Chapter 78 ☆ Broken Shoes (Part 2)

Cheng Yaoyao said, “Since we can’t finish all the vegetables, I’ll give you the first one I harvest when the melons are ready!”

Grandma Xie snorted and laughed, “Come on, did you really plant them? Xiao Fei watered them, Brother Zhao weeded and fertilized them, and you just talked.”

“Then… then don’t eat what I grow!” Cheng Yaoyao hugged her arms, pouting.

Xie Zhao pulled her to wash her hands and said, “Grandma is teasing you. Don’t pout.”

Cheng Yaoyao splashed water on his face.

While they were joking, there was a knock on the door: “Sister Yaoyao, Sister Yaoyao!”

It was Lin Weimin’s voice.

Cheng Yaoyao looked at Xie Zhao with confusion and hurried to open the door. “Weimin, why are you here at this time?”

Lin Weimin, panting, said, “The village is investigating a case involving a woman of ill repute and has implicated Sister Yaoyao. My grandma asked me to come and tell you.”

“What?!” Cheng Yaoyao was bewildered. “How does this involve me?”

Xie Zhao’s eyes narrowed as he asked Lin Weimin, “What’s going on?”

Xie Zhao was tall and stern, and no child in the village was unafraid of him. Lin Weimin, frightened, shrank back. Cheng Yaoyao quickly reassured him, “Don’t be afraid, just speak slowly.”

“I… I don’t know either,” Lin Weimin said, scratching his head. “My mom won’t let us go.”

Seeing that Lin Weimin had no further information, Cheng Yaoyao gave him a handful of dried bayberries and sent him home.

Grandma Xie’s face turned pale with worry. “What’s happening? Girls don’t want to be involved in such matters!”

Cheng Yaoyao said, “I don’t know either.”

Xie Zhao remained silent. Grandma Xie glanced at him and then instructed Xie Fei, “Xiao Fei, go back to your room!”

Though anxious, Xie Fei obediently retreated to the house.

Grandma Xie lowered her voice and asked, “What did you do last night?”

Cheng Yaoyao felt a rush of panic, her face turning red.

Seeing her reaction, Grandma Xie grew more anxious. “Nonsense! Zhao how many times have I told you not to…”

Xie Zhao took Cheng Yaoyao’s hand and said to Grandma Xie, “Grandma, we came back from the cowshed last night and didn’t do anything.”

Realizing that Grandma Xie was worried about something else, Cheng Yaoyao’s anxiety eased. She nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes.”

Grandma Xie shook her head. “Tell me the truth. I’ve seen and handled many things in my time. Even if you made a mistake, we must address it properly!”

Cheng Yaoyao stamped her feet and said, “There’s nothing to worry about! We were watching the lambs in the cowshed yesterday, then bought goat milk, and on the way back, we met a little girl and came home together.”

Seeing that Cheng Yaoyao’s explanation seemed genuine, Grandma Xie asked, “Is that true?”

Xie Zhao confirmed, “Yes.”

Grandma Xie finally relaxed but then frowned. “But how did this situation involve Yaoyao? Villagers’ gossip… Yaoyao is a girl; she shouldn’t be tainted by this reputation! Let’s go to the village entrance and find out what’s happening!”

Xie Zhao said, “Grandma, Yaoyao and I will go.”

Given Grandma Xie’s age and seclusion, she couldn’t attend such events. Cheng Yaoyao added, “Don’t worry, I’m an educated youth; they won’t dare cause trouble for me.”

Grandma Xie stopped talking and warned, “This matter must be clarified on the spot. Brother Zhao, please protect Yaoyao. With the team leader and the branch secretary present, they won’t make too much trouble.”

Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Zhao left together. Grandma Xie followed them to the door, reminding, “Zhao, control your temper. No matter what happens, you must protect Yaoyao!”

“Don’t worry!” Cheng Yaoyao waved to Grandma Xie, her head lowered, and Xie Zhao adjusted her small hat.

On the way, Cheng Yaoyao asked, “What do you think this is about?”

Xie Zhao thought for a moment and said, “It’s related to what happened yesterday.”

Cheng Yaoyao asked, “Are you talking about that little girl?”

A strange white shadow flashed before Xie Zhao’s eyes, and he shook his head. “It’s more than that.”

The village was unusually quiet except for the chirping of cicadas. As they approached the village entrance, they saw a large crowd gathered. It seemed all the villagers had come together.

Xie Zhao subtly held Cheng Yaoyao’s hand and whispered, “Don’t be afraid; I’m here.”

Cheng Yaoyao removed her hat and smiled. “I’m not afraid.”

They walked towards the crowd. The previously noisy crowd quieted when they saw Cheng Yaoyao and watched her closely. Despite not being out much recently, Cheng Yaoyao’s fair skin, red lips, and peach blossom eyes made her stand out.

When the crowd quieted, they heard a young girl crying and gasping for breath, looking very pitiful. Cheng Yaoyao tried to see through the crowd but couldn’t get a clear view.

Jin Nier greeted her with a smile and winked. “Cheng Zhiqing, you’re here.”

Cheng Yaoyao smiled and said, “Yes, I heard it’s quite lively here.”

The crowd parted to let her through. Cheng Yaoyao walked forward, with Xie Zhao following behind.

The village stage, used for public trials, was set up with Team Leader Lin Dafu, the village party secretary, and several other officials present, all with serious expressions. Lin Wangshi and Zhang Aihua, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, stood aside. An unknown man stood idly by. Surprisingly, Cheng Nuonuo was also present. A girl was kneeling on the ground, covering her face and shaking with sobs.

Cheng Yaoyao frowned, feeling a sense of unease. What had she missed?

Cheng Yaoyao had recently formed a good relationship with the secretary’s family. When the secretary saw Cheng Yaoyao, he said, “Cheng Zhiqing, why are you here? Girls shouldn’t be involved in such matters.”

Cheng Yaoyao replied, “I heard I might be mentioned, so I came to see what’s happening.”

Lin Dafu cleared his throat and said, “Here’s the situation. Mrs. Lin reported this morning that her eldest granddaughter was seen with a strange man last night and only returned this morning. However, the granddaughter claims she came home with you last night. That’s why you’re involved.”

“Don’t listen to this stubborn girl,” Lin Wangshi interjected angrily. “No one in the family heard any knocking last night. Zhao Hai has confessed; why are you still being so stubborn, you wretched girl?”

The girl looked up, crying. “I didn’t! I went home early last night, but grandma wouldn’t open the door, so I spent the whole night at the door!”

“You still dare to lie!” Lin Wangshi extended her claw-like fingers and pinched the girl’s arm.

The girl screamed and cried, obviously used to being beaten.

Cheng Yaoyao frowned and asked, “Why are you hitting her?”

Lin Wangshi said, “My granddaughter, I can discipline you as I please!”

Lin Dafu scolded, “If you want to discipline your granddaughter, do it at home. She is on trial now!”

Lin Wangshi shrank back and glared at the girl. “You wretched girl, I’ll deal with you when we get home!”

Lin Dafu turned to Cheng Yaoyao. “Cheng Zhiqing, the Lin family’s eldest granddaughter says she met you last night. Is that true?”

Before Cheng Yaoyao could respond, Cheng Nuonuo spoke up. “It has nothing to do with my sister. Why would my sister go out alone in the middle of the night to that grove?”

Li Goudan shouted from the crowd, “Don’t we have Xie San? How could Cheng Zhiqing be sent into the woods alone?”

The men laughed maliciously.

Xie Zhao grabbed Li Goudan by the collar and began to beat him, causing the crowd to become agitated. Lin Dafu, nearly losing his voice, shouted and fired a shot into the air. “Stop!”

Several men restrained Xie Zhao, and Lin Daguan kept repeating, “Cheng Zhiqing is still on stage. This is not the time for trouble!”

Xie Zhao released the bruised and swollen Li Goudan, stood up panting, and glanced at Cheng Yaoyao on the stage, who looked worried.

The secretary coughed and said, “Today is the Ghost Festival. No one has been going out at night for the past few days. Why would a girl like Cheng Zhiqing be out so late?”

“That’s right,” Han Yin and a few educated youths added as they pushed to the front of the crowd. “Don’t drag others into this!”

Cheng Yaoyao understood the secretary’s hint. It was a warning to protect herself and avoid getting involved in this mess.

Lin Dafu said, “Cheng Zhiqing, don’t be nervous. This matter has nothing to do with you. But since Lin Ranran mentioned you…”

“Lin… Ranran?” Cheng Yaoyao’s mind raced. No wonder the scene felt familiar. The girl crying in front of her was the heroine from the original book—Lin Ranran!

Before Lin Dafu could finish, Lin Wangshi interrupted, “Our Lin family has never had such a scandal! We don’t want this girl anymore. Arrange her marriage to Zhao Hai and let his family take her away!”

Lin Wangshi’s attitude made everyone uncomfortable. It was known she was harsh, but Lin Ranran’s disgraceful behavior left no other options. Marrying her off was seen as the only solution.

In the countryside, such a situation was difficult. The villagers preferred not to see a girl suffer and thought marrying her off was the best solution.

Lin Dafu frowned and said, “Since Cheng Zhiqing is here, we must give her a chance to speak. Lin Ranran, tell us again, did you come back with Cheng Zhiqing last night? This concerns Cheng Zhiqing’s reputation, so don’t lie.”

Lin Ranran looked at Cheng Yaoyao with tearful eyes. Just as she was about to speak, the educated youths shouted, “Definitely not! Don’t drag Yaoyao into this!”

Cheng Yaoyao was still in shock and didn’t react immediately.

Hearing the outcry, Lin Ranran lowered her hand and, after hesitating, bowed her head and sobbed.

Lin Wangshi slapped her thigh and said, “This wretched girl has admitted it, hasn’t she? What more is there to say? The team leaders and party secretaries are here as witnesses. The Lin family doesn’t want this girl anymore!”