Free Web NovelChapter 69: Chapter 69: What’s the Use of an Apology?
Su Li chuckled lightly. "Just like last time, you’re all relying on flimsy rumors, so eager to condemn me."
Su Li shook her head and suddenly looked toward Zhao Wenming.
"What’s this about seeing me hugging someone by the river? Zhao Wenming, on the fifth, you were the only one talking to me by the river. Are you saying I was hugging and cuddling... with you?"
Su Li was starting to settle the score. She remembered every person who had framed her, every word they had said, the expression on each of their faces. She remembered it all with perfect clarity.
Zhao Wenming, who had wanted to slip away but failed, flushed a deep crimson. "I... My eyesight is bad. I must have seen the wrong person."
"Pfft..." Su Li sneered. The contempt and disdain in her laugh made it impossible for Zhao Wenming to even lift his head.
He was too nearsighted to see clearly, but he knew the looks everyone was giving him must be filled with suspicion.
"And the person who said someone in black clothes came to my house on the sixth—wasn’t that just you, Tie Zhu, coming over to borrow a bowl?"
Tie Zhu, having been called out, nodded in shame. "Yes, that was me. I didn’t realize they were talking about me."
Su Li snorted and continued coldly, "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a charge. If normal visits between neighbors count as adultery, then everyone in Xinghua Village, from the ninety-year-old grandmothers down to the nursing baby girls, could be suspected. You might as well round them all up and subject them to Chen Tang!"
Everyone present, men and women, young and old, even the burliest men among them, lowered their heads at this moment, too ashamed to look at Su Li.
The village chief’s face was livid. He glared hatefully in the direction of Qin Shanshan’s house, then at the few widows who had been fanning the flames, and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Su Li, this was our oversight. We didn’t know that Qin Caihua was trying to frame you, and we’ve wronged you again..."
"So you do know you’ve wronged me again," Su Li cut in, her sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Wrongfully driving me to my death once wasn’t enough, you had to do it a second time!"
"Even a murderer only kills their victim once! But for you, killing me once wasn’t enough, you had to try for a second time. What deep-seated hatred do you all have for me?"
Her anguished accusations sent a shudder through the crowd, leaving them overcome with shame.
Even the village chief was speechless. He covered his face, feeling too ashamed to be seen.
"I’m sorry..." Tie Niu mumbled, looking at Su Li.
His eyes were red. Though he was a strong young man, he looked as if he was about to collapse. freewebnoveℓ.com
He had faced too much today; the weight of it all was becoming too much for him to bear.
He was apologizing for himself, and for the rest of the villagers.
"If ’sorry’ fixed everything, what would we need the police for?" Su Li coldly tossed out a phrase that would only become popular in a later era, then turned and walked away.
She really didn’t want to see any of them.
Xinghua Village, the Tang Family, Mrs. Tang, Tang Yuanxiao... It was as if they were fated to be her bane.
The villagers watched Su Li walk past them, wanting to speak but stopping themselves, unable to get the words out.
In the end, everyone’s gaze fell on Tang Yuanxiao.
When everyone had been accusing Su Li, Tang Yuanxiao was the only one who hadn’t believed them. He had believed Su Li instead.
The village chief stepped forward awkwardly. "Yuanxiao, look at what a mess this has turned into..."
Tang Yuanxiao shot the village chief a cold glance and didn’t reply. Instead, he casually picked up a wooden stick from a corner, his sharp, icy gaze sweeping over the villagers.
"I’m not home often, so there are many things I don’t know about. However... Su Li is my wife. She is my woman. From now on, before any of you do anything, I want you to remember my words."
"Chen Tang... verbal abuse... Heh... If it weren’t broad daylight, I’d think I had traveled back to the feudal era. I had no idea my own hometown was so capable, that it held such power."
Tang Yuanxiao unleashed his full, imposing aura, like a demon descending upon them. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
The villagers froze instantly, not daring to move a muscle.
"Yuanxiao..." the village chief began timidly, wanting to placate him, but Tang Yuanxiao whipped his head around to glare at him, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
"I hope this is the last time something like this happens. If it happens again, don’t blame me for being ruthless."
As he delivered his murderous warning, the stick in Tang Yuanxiao’s hand snapped in two.
A loud "SNAP!" echoed in the villagers’ ears.
The more timid women, having been frightened twice in a row, were scared to the point of tears.
Even those who didn’t cry out were trembling uncontrollably. Faced with this side of Tang Yuanxiao, even the most famously daring people in the village felt their legs shake.
After speaking, Tang Yuanxiao glanced at Mrs. Tang, then strode off after Su Li.
"Tangyuan..." Mrs. Tang’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, calling out his name with a tremor in her voice.
Tang Yuanxiao’s pace faltered for a moment, but he didn’t turn back.
"Tangyuan, don’t blame your mother, Mother..." Mrs. Tang couldn’t go on. She sat on the ground, her face filled with regret.
’After what happened last time, she had told herself she wouldn’t let others instigate her into misunderstanding Su Li again. But today, when she heard the four words "Su Li is cheating," her mind had just exploded, and she couldn’t think straight.’
’She had misunderstood Su Li again... again...’
"Tangyuan, it was all Qin Shanshan’s fault! It was all her!" She wailed, watching Tang Yuanxiao’s retreating back and pounding her knees, a pitiful sight.
The villagers looked at her, shaking their heads and sighing, but none were in the mood to console her. One by one, they left with heavy hearts.
The guests of the Tian Family, who were hosting a wedding celebration, returned, but the atmosphere had completely changed.
Any family would be furious to have their celebration disrupted like this. After hearing what had happened, the Tian Family hated Qin Shanshan to the bone.
Leaving the Tian Family’s situation aside, Tang Yuanxiao had caught up with Su Li.
"Su Li," he called out. Su Li didn’t react.
"Su Li." Tang Yuanxiao reached for her hand.
"Let go!" This time, Su Li reacted, and her reaction was violent.
"Don’t touch me!" Su Li struggled to break free, and Tang Yuanxiao, startled, immediately let go.
Having used too much force, Su Li’s own momentum caused her to stumble and fall to the ground the moment he let go.
Tang Yuanxiao’s expression changed. He bent down to help her up but was stopped by her shriek.
"Don’t come near me! Don’t touch me!" She scrambled backward, the look she gave Tang Yuanxiao filled not only with hatred but also with deep-seated loathing and repulsion.
Unlike the last time in the kitchen, where the dim light obscured everything, the sky was still bright. This time, Tang Yuanxiao could see the emotions in Su Li’s eyes with perfect clarity.
It was impossible to ignore.
His breath hitched, and he froze on the spot.
Su Li’s emotional state was unstable. What she had just been through had blurred the lines between her past life and her present one.
She hugged her arms and continued to back away. ’Looking at Tang Yuanxiao, she was reminded of her past life.’
’Tang Yuanxiao was a man, and her instincts screamed at her to stay away. What’s more, in her past life, he had married Qin Shanshan. Qin Shanshan’s husband... How disgusting.’
"I won’t touch you. The ground is cold, just get up first," Tang Yuanxiao said, slowly straightening up as he looked at her, his face ashen.
Su Li continued to watch him warily.
A flash of pain crossed Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes. He took a few steps back, then turned his back to Su Li.
Su Li watched his back, closing her eyes for a moment before she slowly calmed down.
She climbed to her feet and spoke to Tang Yuanxiao’s back.
"You saw what happened today. Tang Yuanxiao, let’s get a divorce. Immediately. I can’t stand to be in Xinghua Village, in this Tang Family, for one more second."
