Chapter 18.1

Wen Yue took a nap for an hour.

Outside, the sun was a bit harsh, so she sat on a small stool in the shade, continuing to sew clothes.

The weather was beautiful, with a sky that looked like it had been washed, slowly drifting clouds resembling cotton candy. Occasionally, a breeze would blow, causing the green trees planted in front of the yard to rustle softly.

It felt like a colorful watercolor painting, making one feel refreshed and at ease.

The atmosphere was tranquil and harmonious.

Wen Yue couldn’t help but smile.

“Wen Yue.”

The next moment, Li Nianqiu’s voice broke the peace. She stood outside the gate, waving, accompanied by Li Xiangdong, who was holding some books in her arms.

Wen Yue’s eyes curved with joy. “You’re here! I’ll go get some stools for you.”

As she spoke, she stood up and set aside the clothes in her hands.

“Stay seated, I’ll get them myself.” Li Nianqiu stopped her, glancing at Wen Yue’s injured ankle with concern. “How’s your foot?”

Wen Yue sat back down and replied, smiling, “The pain isn’t as bad as yesterday. Zhou Yao said there’s no bone injury. He applied medicine for me last night. It should get better in a couple of days.”

Li Nianqiu frowned and then relaxed. “That’s good.”

The two sisters sat beside Wen Yue.

Li Nianqiu said, “Wen Hua came back today.”

Wen Yue was taken aback for a moment, her eyes widening in surprise, before quickly recalling that Wen Hua was her cousin. After a pause, she asked, “Why did he come back?”

Ever since he became a teacher at the county elementary school, he rarely returned home except during the New Year.

Li Nianqiu’s face broke into a slight smile. “I heard he got beaten up and stuffed in a burlap sack.”

Wen Yue’s eyes widened in shock, her bright pupils filled with disbelief. “Huh? He got stuffed in a burlap sack and beaten up??”

“Yes.” Li Nianqiu nodded. “This news has spread like wildfire in the village.”

Well, there was little entertainment in the village, and gossip was everyone’s only pastime. Plus, the main character was a well-known figure in the village, so it was bound to be talked about everywhere.

Wen Yue inhaled deeply and couldn’t help but lower her voice, asking, “Who beat him? Did he provoke someone?”

Li Nianqiu shrugged. “I’m not sure about the specifics. I just know he got beaten.”

“Ah.” A fleeting expression of disappointment crossed Wen Yue’s face. “Who started spreading this? Why don’t they clarify things? It’s too much to leave people hanging like this.”

She felt a bit annoyed, her delicate eyebrows gently furrowing. Pouting, her tone involuntarily took on a spoiled tone, her voice soft and whiny.

Li Nianqiu couldn’t help but glance at Wen Yue again.

The latter looked like a pampered girl throwing a soft tantrum because she hadn’t gotten what she wanted.

She raised her eyebrows.

“It must be Wen Xiaoyu who spread it. Normal families would keep this kind of thing quiet, especially someone as prideful as Wen Hua. If he doesn’t want others to know, your uncle and aunt wouldn’t say anything. The only one who would disregard Wen Hua’s face and let it slip is Wen Xiaoyu.”

“That makes sense.” Wen Yue agreed.

Wen Xiaoyu and Wen Hua didn’t have a good relationship.

Previously, when Li Huahong wanted the original owner to drop out of school, Wen Hua learned about it and forced Wen Xiaoyu to drop out too, saying that girls studying was just a waste of money.

If it weren’t for Wen Xiaoyu stubbornly refusing to back down and desperately painting a bright future for Li Huahong and Wen Guoqiang, she would probably be at home helping with the chores right now.

Wen Hua resented Wen Xiaoyu for using resources that belonged to him.

Wen Xiaoyu hated Wen Hua for nearly ruining her future. The two of them were mutually hostile towards each other.

Wen Yue muttered softly, “They’re both not good people. It would be best if they ended up fighting. Dogs biting dogs, right?”

Li Nianqiu found it amusing and nodded in agreement. “You’re right.”

The two girls chatted for over half an hour.

Li Nianqiu shared many village gossip stories, which Wen Yue listened to with great interest. Initially planning to sew while listening, she ended up forgetting about the clothes in her hands, becoming completely engrossed.

“Ah? Is that true? Doesn’t Li Quezi know about this?” Wen Yue widened her beautiful eyes in surprise, gasping.

Li Nianqiu replied teasingly, “How could he not know? He spent all his family’s savings to marry that wife of his. Even if he knows she’s cheating, he can only turn a blind eye. What else can he do? I heard once he came home and caught the two of them in bed, clothes all disheveled.”

Wen Yue: “What happened next? Did they fight?”

Li Nianqiu: “How could Li Quezi win? I heard he didn’t react at all and even went to the kitchen to boil water for his wife to take a bath.”

Wen Yue gasped in disbelief.

Li Nianqiu stayed for about an hour before leading Li Xiangdong back, saying she would come to chat again next week when they had a break.

Tomorrow was Monday, and she had to return to school.

Wen Yue reluctantly agreed.

She would have to wait another week to hear the gossip.