Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Rumors

Jiang Xi held her hand and said, "Mom, don't worry. Nothing happened to me. Those people are just talking nonsense. I will find out who is gossiping behind my back."

Jiang Xi's expression was frank and his tone was serious, not pretending to be fake. Wu Yaqin breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't believe what others said, but she believed in her daughter.

But thinking of the words she heard when she went out today, Wu Yaqin felt extremely suffocated. She was too embarrassed to say those words out loud. They were like a knife stabbing her heart. How could those people do this? Her Xixi was such a well-behaved child and should not have to endure those rumors.

Wu Yaqin's worries did not dissipate. Jiang Xi noticed her emotions and could only comfort her. She protected Wu Yaqin and saw Zhao Xianglan before she entered the door.

Zhao Xianglan smiled maliciously and stared at Jiang Xi and her daughter.

Zhao Xianglan had been quiet as a chicken since she was punished by Jiang Xi last time, but when she saw Jiang Xi today, she became cocky and said, "Hey, isn't this Jiang Xi? Shere is willing to come back from the county today?"

Jiang Xi glanced at her and ignored her, but Zhao Xianglan became excited: "I heard that you were raped by some hooligans a few days ago. How dare you come out like that? If I were you, I would have jumped into the river long ago."

Jiang Xi's eyes were cold: "Watch your mouth! If you dare to spread rumors again, I'll tear your mouth apart."

Zhao Xianglan persisted, "You're still threatening me. Don't think I don't know. You look innocent on the surface, but you're actually quite promiscuous. You've had affairs with several of the educated youths at the Youth Office, and now you've hooked up with this little rascal. Look at how flirtatious you are. I'm afraid you're enjoying it."

Zhao Xianglan's words were extremely harsh and loud, which soon attracted a group of villagers. These people had heard about Jiang Xi's situation and were curious. When they saw the movement here, they gathered together to watch the excitement.

Aunt Li was among them. After hearing what Jiang Xi said, she began to doubt the truth of the matter. In addition, what Zhao Xianglan said was so filthy that she couldn't help but say, "Jiang Xi is not that kind of person. What are you talking about? She doesn't even know her own business. How can you know better than her?"

Zhao Xianglan curled her lips and said, "After doing something like that, are you still afraid of what others will say? Besides, who would admit to doing such a thing?"

The others were also whispering.

"I didn't expect Jiang Xi to be such a person."

"I suddenly remembered that Jiang Xi might have really been abused. I saw Jiang Xi coming back with a man late at night that day. I guess that man was the hooligan."

"Oh, how shameless! A man and a woman come back home alone at night. Who knows what happened?"

"I also saw that man pinch Jiang Xi, and Jiang Xi smiled at him."

"Haven't you noticed that Jiang Xi's clothes have changed recently? Look at those tight ones. Maybe they're just to seduce men."

Some even made obscene remarks: "Once you have tasted a man, you can't live without him."

What these people said seemed to have details to support their claims, so everyone believed it more. Even Aunt Li looked at Jiang Xi with some suspicion.

Zhao Xianglan was even more pleased with herself: "We all saw it, what else do you want to say! You, a dishonest slut like you, get out of our village right away and stop ruining the reputation of the girls in this village!"

When Zhao Xianglan said this, everyone buzzed. Some people felt that it was not necessary, as they were just gossiping and would not drive people away.

But some people, especially those with daughters, began to feel uneasy. They didn't care if Jiang Xi was abused, but if the news got out and implicated their daughters, that would be disastrous.

For a moment, some of these people agreed with Zhao Xianglan's statement: "Hurry up and tell me what happened? Who was that man who sent you there in the dark last time? If you can't explain clearly, our village won't tolerate someone like you."

Jiang Xi already knew who the man these people were talking about. It was Qi Yu'an who sent her back that day, and it was most likely Qi Yu'an that these people saw. However, she couldn't drag Qi Yu'an into this at this time.

Jiang Xi glanced around coldly. Among the crowd, there were those who fanned the flames, those who watched coldly, and of course those who gloated over the misfortune and were excited and complacent.

Jiang Xi memorized the faces of these people one by one, and said in a cold voice with a stern face:

"You're talking so enthusiastically about something that has absolutely no evidence. Is it so easy to fabricate rumors these days? Can something completely fabricated become fact just because a few people mess around with it?"

Jiang Xi's tone was filled with sarcasm. "Are you doing this to uphold justice? Or are you just venting your dark thoughts? You can ruin a girl with just a few random words and a few dirty rumors. Today it's me, but who will it be tomorrow? You slander and belittle me so indiscriminately. Aren't you afraid of retribution?"

Jiang Xi's last words were directed at Zhao Xianglan. Zhao Xianglan was frightened by Jiang Xi's gaze and her heart began to beat fast. "Don't be so superstitious. We all saw it all. You can't deny it with just a few words!"

Zhao Xianglan wanted to find a few people to agree with her, but the people who had spoken just now all dodged and avoided her sight. These people just spoke too quickly, but it involved retribution. Although it was advocated not to engage in feudal superstition, these people were still a little scared. Zhao Xianglan cursed inwardly, they were all fence-sitters who changed their views according to the wind.

Zhao Xianglan was extremely angry because the last time Jiang Xi came to her house to cause trouble, she was slapped several times by Jiang Xi. She could not hold her head up at home or in the village. She finally got this opportunity but she didn't expect to be tricked by Jiang Xi. How could Zhao Xianglan be willing to accept this?

Zhao Xianglan stiffened her neck and said, "You little girl is still so sharp-tongued, but even if you are sharp-tongued, what happened has happened. No matter how much you say, you have been abused, you have been abused! You spread your legs and you are afraid of what others will say!"

Zhao Xianglan couldn't wait to put an end to the matter, and her words were vulgar and full of malice.

Jiang Xi's expression was very calm, and she even smiled softly. She walked step by step to Zhao Xianglan and asked, "Didn't you get slapped enough last time? Do you want to experience it again this time?"

Alas, Zhao Xianglan took a few steps back in fear, as if the slap mark on her face was still there, but because of this, she felt even more angry. She had finally caught the opportunity, and if she didn't take revenge now, she might never have another chance in the future.

Zhao Xianglan yelled, "Oh, you still want to hit me? Everyone knows the ugly things you've done. Now you're angry and want to shut me up. You can shut me up, but can you shut everyone else's? The more you do this, the more guilty you feel! Yes! You do feel guilty!"

Zhao Xianglan spoke with such certainty that the other villagers began to waver again. After all, as long as there was a sign of this kind of thing, it would constantly trigger discussions and speculations among the people.

Even if it is finally clarified, these vicious remarks will gradually ferment in the process, and will tie the women caught in the vortex to those who have been abused and have unclear relationships with men.

People don't need to see the truth, they just enjoy the carnival of wanton judgment and bullying.

What those filthy people enjoy most is that the so-called "chaste and heroic women" are dragged down from the altar. None of the so-called beautiful women are good. If they can't get them, they will destroy them wantonly.

The most ridiculous thing about these bad reputations attributed to women is that usually even the women themselves feel ashamed of such incidents, and may even use more malicious words to exclude fellow women.

This is the sorrow of women, and it is also the sorrow of women who have been domesticated by dogma for thousands of years.

Jiang Xi could clearly sense the malicious gazes from the crowd, some of which were sticky and made her feel very uncomfortable. She looked at the shouting Zhao Xianglan coldly and said, "Tell me! Who is behind this and instructing you to do this?"

Zhao Xianglan was suddenly asked this question. Her eyes flashed for a moment before she shouted, "No one else. I just couldn't stand it anymore. You're lying to people with an innocent face. I'm just upholding justice!"

Wu Yaqin didn't know why things had turned out this way, and could only keep explaining: "No, Xixi would never do such a thing, no."

Wu Yaqin burst into tears in pain, blaming herself for not being able to speak at the critical moment.

Zhao Xianglan pointed at Wu Yaqin and cursed, "You're not a good person either, and your daughter is certainly not a good person either! Get out of the village!"

Zhao Xianglan wanted to say something, but there was a snap and a burning pain on her face. She covered her face and screamed, "You little bitch, you dare to hit me? You hit me again. You did that and still hit me. I'm going to fight you!"

Unexpectedly, she was hit on the back by a stick. Zhao Xianglan screamed and pointed at the man: "You old woman, you dare to hit me! You've killed someone, you've killed someone!"

Chen Xiulian was panting, but her voice was still loud: "I'm going to hit you, you wicked thing!"

It turned out that Chen Xiulian had heard about Jiang Xi's situation and hurried over from home. Before she reached Jiang Xi's house, she saw a group of people surrounding Jiang Xi and her daughter and scolding them. Chen Xiulian was so angry that she picked up a stick on the ground and rushed towards the crowd and started beating Zhao Xianglan.

Chen Xiulian glared at the onlookers angrily: "Whoever dares to say that about my granddaughter, believe it or not, I will tear her mouth apart!"

Zhao Xianglan was a little afraid of the fierce Chen Xiulian, and she took a few steps back despite the pain in her back. "Even if you tear my mouth apart, your granddaughter is still ruined."

She shouted so loudly that she attracted another crowd.

Someone asked, "What's going on? What are you yelling about?"

Zhao Xianglan shouted, "That devilish girl Jiang Xi was raped by a hooligan a few days ago. She's not a decent person and has been hooking up with some of the educated youths from the Youth House. Now she's denying it and wants to hit people."

The new group of people exclaimed, and some looked at Jiang Xi with contempt, some with curiosity, and some with disgust.

Jiang Xi clenched her fists and took deep breaths. These people were just watching the fun and didn't think it was a big deal. They didn't believe what she said and it was obvious that they wanted to throw dirty water on her.

Jiang Xi didn't care what they thought of him, but Wu Yaqin and Chen Xiulian were very angry.