They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 56 won't let it go like this.
Liang, the village head, assumed Xu Zhichun's words were just a fit of pique and didn't take them too seriously. He sighed, "I'm just as angry as you, but believing Mingxuan won't help in this matter. He's just a child; his words can't be used as evidence. Master Liu has a good reputation and is a student; outsiders will believe him more. We don't need to confront him directly. If we can't afford to offend him, can't we just avoid him? We'll just stay away from him in the future. Luckily, we discovered it early, and the child is alright. Calm down, calm down."

Xu Zhichun looked at Liang, the village head: "Village head, I have a plan, but I need your help."

Xu Zhichun slowly explained, and Liang Lizheng listened in disbelief, "This...this can really work?"

"How will I know if I don't try? It would be great if it succeeds, but it doesn't matter if it doesn't. Anyway, I'm just a clueless woman. I noticed that my child's clothes and shoes were not right and he was sick. I was so worried that I lost control and made a scene. Who can say that I was wrong? They might even praise me for taking care of my brother-in-law."

"this--"

"Local head, are you willing to swallow this insult?"

These words finally moved Liang Lizheng. "You're right, let's give it a try! I've been feeling frustrated about this too. If it can help me vent my anger and put an end to this, of course I'm willing."

Xu Zhichun stood up, bowed deeply to Liang, the village head, and said, "Thank you, Village Head."

"Don't be so polite, it's just what I should do."

Xu Zhichun smiled. What is there to say about what should or shouldn't be done? It's only right that she, as the elder sister-in-law, should do something for her younger brother-in-law. It's already very commendable that the village head is willing to go to this extent.

After discussing it for a while and confirming that everything was correct, Xu Zhichun went back.

Not long after Xu Zhichun left, Liang Lizheng suddenly remembered that he should go and visit Liang Mingxuan. He had been so angry that he had forgotten about this.

Just as he was about to walk out the door, he realized that it might not be convenient for him to visit alone. Xu was a young widow, and rumors could easily spread about her, so he had to stop.

Liang Lizheng couldn't help but mutter, "Third brother and his wife are heartless. They knew Mingxuan was sick but didn't even come back to tell us. They just went to the city like that. When will these two ever start to care about anything?"

Xu Zhichun was speaking alone with Liang Lizheng. Aunt Liang was busy in the yard and hadn't heard them. When she did, she was surprised: "Mingxuan is sick? Is he alright?"

“It’s alright, Mrs. Xu is taking care of things. Why don’t you go and see them—but never mind, I think Mrs. Xu is busy and probably won’t have time. Just ask them when the third son and his wife come back at noon.”

Aunt Liang had no objections, "Okay."

Liang Lizheng paced back and forth, his hands behind his back. Thinking of Master Liu, he grew increasingly angry. "Bastard! What a bastard!"

Aunt Liang immediately turned around and glared at him: "You're getting more and more stingy. The third couple has always been like that, they'll forget if they forget. Zhichun is thoughtful, and I think Mingxuan is doing just fine with her taking care of him, don't worry. Are you still not done yet? Why do you keep scolding the third couple?"

The third brother and his wife are lucky despite their simple nature; now the whole family's life has improved significantly thanks to them.

Liang Lizheng couldn't explain it to her, so he simply let her misunderstand. "I can't explain it to you, forget it, I won't say anything more!"

Liang Lizheng shook his head and went inside.

Aunt Liang spat lightly: "That old man..."

Not only could Liang Lizheng not explain it himself, but he also repeatedly instructed Xu Zhichun to go back and tell Liang Mingxuan that he must not mention what Master Liu had done again, and that he must not mention it to anyone.

Without evidence, it's tantamount to slander. If it gets out, only Liang Mingxuan will be ruined.

When Zeng Xiaoyan and the others returned at noon, they were relieved to see that Liang Mingxuan's condition had improved. They told Xu Zhichun to go and rest, as they were all familiar with these things and could do them themselves.

Xu Zhichun really didn't have the energy to do anything else. She smiled and thanked him, then went back to her room and dozed off for a while. As the sun was about to set, she asked her aunt Zhu'er to look after the house for a bit, while Liang Mingliang drove the carriage, and Zeng Xiaoyan, Xu Zhichun, and Liang Lizheng went to Quanshan Village together.
Xu Zhichun avoided the people of Quanshan Village and angrily headed straight for Master Liu's house.

"Young lady, may I ask what brings you here?"

Master Liu was over forty years old, but he looked several years older than his actual age. In his early years, he devoted himself to his studies and did not marry until he was twenty-five. His wife did not become pregnant for many years after their marriage, and they had only one son, Liu Fenghua.

At this moment, the students had already gone home after school, and he was playing with his son in the hall, while Liu Niangzi was cooking in the kitchen.

Seeing that the one who had barged in was a young and beautiful young wife, Master Liu's anger subsided somewhat, and he gave Xu Zhichun a reserved yet aloof smile, looking at her with a condescending air.

He considered himself dashing and debonair.

Xu Zhichun sneered: "So you're the teacher surnamed Liu?"

"It is indeed I, young lady. Do you have a child you wish to send to school? Then you've come to the right place. I—"

"Pah! You still have the nerve to brag? You're a harmful scoundrel!"

"How dare you! Where did you come from, you shrew!"

Hearing the commotion in the main room, Madam Liu rushed over from the kitchen. Upon seeing the young and beautiful Xu Zhichun, she immediately became wary, strode up to Master Liu, and declared as if asserting her dominance: "Who are you? How dare you cause trouble in our house!"

"What kind of family do you think you are? Ha, a den of thieves!"

"shut up!"

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

"I am Liang Mingxuan's sister-in-law!"

"what!"

Lady Liu's expression changed visibly, and she felt somewhat guilty and dared not look at Xu Zhichun.

Master Liu was also startled, but as a student who had seen some of the world and had read books, his mind was more resolute and cunning. He was only frightened for a moment before recovering his composure. Instead, he took the initiative and shouted sternly, "Liang Mingxuan is my student. What did he say to you, his sister-in-law, that you would come to my house and cause such a scene because of it? I really didn't expect that Liang Mingxuan would be so wicked and morally corrupt!"

"Everyone knows who's dishonest and morally corrupt!" Xu Zhichun showed them no mercy. "When I sent Mingxuan to study here, didn't I pay him tuition? Why is it that he studies here in the morning but has to do chores for you in the afternoon? Washing clothes, cooking, cleaning the yard, chopping wood, feeding the chickens and pigs, and sometimes even hoeing and planting vegetables in your backyard. Are you even human?"

"Did Liang Mingxuan say this? Nonsense! Call him here, call him here to confront me."

"You dare to do it but not admit it? Bah! You've disgraced all scholars! What do you want him to confront? Your son pushed him into the muddy ditch in your backyard at noon, and you forced him to take off his clothes, wash off the mud, and then leave him in those wet clothes. He had a high fever all night and is still in bed. How can you expect him to come here? Your whole family are murderers who robbed and killed for money!"

Lady Liu became anxious: "It's just children playing around. My Fenghua didn't do it on purpose."

"So you admit it? Then wasn't it intentional to make him wear wet clothes? Don't you adults know you can't wear wet clothes? Are your whole family idiots?"

(End of this chapter)