Chapter 281: Chapter 281 The Problem Brought By Wolf Meat (6)
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Soon, the people were divided into three groups. One group was against it, mainly because of their daughter-in-law’s family coming over. Another group was firmly in support, primarily because it was their daughter’s family staying with them, while the majority stayed silent.
“That’s enough. Shut up. We’re here to discuss matters, not quarrel.” The village chief knocked on the gong and shouted.
He continued after the crowd had quieted down. “Alright, those who agree to let their relatives stay in the village, raise your hand.”
After hearing this, everyone looked at each other for a moment. In the end, a few people raised their hands.
“It seems like most people still don’t agree,” the village chief affirmed with a nod.
“Wait, village chief; we’re the only place with water. If we chase them away, wouldn’t we be killing them?” One of the people raised his hand and asked.
“That’s right, village chief. It’s our family. We can’t just watch them as they starve to death.”
“Indeed, we can’t be too extreme in this matter.”
• •
“What are you saying? We aren’t even stopping the people from drawing water from our village.”
“That’s right. The villages within ten miles line up daily to get water from here. It’s not that we don’t allow them to take our resources; we just don’t want them to live in our village.”
The village chief saw they were quarreling again, so he struck the gong and reprimanded, “Alright, all of you shut up.
“Since everyone is clear about the pros and cons here, let’s talk about the constable and my opinions.”
“If you want to keep your relatives in the village, we really can’t say much if you are bent on it.
“However, whoever stayed had to guarantee these two points.
“First, if the people who stayed behind ruined anything, you have to be responsible for the compensation.
“Second, if there’s a conflict in your family, don’t look for us because we won’t and can’t mediate your troubles.
“Go go back and discuss this matter. If you’re willing to vouch for your relatives, come to me and write a contract of promise.”
Everyone fell silent. They could guarantee the first condition, but no one could be sure of the second condition.
After all, those who could be the head of a family were basically the grandfathers of their families.
It was normal to have some friction in any family, let alone in a disaster.
If someone started a fight, would they be able to suppress it?
Even if they could suppress their daughter’s family, being her parents, it was unclear whether they could do the same for their daughter-in-law’s parents.
At the thought of this, no one was confident that their family would be able to follow this agreement to its absolute.
“Village chief, what is your family’s plan?” Someone asked curiously because everyone knew that his daughter had returned home.
The village chief didn’t answer his question but said, “This is precisely why we called everyone over. We want everyone to gather our relatives who have come from afar to live in the warehouse on the dock in town.
“As for those close to home, just ask them to go home directly. This is for the best. If the family makes a big scene, it won’t look good for everyone.”
“The warehouse? That’s too far.” Someone expressed their dissatisfaction.
“Indeed, it’s at least four to five miles away.”
“Is it far? Don’t the townspeople come here every day to get water?” Tian Jing Zhong stated this at the time.
“We’re all born farmers, and we aren’t asking them to water the land. Even a girl can carry two to three small buckets of water from five miles away daily.” The village chief agreed.
“Why don’t we let them build a shack outside the village?” Someone asked.
“Yes, isn’t it good to build a shack outside the village?”
“A shack?” The village chief asked in return, “Is a shack more comfortable and safer than a warehouse?
“Don’t forget how close we are to a mountain. Disregarding all the different kinds of poisonous bugs, let’s talk about the wolf pack from the night before.. Would a shack stop a wild beast if another came down the mountain? If something really happens, who’s going to be responsible?”