"What exactly happened? How did things come to this state!"
Zhao Fuquan's gaze swept over the group, carrying the unique authority befitting a Village Chief.
Being an elder in the village, he naturally commanded considerable respect and influence.
"We… we don't really know either. They were already fighting when we got here."
Those who had been trying to break up the fight gave a general explanation, but the details remained unclear.
Soon, his attention turned to Shen Ning, who had arrived at the scene. "Third daughter-in-law, you tell us. What exactly happened?"
"Hah! I know my husband is dead, leaving me and these children alone and helpless. Neither my husband's family nor my own family will protect us, so anyone can bully us. But let me tell you all—I, Shen Ning, am no weakling! I won't be easily bullied!"
As she spoke these words, she glared fiercely at Liu Chunhua, as if she wanted to tear her apart.
"Liu Chunhua, I'm warning you—if I hear you spouting nonsense and spreading rumors in front of my children again, I'll beat you every single time! I have nothing left to lose but my life. I don't care if I die—I'll take a few others down with me!"
Neither arguments nor fights had ever seen someone so reckless and fearless.
It was quite intimidating.
"When did I ever say anything about you? You're the one coming here to cause trouble! Come on then! You think I'm afraid of you?"
Liu Chunhua stiffened her neck and kept shouting, but her eyes darted around nervously. Deep down, she was terrified.
"You dare do it but won't own up to it, huh? I'll end you today!"
With that, Shen Ning bent down to pick up a wooden stick from the ground, ready to charge at her for another round.
"Enough! Enough! Both of you, stop right now!"
The Village Chief's furious roar finally brought a temporary halt to the conflict.
"What exactly happened? Third daughter-in-law, explain it clearly."
Earlier, both of them had been shouting at the top of their lungs, and their words were so muddled that no one could make sense of what was really going on.
Shen Ning pointed at Liu Chunhua. "She went to my children and said I was planning to sell our Xiaohua to Zhou the Cripple's family to be his son's wife. Second Grandpa, you tell me—what does she mean by that? She just can't stand to see us doing well, can she?!"
"How am I spouting nonsense? Everyone knows you can't wait to get rid of those three burdens! Why are you acting all high and mighty in front of me now?!"
"Enough!"
Zhao Fuquan glared fiercely at Liu Chunhua. Everyone in the village knew what her mouth was like—whatever happened in any household, she would spread it to the neighboring villages.
Her loose tongue had caused plenty of trouble before.
But this time, she had gone too far. The woman had just lost her husband, and saying such things was like stabbing her right in the heart!
Completely unacceptable.
"By seniority, you're an elder. How could you do such a thing? Are you so jealous of others' well-being? Third Brother has just passed away, and you're making up stories in front of his children. Have you no conscience?!"
If you asked him, the mess today was entirely her own fault.
"What's going on? What happened?"
A slightly confused voice came from the doorway. Looking over, they saw that Liu Chunhua's husband had returned.
Sun Shugen stepped inside and was surprised to see the Village Chief there, with his wife looking utterly disheveled.
His heart sank. He knew right away that his wife must have caused trouble again.
"Second Uncle, what's going on?"
Zhao Fuquan glared at him fiercely. "Keep your own woman in check! She's always shooting her mouth off without restraint—how awful it sounds when it gets out! People will say we're bullying an orphan and a widow!"
"What did I say wrong? I saw her going to Zhou the Cripple's house! Who in the village doesn't know Zhou the Cripple is offering twenty yuan to get a wife for his son? I think she's after that twenty yuan!"
Now that her man was back, she thought she had someone to back her up and started spouting nonsense again.
Shen Ning wasn't about to indulge her!
"Well, I saw you sneaking into the baogu di with Feng Laoliu! So you're after Feng Laoliu, is that it?"
The moment these words left her mouth, Sun Shugen's expression changed.
What man wouldn't care about being cuckolded?
Smack! He slapped Liu Chunhua across the face so hard her head snapped to the side.
Making her already swollen face even worse!
"Fine, Sun Shugen! How dare you hit me! I'll fight you to the death!"
Liu Chunhua redirected her fury and charged at her man. "You think I don't know about your affair with that widow! If you dare hit me, I won't go on living!"
The couple started fighting again, with everyone either pulling them apart or trying to mediate.
The scene grew increasingly chaotic.
It was only under the Village Chief's authority that everyone was made to back down, suppressing the conflict for now.
"This matter ends here! No one is to bring it up again!" He shot a warning look at Liu Chunhua. "Keep your mouth under control!"
Shen Ning, proud as a victorious rooster, lifted her head high, snorted heavily, and strode over to the three children.
"Jianguo, Jianjun, Xiaohua, listen to me. If anyone ever dares to spout nonsense in front of you again, remember—come and tell me. If I don't strip the skin off those gossipmongers, my surname isn't Shen!"
[Ding! Li Jianguo favorability +5]
[Ding! Li Jianjun favorability +5]
[Ding! Li Xiaohua favorability +10]
Holy crap!
Twenty favorability points all at once!
They were all her good children!
While she was inwardly stunned, the three children looked at her with equal parts shock and admiration.
Yes, that's right—admiration.
They never expected this woman would one day fight others for their sake.
Xiaohua timidly stepped forward, her big eyes full of hope.
"Niang Niang, you really won't sell me?"
The child had lost her mother early, and now her father was gone too, leaving only this woman who had once treated them poorly.
She understood—they must feel terribly insecure.
She immediately crouched down, pulling the child into a tight embrace, gently patting her back over and over.
Her voice softened as she comforted her, "Don't worry, Xiaohua. I won't sell you, and I won't sell your brothers either. You're all my children now. I'll raise you well!"
Her words were deeply moving, softening even little Li Jianguo's heart slightly.
"Alright, you must all be hungry. Let's go home—I'll make you something delicious to eat!"
No sooner had their family left than people couldn't resist gossiping behind their backs.
"That third daughter-in-law is really something."
"No kidding! She fights like her life depends on it!"
"Did you see how badly Liu Chunhua got beaten today? Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"If you ask me, she had it coming—always running her mouth without thinking."
"Hey, do you think that third sister-in-law is really going to raise those three burdens?"
"Who knows? Let's wait and see!"
"If you ask me, I wonder if that thing between Liu Chunhua and Feng Laoliu is even true?"
"Well, why don't you go keep watch in the baogu di then!"
"Hahaha…"