Chapter 47: Not a Pure Maiden

Little Chen-shi clutched her daughter, crying while singing in grief.

“What’s going on here? Making a ruckus in our village so early in the morning? Who are you people? How dare you come stir up trouble in Zhoujia Village—do you think I, the village chief, am just for show?”

Little Chen-shi had barely started her weeping before—

The village chief of Zhoujia Village stepped out from the crowd.

From his tone, it was clear—

He intended to side with the Zhou family.

“Village Chief, thank goodness you’re here. My Yuanyuan is being forced to death! This Jiang family brought their whole household here to cause trouble. They completely disregard your authority—yet this is Zhoujia Village’s territory!”

Little Chen-shi was adept at fanning flames.

Once she finished her tirade—

The Zhou village chief’s face darkened.

“You dare cause trouble in my Zhoujia Village? Seems you lot are tired of living! Everyone, grab your tools!”

Every village, no matter how much they squabble internally—

Stands united against outsiders.

Hearing the chief’s call,

Many villagers ran home to fetch weapons. Some were too lazy—

They just picked up stones, branches, even stools lying around.

The scene looked a bit comical.

“Wait, wait, wait! Chief Zhou, don’t you remember me? My mother is Zhou Xiufen. This is my father-in-law’s family. They’ve just arranged a marriage with Zhou Chen-shi’s family—you must have heard. Originally, they were about to be wed. But now, gossip about Zhou Yuanyuan has spread everywhere. Even we’ve heard plenty.

Who doesn’t want a clean and innocent girl for a wife, eh? So my father-in-law’s family came early to annul the engagement. They intended to speak calmly—but Zhou Chen-shi refused to cooperate, insisting on making a scene. That’s why things got noisy. It’s all a misunderstanding—we didn’t come to cause trouble. As long as the engagement is annulled, I’ll immediately take the Jiang family away.”

Sunfu stepped forward—

Trying to ease tensions.

“Oh, it’s you. Since it’s just about annulling the engagement, then talk it out properly. What’s all this noise? Everyone put down your tools. Zhou Chen-shi, they want to withdraw—let them. Otherwise, if Yuanyuan marries into their family unwillingly, she’ll just suffer there. What’s the point? Marriage is supposed to unite, not breed hatred!”

The Zhou village chief wasn’t a bad man. Once he realized the Jiang family hadn’t come looking for a fight, his anger subsided immediately.

And with Sunfu—half a Zhoujia villager himself—mediating,

The atmosphere shifted.

Now, it seemed everyone was just waiting for Zhou Chen-shi’s family to return the betrothal silver.

“Return it? Nonsense! My granddaughter’s body has already been defiled by him. He’s played with her for nothing, and now he wants to back out? No way!”

The money was already in her pocket. Why should she give it back?

Zhou Chen-shi’s eyes flickered.

This marriage—absolutely could not be annulled.

And even if it were, the betrothal money would not be returned.

“You wretched old hag, still spouting lies? My eldest grandson is a virgin lad. He’s only met your granddaughter three times, always with us present. Your story isn’t even believable. Who would buy it? Hurry up and give back the two taels of silver!”

This time, Zhang Jinlan didn’t resort to throwing a fit.

Her son-in-law had just smoothed things over. She dared not risk ruining it again.

If matters truly exploded, the Jiang family’s dozen or so people couldn’t possibly withstand an entire Zhoujia Village.

“Whether I’m lying or not, just send in a woman to check my body and you’ll know! That day, when Jiang Tongjin first saw me, his mind was filled with evil thoughts. He waited until no one was in the yard, then pinned me to the ground and—and—waaah—violated me! If you don’t believe me, check! Everything I say is true!”

Zhou Yuanyuan cried like her heart was breaking, her voice filled with despair.

If not for knowing her grandson’s character, Zhang Jinlan herself might have been fooled.

Nearby, Sunfu sensed something off. Quietly, he slipped away from the crowd, hurrying toward Sunjia Village.

Jiang Fubao noticed it all—

But she held her tongue.

She feared this Zhou Yuanyuan had long ceased being a maiden—

And was now trying to pin it on her cousin.

What to do?

How could this be resolved?

Jiang Fubao frowned deeply, her mind racing with countermeasures.

“I’ll do it. I’ve delivered dozens of babies. One look, and I’ll know for sure.”

At that moment, a fifty-year-old woman stepped forward.

“I’ll come too. I may not have delivered babies, but my late grandmother once served a female doctor in town. I can tell if a girl is pure at a glance.”

Another woman, about thirty, also volunteered.

Together, the two women took Zhou Yuanyuan into the house.

The crowd waited outside Zhou’s home.

Then suddenly—Jiang Fubao’s mind lit up.

The Zhou family’s urgency to marry Yuanyuan within ten days… and Yuanyuan’s body clearly wasn’t intact.

Earlier, she had noticed Yuanyuan’s complexion—

Waxy yellow, very different from their first meeting. Her face looked weary, as if she hadn’t slept well. Her lips faintly reddened—

As though she had vomited.

Could it be…

Yuanyuan was already with child?

Otherwise, why the rush to marry? Surely it was to find her unborn child a father.

Just as Jiang Fubao was thinking this—

The three women emerged.

“Yuanyuan indeed has lost her maidenhood. What she said is true.”

“I can also confirm it. Seems this Jiang boy is a liar—preying on a girl the very first time he saw her. Who knows how many wicked things he’s done in secret!”

The two women who checked Zhou Yuanyuan’s body glared fiercely at Jiang Tongjin—

As though his guilt was already proven.

“Grandmother, Mother—I can’t live anymore. Everyone knows I was ruined by this beastly man. And now he still wants to withdraw the engagement. How can I survive? I’m an unmarried girl—yet I’ve lost my chastity before even wedding. Who will ever take me now?”

Zhou Yuanyuan’s lips trembled. Tears slid past her long lashes, dripping to the ground.

She wasn’t ugly—in fact, she could be called a village beauty.

And her pitiful sobbing stirred sympathy in many hearts.

“You Jiang family, don’t go too far! You’ve ruined Yuanyuan like this—do you really mean to drive her to her death? I say, don’t annul the marriage. Just wed her quickly. If this blows up, you’ll gain nothing anyway. Our villages are so close—after this scandal, who’d still want your grandson? Better to take Yuanyuan home and treat her well.”

“That’s right! Your Jiang family is already dirt poor—what are you still picky about? Having someone willing to marry in is a blessing. Instead of cherishing her, you still want to back out? What, does your boy think he can marry some rich man’s daughter? He should look at himself in a puddle first!”

“Well said! You think our Zhou village girls are so easy to bully? If today you Jiang family succeed in annulling this marriage, then tomorrow every Zhou village girl will be looked down on! Get out of here—back to Jiangjia Village!”

“….”

Many villagers began to speak up for the Zhou family.

A few young men even clenched their fists, ready to fight.

“Nonsense! My grandson never touched her. She lost her purity to someone else and now blames it on him! You black-hearted little tramp—you must have been with that licentiate from town, only for him to cast you aside. And now you come to ruin our family.

Don’t be fooled by her lies! Who knows how many men this girl has been unclear with? Poor Jiang family—we’ve lived upright and kind all our lives, only to be bullied like this. Heaven above, open your eyes! Strike down this Zhou family—”