Chapter 18: Ruining a ReputationButcher Wang took out five taels of silver, then turned and strode away with Wang Erlang. This swift, decisive action was enough to reveal his anger.Wang Erlang was still somewhat confused. Why had they paid compensation? His face was covered in injuries—had he suffered them for nothing? But seeing Butcher Wang’s furious expression, he shrank his neck and didn’t dare ask.Once they had left, Lin Qinghe expressed her gratitude: “Thank you, Village Chief Grandpa, for upholding justice.”“As the village chief, it is my duty.”“Even so, people in this world often bully the weak. If not for people like you, Village Chief Grandpa, there would be no place for us in Zhao Village.” Lin Qinghe spoke with sincere earnestness.Hearing such mature words from such a young girl, the village chief couldn’t help but chuckle.“Our Zhao Village has always had simple, honest customs. The situation you described wouldn’t happen here. Just live peacefully with your younger siblings. If you encounter any problems you can’t solve, come find me again. What happened today was handled well.”Lin Qinghe smiled upon hearing this.The Zhao families in the village were all descended from a common ancestor, having lived here for generations. In a sense, they were all one family, so naturally they got along harmoniously. However, over time, people with different surnames had gradually settled in the village. These outsiders had varied temperaments.Butcher Wang was one example. As an outsider with little support, he constantly worried about being bullied by the villagers, so he always acted fiercely and aggressively. As a result, few dared to provoke him, which only made his family’s behavior grow more and more arrogant.After leaving the village chief’s place, she had intended to go straight home, but unexpectedly ran into Mrs. Qian along the way.“I just ran into Butcher Wang. He said you beat up his second son. I saw Wang Erlang’s face—oh my, did you really do that?” She actually found it hard to believe. Comparing Wang Erlang’s tall, sturdy build to Lin Qinghe’s—who could believe it?Lin Qinghe recalled Wang Erlang’s face and also felt puzzled. Although she hadn’t held back at the time, she hadn’t beaten him to that extent. Still, she had indeed hit him, and she had to admit that.So she nodded: “I did hit him.”Seeing her actually admit it, Mrs. Qian gasped. “I’ve always heard people say the hunter’s daughter is rough and rude. I thought, given Mrs. Su’s gentle nature, the girl she raised couldn’t be bad. It seems I was wrong.”Now she was thinking even more. Thank goodness she hadn’t yet married this girl into the family. Otherwise, wouldn’t she start fights at the slightest disagreement in the future? Just think—someone as big as Wang Erlang was injured like that. Neither she nor her son would stand a chance against her.This marriage arrangement absolutely could not go through.In a flash of thought, without waiting for Lin Qinghe to speak, she immediately said, “Wait at home. I’ll go get the betrothal document. We’ll cancel the engagement right now.”Without waiting for a reply, she hurried home.A betrothal required a formal document, and breaking off an engagement also required a written agreement. This way, everything would be clear and settled, leaving no future entanglements.Lin Qinghe watched Mrs. Qian hurry over and then hurry away, shaking her head slightly. She had long anticipated the matter of breaking off the engagement, so when it finally came to this point, she wasn’t surprised. Instead, she felt a sense of closure.She thought to herself that once she returned home, she would take out the engagement document and have it ready, waiting for Mrs. Qian to come and formally break off the engagement. This matter shouldn’t be dragged out; it was better to resolve it cleanly and swiftly, saving herself from further worry.Just as she looked up, she saw Aunt Guihua rushing over with a worried expression. Aunt Guihua grabbed her arm and looked her up and down. "Qinghe, are you alright? Butcher Wang has been going around the village saying that you beat up his son, Wang Erlang."When she had seen Mrs. Qian earlier, she had found it somewhat unexpected. Now, hearing Aunt Guihua’s words, she suddenly understood—this was Butcher Wang’s revenge. By spreading the word throughout the village that she had beaten up Wang Erlang, a boy of such large stature, he was trying to ruin her reputation.She raised an eyebrow. Having a reputation for being fierce might not necessarily be a bad thing. At the very least, it would deter those with ulterior motives from targeting her family. As for whether she could marry or not, she wasn’t in a hurry. She was still young, and in this male-dominated society, she wasn’t even sure she wanted to marry."Aunt Guihua, don’t worry, I’m fine. It’s true that I beat up Wang Erlang, but only because he hit my younger siblings. Qingmiao and Qingbai are still lying at home recovering." She briefly explained the cause and effect.Even if she was a bit fierce, she wasn’t unreasonable—this was something everyone should know.Upon hearing this, Aunt Guihua immediately spat in disgust. "That Butcher Wang only told half the story, deliberately misleading people. His heart is truly black.""Auntie, don’t worry. Everyone in the village knows what kind of person Butcher Wang is. Even if he goes around spreading rumors, I doubt most people will believe him.""That’s true. Just think about Wang Erlang’s size—not to mention a young girl like you, even an ordinary man might not be able to beat him." As she spoke, Aunt Guihua chuckled. "You’re quite something, beating him up like that. I’m afraid his bruises won’t fade for days."Lin Qinghe, however, frowned slightly. "I was just about to tell you, Auntie. I did punch him in the face a few times, but it shouldn’t look like it does now. I think his injuries look a bit strange. Even if someone beat him up, his face shouldn’t be completely covered in bruises without a single gap."Hearing her words, Aunt Guihua’s mind raced, and her eyes widened in realization. "That Butcher Wang! He deliberately worsened the injuries to frame you!"Such a grown man, trying to extort a child—it was simply outrageous.She didn’t doubt Lin Qinghe’s words at all and even directly criticized Butcher Wang’s character.Lin Qinghe thought the same. She knew exactly where she had struck him, so Wang Erlang’s face being completely covered in bruises was undeniably suspicious."Don’t be afraid. I’ll go tell everyone what kind of person Butcher Wang is. His character is truly terrible. I used to think he just had a bad temper, but it turns out he’s no good as a person either." As she spoke, Aunt Guihua turned to leave, intending to find her close friends and spread the word, making sure everyone in the village knew what Butcher Wang was really like."Auntie, wait. There’s something else I need your help with." Lin Qinghe quickly reached out and stopped her.Aunt Guihua immediately turned her head: "If there's something, just say it straight out. We're not outsiders.""Just now, Aunt Qian told me she wants to come to my house to break off the engagement. I was thinking, since there are no adults in my family, I'd like to ask you, Aunt Guihua, to come over and sit in, to serve as a witness. Also, regarding etiquette and such, I'm young and don't really understand."Since the engagement was to be broken off, it had to be done cleanly and clearly, so there would be no further entanglements. It also had to be made known to everyone that the two families had ended the engagement; otherwise, if it remained unclear, things would be hard to explain later."What? Mrs. Qian wants to break off the engagement?" Aunt Guihua was shocked. "If the engagement is broken off, what will you do in the future?" For a young woman to have her engagement broken off—that's not good for her reputation."I still have to raise my younger siblings. I imagine no other family would be willing to marry a woman with such burdens. Staying at home as an old spinster, I won't have to worry about no one supporting me." She spoke very calmly."This…" Aunt Guihua's brows furrowed tightly. The situation was indeed difficult. She could help with small things, but she couldn't do too much.

Eldest Sister of a Farming Family: Managing the Household, Farming and Opening Shops