Tao Xiaohong lowered her head and wiped her tears, one hand gently touching her stomach.
“Aunt, I know I’m not worthy of Brother Yanzhou, but I… I truly like him.”
Her words easily caused misunderstandings.
Li Juhua stepped forward and added fuel to the fire.
“My Tao family may not compare to the Qin family, but now the two children are in a relationship, and my Xiaohong is already pregnant. Yulan, your Qin family can’t just abandon responsibility.”
As Li Juhua set the tone, the crowd began criticizing Xie Yulan.
“Xiaohong really shouldn’t have crossed the line, but now there’s already a child—what if it’s a son? Yulan, don’t separate the two.”
“Exactly, there’s already a child. You should hurry and hold a wedding and bring her into the family.”
“You’re the factory director’s wife—how can you bully people like this?”
In an instant, Xie Yulan was painted as a cruel mother-in-law.
She widened her eyes in disbelief, furious. “Nonsense! My son was never in a relationship with Tao Xiaohong. The child in her belly belongs to Li Minghui!”
No one believed her.
“We all saw Qin Yanzhou escort Xiaohong home every day.”
“I saw it too—oh my, the way they were all lovey-dovey, it was unbearable to watch.”
Xie Yulan was livid.
“If your mouths are so idle, go lick a latrine! Tao Xiaohong said someone was following her—my Yanzhou kindly walked her home.”
“Someone following her? Then why didn’t she look for Li Minghui? Why your Qin Yanzhou? Obviously they were dating.”
“I used to think the Qin family had strict values and good character. Who knew the factory director’s family raised such an irresponsible son?”
Xie Yulan frowned and looked at the young woman speaking.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Du Xiaoting!”
Xie Yulan’s eyes widened. “You…”
This was the woman who had been set up on a match with her son but backed out at the last minute!
Du Xiaoting said indignantly, “Qin Yanzhou was dating someone while also going on a match with me. Luckily Aunt Li told me in time, and I asked around at the textile factory. Otherwise, I would’ve been deceived too!”
The crowd grew even more agitated.
In this era, most people had a strong sense of justice and instinctively sided with the weak. Du Xiaoting’s words further confirmed in their minds how irresponsible and immoral the Qin family was.
An older woman spat at Xie Yulan.
“Pah! Your son got a girl pregnant but won’t let her into the house. Absolutely shameless.”
“Dating one woman while seeing another—how many women is he going to ruin?”
“This kind of immoral relationship should be reported. He should be sent for labor reform!”
The accusation of “immoral relations” made Xie Yulan panic.
Her son had just started working and was about to get married. If this spread, what woman would dare marry him?
There was no way she would let her son take the blame!
“Don’t scold Grandma!” Mianbao clenched her little fists and bravely ran out from behind Qin Yanzhou, standing in front of Xie Yulan.
At that moment, emotions were running high. Someone, filled with anger, picked up a stone and threw it.
Seeing the stone about to hit Mianbao’s head—
At the critical moment, Qin Yanzhou stepped forward and shielded her.
His tall, sturdy figure became a solid wall, protecting the little girl.
The sharp stone struck his back. He let out a muffled groan and looked down at Mianbao.
Her little face was pale with fright.
“Wuu…”
She wanted to cry but held it back, lips trembling, tears welling up.
“Mianbao, let Grandma check if you’re hurt.” Xie Yulan no longer cared about anger and quickly checked her over.
Mianbao shook her head. “I’m not hurt… Grandma, don’t scold Grandma…”
Even frightened, she was still worried about Xie Yulan.
She didn’t understand—Grandma was so kind, why were these people scolding her?
“Uncle…” Mianbao’s watery eyes looked at Qin Yanzhou. “Does it hurt?”
“Doesn’t hurt,” he replied casually.
He turned and stood in front of his mother and Mianbao, fists clenched, his gaze suddenly sharp as he looked at the man who threw the stone.
It was Old Wang, who often drank with Tao Dazhuang.
“You—apologize to my little radish!”
Old Wang stiffened his neck. “Apologize for what? It didn’t hit her. Besides, you’re the one messing around and bullying the Tao family. We haven’t even settled that with you yet.”
Qin Yanzhou laughed coldly. He had wanted to speak earlier but had been held back by his mother.
He stepped forward, fists clenched.
Old Wang was startled by his sudden intensity. “Y-you, don’t act recklessly.”
Qin Yanzhou sneered and swung his fist.
“Ah—!” Old Wang screamed, his legs giving out as he fell.
The fist stopped right in front of his face.
Everyone was stunned into silence.
“Old Wang!” his wife rushed over.
Qin Yanzhou withdrew his fist and scoffed.
“You’re softer than a weakling.”
“You should be grateful it didn’t hit my mom or the little radish. Otherwise…”
He didn’t finish, but the threat was clear. Old Wang trembled, imagining that fist landing—he’d have lost teeth.
“I… I won’t dare again,” he quickly admitted defeat.
Qin Yanzhou straightened his back, his gaze sweeping coldly across the crowd.
“I’ll say this once—there was never anything between me and Tao Xiaohong!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Tao Xiaohong’s expression changed. She put on a look of disbelief and called out pitifully, “Brother Yanzhou, how can you…”
Old Wang’s wife, still angry, immediately said, “If you weren’t together, then whose child is she carrying?”
“Don’t tell me you used your status as the factory director’s son to take advantage of her.”
“We watched Xiaohong grow up—you can’t bully her like this!”
The crowd immediately echoed.
“The Tao family is so pitiful. They lost their son, and now their daughter is being bullied.”
“The factory director’s son is acting like a hooligan—this must be reported!”
Du Xiaoting shouted angrily, “Report it!”
“The police are here!”
Qin Shanhai’s authoritative voice rang out.