Although Zhao Datu was usually despicable, now that a life was at stake, he was also scared stiff, and he obediently stayed by the well, not daring to leave.
Someone went to pull Widow Chen away, urging her not to hit Axiang anymore. Widow Chen, exhausted from the beating, spotted Zhao’s aunt in the crowd. She rushed forward, grabbed Zhao’s aunt by the neck, and throttled her, “I’ll strangle you, you wretched woman! Were it not for you telling your son to seduce my Axiang, would she have tried to drown herself in the well? I’ve said before, if you have an issue, e at me. I’ve been meaning to settle this with you yesterday, and today you showed up just in time. Let’s decide it now, either you die or I live!”
Zhao’s aunt broke free from Widow Chen’s grasp and then the two of them started grappling again, “How can you blame this on me? Your own daughter came to seduce my son, and now that her reputation is ruined and she seeks death, whom do you blame? If anyone’s to blame, it’s her for not knowing how to respect herself from the beginning—she deserved this!”
Axiang, sitting on the ground, heard Zhao’s aunt’s words. Her heart felt as though it were being stabbed with needles, but she was too weary to defend herself.
Zhao’s aunt and Widow Chen struggled against each other, neither willing to let go. The villagers didn’t dare intervene. Eventually, Uncle Zhao came over and shouted at the two women, “Both of you stop it! Axiang is still lying there. Do you want her to jump into the well again?”
Originally, Axiang was supported by her grandmother sitting on the ground. When Xia Dabao saw Tian Xiaobei arrive, she quickly went to pull him over to check Axiang’s pulse, and by then Xia Dabao was supporting Axiang.
Seeing Axiang shivering continuously, she took off her own garment and draped it over Axiang, coaxing her, “It’s alright, it’s alright, just don’t think about dying again. Think about it for yourself, if you died, who would benefit? Wouldn’t it just be trash like Zhao Datu?”
Having heard that, Axiang initially froze, then couldn’t help but begin to cry, covering her face.
She had heard from Xia Dabao that Zhao Datu was not a good person. However, she regretted having misjudged him, which caused her to lose both her heart and body now.
Xia Dabao continued to soothe her by patting her chest, “It’s alright, it’s alright, Xiaobei, is Axiang seriously hurt?”
“There’s no serious damage, but it would be best for her to drink some ginger water to expel the cold. She should also take a bath with ginger water tonight. Catching a chill is certain, and she also needs to maintain a relaxed mood without any psychological burden.”
“Alright, Axiang, you should go back first. Let your mother take you home,” said Xia Dabao, then glanced at Zhao’s aunt. But Zhao’s aunt was still at it, grappling with Widow Chen—it seemed Widow Chen wouldn’t leave anytime soon.
Widow Chen stated confidently, “You keep saying my daughter seduced your son, but now she’s jumped into the well, showing her resolve even in death. Besides, she always stayed inside the home, hardly ever going out. If it weren’t for your Datu ing over to seduce her, she wouldn’t even know who Zhao Datu was. Now that her body has been defiled by your Datu, he must marry Axiang!”
“Marry her?” Zhao’s aunt placed her hands on her hips, “What kind of person is our Datu, and what kind of person is your Axiang? Why would Datu, with all his good prospects, marry the daughter of a promiscuous widow? Moreover, who knows whose child broke Axiang’s purity? Maybe she had already been defiled by some bastard before Datu.”
Moments later, as Xia Dabao helped Axiang to stand, she shivered violently upon hearing this last remark.
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