Chapter 177: Adultery

Yu Xiangnian stopped, surprised, and looked at Cheng Huazi while still wiping her hair with a towel. “Dad, what do you want to say?”

Cheng Huazi, sitting on a bench and shorter than Yu Xiangnian, had to look up at her.

“Here’s the thing, I mentioned to Jianwa before that I wanted you to take Laowu or Damao with you when you go back. The kids will have better prospects with you!”

“Jianwa is willing, but he hasn’t decided which child to take. I thought I should tell you and ask your opinion. Which child do you like better? You can pick one.”

Several thoughts flashed through Yu Xiangnian’s mind.

Why didn’t Cheng Jingmo mention taking a child back to her? Why doesn’t he make the choice? Why is she supposed to choose?

She certainly didn’t want to take any of them back, but she couldn’t say that to Cheng Huazi directly as it would make things awkward for everyone.

She quickly made up her mind.

She decided not to get involved in Cheng Jingmo’s family affairs. If they had any issues, they should discuss them with Cheng Jingmo. She wasn’t going to meddle.

If Cheng Jingmo dared to take a child back without her consent, his good days would be over!

“Oh, I see!” Yu Xiangnian nodded, showing that she understood Cheng Huazi’s intention. She said, “I think both kids are great, so I can’t choose. You should let Cheng Jingmo decide.”

Yu Xiangnian successfully passed the responsibility back.

Cheng Huazi added, “In your household, you have the final say, and Jianwa listens to you. Whichever child you choose, Jianwa will agree.”

Yu Xiangnian glanced toward the cowshed. “Dad, Cheng Jingmo is almost done bathing. If you’re in a hurry, wait two or three minutes and let him decide!”

With that, she hurried back to her room.

Cheng Huazi had anticipated that Yu Xiangnian wouldn’t want to take a child back, so he deliberately said Cheng Jingmo had agreed and wanted her to choose one.

He thought that if Yu Xiangnian picked a child, even if the couple was reluctant, they couldn’t back out.

Unexpectedly, Yu Xiangnian firmly refused to choose and kept insisting Cheng Jingmo should pick.

Cheng Huazi lit a pipe in frustration. He smoked too hard and ended up coughing until he teared up.

In her room, Yu Xiangnian didn’t hear any conversation between Cheng Huazi and Cheng Jingmo.

After finishing everything, Cheng Jingmo returned to their room.

Yu Xiangnian glared at him, her expression unfriendly. “Don’t you have something to tell me?”

Cheng Jingmo replied, “What? …You look beautiful tonight.”

Yu Xiangnian responded, “When am I not beautiful? I’m talking about family matters. Are you hiding something from me?”

“No,” Cheng Jingmo replied firmly.

Yu Xiangnian lowered her voice angrily, “Your dad told me you want to take a child back and asked me to choose between Lao Wu and Da Mao!”

Cheng Jingmo said, “I didn’t agree to that.”

Yu Xiangnian immediately understood and sneered, “So your dad was trying to trick me! Why didn’t you mention this to me?”

“I didn’t want to bother you,” Cheng Jingmo explained. “If they say anything else to you, and you don’t want to deal with it, just push it all onto me. I’ll handle it.”

Yu Xiangnian nodded in satisfaction.

During the past week, Yu Xiangnian had observed a few things.

Cheng Jingmo was grateful for Cheng Huazi’s upbringing, but he didn’t have much affection for the family.

It must have been the events of his childhood that disheartened him. His contributions to the family were out of duty and obligation, not affection.

The next day.

Yu Xiangnian was still dreaming when she was awakened by Lao Wu urgently knocking on the door.

“Sister-in-law, Jianwa has been captured! Come quickly!”

Captured?

Who captured him? Why was he captured? What for?

Yu Xiangnian quickly got out of bed, dressed, and hurried out while running her fingers through her hair.

Lao Wu explained as they walked.

Cheng Jingmo had gone out early in the morning to fetch water. Usually, he fetched water three times, but today he only fetched it once and came back.

When Lao Wu went out, he heard neighbors saying that Cheng Jingmo had been captured by Dong Ju’s husband.

Dong Ju’s husband claimed that Cheng Jingmo and Dong Ju were having an affair and it had already escalated to the village committee.

An affair?! Ridiculous!

In Cheng Jingmo’s eyes, everyone else might as well be genderless, except for her!

An affair? Impossible!

Yu Xiangnian was purely curious to see what kind of scumbag this man was. Domestic violence aside, now he’s looking to accuse others!

When Yu Xiangnian, Xiao Jie, and Laowu arrived at the village office, they found a crowd already gathered.

Cheng Jingmo’s tall figure made his head visible above the crowd. His face was expressionless as usual, only his brow slightly furrowed.

Yu Xiangnian could hear a loud, boastful man’s voice, “Everyone, if they weren’t having an affair, why would Jianwa be at my house at dawn?”

Dong Ju’s tearful voice came through, “I’ve said it a hundred times! I fell while fetching water, and Jianwa happened to see it and kindly helped me carry the water!”

The man retorted, “If you weren’t having an affair, why would he help you carry water?”

His question was as absurd as asking, if you didn’t knock down the old man, why would you help him up!

The man continued indignantly, “They must have been sneaking around early every morning these past few days. I just happened to catch them today because I got up early. Otherwise…”

A sharp “slap” interrupted him, leaving the man’s voice hanging.

Everyone at the scene was stunned, including the man who was slapped.

Yu Xiangnian shook her stinging palm, “If you’re looking to wear a green hat, no one can stop you, but don’t you dare sully my husband!”

The man, with a clear imprint of five fingers on his face, recovered and raised his hand to strike Yu Xiangnian.

Cheng Jingmo quickly restrained him.

“Do you dare hit her?!” Cheng Jingmo, who had been expressionless all morning, now looked fierce, issuing a warning.

Yu Xiangnian stood tall, showing no fear.

“You, a grown man, sleep at home while your frail wife fetches water. She falls, and instead of caring, you slander her with an affair! How shameless can you be?!”

Yu Xiangnian, infuriated, spat out angrily, hating men who commit domestic violence the most.

“And my husband, who was being kind, gets dragged through the mud by you! What kind of man are you!”

“You’re a coward! Not only do you look for a green hat to wear, but you also only dare to beat your wife at home! If you’re so capable, go fight a man outside!”

The man, red-faced from her scolding, struggled but couldn’t break free from Cheng Jingmo’s grip.

He was both angry and ashamed, cursing, “You damn woman! I’ll tear you apart…”

Another sharp slap!

“Shut your filthy mouth!” Yu Xiangnian pointed at his nose and challenged, “Aren’t you tough? Why don’t you fight Cheng Jingmo? Right now! Do you dare?”

Cheng Jingmo: “…”

He really married a fierce wife, always pushing him to the front in times like these.

The crowd thought: Jianwa’s wife looks delicate, but she’s a tiger!

However, what she said wasn’t wrong.

What kind of man stays home and beats his wife! If you’re so tough, fight Jianwa!

Word was, Jianwa was formidable!

Last time, he beat up three village ruffians single-handedly!

The man was provoked but realized he couldn’t even break free from Cheng Jingmo’s grip, let alone win a fight against him.

Just then, the village chief arrived.