Free Web NovelChapter 235: Chapter 235: Did We Provoke Her?
"Su, you’re back?" At that moment, Zhao Youcai was in the brigade office. Seeing Su Qing arrive, he said with a smile, "I thought you wouldn’t be back until before the spring planting."
"The weather’s gotten warmer, so I thought I’d take a walk in the mountains," Su Qing said to Zhao Youcai with a smile. Then, changing the subject, she asked, "Chief, these past few days, has my third aunt been spreading rumors about me? Saying I’m in some sort of improper relationship with someone?"
"You... you’ve heard?" Zhao Youcai hadn’t expected Su Qing to find out the moment she returned. He said, "I’ve already gone and warned your third aunt. She won’t say it again."
"Whether she says it again or not doesn’t change the fact that she’s already said it. And I believe this rumor has severely damaged my reputation. Chief, I’m not just going to let this go." Su Qing’s expression turned serious as she spoke to Zhao Youcai. "I’m reporting this to the police."
Zhao Youcai hesitated. "This... Su Qing, how about we handle this within the village? If you’re still upset, I can make your third aunt give you a formal apology."
Zhao Youcai was hesitant, really not wanting to involve the police. It wasn’t exactly something to be proud of.
Su Qing refused to compromise. "Chief, whether you agree or not, I’m reporting this to the police. I’m a young woman who hasn’t bothered anyone. I just got back, and now there are rumors that I’m involved with a man in his forties. Chief, let me ask you, if it were your daughter they were spreading these rumors about, would you be willing to let it slide?"
Zhao Youcai was taken aback. She was right. If such rumors were spread about his daughter, forget about how furious his family would be—his daughter herself probably wouldn’t be able to bear it.
Su Qing continued, "Do you think these words are only being spread within our Lihua Village? It’s been days. How many people from other villages have already heard? Have you considered that? If I don’t use legal means to clear my name, how many people will hold a prejudice against me because of this? Have you thought about that? Or am I supposed to explain myself to every single person I meet who brings this up in the future?"
After hearing Su Qing’s words, Zhao Youcai felt a pang of shame. He had been too naive. His only thought had been to protect the village’s reputation. Why hadn’t he considered how many people would believe these rumors without knowing the truth? The damage to Su Qing’s reputation would be enormous. It might even affect her future marriage prospects.
After all, what respectable family would accept a girl rumored to be involved with an older man?
"Sigh, I didn’t think it through," Zhao Youcai lamented. "Alright, Su Qing, if you want to report it to the police, then go ahead. But..."
"Don’t worry, Chief. Today, I’m only going after Tian Aixiang. I won’t drag anyone else into it." Su Qing understood what Zhao Youcai meant. After all, the rumors had spread like wildfire through the village; Tian Aixiang couldn’t have achieved that alone. Many people, even if they didn’t believe it, would have spread it around just for the sake of gossip.
If she really tried to root out everyone who spread the rumor, she’d pull up a whole chain of people.
"Ah, that’s good, that’s good." Zhao Youcai nodded. It would be good for Tian Aixiang to learn her lesson. It would also show those gossipy old women in the village not to spread nonsense. They needed to learn that there’s a line, and some things you can say and some you can’t.
Su Qing made a phone call from the brigade office, then left and went home first. She dropped off her luggage before heading straight for the Old Su Family’s house. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
At this time, everyone in the Old Su Family, except for Su Lihui who had vanished without a trace, was holed up at home. The old matriarch’s back was much better. When Su Qing arrived at their gate, she was standing in the courtyard, shouting orders at Tian Aixiang to hurry up and finish the laundry so she could start making dinner.
Tian Aixiang scrubbed the clothes, her eyes filled with resentment. Ever since her daughter died, her status in this family had sunk lower by the day. This old hag, in particular, had gotten even worse, ordering her around relentlessly. Yet, her own son and husband refused to speak up for her, instead acting as if it was her duty to do all these chores.
The chores for the entire extended family had now all fallen onto her shoulders alone.
"Third daughter-in-law, what are you dawdling for?" Old Su sat on a small stool, clapping her hands as she berated Tian Aixiang. "You unfilial woman! Are you deliberately trying to starve me and your father-in-law? How can you be so vicious? No wonder you raised a murderous daughter! You’ve corrupted a perfectly good granddaughter of the Su Family!"
Tian Aixiang gritted her teeth and scrubbed the clothes harder. She didn’t dare talk back now. If she did, Old Su would make Shengli divorce her. Her brother and sister-in-law still hadn’t forgiven her and wouldn’t let her set foot in their house. If she really got divorced, where would she go?
"Why are you scrubbing so hard?" Old Su snapped again. "Don’t you know the state this family is in? If you scrub those clothes to rags, where are we going to find the money to buy new ones? You good-for-nothing spendthrift! How did our Old Su Family end up marrying a jinx like you? You can’t manage a household, and you raised your daughter all wrong! Oh, for heaven’s sake! What rotten luck our Old Su Family has had for generations, to marry a walking disaster like you to stir up trouble!"
As Old Su spoke, she slapped her thigh and pointed at Tian Aixiang, scolding her relentlessly.
The only sound in the entire Old Su Family’s home was Old Su’s shouting. No one else could be heard.
Standing at the gate of the Old Su Family’s home, Su Qing couldn’t help but sneer. ’The men of the Su Family are all the same,’ she thought. ’They always let the women charge to the front lines. They only show themselves when things are about to fall apart or when there’s no one left to take the heat. And when they do, they just try to make themselves look good, making everyone think it was all because of some woman’s foolishness.’
Old Su, the patriarch, was like that. Su Shengli was like that. Even Su Shengguo was no good. In the entire Old Su Family, only her own father, Su Shengjun, had been an upright and kind person. It was a pity the good die young.
Taking a deep breath, Su Qing lifted her foot and kicked hard! freёweɓnovel.com
With a loud CLANG, Su Qing kicked the courtyard gate open. The gate slammed against the wall with another huge crash.
"Ouch! Who’s there?!" The two loud noises made Old Su jump, nearly toppling her from her small stool. She looked toward the gate irritably, and then her expression froze.
It was Su Qing!
It was actually that damn girl, Su Qing!
Old Su’s eyes filled with a mix of anger, resentment, and a hint of fear. She understood clearly now that she had completely lost control of this girl. Seeing her now, she was reminded of the time Su Qing had stood there, staring at her with a gleaming knife in her hand.
Ever since the incident at New Year’s, Old Su had decided not to provoke Su Qing anymore. She’d just let her be, as long as she paid the elder support money on time. But what was happening today?
Why had that damn girl come storming over here so aggressively? What did she want?
Had the Old Su Family done something to provoke her?
