Chapter 28 Li Tiantian, it turns out you are the one who stinks!

Li Tiantian’s jaw muscles twitched, almost letting out a scream. Su Nan was half a head taller, and Li Tiantian could easily see her armpit.  Perhaps the slap had stunned her, but Su Nan’s imposing presence left her breathless. Li Tiantian’s teeth chattered as she stammered, “Let me go!” Her voice trembled, punctuated by the clicking of her teeth. Su Nan burst out laughing. “Coward!” she said. “When you were badmouthing me, did you ever think about the consequences?” If Su Nan hadn’t looked so kind and gentle, onlookers might have thought they were witnessing a crime scene.

 Su Nan held Li Tiantian’s collar with one hand, raising the other arm to display her armpit at a height above Li Tiantian’s eyes. The pose was ungainly, even comical, but no one dared laugh. They knew Su Nan would target them next! “It… it wasn’t me!” Li Tiantian denied. “It was you!” Wang Kangmei shouted, fearing Su Nan would turn on her next. A mocking smile curved Su Nan’s lips, her eyes growing colder. “Smell. Do I smell bad?” Li Tiantian refused to smell another person’s armpit. 

Su Nan, unsatisfied, tossed Li Tiantian aside. She landed hard on her bottom, a sharp pain shooting through her.  It was her bottom again; was her bottom cursed? Tears welled in her eyes, but she froze as Su Nan turned to Wang Kangmei, grabbing her. “Ah!” Wang Kangmei screamed, her trembling throat visible to those nearby. “Auntie Wang, didn’t you say I smelled bad? Smell and see if it’s me or you!” Su Nan smiled, her beautiful face somehow sinister. Her cool fingers touched Wang Kangmei’s neck, like a sharp knife, making her legs weak and her back drenched in cold sweat. She saw her daughter-in-law, Chen Hao, and yelled, “What are you standing there for? Help me!” Chen Hao, as if she hadn’t heard, moved even farther away. Wang Kangmei was furious.

She realized Su Nan was incredibly strong. It made sense; country women did more manual labor and were naturally stronger. But she was momentarily paralyzed, only able to yell and struggle. Wang Kangmei could fight, but Su Nan’s imposing presence had rendered her helpless. “Smell. Do I smell?” Su Nan relentlessly pressed. Wang Kangmei, in a daze, smelled. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

“It’s fragrant!” she exclaimed. “Comrade Su’s armpits smell fragrant!” The faint scent of soap was indeed pleasant. Satisfied, Su Nan released Wang Kangmei.  Wang Kangmei’s first act of freedom was to chase after her daughter-in-law, Chen Hao, with her slippers. “You bitch! You abandoned me! I’ll kill you!” Chen Hao ran and cried, “Mom, I was terrified! I didn’t mean to abandon you!” Wang Kangmei ignored her, chasing her and yelling across the courtyard. “Auntie Wang, why don’t you smell Li Tiantian? Does she smell fragrant or foul?” Su Nan’s voice, like a summoning from hell, sent a chill down their spines.

Wang Kangmei thought it was better to approach than to be dragged over. Li Tiantian, like a drenched chick, was held by Su Nan, awaiting Wang Kangmei’s judgment. After smelling Su Nan’s fragrance, Wang Kangmei didn’t hesitate to smell Li Tiantian.

“Ugh!” The smell of Wang Kangmei’s stomach acid wafted, making everyone cover their noses and step back. “You’re faking! I don’t smell bad!” Li Tiantian insisted. She had showered the night before; she couldn’t smell bad! Wang Kangmei recovered, “You do smell bad! A mix of sweat and something else. Everyone, smell!” Curious, Chen Xiulan smelled Li Tiantian’s armpit. “Ugh!” “Li Tiantian, how long have you not showered? You smell like a month-old stinky sock!” Li Tiantian’s face paled.

“You… you’re lying!” “Am I? Smell for yourselves!” Li Tiantian struggled to free herself from Su Nan’s grip. The bolder women smelled and recoiled. “Li Tiantian, you’re the one who smells!” Only Su Nan knew Li Tiantian had mild body odor, usually undetectable, but noticeable in areas with more sweat glands. “I don’t!” “You’re framing me!” Li Tiantian knew her armpits smelled stronger, but she refused to admit it.

“Li Tiantian, you’re the one who smells! Why did you say it was Su Nan?” “Yes! You almost got Comrade Su wrongly accused!” The women who had gossiped about Su Nan spoke in unison, condemning Li Tiantian. Su Nan, having achieved her goal, released Li Tiantian. “I warned you. You didn’t learn your lesson. Next time, I’ll hit you again!”  Su Nan left a strong impression on the women. They knew this newcomer wasn’t someone to mess with. They warned others not to provoke her. Li Tiantian burst into tears humiliation, fear, anger. Su Nan, unfazed, went into her house and closed the door.

 “Why are you crying?” “You almost ruined us!” The women surrounded Li Tiantian, those who had gossiped about Su Nan.