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A woman’s reputation is precious at all times, like a piece of white cloth. Once it’s stained with dirt, it’s hard to wash clean. Even if it’s cleaned, those with suspicious minds will still see it as tainted, forever treating it with disdain. Women cannot tolerate such situations, and now Liu Siniang found herself in such a predicament. Her eyes, already swollen from crying, were now bloodshot, transforming from softness to fierceness. Despite her small and slender frame, she exuded a terrifying aura.
Dazhu’s Wife took a step back in fear, then remembered that she would lose face if she showed fear in front of Liu Siniang. She lifted her head again, glaring fiercely at Liu Siniang.
“Liu Siniang, why are you glaring at me?! I’m speaking the truth. If I tell a lie, then, then I’ll go out and get hit by a carriage!”
Li Qing’s Wife sneered, “Dazhu’s Wife, we rural folks hardly ever venture into the town, let alone the city. We rarely encounter carriages in a year. If you just avoid them by a couple of streets, you’ll never get hit by one in your lifetime. What’s the point of making such an oath? Do you think we’re fools to believe it?”
Onlookers chimed in, some agreeing with the sentiment, while others suggested that Dazhu’s Wife should swear a truly binding oath. They claimed that the chance of being struck by lightning was even lower than being hit by a carriage, and she should swear that if she spoke falsely, she would be covered in sores and stench until her death!
“Go on, go on, go on!”
Dazhu’s Wife waved her hands at the spectators as if shooing away flies, attempting to close the door, but no one budged.
Aunt Jinhua stood at the doorway and declared, “Now that everyone knows about this, it concerns a woman’s reputation, and we need to get to the bottom of it. It’s time to gather evidence. Nobody leave! Dazhu’s Wife, go stand over there! If you’re talking nonsense, you’ll have to apologize to Siniang! A woman’s reputation cannot be slandered! If you understand now, speak the truth, or take a convincing oath!”
Feeling somewhat cornered by the unanimous support for Liu Siniang, Dazhu’s Wife hesitated. However, she insisted that she was telling the truth. With a stubborn tilt of her neck, she said, “I swear it’s absolutely true, not a word of falsehood! Liu Siniang was indeed with Li Shi! Why would I need to swear? If I lied, even the heavens would send a carriage to hit me!”
Seeing Dazhu’s Wife refusing to change her story, everyone began to wonder if it could be true.
Zhao Xiaohua, supporting Granny Zhao’s arm, looked disdainfully at Liu Siniang and said, “I knew this woman didn’t uphold proper conduct. She acts delicate all day long. People who don’t know the truth think we mistreat her, but she’s just shameless! If we don’t keep her in check, who knows what trouble she’ll stir up! Look, now she’s pretending to be pitiful again, trying to win sympathy. Anyone who believes her is a fool! Brother Shitou must have been too kind-hearted and got tangled up with her!”
Listening to Zhao Xiaohua’s sharp words, Su Zhi’s face darkened. But when she heard the latter part, she couldn’t help feeling both angry and amused. She thought, “This girl is so bitter and mean towards her sister-in-law, yet she’s absolving the outsider. Does she not want to offend Brother Shi, or does she have some feelings for him? Probably the latter, judging by that ‘Brother Shitou’ she just said!”
Upon hearing her daughter’s words, Granny Zhao became even angrier. Her wrinkled face twisted in fury as she pointed at Liu Siniang and shouted, “Do you have anything else to say?! Dazhu’s wife has sworn an oath! Speak up! Did you seduce Li Shi, or did he seduce you?! If you don’t speak up, you’ll disgrace our Zhao family’s reputation!”
Liu Siniang’s heart felt like it had been stabbed with a knife. How could things have turned out like this? She had handed over all the money Su Zhi lent her to her mother-in-law, and she thought the matter could be put to rest. But why had not only this incident been exposed, but also other things? It was all because of that Dazhu’s Wife. She glared at her, wanting to bite her. But now that the matter involved Li Shi, her anger diminished, and she felt guilty for implicating him. The feeling of guilt made her eyes water.
“Siniang, since they want you to speak, just tell them what happened today!”
Su Zhi said to Liu Siniang. She believed there was no illicit relationship between Liu Siniang and Li Shi. These two people, one honest man and one pure woman, would never engage in any inappropriate behavior like Dazhu’s Wife claimed. If it were true as she said, why would Liu Siniang worry about returning the money to her mother-in-law with Li Shi’s help?
“I believe you are innocent, and Brother Shitou is innocent too. If there was really something between you, there would be no need for me to lend you money.”
Liu Siniang hadn’t spoken yet, but when Su Zhi spoke up, everyone listening found her reasoning sound. They thought, “Yes, if Liu Siniang and Li Shi were involved in any illicit affair, why would she still worry about money? Although Li Shi lived on the east bank of the river, he had been traveling for many years and probably have savings. Besides, he was skilled in hunting and must have some money!”
Dazhu’s Wife, hearing others discussing like this, only wanted to ensure she wouldn’t be held responsible for today’s events. So, she was determined to ruin Liu Siniang’s reputation!
“I only said she was pulling and tugging with Li Shi, but I didn’t say Li Shi had anything to do with her! Maybe she was the one bothering Li Shi, and when he ignored her, she naturally didn’t get any benefit. Then she had to act pitiful to borrow money from you, Sister. Everyone knows you are kind, you and Li Shi were both deceived by her. Don’t talk to her anymore!”
Dazhu’s Wife had hastily dragged Li Shi into the conversation earlier, but now she suddenly realized she couldn’t afford to offend Li Shi. He not only had skills but also had a good relationship with the Shen family. Hearing Zhao Xiaohua defend Li Shi just now, she immediately followed suit and dragged Li Shi out of the mud, while also trying to persuade Su Zhi.
Su Zhi frowned upon hearing Dazhu’s Wife’s words. She didn’t believe her, but hearing the remarks from the bystanders, she felt doubt creeping in regarding Liu Siniang.
Liu Siniang felt distressed, but when she heard Li Shi being spared from further accusations, she felt a slight relief. At least no one was being implicated because of her, and she felt a bit more at ease.
“Siniang don’t be silly. Look, Aunt Jinhua and the others believe in you! I believe in you too!” Su Zhi said, noticing the momentary ease on Liu Siniang’s face. From the perspective of a kind and gentle woman whose words often went unheard, Su Zhi feared that Liu Siniang might hastily admit to having approached Li Shi herself, which would be too pitiful and tragic.
Tears welled up in Liu Siniang’s eyes again as she looked at Su Zhi. In that brief moment just now, she had indeed considered admitting everything and giving up. She felt exhausted, with no one believing her words. Her reputation was almost completely ruined, and hearing the people outside believe the accusations against her, she felt the desire to die. She thought, as long as she didn’t burden others, she could do whatever she wanted. After all, her life was already in shambles, and it couldn’t get much worse.
Su Zhi’s words brought her back to reality. She looked at Su Zhi and then at Aunt Jinhua and the others who had been speaking up for her all along. The fleeting thought disappeared, and she realized she had been foolish.
Zhao Xiaohua pointed at Liu Siniang again and shouted, “You shameless woman, stop pretending to be pitiful! It’s as if we’ve all wronged you! Quickly admit that you approached Brother Shi!”
Granny Zhao, on the side, was also about to strike Liu Siniang with her cane again, scolding, “You shameless creature! Always playing the victim! You’ve tarnished the reputation of our Zhao family!”
Su Zhi, observing Granny Zhao being held back by Li Qing’s wife, and Zhao Xiaohua, felt puzzled. Even if these people wanted to scold Liu Siniang, they could have found plenty of reasons, like laziness or gluttony. But why were they so shamelessly attacking Liu Siniang’s character? Wasn’t that detrimental to their own reputation? Which family would want a woman of loose morals as a daughter-in-law? Was it that this family had no sense of shame, or was there some other reason? Su Zhi couldn’t figure it out at the moment, and the current situation didn’t allow her much time for contemplation.
With a “thud,” Liu Siniang knelt down on the ground.
“Dear fellow villagers, I, Liu Siniang, swear before the heavens that there is nothing between me and Brother Shi. This morning, I lost the money I earned from selling thread in the town. While searching for it, I bumped into Brother Shi because I was looking down. If there was any pulling or dragging, I absolutely deny it. Brother Shi merely helped me up briefly before letting go. That’s all there is to it. If I speak a falsehood, may I suffer a terrible fate. May the heavens swiftly punish me, letting my intestines rot before I die!”
Liu Siniang made her oath to the heavens and then began to kowtow. The thumping sound made people anxious. With an injury already on her forehead, blood began to flow again as she kowtowed, staining the ground.
“Siniang! What are you doing?! Get up!”
Shugen’s wife had initially supported Liu Siniang, but she hadn’t noticed her kneeling down. She had thought Liu Siniang just wanted to make an oath, but she didn’t expect her to kowtow so fervently. She quickly helped her up, tears welling up in her eyes as she saw the blood flowing down Liu Siniang’s face, and she began to cry, covering her mouth.
Li Qing’s wife hurried over and exclaimed, “Oh my! She’s bleeding again! This is too much! They’ve forced an innocent daughter-in-law to make an oath and kowtow with injuries! Are they trying to ruin her completely? Granny Zhao, your Zhao family is too cruel! You believe the word of an outsider over your obedient daughter-in-law. When you lie on your deathbed, who would take care of you!”
Though many villagers tended to be biased and gullible, they were also simple-hearted. Seeing Liu Siniang’s pitiful state and knowing the character of her family, they all leaned towards her side.
Granny Zhao, the eldest daughter-in-law, and Zhao Xiaohua felt ashamed under the villagers’ accusations. Just as they were about to react, someone called out that Li Shi had arrived.
Su Zhi, upon hearing this, felt relieved. Li Shi’s testimony was crucial to clearing Liu Siniang’s innocence.