Chapter 5

Da Pang’s mother led a large group of people to the Gu Family to cause trouble. She shouted loudly from outside: “Liu Fen! Bring out your brat!”

Liu Fen, hearing the commotion, reluctantly went out. Liu Fen was a kind-hearted person; otherwise, she wouldn’t have allowed Lin Qingping to cause chaos in the past life.

But how could someone like her, a gentle person, possibly be a match for a group of shrews?

Lin Qingping could only temporarily leave Zhiyuan behind. Without saying a word, she opened the door. Behind her, Zhiyuan’s small voice said: “Don’t…”

But his words were cut off when the door was shut.

There was definitely some hidden story behind the fight, but now was not the time to inquire in detail. She decided to deal with these people first.

The commotion outside grew louder, as a group of women surrounded Liu Fen, speaking all at once, making it impossible for her to handle.

“Is paying some money enough to settle this? Bring that brat out here!”

“Make him come out and apologize! Bow and admit his mistake!”

Liu Fen continued to be cautious: “The child knows his wrongs. He is reflecting on it now. Chengzi will be home soon and will educate him properly.” But the other party wouldn’t agree; they insisted on having Li Zhiyuan come out.

Lin Qingping stepped forward, pushing through the women and pulling her mother-in-law out of the crowd, shielding her behind her. “Let’s talk things through. If there’s something to be responsible for, we won’t avoid it. My mother-in-law has also said it—what needs to be compensated will be compensated, and what needs to be taught will be taught. We’re all from the same village. We see each other every day. The children will still play together later. There’s no need to make this so tense.”

Da Pang’s mother immediately jumped up, shouting: “Who would play with a wild child? Our Qingqing is an upright and proper child, and we don’t let her play with a wild child who has no parents!” 

A sharp slap rang out, and Da Pang’s mother was struck across the face.

The person who slapped her was Lin Qingping.

Lin Qingping had originally wanted to reason with them, but clearly, reasoning was no longer possible.

Wild child…

In the past life, these were the words Zhiyuan feared the most.

In this life, although he was only five years old, he was precocious and sensitive. The words “wild child” were a painful wound for him, especially as someone who lived under the mercy of others. 

Lin Qingping stood straight, her demeanor imposing, resembling that of Gu Juncheng. She even narrowed her eyes, mimicking his anger as she sharply rebuked: “Wild child? Da Pang’s mother, listen to me! Zhiyuan’s father sacrificed his life for the country! He died heroically in battle!

You are able to peacefully farm and gossip about others’ affairs today because there are countless heroes like Zhiyuan’s father, brave soldiers who fear nothing and are willing to die to defend peace!

They protect our beautiful lives! And you dare call Zhiyuan a wild child? Do you honor those soldiers who gave their lives for justice?

Do you honor those who are still fighting to protect our homes and country?

Let me tell you, Zhiyuan is not a wild child! He is the child of a hero! All the soldiers at Chengzi Barracks are his fathers! All the military wives are his mothers!” 

Lin Qingping’s righteous words struck Da Pang’s Mother hard.

The Gu family had never publicly stated that Zhiyuan was a martyr’s descendant, but now that Da Pang’s mother knew, she dared not speak further about Zhiyuan.

However, her fury erupted in embarrassment and anger, and she exploded: “You are his mother? You, a loose woman, how dare you be the mother of a martyr’s child?”

Upon hearing this, Liu Fen’s face changed. She grabbed Lin Qingping tightly, trembling, and pleaded with Da Pang’s mother: “Please stop, I apologize to you. I will go to your house later and apologize, please, just stop…”

Lin Qingping was shocked by the term “loose woman.” but from the way she spoke, Liu Fen seemed to know something.

Just then, a loud shout rang out from behind: “Don’t apologize! I’m not wrong!”

A small figure suddenly appeared, standing between Lin Qingping and Liu Fen. Zhiyuan had rushed out…

Lin Qingping pulled Zhiyuan back, holding him tightly in her arms to prevent him from getting hit by these people. But the little guy was emotionally charged, shouting wildly: “One person does the deed, one person takes the consequences! If you have the guts, come hit me! Don’t bully my grandmother!”

He also shouted: “Kill me or chop me up, do whatever you want! I’m not wrong!”

Despite his fierce words and the heroic spirit in his voice, he was quickly subdued. At some point, Gu Juncheng had returned and, grabbed Zhiyuan by the collar and lifted him up.

The little boy kicked his legs in midair, shouting: “Put me down! You coward! Why don’t you ask them what they’ve been saying about your wife in the village! You’re not standing up for your wife! What kind of man are you?!” 

Lin Qingping: “???”

Gu Juncheng’s wife? Was he referring to her? What did this have to do with her?

Gu Juncheng tossed Li Zhiyuan back into the house, his tall figure standing in front of Lin Qingping and Liu Fen, blocking the group of troublemaking women behind him. “All of you go back, stay inside.” he said in a deep voice, which carried a calming power, breaking through the noise of the crowd and softly resonating in Lin Qingping’s ears.

Lin Qingping shook her head. “No…” She wanted to know what Da Pang’s mother was going to say.

The words “loose woman” were heavy—too heavy—for a rural woman to say. What did that really mean?

“Go inside!” Gu Juncheng’s tone grew more stern, his voice carrying an authoritative command. His gaze became even more imposing. Lin Qingping hesitated, and Gu Juncheng frowned slightly. “Do you want me to throw you inside too?” 

Lin Qingping: “…”

In the end, she turned and walked back inside the house.

Gu Juncheng shut the door behind them, trapping Lin Qingping, her mother-in-law, and Li Zhiyuan inside. 

Inside the house, Li Zhiyuan continued to shout at the people outside: “No apologies! No one is allowed to apologize! If anyone dares to speak nonsense again, I’ll hit them if I hear it once more!” 

This was completely different from the usually quiet and timid child—he seemed like a beast that had been unleashed, a fierce tiger now freed. 

Outside the door, Gu Juncheng stood proudly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.

The entire group involuntarily took a step back. Gu Juncheng’s overwhelming presence was simply too much for them to withstand…

But Da Pang’s mother was unwilling to back down. She puffed out her chest and angrily shouted: “Chengzi? What’s the matter? Did I hit a sore spot? Are you going to hit a woman now? You don’t want your wife’s shameful deeds to be exposed?”

In the village, there was an unwritten rule that men could not get involved in fights or quarrels between women.

If they did, they would be ridiculed behind their backs. This was why, despite knowing that Gu Juncheng was at home, they dared to come and cause trouble. 

The group of people Da Pang’s mother had brought with her, who had initially been a little hesitant, now seemed emboldened by her words. They began to taunt loudly. 

“Exactly! So what? Isn’t it the truth? Lin Qingping has been with Goudan for a long time! She’s not pure anymore!”  

“Goudan himself said that Lin Qingping has a mole on her chest! Lin Qingping, are you brave enough to show it to everyone and prove him wrong?”  

“Chengzi! Don’t think just because you’re a soldier you can act unreasonable! Your wife can mess around, but others can’t even talk about it?”  

“Chengzi! How does it feel to have a cuckold’s hat on your head?”

Lin Qingping was stunned.

Goudan—he was the village hooligan.

Yesterday morning, she had been tempted by the wild fruits on the mountain and decided to go up to pick some.

Unexpectedly, she had encountered Goudan, who had made advances on her.

Terrified, she had run away, tripping and falling hard. She had rolled down the slope, only stopping when a tree had blocked her fall.

Otherwise, she would have tumbled all the way to the bottom. In that fall, her handkerchief had dropped, and her clothes might have been lifted as she tumbled down.

At the time, she hadn’t paid much attention to it, but now, this kind of rumor was spreading… 

In a secluded rural village like this, a woman caught up in such rumors would undoubtedly face severe consequences.