Chapter 92: You’re Truly A Saint With A Heart Of Gold!
Thinking of this, Mi Shi forcibly suppressed the soaring anger in her heart, walked up to the foreman, scrutinized him critically from head to toe, and then said in a condescending manner: “You’re the one who ruined my daughter’s reputation, so what are you going to do about it!”
The foreman was dumbfounded. Hadn’t this woman just said her own daughter was shameless and climbed into his bed? How had it suddenly become him ruining her daughter’s reputation?
“Although you’re a bit old and quite average-looking, not worthy of my daughter at all, but who told her to be blind and fall for you! Find a suitable time to come propose! Oh, and we won’t ask for much betrothal gift money, just twenty taels of silver will do. Anyway, you’re not from our village, so no banquet needed.”
After these words, not only the foreman and his workers, but even the villagers were left dumbfounded, all suspecting if this old madam had been driven mad by her daughter’s affair.
“Did you hear that? Give me a straight answer!” Mi Shi said impatiently to the stunned foreman.
“Hear what? Are you crazy? Your daughter climbed into my bed, why should I come propose? And twenty taels of silver? For a daughter like yours, forget twenty taels—even twenty copper coins I wouldn’t take; I’d have to be paid twenty taels to take her! Pfft!” The foreman finally lost his temper, jumping up and yelling while pointing at Mi Shi’s nose.
“What did you say? Do you know who you’re talking to? I’m your future mother-in-law, your elder—how dare you speak to me like that?” Mi Shi was stunned for a moment by the yelling, then reacted, jumping in fury.
“Whose mother-in-law are you? Don’t flatter yourself! For a shameless daughter like yours, whoever wants her can have her—but don’t pin it on me. If you insist on shoving her at me, believe me, I’ll sell her to a brothel! Isn’t she eager to crawl into men’s bedding? I’ll make it happen for her!” the foreman said viciously.
“You, you dare!” Mi Shi saw his hardness and immediately softened her attitude.
“If you insist on foisting this ugly monster on me, just watch if I dare! You really think I’m a pushover, easy to bully!” The foreman spat on the ground again, glaring viciously at Mi Shi, then glanced back at He Luan’er with a gaze full of disgust.
Mi Shi completely didn’t dare say another word about making the foreman marry her daughter, but he had reminded her—anyway, this daughter’s reputation was already ruined beyond salvage, so why not exchange her for more money? She had raised her, after all—wasn’t that her due?
He Luan’er had originally thought her mother was finally being reliable for once, but who knew she’d be scared speechless so quickly. Hearing the foreman viciously disparage her, she got so angry her eyes reddened, lost all reason, rushed over to hit him, her sharp nails aiming to scratch his face.
The foreman was already annoyed by this undeserved disaster! The old madam had finally quieted down, but now the young one wanted to hit him too—did she really think he was easy to bully!
So without a word, he kicked out, landing right on He Luan’er’s shoulder, sending her flying to land at Mi Shi’s feet, where she lay unable to get up for a long time.
“You bitch, disgraceful thing, get home now! When I gave birth to you, I should have drowned you in the chamber pot, saved myself from raising you this big just to lose face with you!” Mi Shi grabbed He Luan’er’s hair and half-dragged her home, cursing all the way.
Seeing no more spectacle, the villagers dispersed, discussing animatedly as they went—mostly saying to keep their own kids far away from the He family folks. Of course, some pitied He Luan’er, saying the foreman was heartless: he’d taken advantage of the young lady, so why not marry her? What if she was the fierce type and hanged herself with a rope?
The speaker was Lin Shenzi, who hadn’t shown her face for a long time. Previously, her son had his manhood deposed by someone; after recovering, he never went out, didn’t work, just drank all day, and went on drunken rampages when wasted.
No one knew who started it, but it was said Lin Shu was like this because Lin Shenzi had done too much evil and suffered retribution. When the talk reached Lin Shu’s ears, he believed it instantly, and every drunken rage, he’d beat and kick Lin Shenzi, making her life miserable.
Finally tonight, Lin Shu had passed out drunk, but she couldn’t sleep from the pain of two punches she’d taken, so hearing the commotion, she came out to see, and couldn’t hold back from saying those words.
Everyone’s gaze toward her changed.
“Lin Shenzi, you’re such a bodhisattva with your compassion—why don’t you have your Lin Shu marry her! Save her from hanging herself with a rope—what a great idea!” a villager couldn’t help but retort.
“What nonsense are you spouting? What’s wrong with my Lin Shu? If marrying, it’d be a pure young lady! How could he marry such an immoral person? Keep talking and I’ll rip your mouth!” Lin Shenzi immediately bristled, hands on hips, shouting at him.
“Tch! Didn’t you just say the foreman was heartless and worry He Luan’er might hang herself?” The man wouldn’t back down, using her own words against her.
“Why should my Lin Shu marry her? She didn’t crawl into my Lin Shu’s bedding!”
“So you admit she crawled into someone’s bedding! Hmph!”
“Enough, why argue with her? You don’t know Lin Shenzi? She can twist reason into nonsense; no sensible person bothers with her! Why are you rushing to engage her?” The person walking beside him was fed up with Lin Shenzi’s nitpicking and said loudly enough for all to hear.
“You! You! You little brats, I’m your elder—how dare you talk like that! I’ll tell your parents!” Lin Shenzi was infuriated nearly to death by them.
None of them paid her any mind, chatting together as they walked off, and even from far away, she could hear them badmouthing her.
“A bunch of little bastards! Just you wait!” Lin Shenzi was so angry everything looked unpleasant. Spotting a pebble on the path ahead, she kicked it—only it wasn’t a pebble, but a big stone half-buried, with just a bit showing. Her kick flipped her big toenail, and she yelped in pain, sitting on the ground clutching her toe and howling.
The people ahead didn’t even turn their heads. “Ignore her; engage her and it’ll never end.”
So in the deep night of the village, Lin Shenzi waited ages with no one passing by, finally limping home alone.
As soon as she entered, a big palm reeking of alcohol slapped her face, making her stagger. To steady herself, her foot that she’d kept off the ground instinctively touched down, sending piercing pain through her.
“Where the hell were you? I’m hungry—hurry and make me some food!” Lin Shu said with a wine burp.
Lin Shenzi didn’t dare say a word, wiped her tears, and turned to the kitchen. Bright red blood stained her gray shoes, but no one noticed.
Dear readers, Happy Women’s Day! Thanks to Mmy Dang and Peace-aD for the votes, and caroletu’s tip. Thanks for the big shot’s support, thank you!
