Cheng Xiao Xiao’s words darkened everybody’s faces. They all knew that An Hung niang had gone too far. The Cheng’s had done nothing to deserve her harassment. Everybody was speechless from her questioning.
Mrs. Cheng felt very emotional as well. Surely, most of the Willow villagers had been nice, but there had always been a few gossipy women like An Hung niang who targeted her constantly. She couldn’t help but to chime in, “Patriarch Liu and others, my family fled to this place three yeas ago. We truly appreciated that you let us settled down here. We didn’t take up any space in the village nor did we dare use your fields. We picked the baron land out there and, in addition, gave everyone one teal of silver in the hope that we will be accepted.
“……” This was the first time An Hung niang lowered her proudful head. She was crossed, unreasonable. She was afraid of no one, but, she was afraid of a divorce. She would rather die than have a divorce.
The other villagers sighed. At the end of the day, it was An Hung niang who looked down upon the emigrated Cheng’s family and she was envious of generosity and tenderness of Mrs. Cheng. She has the elegance not found in your everyday village women. That was the root of why she targeted the Cheng’s all along.
Naturally, had Mr. Cheng not been injured, she would never have gone this far.
Seeing how An Hung niang was lectured, and slapped twice, Cheng Xiao Xiao’s anger was almost all gone. Looking at the group of villagers in front of her, she smiled, “Grandpa Liu, other uncles and aunties, c’mon into our yard for some beverages. We haven’t had so much visitors in a very long time.”
“Right, right, maiden Cheng is so polite!”
Patriarch Liu smiled cheerfully, then gave An Hung niang a sideway glance and said, “Wife of Sanzhen, you have crossed the line this time. Everybody was getting along just fine, you shouldn’t have came to bully them. Never mind that Mr. Cheng had helped all of us, he even helped your family a lot. Don’t be such an ungrateful person. Spirits are always looking down at us. Be careful of karma!”
“An Hung niang, we all live together, there’s no need to bully Mrs. Cheng. Look, you’ve picked all the sprouts that were growing just fine. And, on top of that, you want to evict them. Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
“It’s fate that we are all living together. You shouldn’t have given them such a hard time. If someone treats you that way, you would have been scolding them every day. You have to be a fair person!”
“An Hung niang, we didn’t want to say this, but you have really crossed the line this time! You can’t do that again!”
“Exactly! We won’t let you don’t that again!”
The few village women that came chimed in to chastise An Hung niang. Her fat body shivered, but she didn’t say anything to dispute.
The still angry Liu Sanzhen stared at her and said, “Be careful you are going to go to hell and Yan Wangye1 will pull your tongue and chop your arms!”
“Alright, alright, that’s enough. As long as An Hung niang doesn’t behave like that in the future!”
Patriarch Liu waved his hand and said to Mrs. Cheng, “Mrs. Cheng, we haven’t visited Mr. Cheng in a long time. Now that we are all here, we should go visit him!”
“Yes! I haven’t visited brother Cheng in a while too. Let’s all go visit him!”
“I wonder how his recovery is ing along, let go check him out!”
“Mrs. Cheng, how’s Mr. Cheng doing? Is he getting any better?”
“Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Patriarch Liu. Please—” Mrs. Cheng bowed to everyone, touched beyond words.
Cheng Xiao Xiao and her siblings also bowed to everyone. No matter what, they meant well.
Shortly, everybody has entered the Cheng’s yard, chatting and laughing!
___
Note:
1. The king of hell in some Asian religion who determines one’s punishment when you arrive at hell.
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