Chen Ermao fell silent after listening to Chen Dayong.
After a long while, he exhaled deeply, "I'll still ask Old Ancestor for help."
Chen Dayong shook his head and said no more. He knew that even if the Old Ancestor spoke now, it wouldn't be effective. Everything depended on Chen Xiaobei's decision.
By the time Chen Dayong returned, Chen Xiaobei had already finished making the wooden cage.
Chen Xiaobei had made it based on Chen Ermao's height, leaving almost no extra space. With his hands tied behind his back and him stuffed inside, escaping would be impossible unless he possessed magic.
Chen Xiaobei called for two village guards to carry the cage to the riverbank. Then, he turned and headed for the large locust tree to bring Chen Ermao over.
By this time, all the villagers had gathered by the large locust tree.
The Old Ancestor had also arrived, standing among the crowd without a word.
However, upon seeing him, Chen Ermao couldn't help but become agitated, shouting repeatedly, "Old Ancestor, Old Ancestor."
The Old Ancestor paused, then walked out with his cane, looking at Chen Ermao with helplessness. He shook his head slightly and said, "Ermao, when you reach the underworld, apologize properly to King Yama. In your next life, may you be reborn into a good family and never do such things against your conscience again."
Chen Ermao said with a choked voice, "Old Ancestor, I know I deserve to die. I have only one request: can I be buried in the ancestral grave after I die? I wish to be with my parents in the future."
Hearing this, the Old Ancestor fell silent. In the past, he would have dared to make such a decision, but recalling Chen Xiaobei's attitude last night, he hesitated.
Finally, he sighed, "Ermao, you have committed a great mistake. Chen Xiaobei is now the head of this village, and all matters, big and small, are decided by him. I dare not promise you this. You should speak to him yourself later."
Just then, someone shouted, "The village head is here! The village head is here!"
Following the shouts, Chen Xiaobei was seen approaching from a distance with Chen Dayong and others. Chen Xiaobei walked at the front with a grim expression.
Dayong and the others followed silently. Though they said nothing, the group exuded an aura of unyielding authority.
Liu Rumei, who was among the crowd, was also inspired by Chen Xiaobei's expression.
A hint of killing intent could be clearly seen from Chen Xiaobei, which was vastly different from how she had seen him before.
Perhaps it was at this moment that Chen Xiaobei began to transform into a true man.
Seeing Chen Xiaobei approach, the Old Ancestor instinctively stepped aside, nodded slightly at Chen Xiaobei, and remained silent.
Chen Xiaobei stopped and turned around, surveying the assembled crowd. His expression softened slightly, and he said to the Old Ancestor, "Old Ancestor, please say a few words."
At this moment, Chen Ermao suddenly spoke first, "Brother Xiaobei, Brother Xiaobei, I beg you for something. I beg you for something."
Saying this, he dropped to his knees with a thud. "Brother Xiaobei, after I die, please bury me in the ancestral grave. I beg you."
Facing Chen Ermao, who was kneeling and kowtowing to him, Chen Xiaobei hesitated for a moment.
He understood one thing: letting Chen Ermao die without a burial place was his former vow and the greatest deterrent to the villagers. If he relented now, what would happen in the future?
Chen Sanqiu had tied up Cui Hongyu, and in the end, Chen Xiaobei had not allowed them to be buried in the ancestral grave. Chen Ermao was in the same situation.
With this thought, Chen Xiaobei let out a cold snort, pointed at Chen Ermao, and sternly said, "Chen Ermao, you have been stripped of your household registration by the county. You are no longer a villager of Hetou Village, nor are you in the family genealogy. You are no longer a descendant of my Chen family. How dare you presume to be buried in the ancestral grave?"
His words were logical, righteous, and utterly unfeeling. Chen Ermao's heart turned to ash, and he slumped to the ground, no longer speaking.
At this moment, the Old Ancestor felt a sense of surprise. Chen Xiaobei was completely different from before. The man before him was decisive and ruthless, with a gaze full of killing intent towards Chen Ermao.
This was the attitude and determination of a man who had severed ties of love and hate.
After saying these words, Chen Xiaobei paid no further attention to Chen Ermao. Instead, he turned to support the Old Ancestor and walked a few steps into the crowd.
The Old Ancestor cleared his throat and finally spoke. He pointed at Chen Ermao and said to the assembled crowd, "Everyone has seen the consequences of doing evil. Sanqiu a few days ago, and Chen Ermao today."
"From now on, remember to be a decent person and act properly. Don't harbor any wicked intentions. Heaven will never forgive an evildoer."
After speaking, he looked around the crowd again and tapped his cane gently. "Do you all hear me?"
"We hear you, we hear you."
The villagers present all agreed.
The Old Ancestor then turned to Chen Xiaobei.
"Xiaobei, proceed. My legs aren't what they used to be, so I won't go."
In fact, Chen Xiaobei knew that no matter what, Chen Ermao had grown up under the Old Ancestor's watch. To have reached this point must have been difficult for the Old Ancestor. It was understandable that he wouldn't go.
Chen Xiaobei waved his hand, and Chen Dayong and the others rushed forward, tying Chen Ermao securely. Then, they used a rope, with the other end handed to Chen Xiaobei.
Chen Xiaobei, holding the rope, said to Chen Ermao, "Come with me to the river." With that, he turned and walked away.
Chen Ermao did not dare to have any improper thoughts at this moment. He allowed Chen Xiaobei to lead him, like a dying stray dog, not daring to fall behind even by half a step.
Chen Xiaobei led Chen Ermao all the way, bypassing the four mu of land and arriving at the riverbank. By then, the village guards had already carried the wooden cage over, and some were already chipping away at the ice.
Seeing Chen Ermao arrive, the village guards opened the wooden cage and, working together, quickly stuffed Chen Ermao inside.
Then, Chen Dayong handed a rope to Chen Xiaobei.
Chen Xiaobei took the rope and tied the wooden cage securely, adding two large stones.
Seeing this, none of the villagers present could doubt that Chen Ermao's fate was sealed.
Some villagers recalled Chen Ermao's petty thieving deeds in the village and shook their heads in sighs.
Chen Ermao could no longer control his emotions and burst into tears, wailing.
But what use was crying now?
At this moment, at the back of the crowd, Cui Hongyu and Liu Rumei had also arrived.
Liu Rumei supported Cui Hongyu and whispered in her ear, "Sister Hongyu, Chen Ermao deserved to die. Remember what he did to you."
Cui Hongyu nodded slightly. "Logically, he should have died long ago. Miss Liu has indulged him for so long; he has lived a few extra months."
Liu Rumei nodded slightly. "My father was too kind. If I had known he committed such deeds, I would have killed him with a single blow."
Cui Hongyu smiled faintly. "It's good now. Let my husband vent his anger and let everyone see that anyone who commits evil will suffer the same fate."
As they were talking, a gasp erupted from the crowd. Chen Xiaobei, along with several village guards, was seen lifting Chen Ermao and throwing him into the river with a splash.