Respect and Influence

Aunt Zhu saw Su Meixiang's stubborn attitude and helplessly turned back to discuss a few words with the women behind her.

But the old Su family had long given up on appearances; no one really had any solutions for Su Meixiang.

Everyone thought about how pitiful Lady Zhao was. When times were good, although Lady Zhao was fierce and hateful, she was undeniably supportive of the old Su family, holding the household and fields together.

Lady Zhao favored Su Meixiang less than Su Shimao, but she was still one of the most doted-on daughters in the village.

Now that Lady Zhao had gone mad, no one expected Su Meixiang to be so heartless, treating her own mother that way.

But everyone could only verbally condemn it; no one had the power to intervene in someone else's family affairs.

Su Li's home.

Lingdang vividly recounted to Qin Sanniang the incident of Princess Mingyu's embarrassment, and Su Li laughed heartily, saying, "I'm afraid Princess Mingyu will never have the face to set foot in Haizi Village again. Finally, we've sent away this plague god."

Lingdang nodded, "Exactly, finally gone. I was so annoyed just seeing her!"

The master and apprentice were talking when Bailu came in, smiling, "Madam, the village chief has arrived. He said the village school is built, and two teachers have come. He wants to discuss the school opening ceremony with you."

Su Li stood up while laughing, "Oh, the village can make decisions on its own. Why do they need to ask me?"

Bailu followed Su Li with a smile, "Madam, it's because the villagers respect you more and more. Even the village chief thinks of consulting you first when making big decisions!"

"That's right, even though Master is young, her prestige in the village is quite considerable!" Lingdang nodded.

Su Li made a surprised sound; she hadn't really noticed before.

But thinking carefully, when she was still an orphan, the villagers sympathized with her and Lady Wang but didn't take them seriously; orphans and widows had no influence.

But now, unknowingly, Su Li's presence was in every major village event, and the villagers were used to consulting her first on matters.

Bailu smiled, "If Madam were a man, I bet the village chief would want to nominate you as the village head! The previous village head passed away a few days ago, and everyone is discussing who should be the new one. The village chief even said they want to ask for your opinion."

"Village head? Isn't that just a small village official?" Su Li chuckled. Although a village head wasn't a formal government official, in rural areas, they held considerable power.

The village head was responsible for counting the population and land of each household. When the government imposed corvée labor or taxes, the village head assigned them to each family. Being on good terms with the village head meant lighter duties; being on bad terms meant being sent to do dirty and hard work.

So although the village head wasn't an official, in the countryside, it was a coveted position. Everyone wanted to be village head. Once you became village head, villagers respected you, dared not offend you, and tried to curry favor with you.

However, Su Li had no interest in the position. For one, she was a woman; for another, she was confident she would become the wife of the Heir of Wei Yuanhou, General Xiao Zetian's lady.

But if the village chief really wanted her opinion, Su Li thought that although the position was small, it was convenient. She already had a suitable candidate in mind, keeping the benefits within the village.