"I dare you?! I am your legitimate third aunt!"

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Ling Jiangshi was furious, but she didn't dare to force her way in anymore. What were common people most afraid of? Officials. In the eyes of powerless rural people, once they entered the government, even if they didn't die, they would be skinned. Ling Jiangshi, after all, was just a village woman who had never seen the world beyond her husband, the village scholar, and her second uncle, the village magistrate. When she heard that he was going to report her to the authorities, her short and chubby figure couldn't help but tremble, whether from fear or anger.

 

"Ling family's Jingxuan, born as a monster, but not thinking of maintaining purity, leading to a hidden illegitimate child, disgracing the integrity of a scholar. You don't deserve to be part of the Ling family's descendants. From today onwards, you are expelled from the Ling family. Life, death, wealth, and status are no longer related to us! Ling San's wife, do you remember what was said five years ago by Old Master Ling in front of the entire village outside the Ling family ancestral hall? I'm not a member of the Ling family, so where does this 'legitimate third aunt' come from? If you and your daughter insist on intruding and breaking in, I won't stop you anymore. However, your actions constitute trespassing on private property, and I can go to the county government and report you anytime. As long as you're not afraid, I have no qualms about it. Let's meet in court."

After speaking, Ling Jingxuan waved his sleeve, stepping aside to show his stern and frosty face, indirectly indicating to the mother-daughter pair that he was serious.

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"You... Ling Jingxuan, even if you were kicked out of the Ling family, you deserved it. Could it be that your father was wrong? If you weren't born as a monster and didn't shamelessly get involved with wild men, causing yourself to get pregnant, your parents wouldn't have been reluctant to expel you from the family. At the end of the day, everything was caused by you. Now, you still have the face to talk to me? Aren't you afraid that your parents will throw you back into the pig cage?"

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How could people who had been in an advantageous position for a long time easily tolerate being threatened and insulted by a so-called monster? Ling Jiangshi put her hands on her hips and became more confident as she spoke. Ling Xiaoying beside her also raised her chin, staring at him with almost only the whites of her eyes. Ling Jingxuan was a shame to their family, and no matter how they treated him, it was justified.

 

"Hmph! You make it sound like I'm so fond of your Ling family. Ling San's wife, let me remind you for the last time. You were the one who barged into my house without considering your 'noble' identity. I never once thought of flattering you or wasting my breath with you women. Do you want to continue forcing your way in or turn around and leave? It's up to you."

 

Ling Jingxuan almost let this extreme woman piss him off. Did she really think he was so fond of the Ling family?

 

"Ling Jingxuan, you..."

 

"Shut up! You have no right to speak here."

 

He sternly interrupted Ling Xiaoying, who wanted to point at him and curse again. Ling Jingxuan's patience had reached its limit, and his cold and sharp gaze suddenly turned to Ling Jiangshi. "In one sentence: Either leave, or we'll meet in court. Stop making a fuss and wasting my time."

 

"You... remember this!"

 

Upon hearing that he was still insisting on reporting them to the authorities, Ling Jiangshi no longer dared to act arrogantly. She grabbed the furious Ling Xiaoying and left in a hurry, leaving behind some harsh words.

 

Ling Jingxuan disdainfully curled his lips, closed the door, and returned to the kitchen. At the same time, Ling Jingpeng, who knew that the mother-daughter pair had already left, came in with two buns. The three of them didn't look very good, especially Ling Jingpeng. He never imagined that his own third aunt, whom he considered his closest relative, would be so disgusting. They were already thinking of him before his big brother became wealthy. What would happen if he really became rich in the future?

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At this moment, Ling Jingpeng felt deeply ashamed of himself as a member of the Ling family, and he couldn't even face his eldest brother.

 

"It's none of your business. Don't shoulder the responsibility for someone else's actions. They are who they are, and you are who you are. Let's eat quickly; we still have to go up the mountain later."

 

How could Ling Jingxuan fail to see what his little brother was thinking?

 

"But they..."

 

Looking up, Ling Jingpeng clenched his fists tightly, tears welling up in his eyes. His trembling voice betrayed his excitement. Ling Jingxuan shook his head helplessly, pulling the two upset buns to the newly bought small table in the kitchen. "They dare to act so arrogantly because they assume I am weak and won't speak out due to my monstrous reputation. Furthermore, regardless of what happens, as long as it's related to me, there's no one in the Ling Village who would help me. The truth will always be at their mercy. Finally, it's because the Ling family hasn't been divided yet. If Dad and Mom were here today, Ling Jiangshi wouldn't dare to act so brazenly. Jingpeng, instead of feeling guilty for someone else's actions, why don't you help me persuade Mom and Dad to propose a division of the family as soon as possible? In the future, our family can live together, and no one will dare to come to our door and cause trouble."

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Ling Jingxuan distributed the scallion pancakes for the two buns while comforting them. He really didn't want the children to witness such scenes, but considering the situation, Ling Jingxuan's eyes suddenly grew cold, and his determination to earn a lot of money grew stronger. Money brings power, and power brings influence. This principle, like the common folk fearing officials and officials fearing higher-ranking officials, also applied to the reverence for the Emperor. As long as he had money, who would dare to bully him like this at his doorstep? At least he had never heard of any commoners from the countryside causing trouble for wealthy families in the city.

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"Okay, this family must be divided, and we'll give up everything if necessary."

 

Ling Jingpeng clenched his fists tightly, his eyes reddened. He vowed that such a thing would never happen again.

 

"Hehe... alright, let's eat quickly, or else we'll have to stay up late making jam tonight."

 

In an era where filial piety was paramount, it was not easy to propose a family division while the parents were still alive. He had merely wanted to divert Ling Jingpeng's attention, but he didn't expect him to take it seriously. However, it didn't matter. The family would definitely have to be divided in the future. When he earned more money and cured his second brother's illness, he would have ways to convince Old Master Ling to agree to the division.

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