Chapter 22.1

The system, pleased with its host’s thinking, seemed to have a tinge of excitement in its mechanical voice. It quickly credited her account with points and eagerly introduced her to various fabrics.

With a width of 2.5 meters, there were all sorts of patterns: stripes, checks, dark patterns, and various florals, with materials ranging from pure cotton to nylon. Luo Lan was dazzled by the selection, even while working, she kept thinking about a checkered fabric that had caught her eye.

Newly married, they had everything they needed for now. But that fabric would make a nice shirt, whether worn alone or paired with her blue collared jacket.

“Hey, did you hear? The Fourth son of the Huang familly was struck by lightning while beating his wife. On a sunny day, no less, making him convulse all over.”

Her sister asked curiously. The two women nearby, who hadn’t seen it themselves, hurried over to join the gossip. If it was as rumored, it would be fantastic; justice served by the heavens.

“Really? My husband hits me when he’s angry, but not too badly. If there’s really divine retribution… ha, let’s see if he dares lay a hand on me again.”

“Yeah, I heard Old Huang still hasn’t woken up. Serves him right. Let’s see if he dares hit his wife again. Such a big man, instead of using his strength to earn work points, he beats his wife.”

Another woman chimed in smugly, “He just bullies his wife because she has no family support. My husband wouldn’t dare; he’s afraid my brothers would beat him to death.”

Luo Lan added, “If the authorities could back us up, men wouldn’t dare hit their wives.”

“How could the authorities back us up?”

Luo Lan replied, “Hitting a wife should be illegal. Arrest them and lock them up.”

“Haha,” the women laughed, “That would be great. Let’s see if they dare hit us then.”

After some more idle chatter, the two women left, and Luo Mei sat down with her sister to talk quietly. “Hey, Lan’er, was Old Huang really struck by lightning on a sunny day? That’s too strange.”

“I don’t know.” She didn’t tell the truth to her sister. “I just saw him chasing his wife, and then he suddenly started convulsing and collapsed, foaming at the mouth and rolling his eyes.”

“Maybe he suddenly had some kind of attack.”

“Yeah, that’s possible. But if he has an attack every time he hits his wife, that’s his retribution. Let’s see if he dares hit her again.”

Old Huang’s wife probably relied on the fact that no one saw the weapon, so they’d attribute it to supernatural causes, which is why she was so ruthless. In these rural areas, if someone died accidentally, there would be no police report. They’d just bury them. Such a small taser, she could use it without any scruples.

While they discussed the fourth son of the Huang family, the Wang family also gathered. Old Lady Wang had lost face at Luo Lan’s wedding and now walked with her head down. The whole family kept their distance from Luo Lan at work, watching from afar.

“Hmph, it must be Luo Lan’s doing. Nothing good happens with her around.”

“Mom, it was lightning. Could Luo Lan be that powerful? I don’t believe it.”

“If you don’t believe it, you can test it. After work, go and provoke her, see if you end up convulsing and foaming at the mouth too.”

“Mom,” the eldest son and his wife were shocked. “Are you really our mother?”

The eldest daughter-in-law echoed, “What kind of mother asks her own son to get struck by lightning?”

The old woman was exasperated. She was very curious if this was Luo Lan’s doing. But after suffering a loss before, she didn’t dare approach her recklessly now.

“Nonsense, it wasn’t lightning. It was Luo Lan’s trick. Hmph, if I find out how she did it, I’ll tell the Huang family, and together, we’ll get rid of her.”

The Wang family had split, and the fourth daughter-in-law got along well with Luo Lan. Though the old woman didn’t say this in front of her, the words still reached her ears that night. Anxious, she didn’t even finish cooking before rushing to find Luo Lan.

“Hey, where are you going? Luo Lan already rode back to the city.”

Hearing this, she retreated, pretending to be nonchalant in front of her sister-in-law. “Oh, I was just looking for our chickens. They wander off and don’t come back at night.”

Her sister-in-law rolled her eyes but didn’t expose her, continuing to gossip, “You should’ve seen Mother’s face, she looked like she wanted to tear her apart.”

“That’s exaggerated. She wouldn’t go that far.”

“Why not? If Luo Lan hadn’t been so ruthless, would the third brother have drowned in the river? She took all her things when she left, and Mother hates her to death.”

“Third Brother did something shameful and embarrassing, he jumped into the river and drowned. He died, and the family drove Luo Lan away. Of course, she had to take her own things when she left.”

“The old woman doesn’t see it that way. She always says Luo Lan caused the Third Brother’s death. That’s why she’s always at odds with her, seeking revenge.”

At this, the fourth daughter-in-law of the Huang family fell silent. This kind of thinking indeed matched the old woman’s mentality. She needed to warn Luo Lan quickly so she could be prepared.

The fourth son of the Huang family was still unconscious when work ended in the evening. His wife had stayed home in the afternoon to watch over him. The next day, Luo Lan came to work and heard that he had woken up.

“He’s scared out of his wits, apologizing non-stop to his wife.”

“Let’s go and see what’s happening before work.”

Everyone ran to see the spectacle. The Huang family lived nearby, so they soon arrived. At the gate, they encountered some women from the Wang family. The fourth daughter-in-law of the Wang family saw Luo Lan and wanted to approach her but held back due to the crowd, only giving her a meaningful look.

Old Lady Wang didn’t see Luo Lan and hurried inside. Without caring what was being said, she barged in and directly asked Old Huang.

“What happened to you? Were you harmed by someone?”

Old Huang, still terrified from the electric shock, instinctively shook his head.

“Really?”

“Think carefully. They say you were struck by lightning on a sunny day. That’s nonsense, how could that happen? And to be struck by lightning, you’d have to do something really bad.”

“You’re the one who’s bad! Get lost! If you can’t speak properly, get out!”

Thinking she could get some insight, she was instead scolded by the fourth son of the Huang family. The onlookers laughed, and the Old Lady lost face once again.

“Don’t you know I’m trying to help you?”

“Get lost! I don’t need your help.”

Unable to retort, she kept quiet. The onlookers then asked him what really happened the previous day. His expression changed, and he spun a completely different story.

“I had a stroke. Thanks to my wife’s care, I must treat her well from now on.”

All talk of supernatural causes vanished with his words. They had fought fiercely, but now he claimed he had reformed.

“So it wasn’t lightning?”

“Yeah, you were convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Some said those were symptoms of being struck by lightning.”

Old Huang spat on the ground. “Who said that? Bring them here, and I’ll smack them. Where would lightning come from on a sunny day? Struck by lightning—did they experience it themselves? Did they do something so despicable that lightning struck them?”

With the person involved denying it, there was nothing more to say. Just then, the work bell rang, and the onlookers dispersed.

As Luo Lan left, she glanced at Old Huang’s wife, who returned a grateful look. Well, regardless of their true feelings, as long as Old Huang changed his ways, it was good. If not, she wouldn’t mind using the taser again.

System: He almost died, it’s no surprise he’s scared.

Luo Lan: If only all women could have these small tasers.

System: Maybe in a few decades.

Luo Lan: It’ll happen. In our socialist society, these outdated customs will disappear.

The system was pleased with her positive attitude. Not typically one for gossip, she now eagerly engaged to earn points, never slacking off. Her productivity and data were excellent these days.

System: That young wife from the Wang family seems to have something to tell you.

Luo Lan: I’ll find her during the break.

System: What do you think she wants to say?

Luo Lan: I’m not going to guess. I’ll find out soon enough.

Alright then, the host wasn’t in the mood for banter, working quickly. Luo Lan had a knowing smile as she and the system each had their own thoughts.

Because many were late to work, the mid-morning break was canceled, and everyone grumbled but kept working. Luo Lan had to wait until noon to find her.

Soon, the fourth daughter-in-law of the Wang family approached. “The old woman is looking to cause trouble for you. Be careful.”

“I’m not afraid. Let her come.”

“Luo Lan, just be cautious.” After speaking, she hurried off.

Even a man like the fourth son of the Huang family was subdued by the taser, now claiming to be sick and praising his wife’s care. At work, his wife approached Luo Lan during the break.

“Luo Lan, let me make you a pair of shoes. What’s your size?”

“No need, I have enough shoes.”

“But I want to do something for you. I know you don’t need the shoes, but it’s my token of appreciation.”

“I appreciate your gesture.”

Old Huang’s wife said no more but kept looking at her feet, likely estimating the size. That night, she borrowed a shoe pattern and had a new pair of shoe uppers.