Chapter 282 - 278: Against One’s Conscience
"Chen Shulan, do you not want any meat?"
"We’re already short on pork for everyone. If you don’t want yours, just hand it over and we’ll divide it among the others."
The village chief looked directly at her, his gaze sharp.
If it hadn’t been for the incident where she mistreated Sweet Girl, the village chief wouldn’t have thought much of it. But now, whenever Chen Shulan spoke, he couldn’t help but feel irritated.
Seeing the village chief looking like he was about to take back the wild boar meat, Chen Shulan panicked.
Beside her, Lin Daya and Lin Tie Dan, also afraid the pork would be taken away, hurriedly tugged at Chen Shulan’s sleeve.
"Ma, we want to eat meat! We want meat!"
Chen Shulan’s head started to throb.
’We barely get to eat meat once a year. Of course I want to eat it, don’t I?’
’I only brought this up for everyone’s benefit.’
’I’m an honest person, not some schemer. Dividing the pork is supposed to be fair.’
’But the village chief is clearly biased toward Leng Yuan.’
She had no choice but to back down.
"Village Chief, I was wrong. You’re right. This share should have gone to Leng Yuan in the first place."
Everyone: ...
’If you’re going to admit you’re wrong, then just do it. Don’t apologize while still looking defiant. Isn’t that just asking for trouble?’
After Chen Shulan said this, she felt a pang in her heart, as if her noble character as an "honest person" had been stained.
’It’s so painful to say things you don’t mean.’
She looked up and saw that everyone was still staring at her relentlessly.
Chen Shulan: ... ’What, are they still not satisfied?’
’Wasn’t what I said enough?’
Chen Shulan gritted her teeth.
’I’ll do whatever it takes for this pork.’
"Village Chief, butchering the pig was hard work for Leng Yuan, too. I think we should give him some extra work points."
Everyone: ...
’What nonsense is this woman spouting now?!’
The village chief, however, nodded. He felt that after all her blathering, Chen Shulan had finally said something sensible.
"You have a point. Carving up the pig was indeed hard work. Let’s give him twelve work points, then! Everyone else gets six."
The men who had carried the pig also respected Leng Yuan, so they had no objections.
Everyone: ...
They glared at Chen Shulan.
’Why on earth did she have to bring up work points? Is she crazy?!’
’Weren’t they saying she had a grudge against Leng Yuan?’
’But today, it doesn’t look like they’re enemies. It’s more like he’s her benefactor.’
Chen Shulan: ...
’No, I’ve already forced myself to say this much, and these people are still not satisfied?’
’If I say any more, this pork won’t be worth it.’
So she jutted out her chin and stubbornly refused to say another word.
No matter how threateningly they looked at her, she remained silent.
Everyone: ...
’This woman just handed Leng Yuan free work points, and she’s acting so self-righteous about it?’
’What is this urge to hit someone?’
The village chief couldn’t be bothered with these petty squabbles. The pork was divided, so he just waved his hand.
"Alright, it’s time to make lunch. Everyone go home and cook!"
The moment the village chief spoke, Chen Shulan grabbed her pork, pulled her two children along, and left quickly.
’If I stay any longer, I’m really afraid I’ll get beaten up.’
’These people are such bastards, always picking on an honest person!’
The crowd watched her vanish in a flash, fuming with frustration.
"Alright, let’s go!"
The village chief had spoken, so the matter was set in stone. Besides, Leng Yuan really had put in the effort to butcher the pig.
He deserved the extra work points.
Most people were reasonable about it, but a few were consumed by jealousy.
Especially Feng Ergou.
He considered himself stronger than Leng Yuan by more than just a little, but his luck could never compare.
Back when Leng Yuan’s parents were alive, his family had been well-off. But after he became an orphan, Feng Ergou had thought Leng Yuan would never be able to compare to him again.
But now, Leng Yuan had married a pretty "educated youth" wife, while he was still a bachelor!
What was even more infuriating was that Leng Yuan’s life was getting better and better!