"Jiang Zhiqing, what you said doesn't mean we have the ability to solve the case. It wasn't me who said it, so it has nothing to do with me," said the aunt, rolling her eyes.

"It's okay? Don't believe in rumors, don't spread them. Do you know there's a crime in our country's laws for intentionally fabricating rumors to defame someone's reputation? In serious cases, the penalty is up to three years in prison, criminal detention, controlled release, or deprivation of political rights."

Jiang Wanwan didn't know much about the laws of that era, but to deal with a few old country ladies, scaring them was enough.

Sure enough, several people's faces changed drastically and they denied it one after another.

"We really didn't say that. Look at you, Jiang Zhiqing... why are you still doing this... just saying a few words of gossip shouldn't land you in jail."

"The gossip you're saying isn't just ordinary gossip. You're spreading rumors about me, gossiping about me that touch upon my reputation and reputation. The law gives me the right to hold you all accountable..."

"I know who said it. It was Li Cuifen," Aunt Sun was the first to lose her temper and shouted loudly.

"I also heard it from Li Cuifen. She sounded very convincing. Jiang Zhiqing, if you want to find someone, go find Li Cuifen. It really has nothing to do with me," another person also spoke up.

"In fact, we were deceived by Li Cuifen. Don't you think about the relationship between Li Cuifen and Erhunzi? It must be that their affair was discovered by everyone, and Erhunzi ignored Li Cuifen. That woman couldn't stand the loneliness and was angry, so she spread rumors about Erhunzi and Jiang Zhiqing. Let's not talk about anything else. Even if Jiang Zhiqing really looked for someone, he would look for someone with Lu San's appearance and physique. How could he be interested in Erhunzi?"

"Hmm?" Jiang Wanwan glanced at her sideways.

Aunt Sun quickly reached out and slapped herself on the mouth. "Look at my mouth. How could Jiang Zhiqing be that kind of person?"

The people around them also laughed along, not daring to say a word, for fear that Jiang Wanwan would remember her and put her in jail.

Not only did he not dare to say anything now, he also thought that he would never say anything bad about Jiang Zhiqing in the future. He was educated and knew a lot. People like them, who were from the countryside, had no idea that they would be sent to jail for spreading rumors.

They secretly made up their minds that no matter whether it was a rumor or not, they would stay away from anything involving Jiang Zhiqing.

Who knows if there are any other charges.

Jiang Wan took the dumplings from Wang Fang's hand in the evening, and Wang Fang took the opportunity to give her a thumbs up.

I really like Wanwan’s personality. She can make these aunts shut up with just a few words.

Jiang Wanwan gave one portion of dumplings to Wang Fang and one portion to the old man driving the cart.

The old man was smoking a pipe, still looking lazy. Seeing Jiang Wanwan's action, he quickly waved his hands and refused to take it. It was Wang Fang who persuaded him, "Just eat it. Wanwan bought it for us."

The coachman glanced at her and said, "You are getting more and more shameless, even though you are already grown up. These white flour dumplings are such a precious thing."

"Precious things are meant to be eaten by people," Jiang Wanwan handed the dumplings to the old man. This time he did not refuse and said several nice words to Jiang Wanwan politely.

The elderly of this generation are not used to saying thank you, and can only express their gratitude by constantly praising Jiang Wanwan, who almost felt embarrassed by the praise.

The hot dumplings stuffed with fresh meat and green onions are full of aroma as soon as you bite into them, especially when three people are eating them at the same time.

The aunties around couldn't help swallowing their saliva when they smelled the aroma of meat. They had only heard that Jiang Zhiqing was generous, but this time they really saw it. He gave away the meat dumplings as a gift.

Someone's stomach growled.

It was already lunchtime, and after walking around for most of the day, everyone was starving, but they were reluctant to buy food outside.

I can't bear the smell of meat anymore.

"How about we buy a piece of bread?" If you can't afford meat dumplings, you can still buy a piece of bread.

After this person suggested it, several others agreed. "I think the state-owned restaurant sells pancakes. Hot scallion pancakes are 5 cents and a dime. No ticket required."

"I saw it, but I just couldn't bear to buy it."

"Let's go together!"

Several people were talking at once and were about to get off the bus to buy some cakes.

The old man driving the ox cart coughed and put down the dumplings in his hand. "Everyone is here, it's time to go back."

"We're just about to buy some cakes. Can you wait a moment?"

"That's right, you've already eaten dumplings, you can't let us go back hungry."

The old man driving the ox cart glanced at the man and said, "I've been waiting for you for so long. We agreed to go back and forth before noon. It's already past noon. If you want to buy bread, go ahead. I won't wait any longer. It's not far. Just walk back by yourself."

As he said this, he got out of the car and untied the reins.

How could a few people dare to buy cakes? Their feet were sore after walking for a long time. If they walked back again, wouldn’t it be dark?

They surrounded the ox cart again and climbed up in a hurry.

Aunt Sun is the oldest here and has bound feet. When she heard about buying cakes, she ran the fastest and walked the farthest. Now she is at a disadvantage. She finally climbed onto the ox cart, but the old man driving the cow whipped it, and the old cow squeaked forward. Aunt Sun, who hadn't even sat firmly on the cart, was almost thrown out.

He was lying on his back at the rear of the car, groaning and kicking his little feet for a long time before someone pulled him up.

Jiang Wanwan and Wang Fang tried to hold back their laughter at her funny look. Wang Fang winked at her and whispered, "My uncle is venting his anger for you."

Jiang Wanwan also noticed it, of course. The old man didn't get annoyed after waiting for such a long time, so why didn't he even wait to buy a cake?

Jiang Wanwan and Wang Fang sat in the front. The shaking of the ox cart did not prevent them from eating dumplings.

This is really hard for the people behind.

When the wind blows, the fragrance of the dumplings floats to the back.

If I hadn't thought about buying bread, I might have been able to bear it. But now that I can't eat the bread and have to smell the aroma of meat-filled dumplings, it's simply torture.

I endured it all the way with great difficulty, but before I reached the village entrance, I saw a lot of people gathered at the entrance from afar.

Someone rushed out from the crowd, shouting as he ran, with another person chasing him from behind, just like slaughtering a pig during the New Year.

"Oh my God, what happened? Whose couple is fighting?"

The aunties in the ox cart suddenly became excited and stretched their necks.

"I don't think so. A couple fighting shouldn't be without anyone to break it up, right?"

"When your man hit you, was there anyone to intervene? Who wants to meddle in a couple's affairs? It's inappropriate to interfere too deeply or too superficially. Later, when the couple reconciles, the one who meddled gets blamed."

"Ah, why does that person in front look like Cuifen to me?"

"Really? But the ones behind don't look like iron pillars to me..."

At this time, several aunts only regretted that the ox cart was not moving fast enough, and regretted going out today and not appearing in the front line of eating melons, so that they were confused even though the excitement was right in front of them.

However, before the aunts could sigh for too long, they saw the people running in front of them heading straight for the ox cart. The aunts were so excited that they almost stood up from the ox cart.

PS: The first blessing of 2024: Happy New Year to everyone!!