"The child in my belly belongs to the Wang Family Village's lame Wang. I was bought by him."
After Xu Zhaodi spoke, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength, biting her lower lip tightly, her face pale.
The noisy crowd instantly fell silent.
But soon a shrill voice emerged from the crowd.
"Lame Wang is over sixty, how could he still be fertile? If you're going to make up lies, at least make them believable."
Xu Zhaodi trembled all over, biting her lip fiercely.
Su Xiaoxiao saw she looked as if she could faint at any moment, she hurried forward to support her: "Are you okay?"
Xu Zhaodi shook her head forcefully, speaking in a trembling voice, word by word: "He's not fertile, but he has several brothers who still have sons and grandsons. To make me pregnant quickly, they…"
As she spoke, her tears fell, and her voice became choked with sobs.
"Enough, stop talking."
Su Fusheng couldn't listen any longer, coldly looking at everyone: "Think what you want, but I, Su Fusheng, am upright and respectable."
"Who knows what's true or false? There's no way to prove whose child it is, right?"
Just then, Zhang Guilan, the loudest among the crowd, muttered with disdain.
Su Xiaoxiao frowned looking over, realizing this person was none other than Sun Wenbing's mother.
This Zhang Guilan had been at odds with her mother Liu Cuilan for ages.
She'd heard village gossip before, saying that back then, Secretary Sun had eyes for Liu Cuilan, but Liu Cuilan married Father Su.
Sun, in anger, turned and married Zhang Guilan, who'd always liked him, and even deliberately named their youngest son the same as the Su Family's eldest, just to spite Father Su.
With this in mind, Su Xiaoxiao's face hardened, stepping forward to block Xu Zhaodi: "Aunt Zhang, don't speak without evidence. Beware a wicked tongue, you'll face divine retribution."
"What are you blabbering about, you brat? Your brother does it openly but won't let others talk?"
Before she could finish, her collar was suddenly grabbed forcefully, and she hadn't reacted before a heavy slap landed on her face.
"Zhang Guilan, are your ears just for show? The girl already said it has nothing to do with our second son, yet you're here spewing nonsense. Want me to tear your mouth apart?"
Liu Cuilan said with formidable air, turning her head to find the surroundings quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
Even the two police officers were dumbfounded, watching over.
Her expression paused gently, then she clutched her chest as if she was out of breath: "Zhang Guilan, we're pitiful enough already, you keep spreading indecent rumors, trying to drive us to our death?"
As Liu Cuilan spoke, her eyes reddened, her face seemingly going pale in an instant.
Su Xiaoxiao rushed forward to support her: "Mom, are you okay? You're not in good health, don't get so upset."
People around finally breathed a sigh of relief, see, this is Liu Cuilan's proper way of handling things. As for earlier, even a rabbit bites when cornered; Zhang Guilan's words were indeed too harsh.
Zhang Guilan, stunned by the slap, finally reacted, pointing at Liu Cuilan and screaming: "You see, I was right, she was pretending, wasn't her true colors revealed now?"
After Father Su's incident, their family became outcasts in the village; if not for Liu Cuilan's frail body and her children, they almost got kicked out of Su Family Hamlet.
Upon hearing this, Liu Cuilan appeared heartbroken, her eyes red as she clutched her chest tightly: "Zhang Guilan, years have gone by, why can't you let me be?"
Seeing her own mother beginning her act again, Su Xiaoxiao hurriedly pinched her thigh hard, tears streaming down.
Oh my, too much force.
"Mom, the doctor said you mustn't get riled up, surely the uncles and aunties understand the situation."
Both of them had the beauty of classical standards; even though Liu Cuilan was past middle age, a few wrinkles did not affect her original beauty.
Beautiful women crying evoke sympathy.
Not only the men present, even some of the older ladies felt pity.
"Zhang Guilan, you're too much. Liu Cuilan has been widowed, raising five children alone for years, not easy for her, yet you keep picking on her."
"Even killing someone only means a little land as punishment, you're being excessive."
Suddenly all criticism turned toward Zhang Guilan.
One can't deny, people are inclined to pity the weak, especially beautiful ones.
Zhang Guilan's face flushed red; how could they be like this? Weren't they just siding with her against Su Fusheng? How come they changed suddenly?
Police Zhao cleared his throat: "We encountered this girl on the road. Although we don't know the full story, we trust that someone brave enough to oppose human traffickers is not someone of vile intellect."
After speaking, he signaled the young officer beside him, who immediately unfolded the banner and stepped forward, handing it to Su Fusheng: "Comrade Su, here's a banner and reward from the bureau to thank you for your great cooperation in this capture operation."
With that, he led the applause.
The crowd of onlookers was quickly infected, enthusiastically clapping along.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, everyone should disperse now."
Police Zhao said loudly, then looked significantly at Zhang Guilan: "Comrade Zhang, spreading false rumors is illegal; I hope you'll speak cautiously in the future, not disheartening the good comrades who've done good deeds."
With that, he left with the young officer, after bidding farewell to the Su Family.
The crowd dispersed at once, leaving Zhang Guilan glaring venomously at Liu Cuilan.
Su Xiaoxiao stepped forward to block her: "Aunt Zhang, my family is poor, no way we'll host you for a meal."
Meaning, if there's nothing else, better leave.
Zhang Guilan walked away, her face transitioning between red and green, glaring at Liu Cuilan before turning to leave; but after only a few steps, suddenly tripped forward with an "Oh!"
Su Jianwu swiftly withdrew his foot, Su Jianwen clicked his tongue: "Oh my, Aunt Zhang, why are you giving us such a grand salute without any occasion?"
Zhang Guilan scrambled to rise with a dirty face: "You little bastards, watch me beat you to death!"
She said, taking off her shoe to act, but her wrist was abruptly gripped by a large hand.
Su Fusheng stared at her expressionlessly, speaking clearly: "If you dare touch my brothers today, I'll cripple your youngest son in return."
"You all…"
Zhang Guilan was almost breathless with rage, stomped her foot, turned to leave, forgetting even her shoes.
Su Xiaoxiao silently gave her brother a thumbs-up, suddenly hearing the notification chime in her mind.
Joy surged in her heart, hurriedly opening the interface, only to be dumbfounded by the content inside.