Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist-Chapter 237 - 69: Lin Chaoyang Purges the Family (Part 2)

With his mouth slightly ajar, Zhao Canghe suddenly realized the situation and hurriedly instructed the villagers to help Lin Chaoyang up.

"Chaoyang..."

Zhao Canghe looked at Lin Chaoyang with a complicated expression. Everyone in the village knew how partial the Lin Family’s grandfather, Lin Chaoyang, was towards his eldest grandson after the money shop debt incident forced them to sell their land.

Since then, Lin Chen began to shine, repeatedly earning top spots in the martial arts academy, turning Lin Chaoyang into a laughingstock among the villagers.

Zhao Canghe was also displeased with Lin Chaoyang’s foolishness until Lin Chen later won first place in the March grand competition, at which point Lin Chaoyang spoke with him in the old house for a two-hour conversation that night.

Initially, Zhao Canghe thought Lin Chaoyang wanted him to persuade Lin Chen, but he later realized he was mistaken.

Lin Chaoyang invited him over just to say one thing.

"Lin Chen bears resentment and hatred towards me, his grandfather. I do not blame him; this is the karma I deserve."

"When I was young, I also went to the county town and heard stories from a teacher saying that before a person gains a reputation, cunning deeds don’t matter much. However, once famous, people will seize upon these deeds and hold on tight. I asked my eldest to inquire, and it seems that the Martial Affairs Office has moral requirements for students, including disrespect towards elders being a moral blemish."

"I invited the village chief not to have him persuade Lin Chen to reconcile with me, his grandfather, for the sake of future prospects."

"I simply wish to ask the village chief to help keep the matter within the Lin Family from spreading out to others. Lin Chen will inevitably offend many as he progresses down the Martial Path, and I don’t want anyone to use this against him."

Zhao Canghe judged that Lin Chaoyang was genuinely remorseful for the way he treated Lin Chen.

This time, someone accused Lin Chen of filial impiety. If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t be afraid since Lin Chaoyang regretted it and wouldn’t speak ill of Lin Chen. But the key issue was that this time the accuser was Lin Ming.

Lin Chaoyang’s most cherished grandson and the eldest grandson of the Lin household’s main branch, Zhao couldn’t be sure if Lin Chaoyang would change his mind facing Lin Ming.

In Liang’s law, false accusations are a serious crime, especially against a talented student like Lin Chen.

Would Lin Chaoyang truly abandon Lin Ming for Lin Chen, the grandson he cherished for more than ten years?

Zhao Canghe was initially unsure, but Lin Chaoyang’s implied meaning in his previous words somewhat eased his mind, though he hadn’t anticipated Lin Chaoyang would make such a startling move.

"Elder, what are you doing?" He Ruyun said helplessly, "I am the County Magistrate of Poyang County; there’s no need for this."

He Ruyun ignored Xing Huaifeng’s grim expression as, being the County Magistrate, he naturally had the authority to speak out when someone committed violence on the spot.

"Honorable County Magistrate, this old man failed in educating family members, producing such a black sheep who would abduct a village child for some silver coins. If it hadn’t been for Lin Chen finding the child, how could the Lin Family have remained in Linhu Village with any dignity?"

Lin Chaoyang’s old eyes, at this moment, resembled a tiger’s, glaring at Lin Ming as the villagers of Linhu Village erupted in commotion.

When Qianqian disappeared, it stirred up the village, but after she was found, the matter gradually subsided, and people stopped talking about it.

Although many villagers suspected Lin Ming was involved, they turned a blind eye for the sake of Lin Chen, not expecting Lin Chaoyang to confess it publicly that day.

With a dagger stuck in his chest, blood oozing from the wound, Lin Ming was already pale. Hearing these words, his entire body convulsed.

"I, Lin Chaoyang, was blind my whole life, thinking my eldest grandson was a prodigy of the Lin Family. To support him in learning martial arts at the Martial Hall, we exhausted the silver coins of the second and third sons’ families, even forcing Lin Chen’s family to pay off his debts."

"In front of the honorable, I won’t hide any longer: Lin Chen recently returned to the village several times, and the village held flowing banquets, but I didn’t attend. It’s not Lin Chen’s lack of filial piety; it’s that I have no face to dine at those tables. I am unworthy as a grandfather."

With those words, Su Lingchuan and others behind him brightened up.

These words effectively negated the accusation of Lin Chen’s lack of filial piety.

"Even if I, as the grandfather, am so partial, the second and third families still provide me with food and clothing. Otherwise, with just the mother and son, the household’s silver coins would’ve long been spent, and I would’ve starved to death."

After he finished speaking, Lin Chaoyang’s gaze turned to Xing Huaifeng: "Honorable sir, I thank you for bringing back the disgraceful Lin Ming, giving me a chance to clean my family’s doorsteps. As for the old man’s act of killing, I leave myself at your disposal, but I have one request and hope you’ll grant it."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Lin Chaoyang pushed aside the villager supporting him and suddenly knelt, kowtowing to Xing Huaifeng: "Lin Chen is a pitiable child; with a biased grandfather like me, he hasn’t eaten his fill nor dressed warmly in the last fifteen years. Now, he has finally gained some reputation in the Martial Path, only to be accused by this black sheep. I suspect someone is targeting Lin Chen in the shadows and hope you will uncover who’s behind it."

Xing Huaifeng’s face grew increasingly sullen, as the grandfather’s words carried an intention.

"Rest assured, elder, Lin Chen is a student of Poyang County, and as the Director of the Poyang County Martial Affairs Office, I will surely investigate thoroughly to prevent secret targeting of any Poyang County students."

Su Lingchuan also timely stood out, while Zhao Canghe glanced at both Su Lingchuan and He Ruyun, now understanding that these two officials sided with Lin Chen. However, Director Xing’s rank was higher, limiting what they could explicitly say.