Chapter 19

Calling the Grapes Sour When You Can’t Eat Them

Xu Jiajia felt a little frustrated, but not too much, knowing that the general cultural level of people in this era was low and their legal awareness weak. “I trust the police will handle it appropriately.”

Li, the matchmaker, eager for gossip, had been halfway out the door but then turned back. She crouched by the courtyard entrance, creeping closer. Upon hearing the words “report to the authorities,” she immediately stood up and exclaimed, “I’ll report it!”

Old Madam Xu raised her eyebrows. “Weren’t you leaving?”

Li gave an awkward laugh. “I just…”

But before she could finish, Old Madam Xu, knowing her too well, cut her off. “Forget it, I don’t want to hear it.”

Li was left speechless.

She had prepared a whole basket of words! Why wasn’t she allowed to finish?

Li Chengye, looking around, suddenly volunteered, “I-I have a bicycle! I’ll go report it.”

Xu Jiajia thought of his bicycle, caked in yellow mud, and chuckled. “No need. Ah Yue’s comrade is a police officer. Ah Yue, go and call Comrade Liu over.”

Liu Kui had been keeping himself nearby but out of earshot, knowing the family was dealing with sensitive matters.

When Shen Yuebai found Liu Kui, he was playing rock-paper-scissors with the village kids.

“At your age, still playing this? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Liu Kui laughed. “What can I say? It’s nostalgic.”

Shen Yuebai, having had an unhappy childhood, couldn’t relate. “My aunt wants to file a report.”

Liu Kui, who had been seated at a distant spot during the banquet and didn’t know what had happened, asked, “What’s going on?”

Shen Yuebai replied, “Just come with me.”

Returning to the Xu household, Liu Kui saw He Taohua’s injuries firsthand. Only then did he realize how cruel her husband was. “Besides your back and hands, where else are you hurt?”

He Taohua hesitated before whispering in Old Madam Xu’s ear, embarrassed. “That place… it’s burned too.”

Old Madam Xu was momentarily confused. She stared blankly at He Taohua. “Which place?”

Blushing furiously, He Taohua stammered, “Th-that place.”

Realization dawned on Old Madam Xu, and she grasped He Taohua’s hand. “Come with me.”

In a private room, Old Madam Xu urged He Taohua to take off her pants.

He Taohua hesitated. “I-I can’t… it’s too embarrassing.”

Old Madam Xu insisted, “At this point, what’s there to be embarrassed about? Hurry up.”

Reluctantly, under Old Madam Xu’s urging, He Taohua complied.

Her lower body was horribly burned, the skin unrecognizable.

Old Madam Xu’s heart ached. “It must hurt so much. How could you be so foolish? He’s beaten you like this, and you didn’t tell your family! What does that make us, your family, look like?”

He Taohua, teary-eyed, choked out, “I wanted to say something many times, but my sister-in-law always said Mother’s health was poor and couldn’t take the shock. Over time, I just stopped wanting to bring it up.”

When Grandma He entered the room, He Taohua had already put her pants back on. Grandma He asked, “Are you still hiding something from us?”

Afraid of being questioned further, He Taohua quickly replied, “No, nothing at all! If you don’t believe me, ask the matron of the family!”

This time, Old Madam Xu stood by He Taohua. “She hasn’t hidden anything. I brought her here to talk about a few things.”

Grandma He, already overwhelmed by the revelations, agreed it was better she didn’t know more.

Finally reassured, Grandma He warned, “In the future, don’t hide things from us anymore.”

He Taohua nodded tearfully. “I won’t. I promise.”

Having Liu Kui present saved a lot of trouble.

He prepared the report and told He Taohua, “Go to the hospital tomorrow for an examination. After that, bring the medical report to the station and find me.”

He Taohua nodded. “Alright.”

Wang Bo was taken away by Liu Kui.

He resisted at first but behaved only after Second Uncle He gave him a thorough beating.

The matchmaker, Li, watched in shock, covering her mouth. “Oh my! So beating your wife can actually land you in jail? I have to go spread the word!”

With that, Li left in a whirlwind, leaving only her retreating figure behind.

She arrived at the threshing ground, where quite a crowd had already gathered.

Some were discussing Xu Jiajia’s wedding, while others were talking about He Taohua’s situation.

“Do you think Jiajia can live a good life after such an incident at her wedding?”

“Who knows! The Xu family has no male heirs; they might not be able to make it work!”

Someone who had benefited from Granny Xu’s kindness immediately retorted, “So what if they have no male heirs? Didn’t they find an excellent son-in-law? You’re just sour grapes!”

“Exactly! Xiao Shen is a soldier with a decent rank. I heard his monthly pay is higher than a worker’s salary. With that much money in a year, how could they not live well?”

“Well, you said it—he’s a soldier. Soldiers take on dangerous missions. What if something happens to him?”

Matchmaker Li couldn’t stand it anymore. She marched up and slapped the person who spoke twice across the face. “You bastard! If it hadn’t been for Sister Xu saving you back then, you’d have long been dead! How dare you curse someone like this, you ungrateful wretch!”

The woman screamed in pain and glared venomously at Matchmaker Li. “You crazy old hag! I’ll fight you!”

She lunged at Matchmaker Li, but others held her back. “Don’t fight! What you said was wrong in the first place. If this gets back to Sister Xu, you’ll be in for a scolding!”

The woman, recalling Granny Xu’s temper, shrank back and looked frightened. “It wasn’t me who said it! This came from Shen Yuebai’s stepmother. She said that if Shen Yuebai ever dies, it’ll be because Jiajia cursed him to death!”

Hearing this, Matchmaker Li stopped gossiping and stormed off to the Shen household. “Zhao Chunlan, get your ass out here!”

Zhao Chunlan was in the kitchen. Hearing the shout, she put down her work and came out. Surprised to see Matchmaker Li, she asked, “Weren’t you at the wedding feast? Why are you here?”

Matchmaker Li pointed at her and scolded, “I don’t care if you badmouth Xiao Shen, but spreading rumors that Jiajia curses people? If you keep this up, I’ll tell everyone how you exploit Shen Dazhu in bed every day!”

Zhao Chunlan’s face darkened as she cursed back, “You foul-mouthed old hag! Did I dig up your ancestors’ graves or kill your family for you to slander me like this?”

Matchmaker Li snapped back, “Not only are you a wretch, but you’re also a wicked stepmother!”

Zhao Chunlan trembled with rage. “Get out! Get out—”

Matchmaker Li sneered, “The Xu family’s affairs are my affairs. Just wait—one day, Sister Xu will beat you to the ground.”

Thinking of Granny Xu’s strength, Zhao Chunlan felt intimidated. She said nothing and retreated into the kitchen.

…

As the sun was about to set, Grandma He stood up and said, “Mother-in-law, we’re heading back now.”

Granny Xu tried to keep them. “Don’t go tonight. Stay here.”

Grandma He smiled and replied, “That’s not possible. We have a big family; there aren’t enough beds for all of us!”

Before Grandma He left, Granny Xu packed a lot of things for her—some unfinished meat and candies.

All of it had been bought by Shen Yuebai.

Grandma He looked at the net bag of goods and hesitated. “This is too valuable. I can’t take it.”

Granny Xu pushed the bag into her hands. “Xiao Shen prepared this for you. It’s his thoughtful gesture. Take it.”

Only then did Grandma He accept it. She looked at Shen Yuebai and said, “You two must live a good life and make those who doubt you jealous.”

Even if Grandma He hadn’t said so, Shen Yuebai would have done it. “I will.”

…

That evening.

Two red candles lit up the dark room, creating a warm and gentle atmosphere.

Xu Jiajia lay on the bed, propping her face up with one hand as she watched Shen Yuebai undressing. She clicked her tongue in appreciation. “That figure is even better than I imagined. Comrade Yue, I’ve hit the jackpot.”

Women of this era were usually reserved about their feelings. Xu Jiajia’s directness was something Shen Yuebai had never encountered before.

“Are you like this with everyone?” he asked.