Su Nanyue turned toward the source of the voice. The military wife speaking was in her thirties with sharp, unkind features. When she noticed Su Nanyue looking at her, she glared back directly.
A cold glint flashed in Su Nanyue’s eyes. She asked bluntly, “Auntie, I’ve just arrived at the Family Compound, and you’re already slinging mud at me. May I ask what grievance you have against me?”
Tao Hong also frowned. “Li Da Ni, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Someone nearby chimed in, “Everyone knows that during the last promotion, Deputy Regimental Commander Jiang was promoted while Li Da Ni’s husband wasn’t. If you ask me, she’s saying this deliberately because of that.”
“It’s been years since then. If you have a problem, take it up with the leadership. Why bully Xiao Su?”
Shen Yue comforted Su Nanyue from the side, “Don’t listen to her drivel. That dog’s mouth of hers never spouts anything decent.”
Su Nanyue’s eyes reddened, and she spoke with feigned vulnerability, “It’s fine if she says such things about me, but Da Bao and Xiao Bao are just children. If this rumor spreads, how will others view them in the future?”
Listening to the crowd and seeing Su Nanyue putting on such an act, Li Da Ni grew furious. “Did I say anything wrong? Deputy Regimental Commander Jiang hasn’t been back for four years, and these two children look barely over two years old. If they’re not some other man’s, whose could they be?”
Da Bao widened his eyes, glaring angrily at Li Da Ni, and said in his childish voice, “My brother and I are three years old this year.” He might be young, but he wasn’t stupid. Although Li Da Ni hadn’t called them bastards outright, her words implied it.
Without a second thought, Li Da Ni retorted, “Impossible.” It was no wonder she said so—Da Bao and Xiao Bao, having suffered from long-term malnutrition, did appear a size smaller than their peers.
Xiao Bao, who had grown especially fond of Su Nanyue lately, saw her being bullied by this woman. Suddenly, he pulled his hand free from Su Nanyue’s grip and charged at Li Da Ni. “You bad woman! Don’t bully my mom!”
Caught off guard, Li Da Ni stumbled back a step. Reacting, she shoved Xiao Bao away, sending him tumbling to the ground. Her move was so sudden that no one had time to intervene.
Su Nanyue quickly bent down to help Xiao Bao up. “Xiao Bao, did you hurt yourself?”
Tears welled in Xiao Bao’s eyes instantly. Pouting and on the verge of crying, he threw himself into her arms. “It hurts.”
Su Nanyue gently rubbed his bottom, soothing him softly before picking him up. Her gaze turned icy as she stared at Li Da Ni.
Startled by the coldness in her eyes, Li Da Ni blurted out defensively, “He pushed me first!”
Holding Xiao Bao, Su Nanyue wiped his tears away with her hand.
Someone in the crowd couldn’t stand it any longer. “If you hadn’t said those things, would the child have pushed you?”
“Exactly!”
Su Nanyue’s throat tightened, her eyes red as she addressed the group, “Sisters, thank you for speaking up for me.” She then looked at Li Da Ni with pained sorrow. “I’ve always heard from Jiang Yan how kind the wives here are. I never expected that at our first meeting, you’d speak about me and my children like this. If this spreads and affects the children or Jiang Yan, what should we do? I think I’d better go explain this to the leadership!”
Hearing that she intended to report the matter, Li Da Ni panicked. She had only meant to provoke Su Nanyue out of spite, never intending to bring it before the authorities. Hurriedly, she said, “Don’t go! I was just talking nonsense.”
She wanted to back down, but Su Nanyue wouldn’t let her.
Holding Xiao Bao in one arm, she said, “It’s better to clarify things now. Otherwise, if these words spread someday, I wouldn’t be able to explain myself even if I had ten thousand mouths.”
Then, turning to Wang Jian Guo beside her, she added, “Could you please lead the way?”
Wang Jian Guo nodded. He had been itching to speak earlier, but as a man, he felt it inappropriate to interfere in a conflict between women.
Li Da Ni, seeing Su Nanyue determined to take the matter to their superiors, was so furious she felt like vomiting blood. In a panic, she grabbed Su Nanyue’s arm.
“Didn’t I just say it offhand? Besides, I’ve already apologized. Do you have to go this far?”
Somehow, Su Nanyue was pulled so hard that she fell to the ground, her face instantly turning pale.
Everyone: “…”
Xiao Bao quickly scrambled out of Su Nanyue’s arms, while Da Bao rushed forward. “Mom, are you okay?”
Su Nanyue forced herself to shake her head. “I’m fine.”
Despite her words, her face was deathly pale.
Li Da Ni was utterly terrified, her own face ashen, but no one paid her any attention at the moment.
Shen Yue quickly spoke up, “Xiao Su, does your tailbone hurt?”
Su Nanyue replied in a trembling voice, “A little, but I can bear it.”
She was doing this on purpose. Li Da Ni had slandered her and thought she could get away with it so easily.
Not a chance!
If she didn’t make Li Da Ni afraid today, who knew how many more incidents like this would happen in the future?
With everyone adding their own versions, even lies could be twisted into truths.
Biting her lip, she supported her lower back and stood up with the help of Da Bao and Shen Yue.
Tao Hong was also furious.
If this matter really escalated to their superiors, it would reflect poorly on her as the women’s director.
She stopped Li Da Ni, who was trying to slip away, and said coldly, “Li Da Ni, are you satisfied now?”
Li Da Ni looked terrible, as if she had aged instantly. “I… I didn’t use much force…”
Su Nanyue remained silent.
Shen Yue retorted, “If you didn’t use much force, how did Xiao Su fall?”
Li Da Ni knew she had messed with the wrong person today.
She had thought Su Nanyue was just a young girl and that a few snide remarks wouldn’t matter.
But now she was being put on the spot.
Tao Hong looked at Su Nanyue and asked gently, “Xiao Su, does it still hurt? If it’s too painful, let’s go to the hospital. Don’t worry, since Li Da Ni caused your injury, she’ll cover the medical expenses.”
Su Nanyue shook her head, still holding her waist. “It’s fine, it’s much better now.”
Despite her words, her face remained extremely pale.
Seeing her like this, everyone’s favorable impression of her grew even stronger.
Shen Yue supported her and said, “If you’re in pain, don’t hold back. The hospital isn’t far.”
Su Nanyue gave her a faint, pale smile. “There’s really no need to go.”
Li Da Ni watched her, seething with anger.
But she also knew that if things continued like this, she wouldn’t come out unscathed.
She stiffly said, “I’m sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have spoken carelessly.”
Su Nanyue wiped her tears, rubbing the corners of her eyes until they turned red. In the sweetest voice, she delivered the firmest words, “I don’t accept your apology.”
Li Da Ni pointed at her angrily, “You…”
Su Nanyue cut her off, her voice choked with tears, “I was going to let it go out of respect for the other sisters, but you’re not sincerely apologizing.”
She called out to Wang Jian Guo, “Let’s go.”
Tao Hong was also infuriated by Li Da Ni and glared at her disapprovingly.
“This matter was your fault from the beginning. If it really gets brought before the leadership, not only will you gain nothing from it, but your husband won’t either.”
Li Da Ni knew Tao Hong was telling the truth.
Her husband was already dissatisfied with her and wanted to send her back to their hometown.
If something like this happened again, she would definitely be sent back.
Just thinking about her tormenting mother-in-law back home and the endless chores made her shudder.
“I’m sorry.” This time it sounded much more sincere.
Tao Hong naturally noticed it too and turned to Su Nanyue.
“Xiao Su, she has realized her mistake. I’ll take it upon myself to have her compensate you five yuan, and we’ll consider this matter settled, alright?”