“You wretched girl, are you looking for death? Hurry up and give me the silver!” Old Madam Jiang shouted as she lunged at Jiang Ning.
Just as she reached out to snatch the money pouch, Jiang Ning sidestepped and dodged her, then said to Ma Shi:
“Return my betrothal document.”
What a joke—if the engagement was to be broken, it had to be completely clean. She wanted her betrothal document back, and she wanted her reputation intact.
The original girl couldn’t have died in vain, and she herself wouldn’t live bearing the disgrace of being shamelessly rejected.
In her previous life, her biased parents only cared about her younger brother.
Jiang Ning had long been used to relying on herself—loving herself.
In this world, if you don’t fight for yourself, how can you survive?
Endure humiliation?
Swallow grievances?
That was never her style.
Since she had returned their betrothal document, she would naturally take hers back as well.
Ma Shi froze for a moment, then hurriedly took Jiang Ning’s betrothal document from her sleeve and handed it over.
After receiving it, Jiang Ning raised it slightly in the air. Her voice choked as she spoke to the watching villagers:
“Uncles and aunties, back then they were the ones who wanted this marriage. Now they’re the ones breaking it. They’ve gone back on their word, humiliated me in public, and even tried to force me to death.
“I cannot swallow this grievance!
“I once wanted to end my life, but even the King of Hell wouldn’t take me. So I must live on to prove my innocence!”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, her stubborn restraint against tears making her look even more pitiful.
“Poor Ning girl, you’ve really suffered!” one villager sighed.
“That’s right! The Zhuang family has gone too far—how can they treat their benefactor’s daughter like this?” another said indignantly.
Listening to the crowd siding with her, Jiang Ning felt satisfied.
Truth didn’t matter—what mattered was public opinion. Smearing others? Anyone could do it.
Besides, what she said was the truth.
Seeing she had achieved the desired effect, tears welled in her eyes and slowly fell.
“Three years ago, my father gave his life to save Uncle Zhuang. Not only have they not repaid the kindness, they’ve slandered me and driven me to death.
“Repaying kindness with hatred, breaking promises—I want to ask everyone, what right do such people have to pursue official titles?”
Oh, you think the original girl wasn’t worthy of your scholar son?
Then I’ll make sure he never gets his title!
“Of course, whether he can obtain a title isn’t up to me. But a family like this—I would never dare marry into. I’ll take these ten taels as the price of my father’s life.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly burst into loud sobs:
“Father! Mother! Your daughter is unfilial—I’ve disturbed your peace!”
“Enough!” Ma Shi shouted angrily.
“If you keep spouting nonsense and slandering my son, I’ll report you to the authorities! Defaming a scholar is a serious crime—do you want to go to jail?”
Jiang Ning immediately stopped crying, trembling as she spoke in a frightened tone:
“Aunt Ma, w-what did I say wrong? Please point it out—I’ll change, I’ll change, okay? Please don’t report me… I’m scared…”
Her appearance of being intimidated made Ma Shi even more furious.
Point it out? How could she possibly do that?
Was this girl’s former meekness all an act? Ma Shi stared at Jiang Ning in disbelief.
Seeing how frightened Jiang Ning looked, the villagers quickly spoke up for her.
“Ma Shi, don’t scare the young girl!”
“That’s right, everything she said sounds true to me.”
“Exactly…”
“Didn’t her father save your husband? Don’t you want to break the engagement?”
As for whether Scholar Zhuang was involved with another woman and trying to harm his fiancée—
The onlookers only dared think about it, not say it aloud. After all, they couldn’t risk slandering a scholar.
“That’s right…” more voices joined in.
Hearing the growing murmurs, Ma Shi felt dizzy, almost fainting.
What was going on?
How had things turned out like this?
Her son’s reputation couldn’t be ruined!
Just as she was thinking of a solution—
Jiang Ning suddenly raised the betrothal document high and tore it into pieces in front of everyone.
“Let all of you bear witness—today, it is not the Zhuang family breaking off the engagement with me. It is I, Jiang Ning, who breaks off the engagement with Zhuang Yunqing!
“From this moment on, our marriage is null. Each will go their own way, with no further ties!”
With a flick of her hand, the torn pieces scattered like snowflakes onto the ground.
Jiang Ning covered her still-bleeding forehead, her expression sorrowful and desolate, and turned to walk back into the house.
Behind her, the crowd remained in stunned murmurs, while Old Madam Jiang stood frozen, unable to recover from the shock.
When had this wretched girl become so sharp-tongued?
Meanwhile, Ma Shi—now being supported by her sister-in-law Chen Shi—stood helpless under the crowd’s pointing fingers, like a defeated rooster, utterly dispirited.
Seeing her state, Chen Shi stepped forward, trying to salvage some dignity for the family.
After all, as members of the same household, they shared honor and disgrace alike.
That was something her husband always said.
She cleared her throat and said to the crowd:
“Oh come on, don’t just listen to one side! It’s a fact that Ning girl was hugging and clinging to Scholar Lu in public. She has no virtue—otherwise, why would she go make a scene at a place full of men like the academy?
“A girl like that—who would marry her? Forget life-saving favors—her reputation is already ruined. My Qing’er can’t possibly wear such a green hat for nothing!”
Everyone had thought the matter was over.
But Chen Shi’s words were like throwing salt into boiling oil, instantly stirring up an even bigger commotion.
The villagers exchanged glances and began whispering again.
“That’s true… hugging a man like that, her reputation is gone.”
“But I heard Scholar Lu did it to save her—it wasn’t intentional.”
“This happened in the county, with so many witnesses. Will it affect the marriage prospects of other girls in our village?”
The commotion at the Jiang household had grown so large that the village head soon rushed over.
The village head, Zhuang Fugui, was in his early forties, tall, and fairly upright.
As soon as he arrived, everyone eagerly explained the situation to him.
After listening, Zhuang Fugui frowned deeply. Whether it was Jiang Ning, Zhuang Yunqing, or Lu Huaian—all were from the same village. This had to be handled carefully to avoid damaging the village’s reputation.
“Why not have Scholar Lu marry Ning girl? That way, neither of their reputations will be affected,” Old Li suggested, shaking his head.
“That’s right, it could work. Ning girl is already sixteen—if she’s not married by seventeen, she might be assigned to a military marriage,” Aunt Zhang added.
“Exactly. Scholar Lu may be an orphan, but he’s still a scholar—not worse than Scholar Zhuang,” Uncle Li Er said, slapping his thigh.
Hearing this, Ma Shi’s face darkened.
That ill-fated Lu Huaian—how could he compare to her son?
But then she thought, if this girl married someone else quickly, people would stop talking about today’s broken engagement. That would actually be a good thing.
She frowned, unwilling to argue with these “blind fools.”
“No! I don’t agree!”
At that moment, Old Madam Jiang—who had been watching quietly—suddenly spoke up in opposition.