"Father! You cannot! Don't give our fields to him!"
Mu Yanying protested, rushing to his father's side, but the elder only gave him a cold look.
Instantly, he fell into a forced silence.
The obvious rise and fall of his chest revealed his true reaction to everyone.
With both callous hands curled into hard fists at his sides, Mu Yanying could not hide his ire and resentment.
How could his father give their lands to Young Master Zheng!?
These lands were the blood and life of farmers like them.
If they were handed over just like that, what would happen to the Mu family in the coming days!?
Everyone in the village knew that Young Master Zheng would only sell the land to fund his gambling and whoring.
Mu Yanying could not accept it, but there was nothing he could do if his father had decided it to save his sister.
All he could do was glare at his brother-in-law with hatred.
Wan Zheng felt it but ignored him, focusing instead on his father-in-law, Mu Shufei, who approached slowly.
Already an old man in his fifties, his mortal bones were no longer as strong as those of young men in their prime.
Those exhausted eyes showed the sincerity of a farmer.
There was no anger in them, only resignation, guilt, and deep sadness.
Mu Shufei knew very well of his daughter's grave deed last night.
It was indeed unforgivable in everyone's eyes.
A husband who had almost been killed by his wife could file for a divorce, report her to the officials, or let her be punished according to clan rules.
In Cangwei Village, a cheating, murderous, or disobedient wife was meant to be put in a pig cage.
She would be drowned a few times and forced to kneel in the ancestral hall for three days without food or water.
Such severe punishment could kill his daughter on the spot.
That was why, when Mu Shufei heard that Wan Zheng was alive, he felt relief, yet feared what was going to happen to his daughter, Mu Ruying.
This morning, as soon as both father and son woke up, they decided to come and see what had happened.
They hadn't slept a wink the whole night, and the exhaustion from yesterday was visible under their eyes.
But it didn't matter.
The most important thing was to see their family member alive.
Mu Shufei wanted to go with his eldest son Mu Yanying to ask for forgiveness on behalf of his daughter to Young Master Zheng.
He also hoped to use the acres of fields to calm the young master's anger.
Upon reaching the yard of the Wan family, Mu Shufei could already hear his daughter's cries, which broke his heart and filled him with sorrow.
A lump of regret always rose in his throat as he wondered why he had to marry his only daughter to such a person.
Why did he have to follow his deceased father's wish?
If he hadn't listened, his one and only daughter, whom he had pampered the most, would surely have been happy with a good husband who would care for her.
His grandchildren would not have had to starve.
"Young Master Zheng can consider."
Mu Shufei repeated weakly, meeting the other's eyes and waiting for an answer.
"Father-in-law..."
Wan Zheng began, calling out in a respectful tone using the title, which stunned the older man and everyone else.
The original body owner had never acknowledged the Mu family in his seven years living in Cangwei Village.
Everyone knew that Wan Zheng was unhappy about marrying Mu Ruying and had never considered any other member of the Mu family as his own.
He either didn't call them by their names or blatantly ignored them.
"Young Master Zheng, can you please let go of my daughter's actions last night?"
Mu Shufei had no understanding of why this son-in-law of his was finally calling him father-in-law.
He could only try again, pleading for his daughter's forgiveness.
Wan Zheng clearly knew why the others were here.
There was no need to let this drag on, and all he wanted was to escape the family drama he was not used to.
"I will not report Mu Ruying to the Clan Elders or the officials. Father-in-law can be reassured. There is no need for the acres of land either, I don't need it."
With that, Wan Zheng went straight to Mu Ruying and handed her the pouch of copper coins again.
The wife of this body had eyes reddened from tears and looked so pitiful that Wan Zheng could only sigh in his heart.
Someone had told him, while he was visiting an auction, that a woman could literally die from a broken heart caused by grief and crying.
It was better for this woman to cry less.
"Get some eggs from the neighbor, and cook some chicken stew for the family and father-in-law."
Mu Ruying's tearful eyes fell again on the red pouch.
She didn't understand her husband's actions.
She wondered why he was giving her the money and asking her to buy some eggs and chicken meat, but something in her head urged her to take it, and she did.
She felt its weight in her palm and immediately realized the copper coins were not just a hundred, but more than she could have imagined.
Her heart trembled at the thought of having so many copper coins.
Wan Zheng was very satisfied to see her take it.
This was a good sign.
His first step toward changing the original body owner's reputation had been achieved.
Mu Shufei's eyes widened in quiet surprise.
He was actually able to see his prodigal son-in-law give money to his daughter.
Yet the shock quickly faded in the blink of an eye, and a sigh of relief escaped his old breath.
"That's good, that's good. Go, Ruying, take it and buy the children some eggs to eat. Young Master Zheng, is this..."
They wanted to hear an explanation.
Although Mu Shufei's mind still struggled to believe how easily his daughter's matter had been resolved, he could sense that something had changed in this Young Master Zheng.
"Wan Zheng, what are you trying to do! You're giving my sister this pouch—why!?Is this payment from selling my nephews?"