YM778.TV Chapter 116 - ill Gained Prestige i
Some things, when done in secret, may seem unnoticed. But now, with the village head personally investigating and even bringing village elders to testify, Wu Si couldn’t possibly deny it.
His idea was simple, offer some compensation, and send Qin Niu on his way.
This was also his habitual arrogant thinking at play; he hadn’t fully accepted Qin Niu’s assertive rise.
In the eyes of people like Big Sister Mo and Wu Si, even if Qin Niu had become somewhat more formidable, he was still just a slightly improved version of the old foolish All Niu.
So now you’re publicly admitting to the encroachment of Old Man Liu’s house foundation land, right?”
Xu Zhenchang asked.
“I did take up a bit of it.”
Under pressure, Wu Si had no choice but to concede.
“You’ve taken a whole yard and three feet wide of his land, and you call that a bit?”
Xu Zhenchang challenged him.
“I’m willing to compensate; please Master Qin and the village head be generous.”
Wu Si bowed and scraped repeatedly.
“Master Qin, what do you think?”
Xu Zhenchang turned to Qin Niu.
“Not an inch of ground will be given up!”
Qin Niu simply replied with four cold words.
“Master Qin, you intend to build a new house, which requires a considerable amount of money. If you want something slightly more magnificent, you need at least seven or eight taels of silver. I’m willing to offer you five maces of silver as compensation; what do you think?”
Wu Si proposed a figure as compensation.
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Does Master Qin lack your five maces of silver? Just the advance payment for my labor costs five taels,” Tang Fang couldn’t help but speak up for Qin Niu.
The intention to please was obvious.
That’s how people are, when you’re powerful, the whole world is full of good people, supporters, and friends everywhere.
When you’re down on your luck, everyone is ready to kick you while you’re down.
Big Sister Mo was closely monitoring the situation.
Seeing that the five maces of silver didn’t solve the issue, she rushed to the spot where the two properties met, pulling her two children along. She threw herself to the ground with a wail and had her children lie down with her.
“Oh heavens… Open your eyes and look! They’re all bullying our family; if there’s any justice, let lightning strike down those evildoers! 1 can’t live anymore, wu wu…”
This woman, when throwing a fit, let her hair down and lay on the ground crying as if her heaven and earth had fallen apart, appearing even more ‘heartbroken’ than if her parents were dead.
The children, too young to know any better, joined their mother on the ground, weeping piteously; the scene was tragic.
“Wu Si, I’ll just ask you once, are you going to return the encroached house foundation land or not?”
Xu Zhenchang already intended to win favor with Qin Niu, and now that he had the upper hand, he was even less apprehensive.
The surrounding villagers also began to accuse Wu Si’s family of wrongdoing.
“Then 1 have no choice but to ask the authorities to settle this matter! Hmph, when your wife ends up in jail, at the mercy of the prison guards, don’t regret it. And if you go in, you’ll likely suffer physical torments as well.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Si’s face instantly turned ashen.
Even Big Sister Mo on the ground stopped her antics immediately.
She scrambled up and threw herself at Xu Zhenchang’s feet, pulling her children with her.
“Village head, please have mercy on us, a mother and her children; can we please not tear down the house? Where would we live if it’s demolished?”
She was praying to the wrong deity.
The real decision-maker wasn’t Xu Zhenchang.
“You refused the toast only to drink the forfeit, this is all brought upon yourselves.”
Xu Zhenchang’s face darkened, ready to report to official authorities on the spot.
Frightened, Big Sister Mo immediately grabbed hold of him.
“We’ll demolish it; we agree to demolish! A weak arm cannot twist a strong thigh. We’ve all seen how Qin Niu bullies his neighbors…”
Slap!
Xu Zhenchang landed a heavy slap across the face of this shrew.
The crowd felt a rush of gratification.
“The facts are clear, the evidence is conclusive; your family has occupied Master Qin’s house foundation land, yet here you are, distorting the truth. Do you think with just your word, you can slander others at will? If you dare to make a scene again, don’t blame me for not considering our fellow townspeople’s feelings—I’ll send your whole family to the officials. Then, you can cry for injustice all you want in the court.”
Xu Zhenchang sternly rebuked Big Sister Mo.
That slap had thoroughly subdued her.
Usually, when she quarreled with other villagers, this tactic worked without fail.
But now, facing power, all her tricks that normally worked on the common folk turned into a joke.
“Wu wu… 1 don’t want to live anymore!”
After being publicly slapped, Big Sister Mo was stunned for a moment before breaking into loud wails, threatening to jump into the river and seek death.
Wu Si was a man who usually feared his wife.
But he had now recognized the reality, and with no hope of escape, he ran over and grasped his wife.
“Get back home!”
This was the first time he had shown authority in front of his wife.
Big Sister Mo initially resisted, but Wu Si gave her a couple of fierce slaps on her backside.
She immediately quieted down.
After dragging Big Sister Mo back into the house, the whole world seemed to quiet down.
Wu Si quickly came out again, holding a hoe and a sickle in his hands.
The crowd assumed he was out for a fight with Qin Niu.
“Master Qin, it’s our fault for taking your land; I’ll demolish it right away. 1 only ask that you look past the small person’s faults, and not hold it against my family.”
After apologizing, Wu Si began to dismantle the fence.
Seeing this, Xu Zhenchang showed a satisfied expression.
People were filled with awe for Qin Niu.
In just one day, Qin Niu’s status within the village soared to the highest point.
From the likes of local bullies like Wang Haikun, with a certain backing from officials, to shrews like Big Sister Mo who threw tantrums and rolled on the ground, he had managed to deal with all of them. Moreover, he always held the moral high ground, which made the villagers both fear and respect him.
This was precisely the effect Qin Niu wanted to achieve.
Having authority locally ensures that one’s interests are not compromised.
Otherwise, dealing with all sorts of people who love to take advantage of small benefits every other day would absolutely drive one to frustration, wouldn’t it?
Just look at the Yan Family—such a vast expanse of forest they own, and not a single villager from miles around would dare to encroach upon it in the slightest.
“Thank you, village chief, for handling this matter fairly, and thank you fellow villagers for upholding justice! I, Qin Niu, am a person from Shuangfeng Village. Within my capabilities, I will certainly protect my community.”
After settling the matter with the homestead, Qin Niu expressed his gratitude to the village chief and the villagers.
“Master Qin is too modest! For Shuangfeng Village to have a personage like you is truly a blessing for our village! Should Master Qin require assistance with anything in the future, Xu is always at your disposal.”
Xu Zhenchang looked at the young man before him, his heart fraught with complex emotions.
Back in the day, he was the most outstanding youth in the village, and to this day, he remains the most successful tenant.
Yet Qin Niu was even more outstanding, and his future accomplishments were certain to far surpass his own.
Right now, he was thinking about establishing good relations with Qin Niu.
“Master Qin, we will need your care even more in the times to come!”
“We won’t have to worry about being bullied by neighboring villages anymore!”
Everyone, in turn, voiced their joy at the emergence of such an esteemed individual from Shuangfeng Village.
Qin Niu felt a previously unknown power within him, not merely authority, but prestige.
Still weak.
In the future, as long as he accomplished a few significant deeds for the village, his prestige within the community would soar to unprecedented heights.
With the support of the local populace, his actions in the future would become much more convenient.
After accompanying the Tang brothers to measure out the homestead, he finalized the construction plans for the new house.
All that remained was to purchase materials and demolish the old house before construction could begin.
Inside the house, Tang Fang sincerely said to Qin Niu, “Master Qin, acquiring materials is generally managed by the head of the household. If you’re willing, 1 can handle it alongside you. 1 guarantee I won’t make a penny in profit, and I will diligently select the very best materials for you.”
Unsolicited kindness always has an ulterior motive.
Qin Niu gazed at Tang Fang and said, “You wouldn’t help me with this for nothing; state your true purpose.”
“My younger brother holds an official position in the city, and though his rank is not low, he lacks a solid foundation. Watching you handle matters earlier, I found you to be full of strategy, and your heart is kind, as you did not take severe measures against Wu Si’s family. I believe you to be a person worthy of association. I would ask that you offer my brother the chance to make your acquaintance, seeing as I’ve exerted myself on your behalf.”
Tang Fang revealed his true intentions.
For the sake of his brother’s future, he was indeed going to great lengths.
“I admire the brotherly bond you have. When your third brother comes back, I can pay him a visit.”
Qin Niu thought it would be good to extend his network of contacts.
When the time came, he could have a chat with Tang Fang’s younger brother, and should they get along, they could become acquainted.
The union of strength would benefit both parties.
He seemed quite humble, speaking of taking the initiative to visit, rather than waiting for the other to come seeking an audience with him.
Let’s agree on that, then!”
Tang Fang, having successfully made connections for his brother, was very pleased.
Having taken care of his family affairs, Qin Niu, along with Xiao Niu, hastily entered the mountain.
Along the way, when they encountered villagers, all respectfully stepped aside to let him pass first.
This change was something that Qin Niu was still getting used to.
Nevertheless, he must adapt because his status in the future would only rise higher. From the moment he became an Insect Master, it was destined that he would no longer be an ordinary person.
“Brother Ah Niu!
Er Dan, with a basket on his back and a sickle for cutting grass in his hand, followed behind his father.
Upon spotting Qin Niu from afar, he immediately called out cheerfully.
“You child, you lack manners. In the future, you must call him Master Qin.”
After scolding his son, Er Dan’s father set down the load from his shoulders and greeted Qin Niu with a clasped fist bow.
“The child doesn’t know any better, please don’t take offense, Master Qin.”
“Take offense at what! Er Dan and I have always called each other that way; Er Dan, keep calling me Brother All Niu, and don’t listen to your dad!”
Hehe, alright then!”
Er Dan grinned broadly.
“You blockhead, aren’t you going to thank Master Qin?”
His father scolded him.
While Er Dan’s father chastised him with his words, a trace of secret pleasure appeared on his face.
Having a good relationship with his son and Qin Niu meant not being turned away when they needed favor in the future.
“There’s no need for so many formalities; go on with your work!”
Qin Niu waved his hand and continued on his way.
When he arrived at the Ant Nest in the mountains, he was delighted to see the termite colony.
He had not expected to change his destiny so quickly through a colony of termites.
“Come out and let me take a look at you all!”
At his command, Fourth, the strongest among them, was the first to crawl out.
Its speed was astoundingly fast.
Immediately following it, several new varieties emerged among the termites crawling out after him.
His termite colony was becoming increasingly diverse.
Four burly termites with metallic luster on their bodies instantly captured Qin Niu’s attention.
On their bodies were green circular spots.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that these green spots were thicker than regular skin, slightly raised, like green scales.
Their legs, mandibles, and maxillary palpi were all very sturdy.
Their mouthparts were also highly developed.
It seemed that their gnawing abilities might even be stronger than those of the Grade Two Lightning Worker Ants.
They would likely be able to drag heavier objects, too.
If he wasn’t mistaken, these four were probably the new form of the Worker Ants after being cultivated for strength.
Checking the ant colony’s attributes, he easily found their description..