On a crisp autumn morning, a cold wind swirled withered grass and debris across the threshing ground of the Hongqi Production Brigade. The place, usually bustling only during the autumn harvest, was now packed with villagers—Brigade Secretary Zhao Jianguo had convened a meeting of all members as usual, but everyone knew perfectly well that the focus of the meeting was the "battle for reputation" between Lin Wanqiu and Lin Moli.
On the earthen platform in the center of the threshing ground, Zhao Jianguo sat upright behind a wooden table, his brows furrowed as he tapped his pipe: "I called everyone here today for two reasons. First, to discuss the end of the autumn harvest, and second... Wanqiu said she has something important to clarify for everyone. Let's all listen and not let rumors ruin the village's atmosphere."
As soon as she finished speaking, a murmur arose from the crowd. Lin Moli, dressed in a faded floral shirt, deliberately stepped to the front of the crowd, her eyes red as she looked at the villagers, appearing as if she had suffered a great injustice: "Uncles and aunts, I know Sister Wanqiu is upset, but I really didn't spread any rumors! I was just worried about her, a widow, and I mentioned it to you all, but I never expected to be misunderstood..." As she spoke, she raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye. Her delicate posture caused several elderly people who were unaware of the truth to nod in agreement, thinking that Lin Wanqiu was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Lin Wanqiu stood on one side of the earthen platform, holding Shen Nian'an in her arms, coldly watching Lin Moli finish her performance. Today, she had deliberately worn a neatly starched blue cotton jacket, her hair meticulously combed, her eyes clear and resolute—she wanted everyone to know that she was not a pushover. Feeling her son nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, she lowered her head and stroked Shen Nian'an's head, gently comforting him: "Nian'an, don't be afraid. Today, Mother will get justice for you and Mother."
Shen Nian'an nodded vigorously, her little face full of trust in her mother, her voice soft but clear: "Mom, I believe you!"
This word "believe" seemed to give Lin Wanqiu even more strength. She stepped onto the earthen platform, took out two neatly folded sheets of paper from her cloth bag, and handed one to Zhao Jianguo first: "Secretary Zhao, this is a letter of clarification I wrote. It lists the facts of Lin Moli's rumors, and Aunt Wang and Uncle Zhang are willing to testify."
Zhao Jianguo took the letter and carefully read it in the morning light, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. Seeing this, Lin Moli quickly stepped forward and reached out to snatch the letter: "Secretary Zhao, don't listen to her nonsense! She made it all up; I never said any of those things!"
"You didn't say that?" Lin Wanqiu turned away from her hand, her voice suddenly rising, silencing the entire room instantly. "Lin Moli, do you dare say you didn't tell Aunt Liu that I'm a 'husband-killer' and that I'm sucking up Shen Tingzhou's good fortune? Do you dare say you didn't discuss with Old Madam Shen that once my reputation is ruined, you'll take my chickens and family property and give them to your uncle?"
With each question, Lin Moli's face paled further. She frantically waved her hands, "No! I didn't! You're making baseless accusations!"
"Whether it's slander or not, just listen to this." Lin Wanqiu took out a palm-sized black object from her cloth bag—a voice recorder she had taken from her spatial storage. She pressed play, and the conversation between Lin Moli and Old Lady Shen in the side room came through clearly:
"Auntie, look how bad Lin Wanqiu's reputation is now. No one will dare to associate with her anymore..."
"Jasmine, you're so resourceful! But you have to be careful, don't let her find any fault with you..."
“Even if she knew I did it, there was nothing she could do… So I went to the commune to report her, saying she was abusing her relatives…”
The recording wasn't loud, but it exploded like a thunderclap in the threshing ground. The villagers instantly erupted in chaos, pointing at Lin Moli and discussing the matter:
"So it really was her who spread rumors! This girl looks so delicate, how can she be so vicious!"
"I even felt sorry for her before, but I never expected her to be such an ingrate! Wanqiu kindly took her in, and she stabbed me in the back!"
"Old Mrs. Shen is no good either! She actually conspired with her to scheme against Wanqiu's family fortune!"
Lin Moli stood rooted to the spot, her face deathly pale, her whole body trembling uncontrollably. She hadn't expected Lin Wanqiu to possess a recording device, much less that her private conversations had been overheard so clearly. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but couldn't utter a single coherent sentence, only shaking her head in vain: "No… I didn't say that… she forged it…"
"Forgery?" Lin Wanqiu sneered, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Aunt Wang, tell me, when your husband had a fever last time, didn't the medicine powder I gave you cure his illness? Was that medicine powder some kind of 'witchcraft'?"
Aunt Wang immediately stepped out from the crowd, carrying an empty medicine bag in her hand: "Everyone, take a look! This is the medicine powder Wanqiu gave me. My old man's fever broke after drinking it for two days. It's even more effective than the medicine from the commune clinic! Wanqiu is a good person. Lin Moli's claim that she uses witchcraft is pure nonsense!"
Grandpa Zhang also stepped forward, leaning on his cane, and pointed at Lin Moli angrily, saying, "My old woman was cured of her illness by the herbal prescription given by Wanqiu! You little brat, in order to steal someone else's things, you actually fabricated the rumor that she's a 'husband-killer,' aren't you afraid of divine retribution?"
More and more villagers came forward to testify for Lin Wanqiu—some said that their chickens were saved by medicine powder given by Wanqiu when they got sick; some said that Wanqiu often taught everyone how to grow vegetables, allowing them to have an extra harvest; others said that Wanqiu never cared about personal gain or loss, and was willing to help anyone in need. These words were like mirrors, reflecting Lin Moli's malice as well as Lin Wanqiu's kindness.
Looking at the scene before her, Lin Moli knew she was completely finished. Suddenly, her legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground with a thud, crying and begging Zhao Jianguo for forgiveness: "Secretary Zhao, I was wrong! I shouldn't have spread rumors, I shouldn't have schemed against Sister Wanqiu's family property! Please forgive me this time, I will never dare to do it again!"
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