Faced with an impending crisis at home, this usually gentle woman suddenly erupted.

Wang Xiulan stood at the door with a gloomy face, her eyes fixed on the two people who were almost touching.

Her gaze shifted from her son's sweat-soaked shirt to Xiaomei's open collar, and then to the subtle, ambiguous atmosphere between the two. Anger instantly surged to the top of her head.

"Mingfu! Come home with me!"

Wang Xiulan's voice was full of anger.

Su Mingfu was startled and dropped the towel in his hand to the ground.

"Mom, what's wrong with you..."

"Now! Immediately!"

Wang Xiulan's voice rose eight octaves, leaving no room for doubt.

Xiaomei quickly took a step back, putting on an innocent expression.

"Auntie, Comrade Mingfu just helped me move the cabinet..."

"Shut up!"

Wang Xiulan interrupted sharply.

"Don't think I don't know what you're up to! Seducing someone else's son, have you no shame?"

Xiaomei's face turned deathly pale instantly, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Auntie, you've misunderstood, I just..."

"Mom! How could you say that about Xiaomei!"

Su Mingfu suddenly stood in front of Xiaomei, blocking his mother's view.

"She's raising a child and taking care of an elderly woman all by herself; it's not easy for her. What's wrong with us helping her out?"

Wang Xiulan trembled with anger at her son's protective attitude towards outsiders.

"You! You unfilial son! Do you even know who she is? A widow, dressed like this first thing in the morning to seduce men..."

Who do you think you are! Watch your mouth!

Old Mrs. Zhou suddenly rushed out of the inner room, pointing her finger at Wang Xiulan and cursing.

"My daughter-in-law is an innocent person, and you cannot slander her!"

The courtyard was immediately thrown into chaos.

The two old women were arguing, and Su Mingfu was caught in the middle, caught in a dilemma. Xiaomei hid behind him, a sneer of triumph flashing in her eyes.

The argument between the two elderly women quickly attracted the attention of their neighbors in the alley.

First, Aunt Li from next door poked her head out, then Grandpa Wang from across the street also put down his rice bowl and came out. Before long, seven or eight neighbors gathered at the entrance of the Zhou family courtyard to watch the commotion.

"Oh dear, what happened to this new widow's family?"

Aunt Li stood on tiptoe and peered into the yard, still clutching a clove of garlic she hadn't finished peeling.

When Wang Xiulan heard the murmurs, her face turned deathly pale.

She knew that Su Jianguo cared a lot about his reputation. Back then, when his eldest daughter got divorced and returned to her parents' home, he didn't let outsiders laugh at him. Now, his own son was getting involved with a widow. What would people think if word got out?

"Everyone, move along! There's nothing to see here!"

Wang Xiulan suppressed her anger and grabbed Su Mingfu's arm.

"Come home with me!"

Su Mingfu staggered a couple of steps as he was pulled, but he didn't forget to turn back and shout to Xiaomei.

"Sister Xiaomei, call me anytime if you need anything!"

His gaze was so sticky it could be drawn out in strands, making Wang Xiulan's temples throb.

Upon seeing this, Old Mrs. Zhou immediately raised her voice.

"Everyone, please be the judge! We, a widow and her orphan, just moved in and people are already pointing fingers and insulting us..."

She deliberately emphasized the words "widowed mother," causing a stir among the onlookers.

Wang Xiulan's hand tightened suddenly.

She whispered directly into Su Mingfu's ear.

"If you dare utter another word, I'll have your dad break your legs tonight!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Su Mingfu's head.

He finally regained some composure and, seeing the neighbors pointing and whispering around him, realized the seriousness of the situation. He lowered his head and obediently followed his mother out of the crowd.

The smug voice of Old Mrs. Zhou came from behind.

"Some people can't even control their own sons, yet they blame us..."

These words pierced Wang Xiulan's heart like a needle.

It was noon.

As Su Jianguo led Su Yufen into the alleyway, they saw several neighbors gathered near their homes, whispering amongst themselves.

Upon seeing him approach, the group scattered like birds and beasts, but the probing look in their eyes was impossible to hide.

"Dad, what are they doing..."

Su Yufen was holding the roast duck she had just bought when her father raised his hand to stop her before she could finish speaking.

Su Jianguo squinted.

His keen senses, honed over twenty years as an electrician, allowed him to immediately detect the anomaly.

There was no smoke coming out of the chimney.

Wang Xiulan should be making lunch at this time.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, what greeted me was not the aroma of food, but a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

Da Mao and Er Mao were squatting in the corner playing with pebbles when they saw their grandfather come back. They immediately rushed over, but Su Yufen stopped them.

The children blinked their bewildered eyes, clearly not understanding why the atmosphere at home was so strange today.

The curtain at the main room remained motionless, and Wang Xiulan's suppressed sobs could be faintly heard.

Su Jianguo's heart tightened, and he rushed into the house. He saw Wang Xiulan sitting at the octagonal table, her eyes red and her hand clutching a soaked handkerchief.

The most shocking thing was the corner of the wall.

Su Mingfu knelt upright on the washboard, his knees already turning blue, but he still stubbornly held his neck and looked defiant.

"This is..."

As soon as Su Jianguo opened his mouth, Wang Xiulan burst into tears.

"Ask your good son! He sneaked into the widow's house in broad daylight and got caught red-handed by the neighbors!"

Su Jianguo's face instantly darkened.

Without saying a word, he walked up to Su Mingfu and kicked his son in the shoulder.

The kick was so powerful that Su Mingfu fell to the ground, and the washboard flipped over with a loud thud.

"dad!"

Su Mingfu looked at Su Jianguo with a wronged expression.

Su Jianguo didn't say a word. His wife was so angry, of course he had to coax her.

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