Shen Qingwan sold two jars of water. With this water, they should have enough to sustain them until they reach Jixiang Town.

Thinking about how they would part ways once they arrived, Bai Yong’an felt a bit reluctant, and Shen Qingwan was also unwilling to let go of this “golden thigh” so easily.

So, while they were resting, they sat down for a chat.

Old Man Lu, upon learning that Bai Yong’an would leave once they reached Jixiang Town, also joined in their conversation.

Lu’s eldest daughter-in-law, being a widow, found it inappropriate to be alone with Bai Yong’an, so Old Man Lu stayed and chatted with them.

Zhang Qiao’er watched them talking so animatedly and couldn’t help but complain to Chen Widow’s daughter-in-law beside her. “That Shen Qingwan is really lucky. How long has it been since Lu Wenzhao died? She’s already found another man. Though he’s a bit older, he seems to treat her quite well.”

Chen Widow’s daughter-in-law, Zhang Juxiang, had only been married for a year and had a good relationship with Zhang Qiao’er.

They often gossiped together.

Now that Zhang Qiao’er wanted to confide in her, Zhang Juxiang was more than happy to listen.

“Qiao’er, don’t talk recklessly. Shen is as influential as the village chief now. Be careful, or she’ll make things difficult for you. Have you forgotten what happened to Auntie Zhao?”

At the mention of Datou’s mother, both of them shivered.

They had witnessed Zhao Caihua being torn apart by wolves and knew that the reason she couldn’t escape was that Shen Qingwan had blocked her path.

“I’m just speaking the truth. What can she do? Kill me? She’s the one who couldn’t stand being alone and shamelessly entangled with a wild man, even openly keeping him by her side. And no one is allowed to talk about it?”

Zhang Qiao’er didn’t think she was wrong.

Why should she be the only one struggling in the mud?

She wanted to drag Shen Qingwan down with her, to make her even worse off than herself.

“I heard that old man was saved by Shen in Qing’an Prefecture, but he’s been following her all this time and hasn’t left.”

Zhang Juxiang looked at Bai Yong’an’s back, also feeling curious about the truth.

“Do you think I don’t know what kind of person Shen Qingwan is? She’s all bluff. How could she have the ability to save anyone? That man is obviously her lover, and she keeps him around for her own pleasure,” Zhang Qiao’er sneered.

Her words were so vile that Zhang Juxiang quickly looked around, afraid someone might overhear.

But their voices weren’t quiet, and since everyone was nearby, many people had already heard their conversation.

Some disagreed with Zhang Qiao’er but didn’t have the energy to argue, while others just watched the drama unfold without taking her words seriously.

Lowering her voice, Zhang Juxiang said, “Don’t forget, she killed so many wolves before. And when people from Zhao Village came looking for trouble, it was Shen Qingwan who led the charge to drive them away. I think she really does have some skills; otherwise, why would the whole village trust her?”

Zhang Juxiang didn’t hold any particular grudge against Shen Qingwan, so she tried to be fair.

In her opinion, Shen wasn’t that bad.

Although she had been a bit rough in the past—often scolding and beating her child—she had never actually done anything too excessive to the villagers.

“Hmph, she just has that foxy look. Those men lose their minds as soon as she hooks a finger at them. Of course, they listen to her. It was the whole village that drove away Zhao Village’s people, not just her. And as for those wolves, the villagers helped too. Otherwise, how could a single woman kill so many wolves? If she really did kill them, why would she share the wolf meat with everyone instead of keeping it to sell for money?”

Zhang Qiao’er’s words grew more and more outrageous.

Before Shen Qingwan could react, Bai Yong’an couldn’t stand it any longer.

After all, those two weren’t even trying to be discreet. It was impossible not to hear them.

“You little girl, how can someone so young speak such nonsense? Do your parents not teach you that trouble comes from the mouth?” Bai Yong’an’s face darkened, genuinely angered.

This young girl, despite her age, was already so bitter and sharp-tongued.

He wondered how she had been raised.

“My mouth is mine, and I can say what I want. Besides, I’m just speaking the truth. Why are you defending Shen Qingwan so much? Are you two really not involved? You can do it, but no one is allowed to talk about it?”

Zhang Qiao’er felt that Bai Yong’an was only reacting this way because she had hit a nerve.

If they were truly innocent, why was he so angry?

“You—”

Bai Yong’an’s face turned red with anger.

He had spent half his life in business, dealing with all sorts of cunning and deceitful people, but this was the first time someone had made him so furious that he couldn’t even speak.

The saying was true: “Women and petty people are difficult to deal with.”

“Second Master, don’t be angry,” Shen Qingwan said calmly, placing a hand on Bai Yong’an’s arm. “There’s no point in reasoning with people who have no sense of shame and only spew filth from their mouths.”

She then stepped toward Zhang Qiao’er.

Seeing Shen Qingwan approach, Zhang Qiao’er didn’t bother to hide her disdain.

Compared to Shen Qingwan, who had abandoned all morals to be with a wild man, her own past seemed far less shameful.

“Shen Qingwan, you’re still a daughter-in-law of Dahe Village, yet you spend all day clinging to a man who isn’t your husband. You even bring him around openly. Do you think the people of Dahe Village are blind and stupid?”

Before Zhang Qiao’er could finish speaking, Shen Qingwan raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face.

“Slap!”

The sound was crisp and loud. Zhang Qiao’er’s ears rang, and half her face burned with pain as it quickly swelled.

“You—! You shameless wretch! How dare you hit me?!”

Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Qingwan struck her again.

“Slap!”

The second slap echoed even louder.

The villagers who had been watching immediately began whispering, explaining what had led up to the altercation.

Zhang Qiao’er was furious.

How dare Shen Qingwan hit her—not just once, but twice!

“Aaah!”

She shrieked and lunged at Shen Qingwan like a madwoman, her hands clawing wildly as if to tear her apart.

“You shameless wretch, I’ll kill you!”

Unfortunately, before she could even get close, Shen Qingwan lifted her leg and kicked her away, sending her flying backward.

“Where do you get the nerve to shout in front of me?”

Shen Qingwan smirked, her eyes filled with amusement and disdain.

Her rogue-like charm made her look undeniably cool, to the point where Bai Yong’an almost wanted to applaud.

She was someone who had once wielded an AK rifle single-handedly and shouldered rocket launchers in the post-apocalyptic world.

Dealing with a petty, sharp-tongued village woman?

That was nothing.