northernbook Chapter 101 Strip Your Title
Chapter 101 Strip Your Title
Tian Bonian lowered his head...
"My lord, I am not familiar with the events of the past."
He had worked as a clerk in the county school a few years earlier, but he knew about the plight of Tian Zhiyuan's family.
But... he didn't say.
"As for the matter of severing ties with relatives, it was someone from the Tian family who came looking for me."
Tian Bonian took out the letter severing ties with his family, saying, "This is the letter severing ties with my family that I signed back then."
Li Huaiyuan took it...
The authors are: Lu Tao, Tian Xiang, Tian Tian, Tian Jinghe, Tian Zhongqing, and Wang Yulan.
On the day the book was written, due to the death of Tian Zhiyuan, the second son of the Tian family, in order to restore Lu's freedom, the two elders of the Tian family, Tian Zhongqing and Wang Yulan, decided to sever all kinship ties with Lu Tao, Tian Xiang, Tian Tian, and Tian Jinghe. From then on, they would no longer bear any responsibility for them, nor would they enjoy the protection of the Tian family or the right to inherit their property.
From then on, Lady Lu was no longer a daughter-in-law of the Tian family; she could leave or stay as she pleased, and she would bear her own honor and disgrace.
From this day forward, Tian Xiang, Tian Tian, and Tian Jinghe are no longer descendants of the Tian family; their fates are entirely up to them, and they will bear their own honor and disgrace.
This letter of severance of kinship has been notified to the elders of the clan and the village chief as witnesses, and is effective from this date.
From then on, they were no longer related and had no connection with each other.
This book serves as proof.
Tian Bonian concealed the hesitation in his eyes, "The letter severing ties is very clear. The Tian family wrote this letter of severance because Tian Zhiyuan is dead and they want to give the Lu family their freedom."
Tian Tian's eyes widened in disbelief, "Village Chief?!"
Tian Bonian lowered his head and said, "In fact, Tian Zhongqing has always been reluctant to part with his grandson."
Tian Tian's fingers were squeezing so tightly they were cracking; she was so reluctant to part with her grandson!
Tian Bonian! He still wants Jinghe to be recognized as a member of his family?!
Li Huaiyuan put down the letter severing ties, glanced at Tian Tian, and looked surprised.
Tian Tian looked at the other silent villagers with resentment, "What about you? You should know..."
Several villagers lowered their heads.
They had no grudges or favors against the Lu family!
They didn't need to offend the village chief to support the Lu family.
The Lu family has become wealthy now, and it's highly likely they won't stay in the village in the future.
But they still have to live their lives in the village.
If this offends the village chief...
Their silence made Tian Tian grit her teeth in frustration.
"you..."
"My lord!" Suddenly, Tian Zhicheng, who had been silent all along, raised his head.
Everyone, both inside and outside the hall, looked at him.
“My lord!” Ignoring everyone’s gaze, Tian Zhicheng looked directly at Li Huaiyuan and said, “I, Tian Zhicheng, can testify for the Lu family.”
Everyone stared in astonishment.
Tian Bonian was among them.
Tian Tian was caught completely off guard.
"The money for the students' education when they were young was all earned by my second brother Zhiyuan and the Lu family."
"Zhicheng?!" Tian Zhongqing and Wang Yulan exclaimed in surprise.
Tian Zhigao even tried to go forward and pull Tian Zhicheng away.
The constable reacted quickly, using a long sword to block the way.
“Father, Mother, Tian Zhigao and his wife Wang, me, Guo, and our children all use the money earned by my second brother’s family for food, clothing, shelter and transportation.”
“Tian Xiang and Tian Tian started doing housework when they were three or five years old.”
“My second brother, Tian Zhiyuan, died from overwork, and there is a doctor to testify to this.”
“My parents sold Tian Tian for five taels of silver, and the Cheng family of Shiqiao Village can attest to that.”
"Students dare not speak nonsense."
"We severed ties with the Lu family simply because we didn't want to be a burden on them, a widow and her orphans."
"They used Tian Tian's life as leverage to coerce them."
"Now that they have learned that the Lu family has opened a shop and made money, Tian Zhigao and his wife have encouraged my mother to sue the Lu family, simply because they are greedy for the Lu family's money."
An uproar erupted outside the hall!
"This family is absolutely wicked."
"At least Tian Zhicheng has some conscience!"
"His scholarly degree was obtained with the money from Miss Tian's family. If he is not grateful, then the Lu family will be wronged."
"That Tian Zhigao couple is shameless; they actually tried to seize the Lu family's money."
"What relationship do the Lu family have with them? They don't even share the same parents, yet they have the nerve to covet other people's money."
"How shameless!"
Tian Tian looked at Tian Zhicheng with a probing gaze, recalling the original owner's memories. This third uncle was no good person.
He appears to be focused on his studies and honest and kind, but in reality, his heart is the darkest.
She remembered... Tian Zhicheng had said that he didn't want to be a burden on the Lu family!
He now knows that it was his family's earnings that supported his education, but he didn't think that way before.
has a problem!
There must be something wrong!
Tian Zhicheng looked at Tian Tian and his gaze met hers, which was full of inquiry.
Tian Tian's pupils dilated, while Tian Zhicheng's eyes flickered.
With just one glance, Tian Tian could tell that he wanted something from her!
Li Huaiyuan stopped seeking confirmation from others.
He glanced coldly at Wang Yulan and the others, and said sternly, "You people, in order to seize the Lu family's money, dare to slander the Lu family. It's truly shameful!"
"Guards, take these men into custody and await my judgment!"
Wang Yulan and the others turned pale and began to kneel down and beg for mercy, "My lord, spare our lives, spare our lives!"
Zhao Jinhua and the others were dumbfounded.
Li Huaiyuan slammed his gavel down heavily. "Such baseless accusations and disturbances in court! I will not let you off lightly!"
"Put it down!"
The hall was filled with wails, and the others were quickly taken away.
Only Tian Bonian and Tian Zhicheng were in the hall.
Tian Bonian was flustered. Although he was a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level), he did not hold any official position and was far inferior to a county magistrate.
Moreover, those who passed the imperial examinations enjoyed certain privileges, but were also subject to strict constraints.
In addition to not committing crimes, candidates for the imperial examinations were also required to conform to the norms of etiquette and morality in their words and deeds; those who violated these norms might have their academic titles revoked.
“Tian Bonian, you are a scholar who passed the imperial examination and also a village head.” Li Huaiyuan looked coldly at Tian Bonian below the hall.
"They actually shielded the Tian family's actions and deceived this official in order to protect their own."
"I will report this matter to the government office and propose that you be stripped of your academic title as a warning to others!"
Tian Bonian looked up in surprise, "My lord?!"
Li Huaiyuan didn't give him a chance to argue, "Court adjourned!"
"Second Miss, please come with me."
Tian Bonian's gaze followed Li Huaiyuan closely, but he dared not follow.
He took two steps back in disappointment and couldn't help but sigh.
He was already sixty-six, with only a few years left to live. I never imagined that he would die so soon...
His proud title of Juren, which he had held for half his life, was about to be stripped away. How could he face his ancestors with this?
Hearing footsteps, Tian Bonian looked up and saw Tian Tian heading towards the back hall.
He recalled that the county magistrate had written a letter of recommendation for Tian Jinghe...
Tian Bonian walked a few steps to Tian Tian, "Tian Tian, you..."
"You are acquainted with the magistrate, could you take me to see him?"
"It was all a misunderstanding."
"I'm not trying to deceive you, I'm just stating the facts..."
Tian Tian interrupted him, looking at him with clear eyes, "Village Chief, aren't you going to deceive the adults? Or are you going to stick to the facts?"
"Don't you know why we severed ties with the Tian family that day?"