Chapter 23: Keep Your Distance

“Did I get pregnant out of wedlock by consuming your rice or spending your money? Do you have to worry about me here? So what if I’m picky? I have the means for it. Is that any of your business? Wait, no, should it be that you’re even suitable?” Wang Jinhe didn’t like this kind of person. She didn’t want to resort to violence either, but if this person came to cause trouble again, don’t blame her for getting physical.

“You…”

“You, a matchmaker, have such poor manners. Do you even know who approaches you? Are they from all walks of life? Or can someone like you actually match anyone successfully? The couples you’ve matched probably aren’t leading good lives, right?” Wang Jinhe said bluntly.

Hearing these words, Madam Li’s face turned crimson with anger. Wang Jinhe’s guess had hit the mark.

Observing Madam Li’s reaction, Wang Jinhe toyed with her words, “Seems like I hit the mark. Someone like you wouldn’t be able to bring about good marriages, right?”

“Someone like you… deserves not to get married, deserves to be abandoned by men,” Madam Li said angrily.

As Madam Li continued to speak disrespectfully, Wang Jinhe raised her hand and slapped her twice. “How dare you start meddling and spreading rumors about me?”

“Does your foul mouth need a good washing?” Madam Li retorted.

“A matchmaker like you, how can anyone still approach you for marriage? Aren’t they afraid you’ll ruin their lives forever?” Wang Jinhe fired back.

“You little wench, how dare you lay a hand on me! I’ll teach you a lesson, I…”

“Ah.” Just as Wang Jinhe was about to dodge, she saw Madam Li fall to the ground. Big Baa, aggressively stared at Madam Li and began digging the soil with its front feet.

Rubbing her waist, Madam Li looked at the goat by her side, as well as the large rooster that flew out of the chicken coop.

Seeing Wang Jinhe being mistreated, the rooster flew at Madam Li and pecked at her. Terrified, Madam Li kept retreating. Eventually, unable to escape, she had no choice but to scramble away on all fours.

Unnoticed, Wang Jinhe slyly placed her foot in Madam Li’s path, causing her to trip and fall.

Her lips were split open and bleeding profusely due to the fall.

Wang Jinhe observed Madam Li’s condition and remarked, “Tsk tsk, you’re really unlucky. An accident causing bloodshed.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Li covered her mouth, looking at the blood in her hand. Frustrated and furious, she left.

She was determined to talk to everyone and let them know what kind of person Wang Jinhe was.

If she ever got someone married, she wouldn’t be surnamed Li anymore.

Wang Jinhe stood there watching Madam Li’s departure, then lowered her head to look at Big Baa Baa and Big Flower.

She reached out and patted goats head. “Well done. I’ll give you two an extra meal today.”

With an air of haughtiness, Big Flower walked away, while Big Baa Baa turned around and went back to be with Small Baa Baa.

Seeing the two behaving so proudly, Wang Jinhe couldn’t help but chuckle. “You give me that expression even after I offer you an extra meal? Do you believe I won’t give it to you now?”

In response, the two didn’t even spare a glance. Their attitude clearly conveyed, “Give it or don’t, we don’t care.”

“…” Wang Jinhe was rendered speechless.

After Madam Li arrived at Xie Family Village, people started asking her what had happened.

Madam Li began to spread malicious gossip about Wang Jinhe, saying that now that she had some money, she looked down on poor people. She also claimed that the people in the village weren’t good enough for her.

In short, she spoke harshly, and while some people believed her, others didn’t.

Those who knew the kind of person Madam Li was remarked, “Could it be that you provoked someone and got dealt with, which is why you’re acting like this?”

“What kind of people are you advocating for? Do you have any sense at all?”

“How many of the people you speak for have harmonious lives? Which family isn’t in chaos? You can turn ruffians into talented youth, those frequenting shady places into respectable individuals, and those going nowhere into scholars.”

“Is this not something you’ve done a lot? How many young girls have you harmed without any remorse? You can call the lazy hardworking, the disobedient filial, and how many young men have you misled? Even if Wang Jinhe beats you up again, I don’t think it would matter,” someone nearby sneered and remarked.

People like this deserve a good beating. What more is there to say?

In light of this, Madam Li felt a bit guilty; after all, it was her actions that had led to this situation.

Seeing Madam Li’s guilty demeanor, the person nearby scornfully continued, “Most likely, the people you found for Wang Jinhe this time aren’t any good either. So what if she has a child? Her brother is pursuing education. If Wang Jingyu excels in his studies and becomes a scholar or even passes the imperial exams, you won’t be able to reach that level.”

“That’s right.”

“Now she even has the money to build such a large house. Her life is getting better and better. What’s wrong with her finding someone she likes? Can’t you see what your reputation has become? And you have the audacity to come here?”

Madam Li thought that by saying these things about the Xie family village, the villagers would join her in criticizing Wang Jinhe. Little did she know that in the end, she would be the one receiving the criticism.

“You… You people truly have no gratitude. I tried to help you with good intentions, and you’re saying such things. You don’t know how to appreciate it.”

“Help from you? Spare us. My child won’t be marrying anyone, let alone seeking someone like you to stir things up.”

“Exactly, with so many matchmakers around, why would anyone go to you?”

In the end, Madam Li could only leave with a downcast expression. After everyone departed, they began to discuss, “Is Wang Jinhe really like that?”

“Do you believe the words of this old woman? Aren’t you just causing trouble for yourselves? Have you thought about what kind of life Da Zhu’s daughter is living now? She has endless chores, can’t eat enough, can’t sleep well, and on top of that, she’s frequently beaten. These are the ‘good deeds’ done by Madam Li. With all this, do you still trust her words?”

“That’s right, you can’t believe anyone’s words, especially not Madam Li’s. There’s really nothing positive to say about a person like her.”

“In the future, it’s better to keep your distance from Madam Li. Even if you need a matchmaker, spend a bit more money to find someone better. Don’t go for matchmakers with ruined reputations like hers. This isn’t being good for your children; it’s simply setting them up for failure.”

Wang Jinhe remained unaware of the village’s events until one day when the elderly woman returned and informed her that Madam Li had been spreading malicious rumors about her in the village.

“Is Madam Li out of her mind?” Wang Jinhe couldn’t help but comment.

“She doesn’t understand the state of her own reputation. It’s become absolutely rotten. Xie Da Zhu’s daughter, Xiu Zhu, is a pretty girl who works diligently. She was deceived by Madam Li in the beginning, and now she’s leading a miserable life. She eats spoiled food, wakes up before dawn, and on top of that, she’s often subjected to beatings. Everyone in the village knows about it. Does she think tarnishing our village’s reputation would work? Our village used to seek her services for matchmaking, but since the incident with Xie Da Zhu’s family, no one has gone to her anymore. Even the nearby villages avoid her. Even if she asks for a low fee, no one wants to employ her,” Grandma Wang spoke with clear disdain for Madam Li.