When Tian Xiang’s hand sliced across her throat, emphasizing the tension, she even rolled her eyes and tilted her neck for effect.
Everyone’s face changed instantly as they saw this.
The old man asked, "Is the person you’re talking about one with a buzz cut?"
Tian Xiang quickly nodded, "Yes, that’s him!"
Hmph, she was talking about the thug leader who had just blocked her in the alley.
The old man secretly thought it was bad and immediately sent his younger son to the intersection to report to the security team.
Tian Xiang was thinking the same.
There were two of them, both hooligans, and the old man didn’t dare to charge in recklessly. He carefully woke up the house next door, and together a group of six moved toward Widow Jiang’s house.
As they reached the door, the group exchanged glances, ready to call out when Tian Xiang lightly pushed, and the tightly closed courtyard door miraculously opened!
Everyone: "..."
Looks like there really were thieves!
Upon entering the courtyard, they saw it was dark and silent inside. The old man cleared his throat and shouted, "Jiang Peiqin, thieves have entered the house, are you home?"
After all, it’s a widow’s courtyard; if the lights aren’t on, she’s probably asleep. A proper man wouldn’t just rush inside.
However, after the old man’s shout, some sounds unexpectedly came from inside the house.
Tian Xiang was waiting for this moment. First, she tried the door, found it latched, grabbed the flashlight from the old man’s hand and shone it through the window while yelling, "Old man, brothers, make sure to watch, don’t let anyone escape!"
The housing in the area was old, with courtyards separated by an open space in front, connected to houses on both sides, and directly behind was either someone else’s place or an alley.
Widow Jiang’s house wasn’t big, just one room and a hall with a small kitchen.
Her family used to be in a row house with the neighbors, sharing a large courtyard.
After Widow Jiang’s husband passed, the neighbor’s wife kept saying she was seducing their man, and built a wall in between, splitting the place in two.
Now suddenly six people showed up, almost taking up half the courtyard.
The flashlight in Tian Xiang’s hand could directly illuminate the small living room through the glass.
With the strong light and voices, Widow Jiang inside was already panicking and screaming.
"Ah!!!"
"You all, what are you doing?"
Widow Jiang wasn’t in the inner room but in the small living room outside.
Tian Xiang leaned closer to the window, trying to see inside, not expecting a hand to reach over and draw the slightly open curtain shut.
A man’s hand, belonging to Lu Feng.
Tian Xiang pointed inside in panic, "Quick, break the door! Both men are inside, Widow Jiang is tied up!!!"
The old men didn’t think much and started pushing and banging.
Inside, Widow Jiang screamed in fright, and the people outside slammed even harder.
But soon they noticed something was off; Widow Jiang’s panic wasn’t from danger, but rather from the people outside entering her courtyard silently.
The men outside exchanged looks and quietly stepped back a bit, stopped banging.
Tian Xiang: "What’s going on? Hurry up and save her! It’ll be too late soon!!"
The old man wiped his face and said, "Miss, this may not be what you think, why don’t you step outside and avoid this for a bit?"
Tian Xiang thought to herself, I’m not afraid of seeing anything improper.
Without waiting for the others to react, she raised her foot and kicked the door hard.
With just one kick, the latch broke, and the door swung open.
Just then, the lights inside the house came on, and those in the courtyard craned their necks, seeing a terrified Widow Jiang and...
"You? Mr. Lu, Lu Feng! You? What are you doing there???"
Lu Feng, young and capable, was considered a talented young man in the Red Fifth Street area, known by many.
In everyone’s eyes, Lu Feng was handsome, educated, friendly, and reputable.
No one expected that this well-regarded young man would end up staying overnight in a widow’s house!!
Everyone was shocked and incredulous.
Lu Feng rubbed his nose and said, "I was, I was helping Sister Jiang change a light bulb."
As he spoke, he picked up an old light bulb from the table to show everyone, "Her light bulb was broken, so I came to help."
Changing a light bulb?
What a ridiculous excuse.
Tian Xiang burst into laughter.
The few aunties who ran over to see what was happening laughed until they doubled over.
The women from neighboring courtyards either leaned on the wall or squeezed into the courtyard, covering their mouths with uncontrollable laughter.
In this situation, there’s no need for explanation; everyone knew what the two were doing inside earlier.
Tian Xiang felt a bit regretful; she was too slow, letting them put their clothes back on.
If she’d caught them without their clothes, perhaps they’d be taken to the police station.
Actually, she wasn’t slow; from entering the courtyard to kicking the door, it was just about two minutes.
But tonight Lu Feng was too eager, he hadn’t even taken off his clothes and already started in the living room.
Tian Xiang, a pure girl who hadn’t even dated anyone, wouldn’t know such things.
The ladies and old women in the crowd knew more.
A lady who knew Lu’s mother, Wu Jinzhu, stepped out and pointed at Widow Jiang, who was tying her hair, "Did you seduce someone into doing something bad?"
Widow Jiang, having calmed down from the initial panic, rolled her eyes and laughed, "I’m in my own house, how could I seduce someone?"
The lady looked at her with disdain, "Don’t you know this is messing with relationships?"
No one cared much about Widow Jiang, her reputation was already bad enough, but Lu Feng was pitiful; not only could he lose his job, he could also get detained.
Too bad, such a good young man, why did he...
The lady instructed her little grandson to quickly go call Wu Jinzhu.
By this time, the security team had also arrived.
The leader of the team widened his eyes as he looked at the two, "What’s going on here?"
Lu Feng stood quietly facing the wall, not saying a word.
Widow Jiang put down the comb in her hand and, without a trace of guilt, said, "What else could be going on? The bulb in my living room broke, Lu Feng brought a replacement to help me, and then these people suddenly stormed into the courtyard and broke my door. Whoever kicked it, stand up, it must be compensated!"
Having been caught in the act, yet she could calmly come up with an excuse.
That was some nerve.
Tian Xiang’s face fell, she stepped forward and said, "Comrade Jiang Peiqin, do you think we’re all deaf and blind? It’s like this, and you still want to argue?"
This era provided freedom in relationships, a hug or kiss between lovers was normal.
But bringing someone home like Widow Jiang did would be reported and result in a discussion at the local committee. When widely known, it would lead to scorn, isolation, and could be a disaster for a woman’s reputation.
If one involved a young unmarried man, it wasn’t as bad; if it disrupted a family, it risked detention.
Widow Jiang knew the consequences, so she wouldn’t admit to any messing around.
She looked at Tian Xiang, "Whose girl are you? Not married yet, are you? Let me tell you, young lady, we didn’t do anything wrong. He helped me with a favor, and I hugged him and kissed him as a reward. We’re dating, isn’t that normal?"