Li Jian clenched his fists, trying to calm the overwhelming anger in his heart. He gave Lin Piaoxue and Li Qiang a deep look, then turned and left the courtyard.

Wang Cuihua and Li Changqing felt heavy-hearted as they watched Li Jian's lonely and desolate figure.

Wang Cuihua said worriedly, "Xiao Jian is very obsessed with Lin Piaoxue. Do we really have to go to the Lin family to propose marriage for Qiangzi?"

“Lin Piaoxue likes Qiangzi and is willing to marry him. Qiangzi is also willing to marry Lin Piaoxue. I can’t stop Qiangzi’s marriage for Xiaojian’s sake. If anyone is to blame, it’s Xiaojian himself for being useless and incompetent, unable to win Lin Piaoxue’s heart,” Li Changqing said.

"Sigh!" Wang Cuihua said bitterly, "Lin Piaoxue clearly knew that Xiao Jian liked her, so why did she still marry Qiangzi? She clearly had ulterior motives, trying to make Qiangzi and Xiao Jian brothers at odds and turn them into enemies!"

His voice carried a hint of resentment, a hint of helplessness, and a hint of worry.

Li Changqing said helplessly, "Don't think about it so much, it's no use thinking about it anymore."

A perfectly good family was ruined by Lin Piaoxue, and they couldn't even have a peaceful New Year. Lin Piaoxue is a jinx, a jinx.

Wang Kun and Lin Dong were walking along the road chatting and laughing when they looked up and saw Li Jian sitting alone under a big locust tree, smoking. He looked like he had encountered something unhappy.

The two exchanged a glance, both with a hint of doubt on their faces, then walked up to Li Jian and greeted him with a smile.

"Li Ying, today is New Year's Eve. Why are you sitting here with such a long face? Did you have a fight with your family?" Wang Kun asked curiously.

Li Jian took a deep drag on his cigarette and said expressionlessly, "I was just bored at home by myself, so I went outside for a smoke."

Wang Kun didn't believe such a lame excuse. "Li Jian, we're good brothers. You can tell me what's wrong with you."

"I'm really fine," Li Jian said.

Lin Dong recalled the rumors circulating in the village and suddenly said, "Li Jian, are you troubled by your brother's affair with Lin Piaoxue?"

Wang Kun, aware of the rumors circulating in the village, sat down next to Li Jian, patted him on the shoulder, and said with empathy, "We've been by Lin Piaoxue's side since we were little. We always thought of her first when we had something good. We comforted her when she was upset, stood up for her when she was bullied, and did everything we could for her, even risking our lives. In the end, she ignored all our sacrifices and chose your brother, that taciturn guy. All our sincerity was wasted. I feel so sorry for ourselves."

Lin Dong looked at Li Jian with sympathy, "Wang Kun, out of sight, out of mind. You don't have to face Lin Piaoxue every day. Over time, you will slowly forget everything about Lin Piaoxue and treat her as a familiar stranger. But Li Jian has to watch Lin Piaoxue and her brother showing affection every day. The villagers will also look at Li Jian with strange eyes. For Li Jian, it is an unspeakable humiliation and bitterness."

Upon hearing Lin Dong's words, Wang Kun exclaimed, "Lin Piaoxue is truly inhuman!"

"Now that you know what kind of person Lin Piaoxue is, it's not too late to cut your losses."

"Lin Piaoxue is a woman with a wolf in sheep's clothing. I don't know how you were manipulated by her for so many years. Now you regret it, don't you?" Lin Dong said.

Wang Kun kicked Lin Dong and said irritably, "Lin Piaoxue and you share the same ancestor and blood. She's a vicious woman, and you're no better."

Upon hearing this, Lin Dong immediately became displeased and retorted, "Damn it! Can't you speak properly? What does Lin Piaoxue's viciousness have to do with me? It's your own fault for misjudging people. Don't try to shift the blame onto me. I won't accept it. Besides, every family has a couple of scoundrels. Your brother-in-law is no better. He has a wife and children, yet he still hangs out with Widow Li every day. Doesn't he feel ashamed?"

"You..." Wang Kun was speechless with anger.

Wang Kun's uncle was indeed not a responsible man. He didn't care about his own wife and children, and instead fawned over Widow Li every day. He felt ashamed, but he couldn't say it out loud, because doing so would be a slap in his own face.

"What do you mean, 'you two'? You can chat all you want. I'm going home to help kill the rooster. We'll have chicken for dinner tonight." Lin Dong said happily and went home.

Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and he has no time to waste with Li Jian and Wang Kun. He needs to go home to help prepare the New Year's Eve dinner and have a happy New Year.

Wang Kun watched Lin Dong walk away triumphantly, and in anger, he swung his fist at Lin Dong's retreating figure.

Damn it! Lin Dong, that bastard, doesn't care about his friends' feelings at all. He has no loyalty whatsoever. He's such a bad friend. He's going to cut ties with Lin Dong.

Wang Kun withdrew his gaze and looked at Li Jian, saying, "Li Jian, it's an unchangeable fact that your brother married Lin Piaoxue. You should try to be more open-minded. My cousin works in a factory in Guangzhou, and the pay is pretty good. I'm going to stay with my cousin after the New Year. Do you want to come work in Guangzhou with me?"

“I went to work in Guangzhou with you, but Lin Piaoxue slapped me in the face and played me for a fool. I can’t swallow that insult,” Li Jian said.

"What do you want to do?" Wang Kun asked.

Li Jian handed Wang Kun a cigarette, lit it for him, then took one for himself, lit it, took a drag, slowly exhaled the smoke, and a wicked smile appeared on his lips. "You'll see when the time comes!"

Wang Kun advised, "Revenge is fine, but don't get yourself involved; it's not worth it!"

“I know I won’t put myself in this situation,” Li Jian said.

...