When Zhao Yan returned home from gathering herbs, he was shocked to find the house empty. Even the two cows, which usually let out happy "moos" the moment they saw him, were nowhere to be found.
He was instantly struck with panic, terrified that someone had stolen them. Recently, the village had been rife with malicious gossip. Many people were green with envy over his family’s two cows, and between the jealousy, the suspicions, and the delusional fantasies of others, Zhao Yan knew that the elders' wives were surely stoking the flames behind his back.
Zhao Yan couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind. Between gathering herbs and cutting grass to feed the cows, he was already too busy to deal with those who loved to wag their tongues. Besides, he had bought the cows himself. If people treated him well, he might consider lending them out during the autumn harvest. As for those who gossiped behind his back, Zhao Yan held a grudge; they were already on his blacklist. He wouldn't lend them a thing, and he even fantasized about biting back with some sarcasm just to vent his frustrations.
Chapter 176