Zhao Lao Er’s wife gave Shen Xuezhu a disdainful glance. “He already left early this morning. Why are you here so early to find him?”

Shen Xuezhu, feeling sensitive, noticed that Zhao Lao Er’s wife was looking at her strangely, with a hint of disdain in her eyes. She quickly guessed the reason in her mind. She had no intention of answering the question anymore.

“Zhao Da Sao, if you have something to say, just say it directly. Don’t look at me with that strange look.”

Zhao Lao Er’s wife casually responded, “Is this how you speak to people?”

“Do you not know what you’ve done yourself? Do I really need to say it?”

“What did I do?” Shen Xuezhu asked.

“You… you were with a wild man…”

Zhao Lao Er’s wife only wanted to say part of it, hoping Shen Xuezhu would understand the rest.

“With a wild man? Why stop there?” Shen Xuezhu asked, pushing for more.

It was the first time Zhao Lao Er’s wife had heard someone ask her this directly, and with such boldness.

“You should already know for yourself. Do I really need to say more?”

Shen Xuezhu hated people who hinted but didn’t finish their sentences.

“Then you might as well just say it outright! I don’t like it when you look at me with those strange eyes! Unless you’re too scared to say it!”

“I’m not scared! You went to the town yesterday to secretly meet a wild man!” Zhao Lao Er’s wife turned her face away.

“How do you know I went to the town to meet a wild man? Did you see it with your own eyes?”

“I heard it from people in the village.”

“Who told you?” Shen Xuezhu pressed.

“Just people from the village! Haven’t I told you that already?” Zhao Lao Er’s wife became impatient with the questioning.

Shen Xuezhu deliberately said, “I know who said it now!”

“I’ll go tell them that Zhao Da Sao was the one who said you told me I secretly met a wild man in the town.”

Hearing Shen Xuezhu say this, Zhao Lao Er’s wife’s face changed drastically.

“I didn’t say anything to you! It’s them who told me you secretly met a wild man in the town!”

“How else would I know if you didn’t say it? How do I know who said it if not from you?”

“I didn’t say anything! Stop asking, or they’ll come to me and say I told you everything!”

Shen Xuezhu looked at her and said, “But I heard it from you, why are you denying it?”

Zhao Lao Er’s wife became anxious. “I didn’t tell you anything!”

Shen Xuezhu pretended to walk away.

Zhao Lao Er’s wife grabbed her arm. “Clear up what you said.”

Shen Xuezhu glared at her. “What? Did I misunderstand you? Are you in a hurry now?”

“When you said I secretly met a wild man in the town, do you know how I felt?”

“I’m telling you now, I didn’t secretly meet any man in the town!”

Zhao Lao Er’s wife casually said, “I heard it from people in the village. I didn’t say you secretly met a man in the town.”

“Who in the village told you? I’ll go find them.”

“I heard…” Zhao Lao Er’s wife suddenly realized, “I can’t say, or you’ll go and tell them I was the one who revealed it.”

“Do you still have those strange eyes on me? Are you still going to say I secretly met a wild man?”

“I won’t look anymore, and I won’t say anything, just don’t go looking for them.”

Shen Xuezhu replied seriously, “I won’t go looking for them, but you should tell them not to listen to rumors.”

“You need to tell them I didn’t secretly meet a wild man in the town. These are just jealous people who are making up stories because I’m now making and selling cured meat.”

Zhao Lao Er’s wife said, “I’ll tell them that for you.”

At that moment, Zhao Lao Er returned.

Shen Xuezhu told him she needed his help to drive the ox cart to the town that morning.

He agreed, saying that after breakfast, he would drive the cart to the old Lu family house.