Sometimes, the more one tries to cover something up, the more suspicious it seems.
Yun Jianzhou thought he just couldn't stand those common folks gossiping about others. But in other people's eyes, they probably thought his family was up to no good.
He went out and cursed at them, but it was all in vain. The next morning, when everyone was supposed to go to the fields, a crowd gathered around again.
"Damn it! Are you guys never going to stop?" Yun Jianzhou rushed out angrily and started scolding.
He put his hands on his hips and pointed at those people who were standing outside his house, gossiping.
"Are you guys really that idle? You all seem so eager when it comes to your own work, but I don't see you're any better than before! You all deserve to starve to death during the autumn harvest!"
But those people didn't care about what Yun Jianzhou said. They just wanted to join in the fun.
"Oh, come on, you can't talk like that." A woman stepped forward. "You just open your mouth and say we're going to starve to death? Let me tell you, we're all very hard - working! Who's like you guys, only going to the fields once every three or five days after planting the saplings? I think it's your family that's going to starve!"
"Hey, that's not necessarily true. Haven't you seen those kids staying at home all day? It seems like they've found other ways to make money. Brother Yun, you shouldn't just focus on getting rich for your own family. We've been living in the same village for so many years. Shouldn't we share the wealth?"
Yun Jianzhou was so angry that his eyes bulged. "Bah! Who's going to share the wealth with you? Why didn't I see you guys sharing the hardships with my family? As soon as you see the chance of making money, you're all like vultures staring at us. Are you guys running out of food soon? Let me tell you, even if my family has a way to make money, we won't tell you!"
When the crowd heard this, they thought Yun Jianzhou's explanation was just a cover - up, and a cover - up meant there was something fishy.
They figured that the Yun family must be doing something shady in the house.
"Oh, you're hiding things so much. I think your family must be up to some dirty business. Folks, what they're doing has nothing to do with us, but we can't let them ruin the reputation of our village, right?"
"Right! We have to go and take a look. We can't let them drag us down!"
With that, they rushed forward in a swarm.
Seeing this, Yun Jianzhou quickly grabbed a grass - cutting knife and held it in front of him to block the crowd.
"I'd like to see who dares! This is trespassing. Do you believe I'll call the police and arrest you?"
But no one listened.
"What trespassing? Where did you get that idea? We don't care where you heard it from. Anyway, we're doing this for justice! If your family is stealing or doing something bad, we have the right to report you!"
"Right! We're doing a good deed. Don't be scared by this young man!"
Yun Jianzhou stared at them with wide - open eyes, as if he would chop anyone who tried to get in.
The people outside were so enthusiastic that they were determined to get in. Even if Yun Jianzhou fought with all his might, he couldn't stop them. He could only struggle with them and shouted to Yun Fujin inside.
"Brother! Brother, come out and take a look!"
The villagers thought Yun Jianzhou was sending a signal, so they got even more excited.
"Their family must be hiding something shady!"
"Right, folks! We can't let these kids ruin our whole village!"
"Break in! Once we find something, take them to the village head for judgment!"
At this time, there was finally some movement inside the house. But it wasn't Yun Fujin who came out, but Yun Que'er.
"Second brother, our family hasn't done anything shady. Let them come in and take a look. After they've seen, they'll know how embarrassing they are."
The villagers were unhappy. "How can you talk like that, little girl?"
Yun Jianzhou was even more unhappy. "Why should we? Even if we really haven't done anything, can we just let them in? That's nonsense! Does that mean that as long as they suspect our family in the future, we have to let them search? We can't start this precedent!"
Yun Que'er sneered and looked at the crowd.
"You really want to come in, don't you?"
After this question, the crowd was silent for a while.
"Speak up!" Yun Jianzhou roared.
Then a man said, "Of course we're going to take a look. Why shouldn't we?"
"Okay." Yun Que'er readily agreed. "But let me make one thing clear. If our family really hasn't done anything, you have to apologize to us and sign a written statement that you'll never break into our house again!"
It wasn't a difficult thing, so the crowd readily agreed.
Yun Que'er then looked at Yun Jianzhou. "Okay, second brother. Let's just endure this grievance this time and let everyone come in. It's like buying ourselves some peace."
Yun Jianzhou reluctantly put down the grass - cutting knife and stepped aside.
"Take a quick look and get out of here!"
The crowd swarmed into the Yun family's yard. An older man stood aside with his arms crossed, a mocking smile on his face, watching the mob.
Yun Que'er looked at the unusual man. "Why, Uncle, aren't you going in?"
"Do you think I'm stupid?" the man sneered. "It's been such a long time. Even if there was really something, it must have been dealt with. Even if I go in, I won't see anything. What's the point? Girl, don't think of your Uncle as one of those idiots. I have a sharp eye. Only those fools can't see."
Yun Que'er smiled gently. "Uncle, you're very perceptive. But our family has always been honest and innocent. We haven't done anything shady, so there's no need to hide anything like you said."
The man pursed his lips and turned his head without saying a word, but his silence said it all.
He clearly meant: You know very well whether you've done something or not.
But Yun Que'er didn't even look at the man, as if she didn't understand the meaning behind his words.
She turned around on her own and walked into the house.
Inside, the people were rummaging through everything. They searched everywhere, even the firewood pile, but they really didn't find anything.
They saw Yun Yi lying on the kang. Her face was as white as a sheet, and she was still heating the kang on a hot day, wrapped in a quilt.
Just then, Yun Que'er came in. When she saw some men rummaging through Yun Yi's cabinet, she got angry.
"Are you guys crazy? These are all my sister's clothes. Aren't you ashamed, you big men?"
When the men heard Yun Que'er's words, they got even more excited and rummaged through it regardless.
As a result, they found a stack of folded toilet paper.
"What's this?"
Yun Que'er glared at him and turned her head.
On the kang, Yun Yi's face was no longer pale. But it wasn't because she had regained her color. She was so embarrassed that her face turned red.
"Hooligans!" Yun Yi scolded.