Chapter 18: Exposing the Scandal

Xu Yan stood in front of Jiaojiao, his usually gentle eyes now sharp, like a poisoned dagger sweeping over the Li family.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

The Li family visibly flinched upon seeing Xu Yan, their expressions tinged with fear.

The crowd around them grew larger; the scene was too captivating to ignore, gradually forming a small encircling crowd.

Xu Jiaojiao had initially thought the Li family would feel ashamed. However, their excitement only grew under the attention, as if it granted them the power to judge. Among the crowd, vulgar laughter from some men could be heard.

“Brother, take Hongyan away,” she said, but just as she finished speaking, the old woman shoved her forcefully.

Xu Yan was immediately blocked by the Li father and son.

“This is our family matter. Why are outsiders interfering?”

The old woman from the Li family, seeing the crowd had grown to a satisfactory size, suddenly threw herself to the ground with a thud. Sitting there, she slapped her hands on the dirt and began wailing loudly like a wriggling maggot.

“Come, everyone, look at this daughter-in-law of ours. At noon, instead of cooking, she was caught having an affair with her own father-in-law!”

“Someone judge for me! Is this not outrageous?”

Xu Jiaojiao was so stunned by the accusations that her back broke out in a cold sweat. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing and darted her gaze around.

“Indeed, this is too much! Having an affair with her father-in-law? She has no shame!”

“She must be talented—sleeping with both the father and son.”

“Hahaha, isn’t that the truth?”

A group of young women gathered, gossiping and laughing. Their faces were filled with mocking glee, as though they were enjoying a rare spectacle. Some even munched on sunflower seeds as they watched.

Xu Jiaojiao was surrounded by an onslaught of sneering remarks. She could only try her best to shield Hongyan behind her, covering her ears.

“Hongyan, Hongyan, it’s going to be okay.”

Xu Jiaojiao’s back was met with a vicious kick. Qin Hongyan winced in pain, cold sweat dripping down her face. Xu Jiaojiao’s frail body could barely withstand the malice around her.

She could only helplessly protect Hongyan, but it wasn’t enough—it couldn’t stop them.

“Shameless harlot! A woman who sleeps around! I’ll beat you to death!”

“She should be drowned in a pond or executed for indecency!”

Xu Jiaojiao tilted her delicate chin upward, her voice icy. “Why is it always the woman’s fault? If men can’t control their lower halves, shouldn’t they also be punished for indecency?”

“Besides, none of you even know the truth. How can you accuse Hongyan of such a crime?”

Tears of despair streamed from Qin Hongyan’s hollow eyes. These people wanted to completely destroy her, to force her into being a slave for life.

An icy voice broke through. “Enough, Li Jun. That’s enough.”

Hongyan glanced at Jiaojiao, her lips curling into a bitter smile. She removed the clothing draped over her, baring herself. To someone who had already been seen, there was no need to care anymore. Her eyes carried a twisted determination.

“You want a spectacle, don’t you? Then I’ll give you one to remember.”

Qin Hongyan spread her arms boldly, her face cold and indifferent. Her composure unnerved the onlookers, forcing some to turn their heads away in discomfort.

Chastity and shame were tools used to oppress women. When you stop caring, no one can bully you.

Xu Jiaojiao was helped up by her brother. He gently patted her arm in reassurance. “She’s already made up her mind. There’s no stopping her now. Jiaojiao, comfort her later when this is over.”

Xu Yan never once looked at Qin Hongyan. He simply bowed his head, listening to her speak.

Hongyan raised her head high, her icy gaze sweeping over the crowd.

“The entire Li family are trash. Li Jun is nothing more than an impotent coward. If he wasn’t beating me, he was abusing me. And my so-called mother-in-law? Hah, to have a grandson, she forced me into my father-in-law’s bed. The child I’m carrying belongs to Li Guoqiang.”

A suffocating silence fell over the crowd. Only Qin Hongyan’s sorrowful voice could be heard.

Xu Jiaojiao never imagined that Hongyan had suffered such horrors. Her eyelashes trembled as realization dawned. No wonder Hongyan had become so numb.

“Hongyan!” she cried out.

“You dare say that again? I’ll kill you!” Li Guoqiang roared, raising his hand to strike her. Before he could, someone grabbed his wrist mid-air.

The pain made him cry out, “It hurts! Stop!”

“Try hitting someone again,” a cold voice said. Xie Zhi’s tone was as sharp as a blade, his deep, fathomless eyes sending shivers down everyone’s spine.

When Xu Jiaojiao saw Xie Zhi appear, her tears fell like a broken string of pearls, one after another.

Xie Zhi pulled Jiaojiao into his arms and draped his coat over Hongyan’s exposed body. The coat was large, covering her upper body and hips entirely.

A firm voice rang in Hongyan’s ears.

“Hongyan, continue. My father has already called the police. I want to see what the punishment is for forcing a woman against her will.” He shot a sharp glance at the Li father and son.

Hongyan looked at Xu Jiaojiao, who wore a faint smile, and felt a surge of strength. Her voice steadied.

“On my wedding night, I was forced to endure both my father-in-law and husband. Are you still human? Even if I die, I’ll take you all down with me.”

Having let out her grievances, Hongyan broke into a mix of laughter and sobs, as if losing her mind. Her maniacal expression silenced the crowd, leaving them dumbfounded.

“Today, I was dragged to the bed by that old bastard and forced again. Because I didn’t cook, this family of scum beat me. My mother-in-law resented me for stealing her man, while Li Jun hated that he couldn’t have me himself. They stripped me naked and beat me, thinking I’d submit. They were wrong. Dead wrong.”

Hongyan’s laughter was bitter and sorrowful. She no longer cared about life. If she were to die, she’d take those beasts with her.

Thinking back to how she’d fought with her parents to marry Li Jun, even leaving the city for the countryside, only to end up like this, her laughter turned cold.

“Hongyan!”

“Shut your damn mouth! If you dare spew nonsense again, I’ll kill you!” Li Jun, his deepest secrets exposed, turned red with fury. He lunged forward to hit her, but before he could, a powerful force sent him crashing into the wall. He crumpled to the ground, unable to get up, groaning in pain.

Xie Zhi glanced at him with disgust, stepping on Li Jun’s leg with deliberate pressure. “I told you not to hit people.”

He gently wiped Xu Jiaojiao’s scraped skin with a handkerchief, struggling to contain the dark rage bubbling within him. How dare they?

The crowd, silent except for the Li family’s curses, was shaken. Some women secretly wiped their tears, their earlier mockery replaced by sorrow.

But others continued to doubt. “Who knows if she’s telling the truth?” one whispered, only to be silenced by a glare from Xu Jiaojiao. No one dared cross the village chief’s daughter.

“Li Jun, I want a divorce,” Hongyan declared, closing her eyes.

Li Guoqiang exploded, pointing at Hongyan with venomous hatred.

“You, a used-up woman defiled by me, want a divorce? What man would take you, a worn-out shoe carrying my father’s child?”

---

TL- Hey readers!! ANNOUNCEMENT!!

I’m having my exams and assignments and there is my brother’s wedding, so I’m quite busy cuz Indian wedding can be troublesome with all the rituals. 

I’ll try to post whenever I’m free and will post schedule chapters after 15 Dec.