Chapter 44: Chapter 44
Chapter 44
"Husband, what has happened?" Yueqian ran after Aunt Liao. She saw her husband sitting with a gloomy expression, as if his anger had not yet subsided. The beautiful woman immediately approached her husband with concern.
"Qian’er, it’s nothing. Why did you come? Go back and wait for me at home," Mu Heng frowned with worry as he saw his wife approaching.
"It’s alright. I will wait and go back with you," Yueqian said earnestly.
Mu Heng looked at his wife and his younger siblings with a sense of guilt. Initially, he was only angry, but knowing that he was causing trouble for others, he couldn’t help but blame himself.
"Is she here already? Is this your wife? The prostitute from the city who sneaks around to meet men in taverns?" While Yueqian was checking her husband’s injuries, a woman’s voice suddenly shouted.
"Will you never stop talking!" Yueqian did not have to act. Mu Heng stood up again, his jaws clenched in anger, his menacing face causing the other party to step back in fear.
"Village leader, look. Look at him; he’s about to hit someone in our village again," the woman’s voice spoke out in fear, running to hide behind the village leader of her village. Clearly, she was from a different village, otherwise, Mu Heng wouldn’t have taken such drastic action.
No, if it weren’t for that, the other party wouldn’t dare to verbally attack Yueqian like she was doing now.
"Ha!" Mu Heng glared at them angrily. He was not one to talk much, but if these people continued to tarnish his wife’s reputation, he would not hesitate to hit them again.
"Husband, calm down. Can you tell me what happened?" Yueqian touched her husband’s arm.
Although she could guess that she was the cause of this fight, but she hoped everyone could hear the situation together.
"Hmph," Mu Heng swiftly turned away. He didn’t want to speak to make his wife feel bad, but the adversary wouldn’t stop.
"Of course, I’ll tell you. It just happened that my husband saw you entering the tavern to prostitute yourself to another man who was coming to trade in town. He simply asked how much you charge; in case he might be exhausted and would go and vent his desire with you."
The woman, known to be the injured man’s wife, said scornfully. She believed her husband was injured and that someone else should be held accountable, not caring about the accuracy of her statements.
"Oh, are you saying that your husband, already having you as a wife, is dissatisfied enough to seek other women to vent on? Furthermore, such a lewd and greedy man, when in need, accuses another woman of being a prostitute, even going as far as to propose this through her husband. Is this the kind of reliable man you speak of?" Yueqian asked. She repeated every word from the other party, but it didn’t sound pleasant anymore.
"This, this..." As she considered it, the wife hesitated slightly.
"Ha, such a wonderful husband you have. Actually, if Brother Heng hadn’t fought himself, he could take him to the authorities, for he must have had intentions to harass me. No sane man would ask a woman’s husband such a thing. Besides, if I were truly selling myself, I wouldn’t sell to the poor folks around here. Wouldn’t it be better for me to have run away and become a wealthy man’s concubine by now?"
"It’s really ridiculous that someone would believe such nonsense and ruin my reputation so badly."
"Do you think I let out my mother’s property for lease to others just so we can all get rich together, only to have my reputation maligned like this? And where did you say you’re from? This is your village leader, right?" Yueqian pointed at an elderly village leader, causing him to flinch with surprise.
"Good... if your village leader doesn’t handle this properly and to my husband’s satisfaction, I will inform the authorities that I am canceling the lease of your villagers and will give it to another village that respects us."
"Oh, about your husband’s injuries, I am willing to pay a fine to the authorities and cover the medical costs. It’s just a bit of money for us. But remember, I will sue you back for defamation and for your attempts to harass me. Perhaps your fault might be greater. My husband acted only to protect me."
"Hmph." Yueqian spewed each word, her demeanor like that of a fierce little demon, making others tremble.
Of course, some were very pleased, thinking about the increased farming rights they might gain. Who wouldn’t be happy?
"T... there, there, young lady, let’s calm down a bit. This matter needs further discussion," the elderly man, the village leader of the man Mu Heng had injured, hastily said.
"Calm down? If I hadn’t come, would you all be calm? No, actually, I should thank you for quickly calling the authorities, hoping they would punish my husband, right? Good, then I will handle everything at once," Yueqian said, folding her arms. She didn’t care if the speaker was old or young, but if they tried to harm her husband, she wouldn’t hold back.
"Village leader, this isn’t right. You must mediate properly. This isn’t right. The 100 mu of land my family rented is like our hope. Whether Xiao Wu can study at the scholar academy depends on the sale of this harvest."
"Me too. And if it’s as it happened, the first one to insult someone else’s wife is at fault, right? If someone insulted my wife, I wouldn’t stand for it either. I support this Young Mu. We need to find another solution."
"That’s right, village leader. Our people are wrong, aren’t they? Just coming from another village to slander someone shows their ill intentions," many people from the same village as the man who slandered Yueqian quickly protected themselves.
They didn’t want to lose the right to the lease, regardless of who was really at fault. They would not be willing to lose this benefit. Even if they had to turn a blind eye, they sided with Yueqian!
"You people, you!" The woman who initially caused a scene. Her husband was so injured, and initially, it was agreed that Mu Heng should be responsible. He should accept the consequence of his action, at least pay for medical treatment, compensation for emotional distress and compensation for lost family income during this time.
At first, people agreed that Mu Heng had gone too far using a hoe to severely injure someone. But why had the tables turned like this?!
"Shut your mouth! You can’t even keep your own husband in check, letting him think of harming others. And now you dare defend him blindly?"
"Exactly, no one is to blame but you. If you were good enough, would your husband think of harming others? Accusing someone else’s wife of infidelity, it’s your husband who is likely to cheat on you!"
"Indeed, this young lady really went to the city, but she went with her two younger siblings, who are her husband’s younger siblings. If she really intended to do as accused, would she take these two children with her? Just thinking this way already shows how foolish the thought is."
"Exactly, the kids were with her. Who would dare to do such things? There are many opportunities to go to the city; if she were to sell herself, she wouldn’t do it while her husband’s relative was present."
"True, only a fool would think this way, or someone speaking out of some hidden intention, wanting to possess another’s wife to the point of causing discord. This problem is yours and your husband’s now."
People stepped forward, especially those from other villages who saw Yueqian going with the children; they thought the husband of this quarrelsome woman was the cause.
Yueqian secretly sighed. If the situation worsened further, if she had to reveal the identity of Wu Yuan Dong, her identity would become even more suspect to the Young General.
For now, she managed to keep this secret by allowing the villagers to rent her land, marking her investments not in vain.
The couple, one seriously injured and fortunate to have received prompt medical attention from the doctor who was already there to treat others in the village. The other, besieged by criticisms from people, could only stammer. The situation looked exceedingly bizarre.
"Yueqian, please, for once, for my sake. This should be the last time our villagers speak ill of you. If there is another instance of disturbance, I personally will take responsibility. I believe today’s events will make everyone realize that they should not harm you. Many families now have hope, our village has the right to improve our living standards, and if it ends now... many of us will definitely suffer."
The village leader of the other party said, he looked at Mu Heng’s village leader, seeking help.
Among them, village leaders understood each other best. Village development depends on the well-being of its people. If Yueqian cancels the lease for farming this time, dreams of progress and better living standards would surely be lost—a loss too great.
Yueqian still feigned anger, looking at the injured man lying helplessly without sympathy.
"If there is a next time, I will spare no one. Moreover, this matter had been reported to the authorities; it won’t just end easily." She mentioned the authorities, prompting the village leader to look more serious.
"I will handle this matter myself. The people here will witness everything," he stated firmly. Hearing this, Yueqian agreed.
"Husband, let’s return home then. You’ve had enough today, having to listen to such nonsense." Upon hearing his wife’s words, Mu Heng nodded.
Originally, he did not want his little wife to hear such nonsense or see him lose his temper. He feared she might disapprove of someone who couldn’t control his emotions like him. Previously, he had fought with the uncles, and now he was fighting with outsiders.
Mu Heng had never been like this before and didn’t think he could become so hot-tempered. However, when it involved his little wife, he couldn’t contain his anger.
"Qian’er, this is my fault. You had to step in and deal with this nonsense." As they returned home, Mu Heng did not enter. He grasped his wife’s soft arm with a guilty demeanor.
Yueqian quickly shook her head, knowing he acted for her sake. Besides, when she met with Brother Dong Dong, she didn’t think anyone else saw it.
It was good that they only saw her enter the tavern. If they had seen her went into a room with Brother Dong Dong and Uncle Luan, who knows what they would have made of it.
"This isn’t just your fault. Although I don’t want you to get angry or act just to protect me. It’s not that I am not grateful you took the trouble for me, I just worry about you more. Every time you get hurt for me, I feel even guiltier," Yueqian said, gently touching his face where a green bruise was forming.
