Chapter 50: Banished from the Temple

Chapter 50

The temple originally had no owner. Jiang Sheng was able to stay there for three years.

But that was when the government did not manage it. As soon as the government decided to renovate and worship again, the temple belonged to the government, to the Dayu Dynasty.

The magistrate of Xieyang County was using a sly scheme, ostensibly getting revenge on Jiang Sheng and her brothers - demolishing their home.

Xu Mo laughed bitterly.

Jiang Sheng cried.

This was the only stable place she had lived for three years, and also where she had found her brothers. She had the clearest understanding of home here, and countless touching and tearful memories.

But now she was going to be expelled.

Because this was not her home, it was the government's temple.

Jiang Sheng bent over to pick up the new cotton mattress she had bought, picked up the bowls and chopsticks she had brought from the medical hall, and tears fell like beans.

None of her brothers could bear it and were furious.

Zheng Ruqian directly hugged Jiang Sheng and said loudly, "Second brother will buy you a new house. We will have our own home."

"Third brother will protect you. No one can take our things." Fang Heng tightened his staff, his eyes murderous.

Wen Zhiyun wiped away tears and grabbed Jiang Sheng's hand, "Let's go back to the medical hall."

Chang Yan's eyes were icy as he exchanged a look with Xu Mo.

At this moment, when reason was not on their side, causing trouble would only lead to suffering.

The two understood each other's meaning, which was to retreat first.

Fortunately, there were two donkey carts stopped at the broken temple gate, and they could fit everything carefully packed up.

And so, Fang Heng and Zheng Ruqian drove the donkey carts, carrying all the family's belongings, and slowly left Shili Pu village.

Although it looked like they moved away voluntarily, villagers with eyes knew that these children were driven away by the government, so no one dared to come out to see them off.

Only Aunt Zhang staggered out to the edge of the village and shouted, "Little Jiang Sheng, go slowly."

Jiang Sheng sat in the donkey cart, watching Aunt Zhang get smaller and smaller.

She also watched Shili Pu village disappear from sight.

"Don't be sad, Jiang Sheng." Xu Mo lowered his head to comfort her, "Don't cry. I wanted to move you away anyway."

From the broken temple to the county seat, it took more than two hours one way. Wasting two to three hours commuting every day was obviously not cost-effective.

But Jiang Sheng liked the broken temple, so her brothers were willing to sacrifice time for her.

Now that the magistrate of Xieyang County had driven them out, it was actually an opportunity to move.

"Big brother," the usually quiet Wen Zhiyun said in a low voice, "We can live in the medical hall."

Xu Mo shook his head.

then the small county yard was elegant, tranquil, and full of scholarly aura.

Even Jiang Sheng, who had her head lowered sadly, was stunned. She let go of the cotton mattress she was hugging tightly, looked up at the sky and walked under the plum tree, gently shaking it so that plum blossom petals twirled and fell.

She stroked the solid wooden doors and carved eaves of the red walls and green tiles, the exquisite printed window paper that she had only seen in other people's homes before, now within reach.

Mist rose in Jiang Sheng's eyes and vanished in an instant.

She turned around and looked at her worried brothers, grinning to reveal her teeth. "I really like it here."

What made the broken temple warm was her brothers being there.

Now they were all here, and had an even more beautiful and bigger house. Jiang Sheng had no reason to be sad anymore.

If there was one, it would only be:

"Eight taels of silver is too expensive," the little girl frowned. "We have to earn more in the future to earn back this eight taels."

The brothers relaxed and chuckled.

Zheng Ruqian even thumped his chest, "Leave this to me!"

The rooms were quickly distributed.

Jiang Sheng was a girl, already eight years old, so she could have a room to herself.

Chang Yan and Wen Zhiyun shared a room, Fang Heng and Zheng Ruqian shared a room.

The remaining single room was left for Xu Mo, who needed to study with an oil lamp.

There were already pillows, quilts and so on, they just needed to lay them out to use.

The small yard also had a kitchen, with a stove built of yellow mud inside, so now the pots and bowls also had their own room to stay in.

Jiang Sheng's troubles finally completely disappeared, and she sat under the plum tree laughing every day.

The brothers also finally had time to sit down and discuss the future.

"With Pang County Magistrate here, the magistrate of Xieyang County dare not target us without reason." Zheng Ruqian said, "But he won't let us off either. I'm afraid there will be constant sinister plots in the future."

And the kind that would pin all the blame on them while making themselves look innocent.

"Pang County Magistrate can only deter for a while. Ultimately, we still have to strengthen ourselves." Chang Yan tapped his left hand with his right hand. "Money, power, people - we need them all."

Zheng Ruqian thumped his chest, "Leave the money matters to me."

Fang Heng gripped his staff, "Leave the fighting to me."

Wen Zhiyun moved his mouth but did not speak.

Xu Mo stood up, "My teacher said the county exam results will be announced in the next few days."

Although it was just a county exam, being able to get an excellent ranking in the whole county would also be a great help.

Everyone looked forward to it for a while.

Five days later, the county exam results were posted.