The people in Wujing Village who had signed contracts with Huichuntang finally realized they had been swindled.
Now they wished they had stuck with the pharmaceutical factory and wanted to find Director Yang.
But Director Yang was still fuming and was determined to teach them a lesson, refusing to buy their medicinal herbs anymore.
The herbs, which took one or two years to grow and harvest, were likely to be stuck in their hands now.
The villagers regretted their decision, especially regretting not listening to Cheng You.
If they had taken her advice earlier, their medicinal herbs wouldn't be sitting in their hands now.
The pharmaceutical factory had even threatened to stop buying medicinal herbs from Wujing Village altogether in the future.
After calming down, everyone thought that it was ultimately Cheng Tianhua, the team leader's fault.
If he hadn't incited everyone, they wouldn't have ended up in this situation.
As a result, Cheng Tianhua was hounded by the villagers during this period, leaving him with no way out.
If he didn't resolve this matter, he would have to resign.
This was why he urgently sought out Cheng You.
Although he remembered how he had driven Cheng You away last time, and now he was shamelessly seeking her help, it was incredibly embarrassing.
But besides asking her, what other option did he have?
Cheng You quickly sent back a telegram, stating her inability to help.
If the villagers were willing to sell their medicinal herbs to Zhenshantang, it was possible, but definitely not at the current price.
Without a harsh lesson, they would never learn, and wouldn't be able to appreciate how fair the price offered by the pharmaceutical factory was.
After Cheng You's telegram was sent back, the villagers of Wujing Village began to curse.
They accused Zhenshantang of price gouging and pressuring the villagers.
Some who hadn't signed contracts with Huichuntang spoke up for Cheng You: "If Huichuntang's prices were higher, why didn't you sell to them!"
At these words, they had nothing more to say, only inwardly resenting Cheng Tianhua.
Cheng Tianhua eventually lost his position as team leader because of this incident.
Widow Lin wailed, "Without this salary, how will we live!"
If it weren't for the fact that following Cheng Tianhua meant not having to work in the fields, she wouldn't have married this thrice-married old man.
Cheng Tianhua was annoyed and his shoulders slumped.
"Are you ever going to stop? Cheng You sends money back every month. I haven't touched it before, so we won't be too badly off no matter what."
Upon hearing his words, Widow Lin's eyes flickered, and she lowered her head guiltily.
Cheng Tianhua noticed her abnormality and his expression darkened.
"You didn't touch that money, did you?"
Not only did Cheng You give money every month, but she also gave more during holidays.
This was partly because the money was insignificant to her, and partly to silence the gossip.
Widow Lin stammered, "My brother applied for a plot of land to build a house earlier, and didn't have enough money, so I lent it to him."
Cheng Tianhua felt as if something had hit him, and anger surged within him.
"Say that again? How much did you lend?"
Widow Lin shrank back, hugging her child, "I only lent him eight hundred."
Cheng Tianhua grabbed something nearby and threw it at her.
"Eight hundred! You wouldn't be worth eight hundred even if they sold you!"
The thought of the money being gone like this made Cheng Tianhua's heart ache.
"Hurry up and get the money back!"
Widow Lin lowered her head aggrievedly, "Cheng You is so rich, what's eight hundred? She can buy a house for Uncle Li, who isn't related to her, and she can raise children for others, but she's unwilling to give money to you, her father. What kind of a thing is this!"
Cheng Tianhua also felt extremely displeased when he thought of this.
It was only recently that he heard Cheng You had bought a house for her Uncle Li, treating him as her own father.
Now, his own biological father was living in poverty!
"Old Cheng, Cheng You is your biological daughter. She bought a house, so why shouldn't you have a share!"
Cheng Tianhua felt even more unbalanced when she provoked him like this.
He was rightfully entitled to a share!
"Why don't we go to the county town and find them!"
Cheng Tianhua put his hands on his hips and pondered for a moment.
"Pack your things, we're going to the county town now!"
"Alright!"
Widow Lin quickly put down her child, went inside to pack some things, and then set off for the town with her belongings.
If this trip went smoothly, she might even be able to live in the county town with Cheng Tianhua in the future.
She would be a townswoman then!
The two of them rode their bicycles, hurrying towards the village entrance.
When someone on the road asked, Widow Lin smilingly replied, "We're going to the county town to see the house Cheng You bought!"
Before they even reached the commune, Cheng Tianhua's stamina gave out, and he stopped, panting.
"Let's rest for a bit."
Widow Lin chided, "Your stamina is too poor."
Recalling Cheng Tianhua from a few years ago, he was full of vigor.
Even though he wasn't young anymore, he was still handsome and dashing, without a hint of a belly.
How had he become so disheveled in such a short time?
His clothes were getting tighter, and his bulging belly protruded.
Cheng Tianhua refused to admit he had poor stamina and gave her an annoyed look.
"It's you who's too fat!"
Widow Lin was so angry she didn't want to talk to him.
After resting for a while, they prepared to continue their journey.
Suddenly, a bicycle stopped beside them, carrying a middle-aged couple.
"Brother, excuse me, do you know where the Wen family from Xiting Village have gone?"
Widow Lin thought for a moment before realizing who he was referring to.
"Are you talking about Wen Jiahao's family?"
The middle-aged man nodded. "Yes, I just took a look, and no one was home. Doesn't he have a daughter named Wen Yan, who had a daughter with someone she shouldn't have?"
"Yes, yes, Wen Yan is dead." Widow Lin thus started chatting with them.
The couple seemed less concerned about the Wen family's affairs and focused their questions on Zhenzhen.
Widow Lin looked at Cheng Tianhua, unsure if she should speak.
The woman seemed to read her thoughts and took out a roll of money from her pocket.
It looked like several dozen yuan.
"Sister, this is a small token of my appreciation. We're not looking for the child for any other reason, we just want to bring her home."
Widow Lin's eyes lit up, and she immediately pocketed the money.
"Home? What do you mean by that?"
After Wen Yan gave birth, she had been bedridden for a long time, and the child's father never appeared.
Apart from the Wen family, Zhenzhen had no other home.
The middle-aged woman wiped away a tear. "To be honest, this child is my granddaughter. We came specifically to pick her up. Who knew we were still too late, Wen Yan was already dead."
Widow Lin couldn't help but think, they're coming this late for a child this age, they're more than just late.
The man beside her added, "As long as we can bring the child back, we're willing to pay."
Hearing about money, Widow Lin became energized.
Cheng You had helped raise the child for so long, she must have spent a lot of money, and it should be recovered.
Her face broke into a smile, and she eagerly said, "Sister-in-law, to be honest, since Wen Yan died, her child has been raised by our family! We're just on our way to the county town to see the child. Why don't you come with us!"