Chapter 18: Dealing with Lin Qianqian

Bai Ruoqiao just looked coldly at Lin Qianqian.

Lin Qianqian.

In her past life, almost every trouble she caused, this woman was involved.

This woman was like a leech stuck to her bones, clinging tightly since the day they met.

It seemed only by truly stepping on her and dragging her through the mud could Bai Ruoqiao feel at ease.

Lin Qianqian saw that Bai Ruoqiao was silent and just staring, so she thought her provocations had succeeded, and immediately pressed on.

“See? I was right. She has nothing to say. Eldest Sister Zhao, this kind of woman is full of lies, you must never trust her.”

Zhao Dani blinked, stunned.

Zhao Sihai, however, looked heavily at Lin Qianqian.

Suddenly, Bai Ruoqiao lifted her eyes and glanced at a group approaching from across.

Apparently, the small ones came first and now the elders followed.

Attracting a crowd wanting to watch the drama unfold.

Her eyes flickered as she suddenly sharply scolded, “Lin Qianqian, you’re always targeting me, framing me, aren’t you just afraid I’ll expose you and Zhao Chengzu sneaking around together at night?

Before, I was too lazy to bother with your filthy tricks, but you keep coming after me again and again.

If pushed too far, I’ll really report your promiscuity to the police!”

This thunderous accusation suddenly halted the people marching forward to demand explanations.

Those holding bowls ready to watch the show suddenly lit up with interest.

Promiscuity?

Lin Zhiqing and Zhao the Third?

Really?

Wow, the Zhao family really knows how to get involved with the educated youth.

Lin Qianqian was stunned by the words for a few seconds before reacting, furious and her voice cracking.

“Bai Ruoqiao, what nonsense are you talking about!”

Zhao Dani was also a bit dazed, then turned and grabbed Lin Qianqian’s arm, surprised.

“Ah, you’re the third brother’s wife?”

“I—I’m not! Don’t say that! Bai Ruoqiao is slandering me!” Lin Qianqian’s face instantly darkened and she quickly shook off Zhao Dani’s hand.

If she really got tied to Zhao the Third, she was finished.

She didn’t want to stay a rural nobody all her life.

She wanted to return to the city!

Bai Ruoqiao, however, had a reckless look and sneered coldly.

“Slandering? Lin Qianqian, do you dare say you never secretly met Zhao Chengzu?”

Over the years, whenever Zhao Chengzu caused trouble for her, this woman was always scheming behind the scenes.

She truly didn’t understand why Lin Qianqian hated her so much.

Hated her so much she’d tear a piece of flesh off her even if it meant gossiping.

Clearly, the two had no real grudge.

Could it be just jealousy?

Just because Lin Qianqian received more attention on her first day here?

She really couldn’t comprehend.

“You!” Lin Qianqian suddenly grew uneasy and flustered.

What made her more nervous was how Bai Ruoqiao knew she met Zhao the Third in secret.

What else did she know?

Did someone tell her?

Could it be that Zhao Yunyun’s side leaked something?

At this moment, a child in the crowd suddenly chirped.

“Ah, I remember! One night I saw Sister Lin Zhiqing talking to Uncle Zhao San behind the haystack.”

This sentence was like throwing hot oil on a boiling pot.

The crowd immediately erupted.

“Really? It’s true then?”

“They’re really mixed up together.”

“Lin Zhiqing must be really desperate, what did she see in Zhao the Third?”

“Hah, no one’s easily fooled by her now anyway.”

“Come to think of it, I saw it too. Maybe two years ago or so, saw them sneaking apart by the small river.”

“Really? Then why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Yeah, you all know how Zhao Pozi is—once she gets involved, her precious Bao’er will tear you apart.”

“Didn’t expect they’ve been together so long. No wonder Zhao the Third never married.”

“Exactly, there were rumors before that he didn’t marry because of Lin Zhiqing. Now it seems Lin Zhiqing was just a scapegoat.”

“Lin Zhiqing really had bad luck marrying into the wolf den that is the Zhao family. Thankfully, the four brothers, especially Sihai, are pretty decent…”

“Who could disagree?”

One after another, the crowd talked louder and louder, as if afraid the people involved wouldn’t hear them.

To be honest, Lin Qianqian really had a terrible reputation in the village.

At first, people thought she was a delicate and pretty young girl and treated her well.

But she was restless, spoiled, and always cozying up to others to get work done for her.

In the first two years, she caused countless fights among the village boys because of her.

Later, people saw her true nature, and most young men stopped falling for her tricks.

So these past two years, Lin Qianqian’s life was miserable.

Once fresh and pretty, not less charming than Bai Ruoqiao or other beauties,

now she was dark, skinny, and always gloomy, making people dislike her at a glance.

Suddenly realizing others were around, she flushed and hurriedly turned to defend herself.

“It’s not true! I didn’t! Bai Ruoqiao is slandering me!”

“I think you’re the one messing around with Zhao the Third. Now no one’s falling for you, so you’ve got no choice but him.”

“Look at her always picking fights with Lin Zhiqing. Maybe she actually has her eye on Zhao Sihai.”

“She used to nag about wanting to go to the city, saying she’d rather die than stay a rural nobody, and yet here she is clinging to the mud.”

“Who knows if she’s secretly hitting on other men too.”

“I heard even the village old bachelor looks out for her. Wonder why…”

One voice after another, they cornered Lin Qianqian so thoroughly she had no room to defend herself and burst into tears.

She could only shout sharply, “You vicious people are maliciously slandering me! I’m going to the police!”

Then she covered her ears and ran off.

The crowd fell silent, then exchanged looks.

She wouldn’t really go report them, would she?

Thinking this, many suddenly felt uneasy.

“Report? Report what? We didn’t slander her.”

“Yeah, she’s just asking for it with her bad behavior.”

They muttered among themselves, but this time more to cover themselves.

After that, everyone dispersed.

Zhao Dani was dumbfounded the whole time, watching Lin Qianqian run away.

Then she turned to the frowning Zhao Sihai and the cold-faced Bai Ruoqiao.

Swallowing nervously, she said, “I… I’ll go tell Mom about this.”

Then she turned and ran.

After everyone left, Zhao Sihai frowned at Bai Ruoqiao.

“What happened today? Why didn’t you tell me? Did they bully you?”

Bai Ruoqiao regained her composure and shook her head.

“Sihai, you don’t know how bad they were,” Cheng Yueya explained the whole situation from earlier that day.

After hearing it, everyone looked at Zhao Sihai and Bai Ruoqiao with sympathy.

Such a family full of troublemakers, even the in-laws are problematic — really unlucky.

After some sighs, they asked about Zhao the Third and Lin Qianqian.

Bai Ruoqiao truthfully said, “I saw them meeting secretly at night before.”

No more details were given.

Seeing she seemed reluctant to mention Lin Qianqian further, everyone tactfully dropped the subject and continued eating.

Meat always helps shut mouths.

The midday drama was just a small interruption for them.

After finishing the meal and helping clean up, they got back to work.

They worked all afternoon until the whole house was fully repaired.

Looking at the freshly fixed house, Bai Ruoqiao felt much better and gave everyone a big bag of candies.

Once everyone left one by one,

the two locked the door, hopped on their bikes, and headed to the commune’s local produce store to buy pots, bowls, and pans.

As for cupboards and shelves, there were no tickets for those, so they would have to ask the village carpenter to make them.