“Uncle, I want to see,” Hu Honghua caught her uncle’s slight smile and quickly leaned over to ask.
Hu Chengjun kept staring at the wine bottle, estimating when it would dry up, ignoring Hu Honghua, who was almost scratching the table with her shoes.
After a moment, his voice low and deep, he finally said, “Go.”
Hu Honghua barely noticed her uncle breaking the bottle. Like a little rabbit, she jumped down from her bench and rushed into the room.
The Li old man’s house was identical to the Li old master’s next door.
Between the front west and front east rooms was a main hall, with corridors leading deep inside, connecting to a kitchen.
The crowd was packed inside the narrow corridor and cramped kitchen, making the house feel especially claustrophobic. Noise echoed, overlapping amid the tight space.
Hu Honghua squeezed through and heard continuous murmurs.
“Who is that woman?”
“Can’t see clearly! Hide under the quilt!”
“Oh, what a disgrace.”
“Whose wife is missing? Look around!”
“How can Principal Li do such a thing! I even lent him five yuan before.”
Hu Honghua, using her slim figure, slipped to the front and saw the scene in the back west room.
There weren’t many people inside. Villagers liked to watch but not interfere, so everyone crowded the kitchen and corridor. Only the Li family members entered the back west room.
Those were Li Jianye and Wang Yulian, plus Zhao Xiejie, and three from Li old master’s family—Shi Lan, Li Tianci, and Li Tianfu.
The door to the back west room was broken, likely kicked down by someone eager to see. When the crowd surged in, Li Jianye tried to close the door behind him, but someone forced it open. The door fell, exposing their naked bodies.
Li Jianye and the woman were stuck on the bed, clothes not even put on properly. Unfortunately, the back west room windows were barred with iron grilles. They couldn’t escape and were trapped inside.
The woman hid quickly under the quilt, using Li Jianye’s body as a shield. The crowd still hadn’t seen her face.
Zhao Xiejie held a pair of dark blue trousers in one hand and a pair of men’s black briefs in the other, animatedly describing the scene to Shi Lan.
“I saw them rolling together! That damned woman was even moaning—calling out ‘Jianye’ over and over! Those two shameless people! How could they do this behind Shi Lan’s back?”
“Who is that woman? She dares to do this but won’t show her face? Ha! If she has any shame, why climb into a married man’s bed?”
Zhao Xiejie’s voice grew louder and louder. Though she sounded angry, a careful ear could detect a hint of schadenfreude.
Of course she was happy!
When she first discovered it was Li Jianye, she was shocked, but that quickly gave way to excitement.
Li Jianye’s infidelity was most humiliating for whom? Shi Lan!
Even her own husband couldn’t control himself, and Shi Lan’s shame was immense!
Shi Lan was once so tough, always standing her ground against anyone. Now, things had turned upside down—she was locked in battle with her own husband! Who was tougher, her or Li Jianye?
No matter who won, it was entertaining.
She had always clashed with Shi Lan as co-sisters-in-law. After Shi Lan’s fortunes improved and hers worsened, she felt bitter.
Now, the situation reversed!
Shi Lan was cuckolded, and Li Jianye was caught in bed with another woman in her house!
And Zhao Xiejie had personally caught them red-handed. She’d dream about this day forever, knowing how furious Shi Lan would be.
Zhao Xiejie’s volume soared as she yelled, “Li Jianye, how could you do this behind your wife’s back? Your wife borrowed money for you, even went to her family once, and you just remember to sleep with a harlot! Are you even human?”
She waved the two pieces of clothing and shouted at the crowd, “Look! Look! These are Li Jianye’s clothes! When I came in, they were at it full force!”
Luckily, she was quick enough to grab the clothes; if they’d put them on, they might have escaped.
She relished the chaos, enjoying every bit of the scandal.
Shi Lan had lost so much face here—how could she still act so proud in front of her? Li Jianye committed such a betrayal; now he’d never compare to his older brother. Who dared say she married a lesser woman than Shi Lan?
As expected, when Shi Lan saw the scene, she panicked, her face flushed red as if about to faint.
“Ah, men,” Zhao Xiejie shouted. “Everyone, come look! Li old master is cheating behind his wife’s back!”
Zhao Xiejie’s shout made Li Jianye’s face turn green. Not only him, but Li Tianci and Li Tianfu’s faces darkened too.
Their own father caught in an affair and caught by their elder aunt, with the entire village watching—both brothers wished for a hole to crawl into.
The crowd responded with a collective “shhh!”
Wang Yulian and Li Jianye shrank together on the bed. Li Jianye grabbed the quilt to cover them and sweat poured from his forehead.
“Give me the clothes, Lan. I’ll explain when we get home.”
“Explain? The pants are off. What’s there to explain?” Shi Lan looked furious and shouted, “When did you get involved with this woman? Who is she?”
Shi Lan was the one who should be furious. When everyone looked at her flushed face and trembling lips, they sighed.
Ah! Such a fine wife, and Li Jianye didn’t cherish her!
Li Jianye protected Wang Yulian behind him, refusing to let anyone approach. After a while, he murmured, “I—I don’t know what happened either.”
He truly didn’t know what came over him today—why he was so desperate.
Wang Yulian dared not speak. She clutched the quilt tightly, hid behind Li Jianye, and whispered, “Let others leave first.”
She hadn’t yet revealed her face. She still had hope.
Li Jianye suddenly understood and shouted, “What are you all staring at? Go away! All of you, leave!”
He looked to his two sons, “Tianci, Tianfu, chase them all away!”
Li Tianci and Li Tianfu didn’t move. Both were ashamed of their father and wished to disappear, too embarrassed to chase anyone off.
Li Jianye could only shamelessly plead to Shi Lan, “Lan, don’t be angry. Let’s go home and talk.”
He shielded the person behind him. Shi Lan did not try to fight back, and neither did Zhao Xiejie. Instead, she stirred the pot, “Did you ever think about Shi Lan when you were with another woman?”
Shi Lan seemed hurt by Zhao Xiejie’s words; her eyes reddened as if about to cry, covering her face with her hands.
Zhao Xiejie grew more excited.
Shi Lan’s tears were Zhao Xiejie’s fuel. Who knew what she was so thrilled about? If she had hooves, she’d have kicked right then.
But Zhao Xiejie quickly shouted, “You little sister-in-law, why cry? It’s not your fault! It’s those two shameless people’s fault! You can’t just let them go!”
Shi Lan didn’t lower her hands, crying harder. Zhao Xiejie stomped her feet in frustration. “What good does crying do? Look at who that woman is!”
“Lift the quilt! Beat her! Drag her out!”
At that moment, a fierce shadow appeared in the crowd, and a booming voice shouted, “Who? Who’s seducing my son?”
Ah, it was Old Lian Po!
Zhao Xiejie and Shi Lan simultaneously stepped back—such was the unspoken understanding between two daughters-in-law.
But Wang Yulian still didn’t know this. Having never been Li Laotai’s daughter-in-law, she was unaware of the household’s dynamics. She hid behind Li Jianye, urging quietly, “Make them all leave, quickly!”
But in the next moment, Li Laotai jumped onto the bed with a shout, fiercely stomping on the woman under the quilt.
She didn’t hit her own son but only the woman. Li Jianye tried to stop her but couldn’t. Though Li Laotai never hit her son before, she was notorious in Li family village for hitting women, pulling hair, and spitting!
The woman under the quilt screamed from the pain, letting go of the quilt. Li Laotai yanked it off completely.
Underneath was Wang Yulian’s fair, delicate, and panic-stricken face.
When everyone recognized it was Wang Yulian, they all gasped in shock. Li Tianci and Li Tianfu stepped back, unable to accept it.
“How could it be Widow Wang!” Li Tianfu exclaimed.
“What else? Widows always bring trouble.”
“Quiet and well-behaved usually, but who would have thought she was like this!”
“Tsk tsk, no wonder Widow Wang’s husband never took her to the city. Maybe she’s been involved with Li Jianye all along.”
“Ah, is Lin Xinran really her husband’s child?”
The crowd mocked her mercilessly, and Wang Yulian felt like falling into an icy pit.
She was done for. All was over!
The fate of a woman caught in an affair in the village was worse than death.
Wang Yulian’s bones felt frozen; she thought she was about to die.
But Wang Yulian didn’t know—the real death was only just beginning.
She was done for, but Li Laotai was far from finished!
“You shameless woman, how dare you seduce my son!” Li Laotai refused to blame her son. Her son was the best son under the sun; only this shameless woman was at fault!
She corrupted her perfect son!
Li Laotai raised both hands high and slapped Wang Yulian repeatedly.
Wang Yulian screamed and dodged, but every dodge made Li Laotai rip off more of her quilt, exposing her body in public.
Humiliated beyond belief, she screamed, “Jianye! Jianye!”
Li Jianye saw Wang Yulian’s exposed body and felt his head buzz.
This was a woman he had slept with. By any measure, she was his. How could anyone just look at her like that? If Wang Yulian was disgraced, then so was he. How could his mother be so shameless as to pull off her quilt?
For the first time, Li Jianye was angry with his own mother.
Before, when Li Laotai argued with Shi Lan, Li Jianye never got angry. He knew Shi Lan was strong and fierce; when Li Laotai fought Shi Lan, no one was sure who’d get hurt.
But Wang Yulian was different—so fragile. If she got beaten, she might die!
Besides, Wang Yulian only did this because she liked him!
“Mom! What do you want to do?” Li Jianye grabbed the quilt and covered Wang Yulian, then shoved Li Laotai hard, yelling, “If you want to hit someone, hit me! Why hit Wang Yulian?”
Since Li Laotai was his mother, she should protect Wang Yulian, not beat her.
This was the first time Li Jianye fought with his own mother to protect a woman. Li Laotai was pushed off the bed and was stunned.
Her son hit her!
“Oh no! The sky is falling! My son hit me!”
Li Laotai sat on the floor crying, screaming, rolling around. From the nights she nursed Li Jianye as a baby, to preparing his marriage dowry, she wailed in heartbreak as if she wanted to die right there.
Li Laotai’s misery was so real that one might think she was the one being cuckolded.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xiejie stood nearby, arms akimbo, adding fuel to the fire, yelling, “Oh my, Li Jianye hit his mother for a dead woman! Didn’t he remember his mother used to work hard and feed him milk? What a disrespectful son!”
Li Jianye’s face reddened with shame and he couldn’t reply.
Zhao Xiejie and Li Laotai, a sharp tongue and a fierce spirit, were unstoppable together—her curses swept the crowd like a storm, her motherly presence was formidable. No one but Shi Lan could stand up to them; even Li Jianye’s own father had been beaten until he ran away with a cane.
Li Jianye was being beaten to death by words.
He had slept with a woman, his wife said nothing—but what the hell were they arguing about? Why drag her into this?
What made it worse was that they were his own mother and sister-in-law! How did they all look uglier than him?
Li Jianye panicked, holding Wang Yulian and shouting, “Get out! All of you get out! Go!”
But he was naked, without even pants, unable to get off the bed or chase anyone away. He could only shout helplessly, which made him look ridiculous.
A naked man, not even daring to get off the bed—what was there to fear?
No one listened to him. Li Laotai continued to throw tantrums on the floor, Zhao Xiejie stood with hands on hips cursing him a “dead ungrateful wolf.” Occasionally, she’d shout to Li Laotai, “Mom, your son wants you to leave!”
Li Laotai was miserable! She had fought Shi Lan many times and was scolded by Li Jianye before. Now, she only slapped Wang Yulian twice, and Li Jianye pushed her! What a waste raising a son!
Li Laotai was so heartbroken she bit her tongue and fainted on the spot.
People outside gasped. The excitement grew.
“Oh no! She fainted! She needs medical attention!”
Chaos erupted. Qian Dafu was pushed inside and knelt by Li Laotai’s side, pressing her acupressure points.
Li Laotai had fainted, but Zhao Xiejie was not satisfied. She cursed, “Li Jianye made his mother faint! Sister-in-law, you can’t keep him! You have to divorce him!”
Zhao Xiejie said this just to vent. She knew Shi Lan couldn’t divorce.
In their village, divorce was unheard of. Husbands could keep mistresses all they liked; their children still belonged to them. Where could a 30-something woman go? Li Jianye was a breadwinner; Shi Lan had no place to go.
Women without a husband had no rice to eat and would starve.
Could Shi Lan return to her natal family? Would they accept her? No one took back married daughters—it was shameful.
Could Shi Lan start over with someone else? At her age, the only men willing to marry her would be lowly or disabled. There was even a fool in the next village still looking for a wife. Would Shi Lan settle for that? Of course not.
Better to endure in the Li old master’s house.
So women’s only choice was to bite their tongue and bear it.
But Zhao Xiejie wanted to stir trouble, hoping Shi Lan would do something outrageous—like returning to her natal home, only to find no welcome, then sulking back and pretending all was well.
Just thinking about it made Zhao Xiejie happy.
She played the role of a concerned elder sister-in-law, urging, “Poor sister-in-law, I feel for you. Li Jianye treats you so badly. You mustn’t let him bully you!”
Li Jianye, shielding Wang Yulian, angrily shouted, “Zhao Xiejie! What are you talking about with your foul mouth? Are you asking for death?”
Who would encourage their own sister-in-law to divorce? What kind of person was that?
At last, he understood why Zhao Xiejie snatched his clothes when she came in—if he had any clothes left on, she’d have slapped him to death already.
At that moment, Li Tianci raised his head. “Daughter-in-law, why are you telling my mom such nonsense?”
When the commotion started in the back west room, Li Tianci hadn’t spoken. When his grandmother attacked Widow Wang, he stayed silent. When Zhao Xiejie provoked fights, he said nothing. But now that Zhao Xiejie mentioned “divorce,” Li Tianci finally spoke.
“My parents won’t divorce,” Li Tianci said firmly. “They’ll just cut ties with that woman.”
His words sounded reasonable.
Men were like that—many had women outside, but those women couldn’t come home. They played around freely outside.
If his father messed up, the solution was simple: cut ties with Widow Wang, return to his mother, and continue life as before. If his mother wasn’t pacified, she’d beat the widow a few times, and with many sons at home, the widow dared not fight back.
Once his mother vented, life went on.
That was how everyone in the village lived. His mother could live the same way. Divorce? Hmph! His uncle and aunt didn’t have good relations with their mother anyway. Now they just stirred up trouble at home!
“Yes, Mom,” Li Tianfu added, “What would happen if you left?”
When everyone insulted that harlot, Li Tianfu didn’t care. But if his mother left, he couldn’t let that happen. Someone had to cook!
He couldn’t lose his mother.
“What are you two talking about?” Zhao Xiejie crossed her arms, proudly saying, “I’m only thinking about your mother! What if your dad keeps seeing that slut? What if he keeps sneaking over at night? Will you let your mother suffer her whole life?”
“What if my mom divorces and leaves Li family?” Li Tianci shouted angrily. “What will she eat? Drink? Where will she live? I won’t support her if she divorces!”
“Is she dead? Isn’t she your mother? Can’t you support her?” Zhao Xiejie’s voice grew louder. “If your mom divorces your dad, she’s not your mom anymore? You’d let her starve? Your whole family’s just ungrateful wolves, bullying your mother!”