Chapter 8: Arrogant Words, Offending the Crowd

 Chapter 8: Arrogant Words, Offending the Crowd

Cui Shi had not expected Lang Jiuchuan to question her directly. For a moment she stood frozen, her face full of disbelief. Which junior of the family had ever dared to confront an elder like this, and in front of outsiders no less?

Lang Zhengping’s face darkened like the bottom of a soot pot. He urged his son and daughter-in-law in haste: “Quickly, take her away.” Then he hurried to stand before Elder Zhao, forcing a smile as he said, “Please don’t laugh at us, sir. This child has been sickly since birth and was raised in the countryside. Now that she has just returned, she does not yet understand the rules.”

Elder Zhao remained silent, but his grandson Zhao Yuancheng looked coldly at Lang Jiuchuan, his eyes slanted with contempt. “Uncle Lang, this is not a matter of understanding rules or not. She has spoken rudely and cursed my grandfather.”

“Brother Zhao, calm your anger. The fault lies with our Lang family. Once our grandfather’s funeral has passed, we will certainly bring this girl to your door to apologize.” The sons and nephews of the Lang clan all stepped forward, cupping their fists in apology.

Lang Cailing, together with her sisters, added sharp rebukes toward Lang Jiuchuan: “Even if you do not understand the rules, you should at least know what can be said and what cannot be said. Quickly kneel and beg forgiveness!”

“Yes, utterly outrageous.”

“This is not the countryside, where ignorant village women can flap their lips as they please.”

“She is nothing but a bringer of trouble—just returned, and already stirring up unrest.”

The voices of reproach and scolding fell upon Lang Jiuchuan like one silken veil after another, soaked and heavy, pressing her down.

Lang Jiuchuan’s eyes gradually reddened. Just as she was about to speak, Elder Zhao raised his hand and coughed heavily. “Enough. She is just a child who does not understand. There is no need to pursue it so harshly.”

The hall fell silent.

Elder Zhao looked at Lang Jiuchuan and said, “As you said, I am even two years older than your grandfather. To say that I already have half a foot in the coffin is not an exaggeration.”

“Grandfather!” Zhao Yuancheng frowned. His grandfather was being far too lenient.

Elder Zhao patted his grandson’s hand and continued, “She is only a young girl. Why be so strict with her?”

Zhao Yuancheng opened his mouth but did not speak. He thought to himself, With such a venomous tongue, how can one not be strict with her? Just look at her words—already offending everyone in the hall.

Lang Jiuchuan laughed. “Are you truly trying to shield me, sir? In fact, you are angry too, because my words are venomous. You pretend to be magnanimous only because you think that a girl so young, with such an unrestrained mouth, will eventually bring disaster upon herself. So there is no need for others to punish me—you believe I will one day suffer the consequences of my own words. You would rather wait and see.”

Elder Zhao was momentarily stunned. That was indeed what he had thought. The girl had spoken rashly, and if she continued like this, one day she would certainly pay the price for her own reckless tongue.

Seeing Lang Jiuchuan becoming more and more audacious, Cui Shi barked sternly, “Insolence! Enough of this.”

But Lang Jiuchuan ignored her. She stepped forward and stood directly before Elder Zhao. “I understand respect for the old and love for the young. But since I spoke thus, it was not without reason. A person has three flames of life. You have already lost the two at your shoulders, and the one above your head will burn out within three days. The flame above the head is the most vital—it is the flame of spirit. As the saying goes, a gentleman remains calm and upright. Only by maintaining noble morality and a vigorous spirit can this flame stay strong. But clearly, you have taken a wrong step recently, have you not? Otherwise, you would not be so restless and uneasy.”

This old man’s three flames are nearly extinguished. Does that not mean death is near?

Elder Zhao’s expression shifted slightly. He looked into her eyes and felt as though there was a whirlpool within them, one that sought to drag him in and shred him to pieces.

“You—”

“To save one who should not have been saved—if you refuse to go, then your descendants will have to take your place.” Lang Jiuchuan’s eyes flickered toward his grandson, and her lips curved in a cruel smile. “This is called: one life for another.”

Elder Zhao followed her gaze and his sight landed on his grandson. His pupils shrank, and the hand gripping his cane bulged with veins.

Slap!

The crisp, ringing sound of a palm striking flesh resounded through the hall, shocking everyone back to their senses.

“Outrageous!!”

(End of Chapter)