Chapter 96: A Disastrous Decline

In Chen family.

Grandma Chen looked at her empty purse and sighed, "Why is my life so bitter?"

Before this, she was in a hurry to solve the problem for Chen Jing, she didn't really have time and energy to reflect on the consequence. Now that the matter was settled, Grandma Chen started to get sentimental.

50 taels was not a small sum. Grandma Chen had contributed all her savings. She looked at the absolutely empty purse and felt the heaven was revolving and the earth was spinning.

Grandma Chen used to dote on Chen Jing the most, but now she was angry at Chen Jing. She felt Feeling that Chen Jing was too stupid to be pardoned, how come he actually borrowed usury from those hooligans. What was more, he could have had confessed it earlier, thus they didn't have to repay so much interest. If Chen Jing had confessed earlier, they didn't have to sell 5 mus of farmland.

Grandpa Chen puffed on his pipe in silence, he had aged within a few days.

Grandma Chen looked at Grandpa Chen and said, " What are you going to do? How can we survive this?"

Grandma Chen sighed, "We really need to work hard now! At this moment, everyone is busy with sowing seeds. Let Jing get ready for farm work, he is so young, no way we can let him just sit idle at home." Grandpa Chen was mentally and physically exhausted.

Grandma Chen exclaimed, "Let Jing do farm work? But Jing is going to be a big official one day!"

Chen Jing was mediocre on his academic work, but he was very good at coaxing people. Chen Jing often talked about passing the imperial exam and becoming an official, Grandma Chen was convinced that Chen Jing would make her twilight years happy.

Grandpa Chen pulled a long face, "Enough, we've supported him for so many years, but look at him now! If he carries on like this, you and me will die with anger soon! There are only 10 mus of farmland left, let's work hard from now on, otherwise we will live in poverty forever. Other family members will complain if we support Jing to go to school."

Grandma Chen let out a sigh on thinking this whole thing, her husband was right, Chen Jing only had himself to blame. "Okay, the thing that bothers me is Chen Xiao Mi must still have money, I should have asked for more from him."

Grandma Chen was testing water when she asked for 30 taels, she deeply regretted it when Chen Xiao Mi said yes without hesitation.

Grandpa Chen sighed and said, "We have signed the Renouncement Letter already. Stop thinking this nonsense."

Grandpa Chen was actually very satisfied that Chen Xiao Mi was willing to give them 30 taels, he thought that must be all he had. Even though many people in the village said that Chen Xiao Mi had made a lot of money in town, Grandpa Chen was skeptical about that. Chen Xiao Mi was a Bio and Grandpa Chen despised Bios.

Even though Chen Xiao Mi was earning a good salary, he had only been doing that job for a short while.

Grandpa Chen was convinced that 30 taels of silver must be all Chen Xiao Mi had in hand.

The only thing that was bothering Grandpa Chen was the Renouncement Letter, dep down he didn't want to renounce any family member, but it had already happened.

......

Chen Ding had been in a bad mood recently.

Chen Xiao Mi entrusted him with the task of selling the village house to avoid trouble. Chen Ding sold the house for 17 taels, which was already quite a lot considering they wanted to sell the house as soon as possible. However, Grandma Chen thought that he had taken a kickback, the house was worth a whole lot more.

The villagers thought that Chen Ding had taken bribes from Grandma Chen and Grandpa Chen and held that Clan Gathering to force Chen Xiao Mi. In private, the villagers all felt sorry for Chen Xiao Mi who was so strong and independent, they all judged Chen Ding for taking Grandma Chen and Grandpa Chen's side and forcing Chen Xiao Mi to sell his house. The disaster was obviously caused by Chen Jing, but Chen Jing didn't seem to be affected at all.

Chen Ding felt so wronged, but everyone thought he had gained extra advantage by unfair means.

"Father, you shouldn't have gotten involved with Chen Jing's matter. It's just a waste of time. Grandma Chen claimed that this house could be sold for at least twenty taels, but she has only got seventeen taels, you have taken three taels as kickback." said Chen Yang.

Chen Ding sighed and said, "Son, I didn't expect their family to be like this."

"Father, Chen Jing borrowed usury to buy the fake exam papers for the Spring Imperial Examination. If the government knew about this, everyone would be in trouble, including us," Chen Yang said sullenly.

In this time and space, innocent people would be punished for being related to someone who committed an offence. If Chen Jing was caught cheating, the entire Chen clan would no longer be able to attend the exam.

Chen Ding frowned and asked, "Are you sure?"

Chen Yang shook his head and said, "I don't know, but all the villagers are talking about this. Some villagers try to hide this from us Chens, but how can it be done, everyone else is talking about it! I think it's true considering how Grandma Chen couldn't give us an explanation."

Chen Ding's face darkened and he said, "Chen Jing is too stupid." Chen Ding originally thought that Chen Jing was in debt due to gambling. There were cases where the villagers were conned by the professional gamblers in the casinos in town.

......

In Chen family.

Chen Jing complained to Chen Shou Xin, "Father, Grandfather wants me to do farm work! Can you believe that?"

Chen Shou Xin sighed and said, "We cannot afford to send you to school any more, just do farm work with us."

Chen Jing was utterly discomfited, "Father, how can I give up on my study!"

As a matter of fact, Chen Jing wasn't passionate about going to school at all. He would just doze off at class. However, there are many benefits in going to school. He could ask for money from Grandma Chen and Grandpa Chen from time to time. Moreover, if he were studying, no one would ask him to do farm work. He surely enjoyed doing nothing.

Chen Shou Xin looked at Chen Jing and said sadly, "Son, accept it, we are now penniless."

Even though Chen Shou Xin loved his son, he was bitterly disappointed this time.

Chen Jing was indignant, "Isn't Chen Xiao Mi rich? Ask him for more money!"

"We have signed Renouncement Letter with Chen Xiao Mi already! We have become completely strangers," Chen Shou Xin said.

Chen Jing murmured, "How is that possible? I'll go talk to grandma and grandpa."

Chen Shou Xin said discontentedly, "Alright, you better not! Your grandparents are in a fit of anger. This time, they have offended the Clan Leader because of you. The Clan Leader's son has warned us off, they don't want anything to do with our family in the future."

Chen Jing was a little depressed. "What have we done to offend the Clan Leader?"

Chen Shou Xin shook his head, he couldn't be bothered to say anything more. He only said, "Just accept your fate."

The Clan Leader had lost the villagers' trust this time, the villagers all saw him as an accomplice who had forced Chen Xiao Mi to sell his house.

In Chen Ding's defense, he didn't take any bribes, so he wasn't taking sides. He just thought Chen Xiao Mi was in a position to be able to help, but to his surprise, the villagers were all disappointed at him.

Chen Xiao Mi had entrusted Chen Ding with the task of selling his house. If he were willing to wait for a while, the house could be sold for 20 taels of silver.

However, Grandma Chen was in a hurry to get the money because the interest of usury was scary. The potential buyers were all aware of that, so they had squeezed down the offer. Chen Ding's nephew had the highest offer, so Chen Ding sold the house for 17 taels o his nephew, fair and square.

However, Grandma Chen didn't think so. She thought the Clan Leader had colluded with his nephew, together they had taken advantage of their perilous state.

Grandma Chen felt more indignant whenever she thought she could have had taken forcible possession of that house, she felt like it was her loss that the house was sold at a sacrifice.

Grandma Chen had spread the word that Chen Ding had taken a kickback from his nephew who had bought the house.

Chen Ding fell ill after heard what Grandma Chen had said behind his back. He made it very clear that he would never get involved in Grandma Chen and Grandpa Chen's business again.

Grandpa Chen knew that they had offended the Clan Leader, so he tried to make an apology. However, Chen Ding didn't receive him when he visited Chen Ding.

......

Grandpa Chen sat at the dining table, waiting for dinner.

After Chen Shou Xin and the others took their seats, there came a commotion from Chen Jing's room.

Grandma Chen frowned and asked, "What's going on?"

Grandpa Chen and others rushed to Chen Jing's room only to find Chen he and Chen Qu were exchanging blows with Chen Jing. Chen He and Chen Qu were younger than Chen Jing, but Chen Jing was at a disadvantage with two enemies.

Grandpa Chen asked angrily, "What do you think you are doing, the three of you!"

Chen Jing said excitedly, "Grandfather, look at He. He's crazy. He wants to kill me!"

Chen He's eyes were red. "You should've died a long time ago. You have cost us so much money, you know that? You bastard. Because of you! I can't offer any betrothal present to the girl in my dream or hold a wedding ceremony for her! You deserve a good beating!"

"Grandfather, look at him. For a little girl, he actually wanted to beat me."

Grandpa Chen sighed and said, "Alright, He, let it go, it is what it is. Forget it."

Grandpa Chen was very disappointed at Chen Jing. Although he had returned money for Chen Jing, he didn't want to see Chen Jing.

Grandma Chen looked at Chen He and Chen Qu with guilt. Their family conditions used to be good, and there were many people who came to propose marriage, but no one would come to propose marriage after Chen Jing's scandal. Grandma Chen felt sorry for the other two Grandsons, Chen He and Chen Qu.

Chen Qu was still young. But Chen He was already seventeen years old, he would have to pay tax next year.

Chen Jing sat on the bed, covering his mouth which was bleeding.

Chen Jing looked at his grandparents with disappointment. Chen Jing counted on his grandparents to defend him and punish the other two, but they didn't punish He and QU, they sounded like they didn't care about him any more.

The more Chen Jing thought about it, the more enraged he was. In a fit of pique, he said he would skip dinner.

Neither Grandma Chen nor Grandpa Chen urged him to not skip this meal, they just left his room.

Chen Jing lay in bed for a while, no one came to comfort him. Instead, he got hungry and went to the kitchen in the hope of finding some food. To his surprise, there was nothing left.

Chen Jing felt everything and everyone in the family had changed. In the past, even if he came home late, Grandma Chen would always save some food for him, she would always give him allowance to buy snacks in town. But now no one even remembered to save some food for him.

......

There was no secret in the world, the fight between the Chen brothers spread across the village.

"Isn't the issue all settled? Why did they fight?"

"Chen He's proposal seems to have been ruined. Grandma Chen took Chen He's betrothal present for Chen Jing."

"That's true! I've heard that too!"

"That's more than 100 tales of silver we are talking about! I'm afraid the Chens have scraped everything possible!"

"I heard that Chen Jing borrowed only fifty taels, and the interest alone is fifty-five taels. These people who practice usury are merciless."

"How could Chen Jing borrow usury? That's so stupid!"

"Chen He and Chen Qu will have a hard time getting married, no one wants to be betrothed with people who can't offer any betrothal present."

"Correct, they have sold five mus of farmland, their income will be less in the future."

"If Chen Xiao Mi hadn't given then 50 taels of silver, the Chen family would have been in serious trouble this time."

"Grandpa Chen shouldn't have asked Chen Xiao Mi for money, he is a Bio, and he has his own family to support now."

"That is so true! Chen Xiao Mi was kicked out by them, he used to live in a cave with his two little brothers."

"The clan leader of the Chen clan is foolish."

"He must have taken bribes. Otherwise, he wouldn't take Grandma Chen and Grandpa Chen's side."

"Chen Xiao Mi sold all his house. It looks like he is not going to come back to the village."

......

Several villagers were deeply affected by what Chen Xiao Mi had suffered.