Chapter 10: Rumors

After recording the work points, Lin Yun went home with her close friend, Zhou Ke (Wu Ke). Ever since they were little, Zhou Ke had always followed behind Lin Yun. As long as she did things for Lin Yun, she could get something to eat.

Zhou Ke’s mother, Aunt Wu, was an extremely stingy woman—stingy with herself, and even stingier with her daughter. All the good things were reserved for her son.

So Zhou Ke could only stick with Lin Yun to pick up some benefits. Even if it meant helping Lin Yun bully other girls, she was willing to do it.

“Zhou Ke, yesterday I saw Lin Yiran alone in the evening, looking all disheveled. Clearly, she was up to no good. Yet she still puts on an act every day, pretending to be innocent just because no one in the village knows,” Lin Yun said venomously.

Zhou Ke immediately understood what Lin Yun meant. She also disliked Lin Yiran. Why should Yiran, just because she was a girl too, be treated so well by her parents while she herself was not?

That evening, as families carried their bowls outside to chat while eating, Zhou Ke deliberately spoke loudly so others could hear:
“Do you know? Someone saw Lin Yiran last night, looking disheveled in the woods—with a man!”

“Really?” A girl nearby looked shocked. The gossiping aunties quickly joined in, including Aunt Liu—the same one who previously said Lin Yiran was spoiled and sharp-tongued, and that no one would ever marry her.

“I always thought that girl was no good. Lazy every day, relying on her looks to seduce others.”

Someone finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Don’t talk nonsense! Isn’t it just because your son liked her and she rejected him? Now you’re spreading lies.”

Aunt Liu’s face flushed red, but she stubbornly argued back:
“Who’s spreading lies? I also saw it last night. Lin Yiran was indeed pulling and tugging with a boy.”

Aunt Zeng, who had been relieved the villagers had stopped gossiping about her own son, finally dared to come out. Hearing the talk about Lin Yiran, she immediately joined in:
“That’s exactly what she’s like. Just because she’s pretty, she acts shamelessly and fools around with boys.”

Others who were close to Wang Fang and had watched Lin Yiran grow up quickly defended her:
“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“What nonsense? Didn’t Aunt Liu just say she saw it?” Aunt Zeng retorted loudly.

When everyone looked at her, Aunt Liu suddenly felt a little guilty. “Well, I didn’t see clearly, but didn’t Zhou Ke also hear about it? I just think it was her.”

Zhou Ke’s mother, Aunt Wu, was also there. Besides being stingy, she loved to take advantage of others. She had once tried to take advantage of Wang Fang but failed, and held a grudge.

“My girl only repeated what she heard. But she’s an honest child—she never makes things up,” Aunt Wu insisted.

One person after another kept adding to the story, and soon the whole place was in an uproar. The tale spread like wildfire: Lin Yiran was caught fooling around with a man in the woods.

Even the educated youth compound heard the rumors, and the people there gossiped as well.

Jiang Lanru declared with a self-righteous face:
“I’ve long seen that Lin Yiran isn’t a proper girl. Every time she comes to deliver food, her eyes wander everywhere, always looking at the boys.”

Jiang Yuanxiang couldn’t stand it. “What nonsense are you talking about? The whole village is just spreading rumors—why are you joining in?”

Although most of the educated youths didn’t know Lin Yiran well, they had only ever heard good things about her. Yet suddenly, the entire village was saying she was messing around with men. What was strange was that everyone mentioned only her name—never the man’s.

Inside his room, Xiao Ziyi was reading. Focused as always, he only put down his book when he heard people outside mentioning Lin Yiran’s name—saying she had fooled around with someone last night. It was outrageous.

Frowning, Xiao Ziyi stepped outside. Just as he was about to shut Jiang Lanru up, Chen Tai came running in.
“The village chief’s family has already gone to confront Aunt Wu’s family because of their slander!”

Xiao Ziyi quickly walked out, followed by others—some eager to watch the drama, others worried.

At the Lin household, the family had just finished dinner and were cooling off outside. Lin Yiran brought out some candies she had bought with her mother last time in town and shared them with her family.

Her mother, elder sister-in-law, and second sister-in-law all declined, but her three little nephews happily accepted. It had been a long time since they’d had candy, and their grinning faces lit up with joy.

“Auntie Wang, something terrible has happened! The village gossips are ruining Yiran’s reputation, saying she was fooling around with a man last night.” Aunt Yang came running, slightly out of breath.

She had only arrived a little late to the usual gathering spot, but by then the rumor had already spread everywhere. Furious, she rushed straight to the Lin household.

“It’s mainly that Aunt Liu, Aunt Zeng, and Aunt Wu who are spouting nonsense. Aunt Wu’s daughter, Wu Ke, claimed she only heard it from others—but she was the first to spread it,” Aunt Yang quickly informed the Lin family.

Lin Yiran was dumbfounded. When did I ever fool around with a man last night? And disheveled, too? I was clearly saving someone—doing a good deed!

Wang Fang’s face flushed with anger. These shameless women were trying to destroy her daughter’s name.
“Daughters-in-law, grab something to use—we’re going to confront that Aunt Wu.”

“Yes, right away.” The two daughters-in-law agreed without hesitation and followed her out the door. The two sons went too—such matters were for the women to confront, but the men would be the backbone.

“I’m going as well. This is about me. Also, Zhiqiang, go to Xiaohu’s house and tell his mother to come to Aunt Wu’s too,” Lin Yiran instructed.

But when she turned around, her entire family was already on their way out—even her usually calm father had gone.

Seeing the Lin family marching toward Aunt Wu’s house with such momentum, the villagers immediately knew it was about the rumors of the Lin family’s daughter. One after another, they followed along to watch the spectacle.

At Aunt Wu’s doorway, Aunt Wu, Aunt Liu, and Aunt Zeng were gossiping so animatedly that their spittle was flying everywhere, their words growing more outrageous the longer they spoke.

Wang Fang and her two daughters-in-law rushed up. Hearing the filthy lies coming from their mouths, she didn’t hesitate—her hand shot out with a loud slap.

Aunt Wu was stunned. Aunt Liu was the quickest to react, darting to the side, but when she tried to slip away, the Lin men blocked her path.

Aunt Zeng also tried to avoid confrontation, but Wang Fang didn’t spare her either—a second sharp slap landed right across her face.

The daughters-in-law coordinated seamlessly, each grabbing one of the women so they couldn’t run away.

“Ahhh! Wang Fang, how dare you hit me! I’ll fight you to the death!” Aunt Wu screeched, stomping her feet in fury.

“Wu Ke! Daughters-in-law! Why don’t you come out? Your mother-in-law is being beaten!”

But the two daughters-in-law inside pretended not to hear. Their mother-in-law often beat and scolded them, making them do the hardest work while giving them the least to eat. Seeing her get hit now only filled them with glee.

Wu Ke herself hid inside, too scared to come out. She never expected the Lin family would directly storm their house.

“I’ll tear your mouth apart for spreading lies! All day long, you do nothing useful—just spout nonsense!”

Wang Fang slapped her several more times, but Aunt Wu still refused to admit fault.
“What lies? My daughter saw it with her own eyes. Your daughter did something filthy, and we can’t even talk about it?”

“You’re still spewing lies? My daughter is upright and honorable—unlike you, sneaking around to steal chickens and potatoes, always taking advantage of others. You’ve even picked up other people’s eggs! Do you have no shame?”

The surrounding neighbors, all of whom had suffered from Aunt Wu’s petty thefts before, burst into laughter at Wang Fang’s words.

Aunt Zeng, already slapped several times, was so upset she threw herself on the ground, rolling and shouting, “The village chief’s wife is beating people! The village chief’s wife is beating people!”

Wang Fang’s temper flared even hotter.
“I’m not the village chief’s wife right now—I’m a mother defending her daughter! Spreading rumors is against the law. Do you want the police to come and take you away?”

At the mention of the police, Aunt Zeng went silent, too frightened to say another word.

By now, Lin Yiran saw that her mother and sisters-in-law had already taught them a lesson, and Xiaohu’s mother had also arrived.

She stepped forward and faced Aunt Wu and Aunt Zeng directly.
“Aunt Wu, Aunt Zeng—I’ve always respected you both. But now you’re spreading malicious rumors about me everywhere. Are you trying to destroy me?”