Chapter 15: Today, she was caught off guard by your questions. From now on, she won’t dare to say anything about you again 

Old Lady He was caught off guard and wanted to find a hole to hide in.

“No… no, I didn’t think that way,” she stammered.

A villager stood up to defend Shen Xuezhu, “Old Lady He, you’ve wrongfully accused the wife of Xiao Mountain, and now you’re saying you didn’t think that way? Everyone heard it clearly.”

Old Lady He’s face changed color at the accusation, and she didn’t dare to meet his eyes.

Shen Xuezhu wasn’t going to let Old Lady He off the hook. “Auntie, you’ve already told me to go to Niu Sange’s house. Have you forgotten? Now you’re saying I didn’t give him money?”

With so many people around, Old Lady He didn’t know what to say.

Shen Xuezhu pressed, “Auntie, how did you know I didn’t give Niu Sange money?”

“I… I passed by Niu Laosan’s house, and I heard his wife say…”

“Ah, so it was Niu Laosan’s wife who told you,” a villager interrupted her.

She had promised not to mention it.

Realizing she had been misunderstood, Old Lady He became flustered and snapped, “What are you talking about? I wasn’t finished speaking, and you interrupted me!”

“Old Lady He, what do you mean by saying I’m talking nonsense? Can you not insult people?”

“You’re the one who speaks too fast! If you finish speaking slowly, how could I misunderstand you?”

One villager, who had been listening, walked away midway.

Old Lady He didn’t notice her leave.

Otherwise, knowing Old Lady He’s character, she would have stopped her and clarified everything.

“I’m not wasting time with you. Let me get to the point,” Old Lady He started.

Before she could say anything, someone else spoke first.

“What do you mean by not wasting time with me? Can you not insult people?”

Old Lady He was anxious to explain, but didn’t notice that two more villagers had left.

“I didn’t insult you. When I said ‘nonsense,’ I was referring to myself. I wouldn’t insult myself, would I? Let me get to the point, please, dear!”

“Don’t call me ‘dear,’ it sounds rude and disrespectful.”

Old Lady He was getting angry. “Are you done yet?”

“As long as you don’t insult people and speak politely, I won’t say anything.”

Old Lady He patted her chest. “Alright, alright, I’ll get to the point. You all stay and listen until I finish.”

Then Old Lady He continued, “I passed by Niu Laosan’s house and heard his wife say, ‘Old San, it’s right that you don’t take the Xiao Mountain wife’s money.’”

Thinking she had explained herself, Old Lady He was ready to leave.

But Shen Xuezhu called her back, “Auntie, when you first came to my house today, I didn’t mention that the wild boar was carried down the mountain by Niu Sange and killed by him. But you immediately told me to go to Niu Sange’s house!”

“The fact that you said that only proves you’ve already heard from someone else that I didn’t give Niu Sange money.”

“Then who told you I didn’t give Niu Sange money?”

Shen Xuezhu’s question made Old Lady He break out in a cold sweat.

“You… you really shouldn’t ask me,” she muttered, then quickly turned and ran away.

The villagers comforted Shen Xuezhu.

“Xiao Mountain’s wife, don’t mind Old Lady He. She just loves to meddle in other people’s business.”

“She was caught off guard by your questions today. After this, she won’t dare to say anything about you again.”

“We all know Xiao Mountain’s wife didn’t refuse to pay Niu Laosan for the pigs he slaughtered.”

Shen Xuezhu nodded, “Thank you all for speaking up for me today.”

“No need to thank us. We all know right from wrong.”

Soon, the villagers left the Lu family’s old house.

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