. How did she end up picking such a weak man?
Couldn’t he take her away and live elsewhere? If they moved, they could’ve found some work and made enough to stay alive.
He was Xie Yunjin’s father. Once Xie Yunjin becomes an official, he’ll still be the father of an official.
Looking at Xie Laogen, Widow Wang knew then that there was no way he was going to leave the Xie Village. It was because Xie Yunjin knew that, that he even gave them the option to leave. He knew for certain that his father would never leave this village.
Therefore, though on the surface he gave them three options, there were only two. One, she signs the indenture and moves into the Xie family, or two, she drowns in the pond. Neither option would hurt Xie Laogen.
Widow Wang started to cry out of hopelessness.
Inside the room, Xie Yunjin’s gaze was cold, “Have you thought it through? Are you going to sign, leave the village…”
Before he could finish, Xie Laogen asserted, “I’m not leaving this village.”
Xie Yunjin slowly spoke, “If she doesn’t sign, then we have to drown her.”
Widow Wang cried harder. The leaders started to lose patience and urged, “Which option do you choose?”
Aunt Guihua and the others started to talk loudly, “Hurry and sign the indenture.”
This woman was an eyesore to everyone in the village. Because she wasn’t married, many men had been seduced by her. She must be a fool to think the others didn’t know.
If she kept her single status, everyone had to stay on guard every day.
The fact that she was about to enter the Xie family was a huge relief to everyone.