บท 10: [Volume 1] Chapter 10- Punishment
When the village chief heard the word "self-defense," he looked equally shocked if it was a simple fight then it's not a big deal but if someone attack a scholar ..a serious expression formed on his face .
"Scholar Li, what do you mean by self-defense?"
With tears streaming down her already red eyes, Jiho began to explain, her voice quivering with emotion.
"Village chief, yesterday when I came back, I saw Aunt Cheng and Xiao Cheng breaking my things hic... hic. When I told them to stop, they even hit me hic. I had no choice but to defend myself when they tried to break my deceased mother's bow." Her words carried the weight of sorrow and frustration, causing anyone who saw her in that moment to feel a pang in their heart.
"How can you be so cheap?" a villager shouted, expressing disdain towards the Cheng family's actions.
"I can't believe the Cheng family can be so low," murmured voices filled the air, echoing the disbelief and disapproval of the villagers. Upon hearing these remarks, Aunt Cheng's face flushed with anger.
Though they had intended to teach Jiho a lesson, the situation had backfired, leading to them being harmed instead.
"You...you are lying, village chief. Don't believe this...this bitch; she was the one who beat us," Aunt Cheng protested, her tone defensive and accusatory.
"Okay, let's believe I beat you. But why would I do it in my own house," Jiho began, her voice steady as she wiped away her tears, "when I could have done so in your house yesterday morning? And why do I have more injuries than you?" Her questions pointed out the inconsistencies in Aunt Cheng's accusations, causing the villagers to become suspicious of the Cheng family's claim.
As they look towards the weak girl , they harbor more disdain towards the Cheng family.
"Hah, do you think you are the only one who knows how to act like a victim? I am your mother," Jiho's lips twitched with sarcasm and confidence as she looked at Aunt Cheng with a mocking smirk.
As the villagers looked at Jiho's weakened state and felt a surge of guilt, a man finally spoke up after the pause.
"It's true, village chief; what Scholar Li said makes sense."
"Yes, village chief, we've witnessed the arrogance of the Cheng family. It must be their fault," added a second villager, echoing the sentiments of many.
"How dare they bully an orphan girl like this!" exclaimed another villager, the certainty in their voice evident.
"Yes, yes, village chief, it must be the Cheng family!" the crowd chimed in unison, their support for Jiho and disdain for the Cheng family growing stronger by the moment.
However, amidst the growing consensus, Aunt Cheng, who had suffered humiliation, couldn't contain her rage any longer.
"You bitch, how dare you..." as she attempted to attack Jiho, her anger and desperation driving her to lash out.
BAM
Suddenly, something flew in front of the villagers.
"What?"
As everyone looked towards the commotion, they were shocked to see it was none other than Aunt Cheng on the ground, and the one who had kicked her was none other than Jiho, the weak girl who was just crying here before.
"Ahhh, mother," Xiao Cheng, who saw his mother on the ground, ran towards her in concern.
This sudden shout snapped Uncle Cheng back to reality, and he also ran towards Aunt Cheng. "Wife?"
"How dare you call me names like that! I am a scholar, not a prostitute! You can't just swear at me all the time," Jiho's voice quivered with anger, her eyes now red, not from tears but from self-respect.
The villagers, initially stunned by Aunt Cheng being kicked, began to understand Jiho's actions as they listened to her impassioned defense.
After all, Jiho was a scholar and had studied from a young age, so of course, she doesn't have heard swear like this. After thinking for a while, the previous shock was replaced, and villagers nodded in understanding.
"Village chief, it's true that this time Aunt Cheng went too far, swearing at a scholar like this," an old mer shouted, voicing the resentment that many had harbored towards the Cheng family for their arrogance and disrespect.
Not only him but many villagers hated the Cheng family just because they were a little richer; they used to bully many weak people in the village, so how could these people let this chance for revenge go to waste?
"Yes, village chief, please punish them!" echoed the sentiments of the villagers, their support for Jiho and disdain for the Cheng family resounding through the air.
"Very well. After hearing both sides, it's clear that it's the Cheng family's fault for trying to swear at and beat a scholar. As punishment, not only do they have to apologize to Jiho, but they also have to pay for her medicine and the things they broke," the village chief said in a commanding tone as he looked down at the Cheng family with a cold glare.
Seeing this jiho sneered coldly 'hah these people speaking like they are fighting for justice but in truth just trying their revenge hah'.
As the villagers nodded in agreement with the chief's decision, Aunt Cheng, unable to accept the consequences of her actions, shouted in frustration, her face contorted with anger and humiliation.
"Village chief, it's unfair! She also hit us, so she has to pay us money. And as elders, even if we hit her, it's not a big deal."
SMACK
Suddenly, a resounding sound echoed through the air, leaving everyone shocked.
As they looked towards the culprit, they saw an old woman in her fifties standing in front of Aunt Cheng with a raised hand, and it was none other than Old Madam Cheng.
"Mother...-in-law," Aunt Cheng trembled in fear as she looked at the old woman.
"Is this what your parents taught you, huh! How dare you smear our Cheng family name like this," the old woman scolded, delivering another strike with her stick on Aunt Cheng's back before slightly looking at Jiho and then looking back at Aunt Cheng and her son.
"Both of you will kneel in the ancestor hall for one month until you come back to your senses," making both Aunt Cheng and her second son surprised.
"But grandma..." as the second son tried to argue, a strike also landed on his right shoulder.
"Ughhh.", Due to Suddenly being hit he went to his knees in pain but this time Aunt Cheng doesn't run towards her dear son just look at him trembling.
"Shut up, how dare you dare to talk back," Old Woman Cheng looked at him with a black face, making him tremble and lower his head slightly.
Old Woman Cheng then turned to Jiho with a slight smile. "Scholar Li, I promise to make them pay the money as soon as possible and also apologize for their misbehavior."
"Okay," Jiho nodded slightly. She knew if she dared to refute, then it might backfire on her.
Seeing Aunt Cheng like this and Old Woman Cheng, the villagers felt ashamed for saying anything more.
Old Woman Cheng bowed slightly to the village chief and the elder and then dragged Aunt Cheng away.
Seeing this, everyone started to slowly leave too. After everyone left, Jiho walked inside the courtyard, staggered, and closed the gate after confirming everyone had left.
"Hahhaha, you damn Cheng family, hahaha, dare to play with me, hah, you are still a child," a sneer formed on Jiho's face as she looked at the sky.
Yesterday, when the Cheng family came to meet and caused a scene, Jiho already guessed what they wished to do; that's why she only hit the points where it hurt much but left the minimum sign of a mark.
'Hmm, trying to take my money, dream on'.
" But this old woman Cheng is not that simple. Looks like I have to be careful for a while," as she sat down with a frown, thinking about the earlier commotion. This old hag is too smart to change a fire into a simple spark so easily.
Grumble
A loud rumbling sound echoed in the background.
"Shit, I forgot to eat my breakfast this morning," Jiho's face turned red from embarrassment.
"Haha, how cute," a pair of blue eyes shone as they looked at the girl walking toward the kitchen with a red face.
Jiho, who was still walking a second ago, stopped, and a cold glint formed in her eyes as she looked towards a tree with a smirk.
"Found you."
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