The snow was still falling from the sky, not heavily, flakes drifting down, landing on Yu Tingwan’s nose, making her shiver.
The girl walked slowly, her steps carrying an unspoken lightness.
It was anticipation.
Before Yu Tingwan could reach the Village Chief’s house, she saw Li Lian leading the way out with a stern face, full of montum.
A number of villagers followed behind her, their eyes all filled with disdain and gossipy curiosity.
This kind of matter didn’t require the Village Chief’s intervention, really, catching soone in the act was rather indecent. Besides, with sothing happening in the village now, with a bunch of affairs waiting, what was the Zhou family’s scandal? He found it all unlucky and needed to stay at ho to keep watch.
Li Lian was quite furious.
If it was true that the daughter-in-law and father-in-law disregarded ethics and committed dirty deeds, would it be the Zhou family’s face that would be lost? It would be the entire face of Xilin Village!
If it spread, who knows how many people would laugh at them!
The Zhou family was right next door to her!
Right under her nose!
"Wan Niang, you’ve co too."
Aunt Wu in the crowd excitedly grabbed her.
Aunt Wu’s face was unable to hide its ruddy glow, too excited to speak clearly: "Oh, you... you don’t know what just happened!"
She had been particularly anxious! After all, she had been keeping an eye on the Zhou family and was worried sick when she learned Old Man Zhou bought a cow cart.
But who knew what those two scoundrels had done over these years had already aroused public indignation.
Was that a crow? That was practically a divine bird.
And now, it was circling above, leading them towards the neighboring Zhou family.
Aunt Wu slapped herself: "Look at , talking nonsense."
How could Yu Tingwan not know?
She must have figured it out!
This girl’s skills were truly unfathomable!
"It’s just..."
Aunt Wu sighed, "I’m just afraid those two will adamantly deny it."
Yu Tingwan: ...
That wouldn’t happen.
After all, they were completely exposed.
No one was blind in such a crowd.
Li Lian would even rush over to pull off the covers.
The two houses were close, with only a very narrow path between them, usually unused, but kids would hide there when playing.
Everyone except Li Lian was whispering.
"I think it’s probably true."
"What madness ca over Matchmaker Liu, so many advised her to remarry, saying it was hard to be a widow. Told her to find a man again, but she didn’t listen. Well, turns out she did find soone and sneaked around with her father-in-law."
"It takes two to tango, and what kind of good person is Old Man Zhou? Last ti he ogled my newly-wed daughter-in-law, and my son chased him off."
"Old Man Zhou is old and ugly, what’s she after?"
"Who knows when they got involved. It’s truly tarnishing the family’s reputation, it sounds so filthy!"
"I still say, why has she beco more alluring over the years, it doesn’t seem like she’s leading a widow’s life, clearly, soone is tending to her."
At this mont, soone pushed their way in.
"And you believe so broken bird?"
"Can’t you use your brains?"
Granny Fan gave a sidelong look at the crow: "If you ask , who knows which heartless person taught it, just to slander Caiying."
"I know what kind of person she is in this village."
Though she said that, doubt lingered in her mind.
After all, she once saw Liu Caixing and Old Man Zhou chatting and laughing like they were flirting. She thought it was odd, but didn’t dwell on it, now...
Soone sneered: "Just the other day you were cursing Matchmaker Liu for being unscrupulous, what changed, now you’re defending her?"
Everyone knows when Old Man Zhou’s wife first passed, he tried to seduce Granny Fan, only to be beaten by her husband.
For years, Granny Fan loathed Old Man Zhou and disliked the Zhou family along with it.
Every ti gossip about the Zhou family ca up, she was the most proactive.
Won in the know laughed maliciously along: "What else, Matchmaker Liu promised to find matches for her two deficient nephews."
One was disabled, the other a fool.
Who would want to throw their daughter into a firepit?
Matchmaker Liu might have no character, but she could talk anyone into anything. She wouldn’t give up until she reached her goal, and over the years, she’s ensnared many girls.
So recalled sothing and glanced at Yu Tingwan.
Who doesn’t know about the ordeal of Lady Xiao.
A good girl, ruined.
And it was Matchmaker Liu who bridged that marriage, with Mrs. Wei’s approval, never asking if Shouzhong and his wife agreed.
Lady Xiao is Wan Niang’s sister-in-law, after all.
Granny Fan stiffened her neck: "I’m just afraid you’ll wrong an innocent."
If Matchmaker Liu got into trouble, what about her nephews’ marriages? She could surely twist it.
By the ti the girl discovered her nephews’ issues, it would be too late—she’d have no escape after the wedding.
"Granny Fan." Suddenly, soone called her.
She turned her head to see Yu Tingwan, a smile on her brow, yet the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Granny Fan inexplicably felt a chill down her back.
Yu Tingwan tilted her head, seemingly with concern: "Are you okay?"
"Are you hurt?"
Yu Tingwan murmured: "With everything happening, you’re still out and about?"
"You don’t value yourself."
Who got into trouble?
What nonsense!
Granny Fan furrowed her brows tightly.
"Get lost."
Last ti Yu Tingwan berated her in front of everyone, she rembered it well!
Granny Fan fud: "Cursing for no reason, do you need a lesson?"
With a deadpan face, Yu Tingwan replied: "Didn’t curse you."
She tilted her head, looking quite innocent: "I didn’t even say you’d get hit soon."
She vividly described to Granny Fan: "Just a slap, and your face swells."
Granny Fan: ???
She imdiately rolled up her sleeves, ready to teach this little vixen a lesson, but saw Aunt Wu coming quickly over.
Granny Fan paid her no mind: "Breaking up fights doesn’t work! Do you think I’ll spare her for you?"
But Aunt Wu ignored her, unable to contain her excitent.
"Really?"
"Will she really get hit?"
She’d disliked Granny Fan for a long ti!
Granny Fan: ...
No, are you all crazy?
Aunt Wu, fearing the girl would be hurt, pulled her away from the likes of Granny Fan.
As they neared Zhou’s doorstep, her mind wandered.
"Why did you even ask if she was okay."
Not only Aunt Wu, but villagers who heard Yu Tingwan’s voice were equally curious, all ears.
They heard a sentence.
"Matchmaker Liu said so."
The crow learned it. Granny Fan’s foul mouth could spew anything.
Without any burden, Yu Tingwan altered the words, speaking effortlessly.
"She said Granny Fan fell in a cesspit, it’s filthy, the stench unbearable."
Granny Fan’s face turned black then red, red then black.
She indeed fell in one when she was young, and it had been the villagers that fished her out.
It was her sha!!!
Aunt Wu pinched her nose in distaste and pulled the girl further: "What? She fell in again?"
Yu Tingwan’s voice was gentle.
"She did."
She helplessly waved a hand: "It’s beco her ho."
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