Chapter 150:
“Good heavens, what is she after?”
“Although Li Daniu is dumb, look at him, he’s big and sturdy, a top-notch laborer! Even if he just carries bundles of firewood or fetches buckets of water for her, that’s great!”
He Hua’s sister-in-law gossiped.
“I’m really drunk. Our Da Niu is honest, isn’t this just using him for labor!” Zheng Da Niang analyzed upon hearing her words. As a neighbor for so many years, Da Niu grew up under her watch.
Villagers chattered noisily, with public opinion leaning toward Li Shi. Li Shi felt secretly pleased inside.
“Luo Zhi’er, we won’t go to the village chief to demand you be sunk in the pond or anything.”
“It looks like your family’s Li Sanmao probably won’t be coming out either. For committing that deed, not getting beheaded is already good. You have no silver to compensate, so the Old Li Family will likely be exiled.”
Villagers discussed animatedly.
“Yeah, how could offending people from Jiangnan’s Hong Futai end well? I heard Hong Futai is Jiangnan’s top cloth dyeing magnate! Their cloth shop has a resounding reputation even in the capital city.”
This person was called Li Decai. His wife’s nephew made a living in a place called Linfu Village around Jiangnan and had come back to tell about it.
“I heard that the old madam of Hong Futai’s daughter married a first-rank official in the capital city. They even have people in the palace. The Old Li Family has offended an untouchable figure!”
Everyone had previously thought the Old Li Tou family could come back.
“Ah? That’s so scary! How could this happen?”
“Li Decai, why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“I just heard it from my nephew too.”
“What are we gonna do now?”
With this said, everyone was already trembling in fear. Now they suddenly felt that even if the Old Li Tou family wasn’t exiled or anything, they shouldn’t come back to the village.
What if the head of Hong Futai held a grudge against their village? If villagers later made it big and went to Jiangnan or the capital city, what if they got tripped up?
This matter was too distant for Li Shi to quench her immediate thirst. She still got a wife empty-handed; getting her silver was more tangible.
“Luo Zhi’er, be sensible. Since the rice is already cooked, and Da Niu fancies you, why not just become Da Niu’s wife?”
“You can consider yourself fortunate to be released and escape this ordeal. It shows our Da Niu brings you good fortune. This old woman isn’t willing, but she’ll accept it!”
Li Shi felt secretly smug, observing her expression, continuing to stir up trouble and scare her. Every word seemed to be thinking for her sake.
In reality, it was to first deflate her ferocity, make her fearful from the heart, then force her to beg for mercy and make a choice. Anyway, the one whose reputation was damaged was her.
With Old Luo Tou dead and gone, her second uncle’s family wouldn’t welcome her back.
Marrying Da Niu was her good fortune, better than being sunk in the pond or driven out of the village!
Especially since she bought a sheep today, she was very satisfied. Some things were unloaded from the cart; she didn’t know how much money it cost, which made her heartbroken. It was getting late and hard to see clearly.
Hurry and bring the silver, she’ll go see the leg. Bring the valuable items, and the person too. All of this would be Li Shi’s from now on.
“Li Daniu, you fool, do you know what you’re saying?”
Old Lady Zhao trembled with anger all over. Li Shi was a rascal, unreasonable. This Da Niu used to look quite honest.
Honest people are hard to guard against; it’s hard to explain.
Questioned by Old Lady Zhao, Li Daniu stammered, lowered his head in hesitation, looking at his own toe tips.
Dry laugh, face red and neck thick, hunched over. Others might think he was shy.
“I’m asking you, why are you hanging your head? Cannot face anyone?”
“Li Daniu, give me an answer!!!”
Old Lady Zhao knocked her cane on the ground with a dry crack. This Li Daniu and his three siblings all looked eerily like monkeys and their offspring.
She hadn’t thought much of it before, but now she felt it was heaven’s punishment for them!
“Old Lady Zhao, don’t bully people. Our Da Niu is honest and dutiful. The one who did bad things is Luo Zhi’er that little hussy. She couldn’t stand loneliness, failed to keep to the wifely way, and seduced our Da Niu. Da Niu is the one suffering!”
Li Shi was exasperated, glaring fiercely at Li Daniu.
“Da Niu, stand tall for your mother. We’re here to demand proper status, not to take abuse from that Old Lady Zhao!”
At this moment, Second Brother Li Erniu let out a few howls and ran toward the crowd.
Saliva drooling like a leak, baring teeth, skewing his leg with a limp. Looking closely, he was imitating Li Shi’s walk.
“Hiss! Da Niu hurts, hurts, hurts!”
Some words came out of his mouth.
His facial expression wrinkled, “Demand status! Have children!”
Li Erniu saw so many people and got excited seeing He Hua in the crowd. He limped over to pull her.
“Hey, He Hua, go home and have children!”
He Hua flushed with anger, cursing loudly! “We all raise normal children. Who raises such a weird stupid monkey to scourge people?”
The crowd burst into laughter!
Li Shi was furious half to death! “He’s a fool. He Hua, why are you cursing blindly?”
“Pah! A fool still takes advantage of me, thinking I’m easy to bully?”
She lifted her foot and kicked his butt, spat once, still not relieved!
“My man isn’t here today, or he’d beat you to death!”
“He Hua, don’t get mad. Ouch, you know this Li Erniu, call him a fool, and whenever he sees a young beautiful woman, he goes crazy like this.”
Ma Shenzi added fuel while consoling.
“This Li Shi too, doesn’t know how to teach him. If she doesn’t discipline this unfilial son properly, who will dare walk around the village later?”
“He runs around all day, and if you’re not careful, he pops out from some corner!”
These words reached Li Shi’s ears, making her face change with anger.
Li Erniu didn’t understand. Seeing his mother still sitting on the wheelbarrow cursing, he got very excited.
He too “howled” a few times, like performing acrobatics, yanked off the quilt in one go, exposing Li Shi’s leg!
Li Shi panicked, scolding, “Er Niu, are you going crazy today?”
Li Erniu waved the quilt around in his hands, stinking odor spreading everywhere, “Luo Zhi’er, wife!”
Li Shi’s face turned black as a pot lid!
“Pay silver, have children!”
Li Shi roared, “Er Niu, get back to me!”
Li Erniu jolted and immediately tumbled to his knees, clasping hands and bowing nonstop to her. Clearly from being beaten often.
Scared! Begging for mercy!
Opened his big mouth, patted his chest, wailing wildly! Kneeling and bowing! With his gorilla-like facial expression, it made everyone can’t help laughing.
Li Shi’s face alternated between green and white. What a huge loss of face. Luo Zhi’er watched this scene coldly.
“Laugh at what! Shut up all of you. We’re talking about Luo Zhi’er now, what are you doing?”
Li Shi said.
“Everyone laugh it off. You all know Er Niu’s condition. It’s not good to expose people’s shortcomings!”
Zhao Xiaomei kindly helped out.
“Talk business, haha, business.”
Couldn’t help the excitement, thrilled to watch the spectacle.
“Da Niu’s underpants matter.”
Old Lady Zhao was anxious beyond measure, looked toward Luo Zhi’er, and said softly, “San Mao’s Wife, what to do? This man’s underclothing at your place isn’t a joking matter.”
Luo Zhi’er gave her a calm-down expression.
“Aunt Li, may I ask, what are you saying? Performing what big drama at my doorway? After talking so long, I, Luo Zhi’er, completely don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“What?”
“You’re closing the door and refusing to acknowledge it?”
She had thought of everything, but not that she would completely play dumb.
“Since you’ve come, let me ask: what’s wrong with your leg? Why not get down and walk a few steps, instead sitting on the chicken cart to talk to me?”
“This”
Only now did everyone focus on Li Shi’s leg. Wasn’t it from accidentally digging and getting hurt?
Some thought it was from cutting grass, or bitten by a snake.
“Hmph! Don’t you know?”
Li Shi spoke in riddles.
“Of course I know. I’m just afraid everyone else doesn’t. Haven’t you heard? My family suffered a thief poisoning our mule Small Fish a few days ago.”
“You came all the way sitting on the chicken cart, limping on one leg. I thought you came to admit fault and beg mercy, begging me to spare you all, not let Li Zuzu drive you out of the village!”
Luo Zhi’er said indifferently.
Since Li Shi dared to come, she had prepared her words. “Hehe! If you didn’t mention it, I was still going to settle accounts with you, Luo Zhi’er.”
These words made everyone prick up their ears. Wasn’t the one whose leg was clamped the poisoner? Was there some trick here?
Could this thief be Li Shi?
“Oh?”
Luo Zhi’er unhurriedly fetched a stool, walked forward, sat down. “Then I must listen attentively.”
“Otherwise, wouldn’t it be letting down all your scheming?”
Seeing her so calm, everyone’s gazes swept back and forth between the two.
Li Shi was stunned, gloomily looking at Luo Zhi’er. How was this little hussy so steady, not afraid at all.
Her eyes flickered. You dug your own grave, don’t blame me. Her leg throbbed with piercing pain, and the insect bites itched unbearably.
Couldn’t help scratching a few times, flesh bloody and mangled. “Hmph! You don’t know? My leg was indeed clamped at her Luo Zhi’er’s door, but I wasn’t stealing or poisoning. I came that day specifically to find Da Niu’s underpants and got injured!”
“What?”
“Is that so?”
“Is it, Da Niu?”
“Yes, Mom!”
Li Daniu honestly confessed.
Zheng Da Niang was close and saw the leg all gross. She and Ma Shenzi smelled a foul stench, nearly fainting from it.
They whispered privately.
Disgustedly covering noses, pursing lips.
Good heavens, why was that milky white stuff still wriggling? Rubbed eyes, maggots?
Eyes wide, maggots? The two got goosebumps and shivered.
“I just came for the underpants, then the clamp got my leg. Luo Zhi’er, I was clamped at your door. You installed that clamp, you must pay silver for me to see the doctor and compensate me a hundred taels!”
“A hundred taels?”
Rural people gasped.
“People need face like trees need bark. Without bark, trees die; without face, invincible!”
Luo Zhi’er sneered coldly, striking back verbally.
