He Liang had heard the entire argument about the missing money.
Originally, he had been thinking about how the mother and daughter would survive if they split from the family.
Now it seemed very likely that Ye Xiu’e had taken the hundred yuan.
With money in hand, she would naturally feel secure enough to ask for a separate household.
Besides…
He glanced at Su Wanwan.
The child was a little thin, but all children were thin these days.
At least he didn’t see any signs that she had been abused.
With that thought, He Liang turned to Ye Xiu’e.
“Comrade Ye Xiu’e, if you took the money, return it to them. There’s no need to make this bigger than it already is. If the Public Security Bureau gets involved, things won’t end well.”
He genuinely thought he was helping her.
If the police became involved, private settlement would no longer be possible, and she could even be arrested.
Cheng Da’s wife immediately agreed.
“Exactly. Just return the money and let the matter end here.”
Ye Xiu’e remained firm.
“I didn’t take your money. What exactly am I supposed to return?”
“Well…” He Liang rubbed his forehead in frustration.
Why couldn’t this woman understand his good intentions?
“Xiu’e, even if you won’t think of yourself, think of your child. If you’re arrested, what will happen to her?”
The moment they brought up Su Wanwan, anger flared inside Ye Xiu’e.
They were clearly targeting a widow and her child.
They knew her daughter was her weakness and wanted to force her into submission.
Not a chance.
Su Wanwan looked coldly around the room.
No one had investigated anything.
Based on a few meat patties and Cheng Da’s wife’s accusations, they were already trying to convict Ye Xiu’e.
How was that any different from executioners?
Even death-row prisoners had the right to appeal.
“My mother didn’t steal anything! You’re all bad people!”
Hearing her daughter defend her brought comfort to Ye Xiu’e.
She hugged Su Wanwan tightly.
As long as her daughter believed in her, nothing else mattered.
Seeing Ye Xiu’e standing her ground, Xu Shi couldn’t resist jumping back into the argument.
She opened her mouth to mock her—
But no sound came out.
“Uh… ah…”
Only strange noises emerged from her throat.
Panicking, she slapped at her neck.
What was happening?
Why had she suddenly lost her voice at such a crucial moment?
Su Wangcai noticed immediately and hurried over.
But since Xu Shi couldn’t speak, he had no idea what she was trying to say.
Leaning quietly against Ye Xiu’e, Su Wanwan watched everything unfold.
The medicine was working.
Xu Shi talked far too much.
Su Wanwan had no desire to hear her voice anymore.
So she had given her a little medicine.
It wouldn’t kill her.
It wouldn’t cripple her.
But for the next week, she wouldn’t be speaking a single word.
Xu Shi gestured frantically and pointed at her throat.
Finally Su Wangcai understood.
“Oh, your throat is dry? Then go drink some water. Why are you waving your hands around?”
Xu Shi: “…”
How had she ended up marrying such an idiot?
Su Wangcai couldn’t understand, but everyone else did.
“Su Wangcai, I think your wife can’t talk.”
Immediately, Xu Shi nodded desperately.
Only then did Su Wangcai panic.
“Wife! Why can’t you talk? What’s wrong?”
Liu Qiang burst out laughing.
“What else could it be? She spread too many vicious lies and got struck dumb as punishment!”
Laughter erupted throughout the crowd.
Xu Shi’s face turned red with anger.
If only she could speak, she’d curse every one of them.
Even He Liang noticed the situation.
He told Su Wangcai to take her to the clinic immediately.
Su Wanwan wasn’t worried in the slightest.
With the medical technology of this era, nobody would discover the cause.
Seven days later, when the medicine naturally left Xu Shi’s body, her voice would return on its own.
Unable to delay any longer, Xu Shi had no choice but to abandon the matter.
Before leaving, she shot Ye Xiu’e one final hateful glare.
Then she and Su Wangcai hurried toward the health clinic.
In the countryside, minor illnesses were handled by barefoot doctors.
But anything serious required a trip to the clinic.
After they left, He Liang began driving away the bystanders.
“Why are you all standing around watching? Don’t you have work to do? Go on, get moving!”
He assumed Ye Xiu’e was refusing to admit anything because so many people were watching.
Ye Xiu’e understood what he was thinking.
But she hadn’t stolen anything.
She didn’t need him clearing the crowd for her.
Once people left, who knew what rumors they would spread behind her back?
Unfortunately, she had no proof of her innocence.
And Old Madam Cheng wasn’t here.
The villagers lingered reluctantly.
Who wanted to leave in the middle of a good show?
“No need to send them away.
If I didn’t steal the money, then I didn’t steal it.
You can ask me a hundred times and my answer won’t change.
Bring in the police if you want.
I’ll say exactly the same thing.”
Ye Xiu’e had figured it out.
If the police came, they would conduct a real investigation.
They would question Old Madam Cheng and gather evidence.
Unlike these villagers, they wouldn’t condemn her based on a few words.
Cheng Da and his wife were starting to panic.
They hadn’t expected Ye Xiu’e to be so fearless.
They had seriously underestimated her.
Just then, a loud voice rang out from outside.
“Make way! Old Madam Cheng is here!”
Ye Xiu’e looked up sharply.
Su Hongxia entered the room together with Old Madam Cheng.
Relief flooded through her.
Finally—someone could prove her innocence.
Her eyes stung, but she held back her tears.
Even Su Wanwan was surprised.
She thought Old Madam Cheng had gone to visit relatives in the city.
The most terrified people in the room were Cheng Da and his wife.
Their faces turned purple with shame.
Neither dared meet the old woman’s eyes.
Old Madam Cheng pointed at them immediately.
“Team Leader He, I can testify. Those meat patties were given by me.”
Then she turned toward Cheng Da and his wife and began scolding them.
“You two heartless fools!
Xiu’e treated my illness and didn’t even charge me.
Why would she steal your money?
One hundred yuan?
The two of you don’t even have that much money yourselves!
How dare you frame her?
You’ve disgraced the entire Cheng family!”
The room exploded into an uproar.
Everyone had watched Cheng Da’s family accuse Ye Xiu’e with such confidence.
Su Wangcai and Xu Shi had been relentlessly pushing the accusations as well.
And now it turned out the whole thing was a setup.
He Liang felt both furious and ashamed.
Furious that he’d been manipulated.
Ashamed that he’d nearly wronged Ye Xiu’e.
“Comrade Ye, I’m sorry. I should have investigated properly.”
The villagers felt much the same.
They glared at Cheng Da and his wife.
All the frustration and humiliation Ye Xiu’e had endured finally erupted.
“Cheng Da’s wife, I’ve never done anything to harm you.
Why were you trying so hard to destroy me?”
The couple looked like frightened quails.
Their faces burned with shame and regret.
For twenty yuan, they had sold their consciences.
And now they hated Su Wangcai even more.
He had told them Ye Xiu’e was sick and easy to bully.
Instead, everything had fallen apart in front of the entire village.
Since their reputation was already ruined, they decided not to protect him anymore.
“Xiu’e, we’re sorry.
There weren’t many meat patties at home to begin with, and my mother gave so many to you.
I couldn’t accept it.
Then that bastard Su Wangcai came to me.
He offered twenty yuan if we’d accuse you of stealing money.
I was blinded by greed and agreed.
I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
As she spoke, Cheng Da’s wife burst into tears.
The crying looked remarkably sincere.
Beside her, Cheng Da wiped at tears that didn’t actually exist.
Honestly, he really did want to cry.
Not only had they failed to get the money, but they had humiliated themselves in front of the entire village.
Watching their performance, Su Wanwan nearly threw up.