Chapter 19

About ten minutes later, Ho Jun Da and Cao Yun Xia arrived at the village entrance, panting. Ho Jun Da had just changed his clothes and was about to leave, but when he walked out of the house, he saw that his things had been taken by the birds. He immediately forgot about his plans and rushed to catch up with them. Now, at the village entrance, he saw many women gathered, including the village head’s wife and Miao Cui He, holding his belongings. He froze, then quickly turned to leave. It was embarrassing for a grown man to have his underwear picked up by women, especially since they were worn and smelled from a week of use. If they found out it was his, they would surely think he was unhygienic. So, he couldn’t acknowledge it was his or ask for them back.

“Hey, Ho Lao Da, where are you going? Don’t you want your stuff anymore?” Miao Cui He, who had a sharp eye, noticed Ho Jun Da and Cao Yun Xia. Seeing Ho Jun Da about to leave, she shouted after him.

Ho Jun Da paused, wondering how Miao Cui He knew those items were his and Cao Yun Xia’s. It was thanks to Cao Yun Xia’s extensive bragging. A while ago, when Ho Jun Da took Cao Yun Xia to the county to buy some things, she insisted on buying two expensive pairs of underwear from a state-run store. Afterward, she made sure everyone in the village knew about it, even describing the brand, color, and design, making it easy for everyone to recognize the items.

So, among the women at the village entrance, there were some who immediately recognized the underwear as belonging to Ho Jun Da and Cao Yun Xia. The underwear was old, worn out with holes, and clearly quite embarrassing, especially since they both wore the same brand.

“This is the expensive stuff you bought back then, and now you’re just leaving it?” Miao Cui He shouted again. She and the other women started walking toward Ho Jun Da with the underwear in hand.

Ho Jun Da felt his face turn red with shame. He wanted to run away quickly, but his feet felt like they were stuck to the ground.

“Oh, Ho Lao Da, what’s wrong with you and your wife? Did something bite you?” Miao Cui He asked, taking a closer look at Ho Jun Da and Cao Yun Xia’s faces, which were covered in marks.

The women had already heard rumors from the early morning. Iron Pillar’s wife had been talking about the commotion at Ho’s house last night, saying that Ho Jun Da and Cao Yun Xia had been bitten by rats, and that they had been scolded by Yao Gui Zhi.

Ho Jun Da lowered his head, his face burning. “We tripped and fell while going to the outhouse last night,” he mumbled.

The women all sneered, unconvinced. “Tripped and fell? Who’s going to believe that? And both of you fell the same way? Not even a fool would buy that story,” Miao Cui He said with a mocking smile.

“Ah, Ho Lao Da, your wife and you have really got to be more careful next time,” Miao Cui He added sweetly.

Ho Jun Da clenched his teeth, feeling completely humiliated. “I’m going to take the stuff and leave,” he muttered.

Miao Cui He walked closer and handed him the underwear, but paused for a moment before saying, “But, Ho Lao Da, your wife’s underwear smells really bad. I think she hasn’t bathed in at least half a month, right? Oh dear, you can’t go on like this. You really need to take care of your hygiene, for your own health.”

“We haven’t gone without bathing for half a month! It’s only been a week,” Cao Yun Xia quickly retorted, trying to defend herself and Ho Jun Da.

The women all looked at her with disgust. “A week is still a long time. We wash every two days, and in summer, we bathe every day.”

“Ho Lao Da, I’m only saying this for your own good. If you and your wife don’t keep up with hygiene, it could lead to illness. You really need to bathe more often,” Miao Cui He continued, her tone now one of concern.

Ho Jun Da ground his teeth, feeling like he had lost all his dignity. “And also,” Miao Cui He added with a smirk, “there’s another very strong odor coming from your wife’s underwear. It’s not just sweat, it seems like something else is wrong. Maybe she’s got a serious health issue. You should take her to the big hospital in the county for a checkup.”

“What? It will spread to me?” Ho Jun Da immediately reacted, his face darkening.

“Yes, it can spread,” Miao Cui He confirmed, nodding.

Ho Jun Da’s face turned even darker, and he clenched the items in his hand. He no longer wanted to look at Cao Yun Xia. “Let’s go,” he muttered, turning around quickly.

Cao Yun Xia, sensing his coldness, hurriedly called out, “Jun Da, I’m fine, really! I don’t have any illness!”

Ho Jun Da ignored her, walking away at a brisk pace, hoping to get away from her. Cao Yun Xia was left behind, crying and reaching out to grab his arm. “Jun Da, I’m not sick, please believe me.”

As they walked away, some women muttered, “Cao Yun Xia’s smell is so bad. I think she’s really sick. She deserves it for being so nasty.”

“Do you think it’s karma for all the things she’s done to her sister-in-law, Zhong Cui Tao? She’s suffering now, just like her husband.”

“Definitely karma. I heard they were bitten by rats last night. Seems like that’s a punishment for them.”

Ho Jun Da clenched his fists, hearing their gossip behind him. His face was full of embarrassment. Everything was because of that woman beside him, and now it seemed like she might even have a disease that could spread!