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Su Zhi held onto Liu Siniang, witnessing her trembling with anger. She quickly reassured her, asking her not to be upset. Nonetheless, she was also angered, thinking that Aunt Li was utterly unscrupulous. How could she say anything and everything? She had previously slandered Liu Siniang, suggesting an improper relationship with Li Shi. Now, as Liu Siniang wanted to leave, she accused her of having an affair. Aunt Li’s mouth was foul, and her thoughts were malicious.
“Aunt Li! You cannot spout such nonsense! The entire Riverside Village knows who Siniang is! She has toiled diligently for your Zhao family for three years. You easily tarnish her purity. This is simply intolerable! Clearly, it’s your son who, for the sake of another woman, wants to demote his lawful wife to a concubine. When Siniang wants to leave, you won’t let her go and still tarnish her purity. We’ll seek justice with Li Zheng and the villagers!” Su Zhi was determined to have this matter judged. After all, the Zhao family was unjust, with Zhao Daliang favoring another woman and demoting his wife of three years to a concubine. Now, they were also tarnishing her reputation. It was simply bullying. If they didn’t seek justice, Liu Siniang might truly have her reputation ruined, and they might even prevent the divorce, forcing her into servitude!
Aunt Li looked at Su Zhi and said, “Zian’s Wife, I see you as a junior, so I won’t argue with you. It’s best for you to leave and not meddle in our family affairs.”
Zhao Xiaohua added, “Elder sister Zhao, this is my brother’s and sister-in-law’s family matter. You keep getting involved, and it’s not appropriate. If others don’t know, they might think you’re advising my sister-in-law to divorce my brother. It’s better to mind your own business. Breaking up a marriage is damaging to one’s karma. You should leave soon!”
Upon realizing they intended to drive her away and then threaten Liu Siniang, Su Zhi felt she couldn’t abandon Liu Siniang. She wasn’t one to gratuitously flaunt her sense of justice, but now that her friend’s situation was at hand, she was indignant and felt compelled to intervene.
“Siniang is a sister from my village. I naturally have a right to intervene in her affairs. I didn’t instigate the divorce. It’s clear that you’re the ones pressuring her. Once everyone hears about this, they’ll understand. Only fools would be demoted from a wife to a concubine. Forcing someone into that role is ungrateful and disrespectful!”
“Siniang, do you want to leave with me now, or should I find others to help us resolve this here?”
Su Zhi asked Liu Siniang, “Do you want to leave?”
Liu Siniang replied, “I want to leave.”
Su Zhi nodded and said, “I’ll support you. I’ll take you back to my home, and then I’ll seek Li Zheng and the villagers to judge your case. I don’t believe they won’t support you!”
Su Zhi proceeded to assist Liu Siniang. Yueyue handed Liu Siniang her shoes, while Xiaori and Xinger also came to help. However, as Yueyue extended the shoe, it was abruptly snatched away by Aunt Li, who then threw it on the ground, glaring at Liu Siniang and Su Zhi.
“You can’t leave! Liu Siniang is a daughter-in-law of our Zhao family. Can she just leave as she pleases? Wanting a divorce isn’t that easy! She’s a fickle and unfaithful woman! Our Zhao family won’t let her go! Zian’s wife, if you take her away, I’ll accuse her of adultery! Even if we don’t dunk her in a pig cage, she won’t be able to show her face in this village!”
“How dare you!”
Upon hearing this, Su Zhi glared fiercely at Aunt Li, thinking how shameless she was to dare threaten them. It seemed she had no intention of letting Liu Siniang leave. She seemed to want Liu Siniang to serve the Zhao family as a slave for the rest of her life. She had never encountered such a devious family!
Startled by Su Zhi’s stern gaze, Aunt Li took a few steps back and stumbled, falling to the ground.
“Mother, are you alright?!” Zhao Xiaohua and Zhao Daliang hurried to help her up. Aunt Li was in pain from her fall and felt embarrassed. Her anger surged even more. Initially, she didn’t want to offend Su Zhi, but now she didn’t care. Previously, she avoided offending them because they were wealthy. Now that her son had brought home a wealthy wife, she no longer needed to ingratiate herself with Shen Zi’an and his wife.
“Zian’s wife, how dare you disrespect me! I’ll tell everyone that you instigated Liu Siniang’s divorce and that you have been meddling with that Li Shi! Hmph, you and your husband have such a close relationship with Li Shi. You always call Siniang to go out with him. What are you up to? What wicked intentions are you harboring? You’re not afraid of divine retribution! I’ll make sure that this shameless woman gets dunked in a pig cage, and I’ll have both of you punished!”
Aunt Li attempted to intimidate Su Zhi, hoping to scare her off and make her stop intervening in the matter and perhaps even fear her. These days, being involved in an extramarital affair was a serious matter, and those who incited such behavior were also subject to punishment.
Aunt Li didn’t believe that Su Zhi, as a woman, wouldn’t fear being embroiled in such a scandal. She was certain that Su Zhi cared about her reputation.
While Su Zhi indeed cared about her reputation, she wasn’t about to back down because of Aunt Li’s remarks. When she was once labeled as a jinx, Liu Siniang didn’t care about her reputation. Now, why would Su Zhi abandon her just because of a few words from Aunt Li?
“Since you dare to speak out, what do I have to fear? I want to see whether the villagers believe you or trust Liu Siniang, Li Shi, and me!”
Su Zhi stooped to pick up the discarded shoe thrown by Aunt Li and helped Liu Siniang put it back on. She was determined to take Liu Siniang away; leaving her here might lead to mistreatment.
Seeing Su Zhi’s fearless response, Aunt Li was taken aback. She was reluctant to let Liu Siniang leave. She didn’t want to release someone who worked so hard. Moreover, she had some personal concerns. Zhang Qingniang was wealthy and attractive, but she was also too shrewd. Despite her current respectful demeanor, who knew if she would change in the future? Aunt Li considered keeping Liu Siniang to divert her son’s attention away from Zhang Qingniang, thus imposing a check on her, preventing her from becoming too dominant.
“Daliang, Xiaohua, stop her! People from our Zhao family can’t just leave as they please!”
Zhao Xiaohua also didn’t want Liu Siniang to leave. When she heard that Su Zhi planned to take Liu Siniang to her own home, the thought of Liu Siniang living in such a comfortable house, perhaps even more comfortable than hers, was intolerable to her. She immediately moved to restrain Su Zhi and prevent her from taking Liu Siniang away.
Zhao Daliang also intended to step forward but was held back by Zhang Qingniang.
Zhang Qingniang was torn. On one hand, she wanted to keep Liu Siniang as free labor, and on the other, she feared creating an adversary for herself. Although Liu Siniang wasn’t attractive, she was still a woman. As Aunt Li became more determined to keep Liu Siniang, Zhang Qingniang became less inclined to keep her.
“Daliang, go and stop them!”
Aunt Li pulled her son forcefully, and Zhao Daliang had no choice but to step forward. He reached out and separated Liu Siniang from Su Zhi.
Yueyue shouted from the side, “Let go of Auntie Liu! Let go of Auntie Liu! Don’t pull my mom! Don’t pull my mom!”
Zhao Xiaohua, in her attempt to pull Yueyue, accidentally knocked her down. Yueyue started crying loudly. Xinger quickly went to help Yueyue, while Xiaori dashed out to find someone.
When Yueyue’s crying was noticed, Little Black hurried over to snuggle her and began whimpering at Zhao Xiaohua. After a couple of barks, it lunged and tore at Zhao Xiaohua’s skirt. Startled, Zhao Xiaohua tried to kick Little Black, but then Little White pounced and bit her leg. Her screams could have lifted the roof off the house.
“My daughter!”
Aunt Li hurried to assist Zhao Xiaohua but hesitated to touch Little Black and Little White, fearing they might bite her. She could only pat Zhao Daliang, urging him to help Zhao Xiaohua.
Upon realizing that these were sacred beasts’ offspring, Zhao Daliang was hesitant to intervene. Feeling conflicted, he turned to Su Zhi for help.
Meanwhile, Su Zhi, feeling angry, wished that Little White would bite the Zhao family members. She just wanted Little White to bite them for a little longer, thinking she had medicine and wasn’t afraid that Zhao Xiaohua would later blame her for the injury. She simply wanted her to suffer a bit longer. Thus, she focused on comforting Liu Siniang, seemingly ignoring Zhao Daliang’s pleas.
Xiaori initially wanted to run and find Li Shi, but he realized that the old woman was bullying Auntie Liu. Instead, he called for nearby households, exaggerating the situation and claiming that the Zhao family intended to harm Auntie Liu and his mother.
Upon hearing this, the neighbors rushed to Liu Siniang’s house.
As Shen Zi’an and Li Shi were together, they noticed Xiaori. Upon hearing that Su Zhi and Liu Siniang had been intercepted by the Zhao family, both of them became anxious. Shen Zi’an picked up Xiaori and began running towards the Zhao family, with Li Shi running even faster.
When they arrived at the Zhao residence, they found more than ten people crowded at the door. Squeezing their way inside, they discovered Yueyue with red, teary eyes, Liu Siniang with a bandaged head that was seeping blood, and Su Zhi, looking stern and furious. Even Little Black and Little White were on edge. Among the commotion, Zhao Xiaohua’s crying was the loudest. She sat on the ground, holding her leg and weeping, blood seeping through.
Seeing that his wife was unharmed, Shen Zi’an felt relieved. Meanwhile, Li Shi, noticing the wound on Liu Siniang’s head, flashed a look of anger, his face darkening.
Upon seeing Shen Zi’an, Su Zhi briefly recounted the day’s events. Shen Zi’an and Li Shi both wore grim expressions. They looked at Zhao Daliang and the woman, feeling incredulous. They couldn’t believe there would be such despicable individuals in the Riverside Village. When they heard Aunt Li’s slanderous accusations against Liu Siniang and Li Shi, Li Shi’s eyes turned red.
“Li Zheng is here, Li Zheng is here!”