Just as everything seemed perfect, the courtyard gate was kicked open with a shout. Tian Yu looked at the group that suddenly rushed in, and was about to say how rude they were, when Chen Chong was already beside her. Leading them was Zhao Jinxiu, a clean-cut young man who resembled Zhao Jinxiu, and an elderly man they were supporting. Judging from their appearance and attire, the elderly man seemed like a cultured and reasonable person. Before Tian Yu could even see who was behind them, Zhao Jinxiu pointed at her aggressively as soon as she entered, saying, "Father, it's her! She made her daughter fall into the water and won't apologize. Look, now she's seducing someone else!" But at the end, she became slightly shy. Tian Yu was a little confused by her coquettish and shy expression, thinking, "How can she treat her own father like this?" But seeing the way Zhao Jinxiu glanced at Chen Chong, she understood—she had her eye on Chen Chong. The others behind them also looked at Tian Yu and then at Chen Chong. Tian Yu, in turn, looked them over. Zhao Sibao and his wife were helping an older woman who looked similar to his wife, but with darker skin than the younger woman's. Looking at Zhao Sibao's thin frame, the two women looked more like mother and daughter. Further back followed a tall, thin couple; this couple seemed quite well-matched, with similar appearances and builds.

Seeing that Tian Yu was looking at them without saying a word, and her father was also silent, Zhao Jinxiu pulled her brother and cried, "Brother, she bullied my sister, you have to help me get revenge!"

Zhao Jinxiu's father, who was in charge of "embroidery," spoke first, signaling his daughter to be quiet. He then said to Tian Yu:

"Miss Zhao, is there anything you'd like to say?"

"No"

"No? That means my daughter didn't wrong you."

"No."

"Then why won't Miss Zhao apologize?"

"I did nothing wrong, why should I apologize?"

"You, you just admitted that my daughter did not wrong you, why don't you admit your mistake?"

“Your daughter only told half the story. Why don’t you ask me why I dragged her into this?”

After listening to Tian Yu's words, he looked at his daughter, seemingly asking why. Tian Yu looked at Chen Chong beside her and asked softly who this person was. Chen Chong replied that he was the village head. Tian Yu thought to herself, "So he's the village chief. No wonder he seems quite composed."

Zhao Jinxiu lowered her head and remained silent. Behind her, Zhao Si's wife rushed forward and knelt in front of the room, crying and shouting, "Second Uncle Zhao, it's my fault! I only wanted to help her get revenge, which is why we argued. Please, Uncle Zhao, do me justice!" She then began to recount what had happened by the river that morning, repeatedly emphasizing how Tian Yu had been unfaithful and seduced her husband.

Seeing the situation, Tian Yu realized they were all a family, and it seemed another argument was about to begin. Not wanting Tangyuan to hear, she led him inside, telling him not to come out, and made him recite the ancient poems she had just taught him a few more times. She then plugged his ears. Tangyuan resisted somewhat, but Tian Yu repeatedly assured him it was alright, that Uncle Chen was there and would protect him. She closed the door, stood beside Chen Chong, and listened to Zhao Si's wife still nagging, occasionally pointing at her and swearing. Two other people were chiming in. Chen Chong got angry and wanted to intervene, but Tian Yu stopped him. Tian Yu glanced at Zhao Si, who was so frightened he hid behind his mother, afraid to look up, only able to steal glances. Tian Yu chuckled softly. Luckily, she came from the modern world; she had seen it all. During her four years of university, she had worked part-time in every job imaginable, and studied everything from music and chess to calligraphy and painting. Otherwise, she might have been completely fooled.

After Zhao Si's wife finished her tearful recounting, Tian Yucai slowly asked, "Finished? That was wonderful." She even gave her a round of applause.

Zhao Si's wife remained silent, staring fiercely at her. With her chubby face, she really looked like a pufferfish. The village head pulled her up, reassuring her that he would uphold justice for her. Then, he looked at Tian Yu and said, "Young lady Zhao, is there anything else you want to say?"

"No, but I have a few questions I'd like to clarify." Seeing that they were all looking at her, Tian Yu continued:

“You keep saying that I seduced Zhao Sibao. I want to ask how I seduced him. For the past few years, I have been living a secluded life and have never had any contact with anyone. Today, I just recovered from falling into the water and thought I would go to the county town to buy some things. On my way back, I happened to run into Zhao Sibao on the carriage. If this is what you call seduction, then what about all of you coming to my house, a woman? You think you can bully us, a widow and her children? Is this how you, the old Zhao village, do things?”

"You're being unreasonable. It was clearly you who seduced Brother Zhao, and you still won't admit it."

“I have already explained it very clearly. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Chen Chong or Zhao Sibao yourselves.”

Chen Chong said he was also present at the time and could testify. Everyone then looked at Zhao Sibao, who was cowering in the back. Zhao Sibao was so frightened that he hid behind his mother. His mother said, "Bao'er, tell me quickly! Did he seduce you and keep you from coming home all night?"

"Mother, I... I forgot." Under the watchful eyes of Tian Yu and Chen Chong, Zhao Sibao remembered what Tian Yu had told him yesterday, and became even more timid and hesitant.

Finally, urged by the group, Zhao Sibao opened his mouth and told them what had happened yesterday. He even went so far as to frame Tian Yu and Chen Chong for threatening to beat him, saying his face was still swollen. After saying this, he shrank back behind his mother, continuing to act like a coward.

A group of people started berating Tian Yu, especially Zhao Sibao's mother and wife, who tearfully recounted their family's misfortunes and brought up their deceased husband who had died in the army, demanding that the village head uphold justice for them. Amidst the commotion, Tian Yu understood: Zhao Sibao's mother, also known as Aunt Zhao, was a relative of the village head. Aunt Zhao's husband, Zhao Dalang, had volunteered to go to war to ensure the village had enough soldiers, but he never returned, leaving behind Aunt Zhao, three daughters, and a young son. The village treated them very well, even the village head treated them with deference. The tall, thin couple behind her were also from the same clan as Aunt Zhao, but they were clearly not well-received. After their tearful rants, they all demanded an apology from Tian Yu. Looking at the large family, Tian Yu realized that the entire Old Zhao Village was one big family. She and Chen Chong were indeed outsiders, and she decided against a direct confrontation; it was best to soften her stance first. Look, the person here is reasonable, and his son is quite polite; at least so far, he has only been watching the full explanation and has not said anything rude.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!