Chapter 113: See For Yourself [seeking All Kinds Of Votes]
“Husband.” Shang Wan leaned close to Lu Chengjing’s ear and whispered, “Don’t you think Gui Shi’s reaction is a bit strange?”
The hot breath from her words sprayed onto his sensitive ear, making Lu Chengjing’s ear root flush red. He coughed lightly in discomfort and analyzed in a low voice, “From Gao Laotai’s attitude, it shouldn’t be related to the beating.”
They all lived under the same roof. If Gao Qi had really laid hands on his own mother, Gao Laotai couldn’t possibly be completely unaware.
“That’s true.” Shang Wan was puzzled, “Then why is she panicking?”
Lu Chengjing had a guess in his mind, but it wasn’t easy to voice.
He said, “We’ll know soon enough. Wife, just be patient and wait a bit.”
She had to wait for both sides anyway, so Shang Wan first went to the wooden shed to check on the two children. She found them lying on mats, fast asleep. She covered them with small blankets and instructed Xiao Hui to guard the door and not let anyone else in.
A quarter of an hour later, Gao Qi still hadn’t been found, but the injury examination results came out.
Gui Shi’s face was as pale as a ghost, a pallor that her injuries couldn’t hide. She hung her head and stood beside several aunts. On closer inspection, her body was still trembling uncontrollably.
Gao Laotai was old but had sharp eyes. She noticed something off with her daughter-in-law, propped herself on her cane, and took a few steps over. Grabbing Gui Shi’s arm, she asked with concern, “Is your body not feeling well?”
Gui Shi just shook her head and didn’t speak.
Gao Laotai’s face immediately fell, and she sternly questioned the aunts, “She was fine when you left. How did she end up like this when you came back? What did you do to my daughter-in-law?”
The aunts’ expressions were subtle. Aunt Yao snorted, “We’re all women. What could we do to her?”
Her tone carried a strong sarcastic edge. Gao Laotai didn’t notice, but Gui Shi shuddered all over and hung her head even lower.
Village Chief Lin walked over with a few villagers and asked, “How’s the situation?”
“You say.”
“You say.”
The aunts pushed each other, none wanting to be the one to step forward.
Village Chief Lin frowned and directly pointed at someone, “From the Wu Family, you speak.”
Aunt Yao: “…”
Everyone’s gazes fell on her face. Aunt Yao glanced at Gui Shi. She really didn’t want to be the bad guy. If she said it out loud, wouldn’t Gui Shi hate her to death?
“Say it quickly!”
“It’s not really an injury, is it?”
“Speak up!”
Urged by everyone, Aunt Yao had no choice but to say euphemistically, “No injuries from a club beating.”
Hearing this, Gui Shi’s taut nerves relaxed. She lifted her eyes and looked gratefully at Aunt Yao.
Aunt Yao: No, don’t thank me!
Gao Laotai thought the words were strange. If there were no injuries, just say no injuries. Why emphasize “injuries from a club beating”?
She looked at Aunt Yao, “Make yourself clear. Does that mean my daughter-in-law has other injuries on her body?”
Aunt Yao: …Do I really have to say it?
“Mother.” Gui Shi called out to her mother-in-law, “I’m fine.”
“I raised you. How could I not know? You look exactly like something’s wrong.” Gao Laotai’s instincts told her something was off, and she gripped Gui Shi’s arm with more force.
Gui Shi was about to speak when an aunt said, “Old Madam, you’d better look for yourself. One look and you’ll understand everything.”
Hearing this, Gao Laotai felt there was definitely something fishy. She pulled Gui Shi’s hand, wanting to find a place to check. Shang Wan helpfully pointed to the simple bath shed set up in the corner, “That can be used. Just pull the door panel over.”
Gao Laotai immediately dragged Gui Shi over. Gui Shi didn’t dare resist. Her legs were so weak she nearly fell several times and was practically dragged inside.
Soon after, a furious curse came from the bath shed, followed closely by Gui Shi’s scream.
Shang Wan heard the dull sound of the cane striking a body.
Yo, the old lady’s temper was quite fiery. She was just saying earlier that her daughter-in-law was like a lifetime treasure, but now she hit without hesitation.
Not only did Gao Laotai hit, she also cursed with full vigor, not at all like an elderly woman.
“I’ll beat you to death, you adulteress!”
“My son is dead, but I’m still standing!”
“Making you commit adultery! Making you commit adultery! Beat you to death, you shameless thing!”
The later words were too vile to repeat. All sorts of filthy and nasty things were said. The old lady was probably so angry she’d forgotten there was a crowd outside listening.
Shang Wan shook her head and reached out to cover Lu Chengjing’s ears.
Lu Chengjing looked up in confusion, “Wife?”
He wasn’t Yuan Yuan, after all.
“Hear less of it.” Shang Wan said righteously, “They say hearing too much of this stuff makes you ugly.”
Lu Chengjing: “…”
Wife really only fancied his face T^T.
The bath shed’s door panel was suddenly shoved open with a bang. Gui Shi ran out with her hair disheveled and clothes in disarray. Gao Laotai chased behind her, swinging the cane, and demanded, “Say it, who is the adulterer? If you don’t, I’ll beat you to death, you heartless wretch!”
Gui Shi just sobbed, and in her panic, hid behind Aunt Yao.
Gao Laotai was so angry she was panting heavily, not forgetting to curse, “I treated you like my own daughter, pouring out my heart for you, and you go committing adultery outside! You’re deliberately trying to disturb the Gao Family ancestors’ graves!”
The villagers were afraid the old lady would collapse from anger and cause a death, so they hurried to help hold her back. Shi Tou kindly contributed a wooden stool for the old lady to sit and curse on.
An aunt comforted Gao Laotai warmly, “Calm down! Your health is important. If you really beat her badly, you’d feel sorry too, wouldn’t you?”
“Pah! Vile woman!” Gao Laotai’s face flushed red as she spat forcefully.
A vile woman who put a green hat on her son—she wished she could beat her to death!
Aunt Yao quickly pulled Gui Shi away to dodge, inwardly cursing her bad luck. Why did Gui Shi have to hide behind her of all places?
Shang Wan, having watched the show, turned and called to Village Chief Lin, “Village Chief, this commotion can’t go on forever. Come and preside over justice quickly!”
Didn’t you like presiding over justice? Here’s the job—get to it!
Village Chief Lin, who had been trying to minimize his presence: “…”
Remembering him only when there was trouble, huh?
Getting involved in this family matter was the most fatal.
Gao Laotai said hatefully, “Village Chief, quickly drown this unchaste adulteress and her adulterer in pig cages together!”
Village Chief Lin frowned, his face showing difficulty.
Xiao Huan, fearing the matter wasn’t big enough, reminded him, “Village Chief, we haven’t asked who the adulterer is yet.”
“Right, who is the adulterer?”
“If they really like each other, why not just marry?”
“If Gao Qi finds out, he’ll chop that adulterer to pieces!”
Shang Wan thought to herself, Gao Gonggong probably didn’t have that ability. They didn’t even know if he was awake yet.
“Gui Shi, come out.” Village Chief Lin asked with a stern face, “Confess honestly. Who is the adulterer?”
How could Gui Shi dare come out?
She clutched Aunt Yao’s clothes tightly, head down, lips pressed shut.
“You’ve been widowed for years. Wanting to remarry is understandable. You could just discuss it properly with your mother-in-law. Why resort to adultery?”
Village Chief Lin used both soft and hard tactics, “Speak frankly now, and we’ll settle it in the village. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless and handing you over to the city to be paraded through the streets.”
Hearing “paraded through the streets,” Gui Shi nearly couldn’t stand steady. Her vision went black, and she was so terrified she fainted dead away.
Gao Laotai looked at Gui Shi without a trace of pity. She gripped her cane and slammed it heavily on the ground, “Get cool water to splash her awake!”
