"I really have something to say to you, how can you be so ungrateful!" Gao Meijiao stomped her feet in anger.
Fang Yan remained unmoved.
Seeing that she really wouldn't go with her, Gao Meijiao hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted her teeth and asked Fang Yan, "How did you know that... they wanted to marry me off to that old man as his second wife?"
"How I know is none of your concern," Fang Yan raised an eyebrow and glanced at her sideways. "Now you should be certain that this news is true, right?"
Gao Meijiao couldn't help but sob softly, "I really didn't expect that they knew my wish was to marry a rich city man like my second sister, but they still planned to marry me off to a decrepit old man who is about to die!"
After confirming with the matchmaker that the news was true, Gao Mei, in a fit of pique, returned home and immediately had a huge argument with Zhang Laowu and Huang Hongmei.
Neither Zhang Laowu nor Huang Hongmei are kind people.
In addition, at that time, Zhang Jizhou had just unilaterally dropped the "bomb" of severing ties with his family.
After being severely criticized by the village chief, Zhang Laowu was furious and could not tolerate Gao Meijiao yelling at him at this moment.
Without saying a word, he beat Gao Meijiao up.
Huang Hongmei usually dotes on Gao Meijiao because Gao Meijiao can still be kept and "sold" for a good price.
Right now, Gao Meijiao is making a huge fuss, refusing to marry that rich old man.
If she doesn't respond, Zhang Laowu will soon turn his fist on her again and complain about how she raised her child, saying that even a stepdaughter dares to be disrespectful to him.
Without hesitation, Huang Hongmei joined the ranks of those committing domestic violence.
During their brawl, if Gao Dashu hadn't risked something serious and desperately rescued Gao Meijiao, she would probably be in the hospital today.
Fang Yan showed no sympathy whatsoever for anyone from the Zhang family who suffered any misfortune.
She simply looked at Gao Meijiao indifferently, "Is this all you wanted to tell me?"
Then you can get lost.
Looking at her indifferent expression, Gao Meijiao wanted to scold her for being cold-blooded and heartless.
"I will have no more sympathy for anyone who has hurt me and my children."
Before she could even finish speaking, Fang Yan seemed to understand her thoughts and said calmly.
Gao Meijiao: ...
She originally intended to use her tragic experience to gain Fang Yan's sympathy and lower her guard.
Unexpectedly, Fang Yan is becoming increasingly difficult to control.
Gao Meijiao bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears, "I never knew you would help me one day. I... I will never hurt you again."
Fang Yan: ...
Do I look like an idiot?
Gao Meijiao: ...
Thinking of the task that Zhang Laowu and Huang Hongmei had given her last night, she simply got straight to the point, "Anyway, you should be careful from now on. Whether you like it or not, I'm returning the favor I owed you last night."
As she spoke, she glanced down at the little fish with a meaningful look.
Then, looking at Fang Yan with a conflicted expression, he said, "That's all I can say. You can decide for yourself."
After saying that, she turned around and ran away.
"What does the third son's wife mean by this?" asked Aunt De's daughter-in-law.
Aunt De looked at Xiaoyuzai, then at the direction Gao Meijiao had left in. "Does she mean to say that her family wants to do something to Xiaoyuzai?"
Fang Yan frowned slightly. She had a feeling that she couldn't quite put her finger on, but she felt that something was off about Gao Meijiao's actions just now.
Just then, the village chief's voice came from the loudspeaker: the meeting was about to begin.
"I don't know what she meant by suddenly coming to me and saying these things."
Facing the expectant gazes of Aunt De and her daughter-in-law, who were still waiting for her answer, Fang Yan shook her head honestly, "Let's have a meeting first, and then we'll talk about this after the meeting."
The village chief, holding a loudspeaker, repeatedly asked the villagers to quiet down.
Fang Yan and Aunt De then fell silent.
The village chief first explained why the meeting was being held so early in the morning: "I've noticed that while life is getting better and better, some people are regressing in their ways. For their own little benefit, they're willing to insult other people's reputations at will."
Then, he recounted the absurd story that Zhang Laowu and his family had fabricated to sow discord between Zhang Jizhou and Zhang Zongde, claiming that Zhang Zongde and Fang Yan had an improper relationship.
The village chief had already consulted Zhang Zongde about this matter, and he felt that a person with a clear conscience has nothing to fear, and there was nothing that couldn't be said.
Besides, that's just how people are; the more you try to hide things, the more they'll think things aren't so simple.
It's even possible that, as the rumors spread, they could turn completely fabricated stories into something so detailed and obscene that they become unbearable to hear.
Why not just make public everything that Zhang Laowu and his group have fabricated?
"Damn! Did his wife kick him in the head? How could he make up something like that?"
"Uncle, don't get angry with this brainless old bastard. Only someone with a screw loose would believe such nonsense."
The Zhang family, who had been secretly gloating and preparing to say some sarcastic things, silently lowered their heads, shut their mouths, and didn't dare to utter a single word.
Zhang Zongde's sons were so angry that they wanted to rush up and pin Zhang Laowu to the ground and beat him up.
They hadn't heard about this last night.
If they had known about this last night, how could they have let Zhang Laowu and his men have a peaceful night?!
"Everyone, step back."
In the end, it was only through Zhang Zongde's intervention that his sons were persuaded to step down.
Amidst a chorus of curses, the village chief called Zhang Laowu and Huang Hongmei to the front and made them apologize to Zhang Zongde in front of the entire village.
This was something the village chief had only managed to negotiate with Zhang Laowu and Huang Hongmei last night, after using both carrot and stick tactics.
Today, I saw how angry the villagers were; they even wanted to throw excrement at them.
Although Zhang Laowu and Huang Hongmei were extremely unwilling, they still dared not cause any trouble.
He bowed deeply to Zhang Zongde, saying, "Uncle De, I was out of my mind yesterday and came up with such a terrible idea. Please forgive me this time. I will never do such a stupid thing again."
The public apology made Zhang Laowu so ashamed that he wanted to tear Fang Yan to pieces.
That's right, they pinned all the blame for last night's events and all the mistakes made today on Fang Yan.
Without her, their plans would have gone very smoothly.
Why are there so many troubles?
Huang Hongmei couldn't speak in such literary style, so she could only repeat after Zhang Laowu, and managed to apologize in a halting manner.
"Forgive what?! Such filthy things are disgusting to even look at. Uncle, don't forgive them!"
The villagers were furious and started shouting.
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