Chapter 40

“What?”

“The educated youth’s courtyard was lively just now. I heard that the male educated youth named Wang Jingwen actually peeked at Jiang Cuihua while she was taking a bath in the room.

After being discovered, he didn’t stop, and he actually took advantage of the fact that no one was in the educated youth’s courtyard and tried to do something to Jiang Cuihua.

You should have seen how badly he was beaten up by the educated youths in the courtyard. His nose was bruised and swollen. When I came back, they had sent someone to take Wang Jingwen to the police station in town.”

Speaking of which, Xu Li proudly lifted her chin and continued, “But Jiang Cuihua doesn’t deserve any sympathy. Didn’t she get together with that good-for-nothing Zhou Yuan before? She’s not virtuous herself, so it’s no wonder she was targeted by someone with bad intentions.”

After all, it wasn’t something to be proud of.

To avoid eavesdropping, Song Shishi lightly tapped Xu Li’s forehead, saying seriously, “This kind of thing, how can you, a young girl, talk about it? Don’t go and join in on this kind of fun in the future, or you’ll get into trouble without knowing it.”

Xu Li pouted in grievance, “Alright.”

“By the way, I borrowed some books for you to read in town today.” As she spoke, she walked towards the main room.

Xu Li followed behind, like a little tail, curiously asking, “What kind of books?”

“There are poems, storybooks, when you learn all the characters in these two books, I’ll teach you others.”

Xu Li took the books and was very happy, but then she lost her smile and said in a muffled voice, “But I’m too stupid, I learn slowly.”

“It’s okay to be slow, we have plenty of time, the important thing is to persevere.”

Xu Li nodded heavily, seemingly understanding.

“You go play for a while, I’m going to make lunch.” Song Shishi tied on her apron, patted Xu Li’s head affectionately, and turned to go to the kitchen.

Not long after, Xu Li followed her into the kitchen and said, “Sister, why don’t we marinate this meat?”

“What’s wrong?”

Xu Li usually didn’t interfere with her cooking, why was she suddenly concerned about marinating meat today?

Xu Li looked back at the outside, leaned close to her, and lowered her voice, “We’ve been eating meat almost every day, and I always hear people gossiping about us behind our backs when I work. I’m afraid they’ll get jealous and target our family, which wouldn’t be good.”

Gossip was a nice way of putting it, the village gossips probably said some really nasty things, otherwise Xu Li wouldn’t have said that.

She didn’t have a strong desire to eat meat, really.

She just thought that Xu Li hadn’t eaten enough and had been malnourished when she was at Xu Guiying’s house, so she wanted to give her some nutrition.

But then again, Xu Li was right, they were a bit too flashy eating like this.

Even if people couldn’t see, they could smell the aroma of the meat every time they cooked.

“Okay, I understand.”

Scooping the spinach out of the pot, Song Shishi handed the plate to Xu Li and asked, “Do you know how to marinate pork?”

Xu Li shook her head.

“Then let’s do it after we eat.”

Marinating pork requires salt.

The salt she bought last time, plus the salt Su Yaqin brought during the Mid-Autumn Festival, would be enough for them to eat for a while even after marinating the pork, so they didn’t have to worry.

…

In the educated youth’s courtyard on the other side.

Jiang Cuihua had calmed down a lot under Zhang Qingmei’s persuasion.

Yang Huifang deliberately raised her voice, “It’s all thanks to Shishi for telling Captain Chen, otherwise, Cuihua wouldn’t know what would have happened.”

“Yeah, I’m still scared when I think about it. I don’t know if Wang Jingwen was doing this for the first time, or if he had already…” Jia Jingwen stopped there, not daring to say more.

This kind of thing that ruined someone’s reputation couldn’t be said casually, it could be fatal.

Su Yu looked at Jiang Cuihua and kindly advised, “Cuihua, you really have to thank Shishi this time. If she hadn’t been quick-witted, you would have been ruined by that beast.”

Jiang Cuihua’s hand, which was clutching her clothes, tightened, and she gritted her teeth, “What thanks? If she had rushed in to save me right away, why would I be like this now?”

“Jiang Cuihua, I know you’re upset, but you can’t be so ungrateful.”

The few people in the room were uncomfortable with Jiang Cuihua’s words.

Even Shen Shufen, who usually didn’t say much when they had conflicts, couldn’t help but speak up.

Su Yu nodded in agreement, “That’s right, in that situation, if Shishi had rushed in, not only would she not have been able to save you, but she might have been harmed by Wang Jingwen too.”

“You guys are just talking without knowing the pain. You haven’t been in my shoes, so you don’t know how painful it is, right?”

But Jiang Cuihua wouldn’t listen to their words. She had already held a grudge against Song Shishi.

She got off the kang bed and said viciously, “You’re all speaking up for her. I tell you, Wang Jingwen might not have done this for the first time. He’s been sent to the police station now, and when the police investigate, everyone in Huaqing Brigade will know, and none of us in this room will be able to escape.”

After saying that, Jiang Cuihua turned and was about to go out, completely ignoring the few people whose faces had turned pale because of her words.

Yang Huifang went up and grabbed her arm, “Jiang Cuihua, if you dare to go out and spread rumors, do you believe I’ll tear your mouth apart?”

“What? Can’t take it anymore?” Jiang Cuihua sneered, forcefully shaking off Yang Huifang’s hand, “You were all talking so confidently just now, weren’t you? Why don’t you keep it for yourself later?”

After saying that, Jiang Cuihua laughed and walked out of the room.

“I told you, there’s no need to comfort her. This kind of person is rotten to the core, she’s beyond saving.”

Yang Huifang was furious and paced back and forth in the room.

If Zhang Qingmei hadn’t repeatedly told them not to have a conflict with Jiang Cuihua at this time,

She would have chased after her and torn that black-hearted woman’s mouth apart.

What a thing.

Jia Jingwen’s eyes were already red. Seeing everyone looking at her, she pulled up the quilt and covered her head, sobbing.

Shen Shufen’s eyes swept back and forth over the people in the room, her mind unknown.

Su Yu went up and pulled Yang Huifang out of the room, whispering, “Why bother with that kind of person? Her reputation is already ruined. We all thought that we were educated youths who came together, and we wanted to help her. Since she doesn’t appreciate it, let her fend for herself.”

“I know that, but she’s so infuriating. It’s one thing not to be grateful, but she also blames everything on others. I get so angry just looking at her.”

Speaking of which, Yang Huifang thought about the malice Jiang Cuihua had shown towards Song Shishi in her words, so she grabbed Su Yu’s hand and said seriously, “No, I have to tell Shishi, let her be on guard.”