Chapter 112 Stone Girl
Lin Changning was puzzled. It was strange. Wasn't Commander Shi a defector? What was his niece doing at their house? Although she had drunk and eaten with Commander Shi a few times before, she shouldn't have any connection with Commander Shi's brother's family. Besides, Commander Shi had already left. He had fled with his family on the day he burned down the granary. Commander Shi's brother's actions were truly incomprehensible.
Ma San Niang glared angrily at Shi Juqing sitting in the corner. Seeing Lin Changning, she snorted coldly, "My eldest brother and she are already engaged. Her uncle used the engagement day to throw letters accusing my father of treason into our well. If it weren't for the cold weather freezing the letters in the ice, and the fact that the letters were later found stuck together under the bucket, my father would probably have died unjustly in prison."
The day my father was released from prison, the Shi family rushed to our door to inquire, their words implying they wanted the betrothal gifts of the two of them. They had originally intended to agree to the marriage to avoid delaying their family's promising union. Unexpectedly, before the engagement could even be called off, her uncle burned the grain and fled. Shi Juqing, if you have any shame, you should stay home and not come out! Everyone knows what your family's little schemes are up to.”
After saying that, she glanced sideways at Lin Changning: "Who are you looking to snag a better match for? To protect your ungrateful family? My brother hasn't even broken off the engagement yet! Humph!"
Several other girls on the side were also staring at Shi Juqing in the corner, their eyes filled with disdain.
Lin Changning sighed helplessly. A group of little kids were still there; it was inappropriate for a group of girls to be arguing in her house. Lin Changning brought a small stool from her room: "Alright, stop arguing."
A group of children and girls turned to look at Lin Changning, who sat down on her own: "Guests are guests, Third Sister, say no more. Since the engagement hasn't been called off, we're still considered in-laws."
Ma San Niang pursed her lips, somewhat unconvinced, but she still remembered that she wasn't at home. Now that she had opened her own shop and was generating revenue, she naturally wouldn't try to kill herself anymore. Now that she could make money, and since she inevitably had to deal with people in the shop, her personality had gradually become more outspoken and straightforward. Actually, she still wanted to say a few sarcastic things to the man surnamed Shi, but seeing that Lin Changning had already spoken, she didn't know what to say.
The girl in the corner felt increasingly ashamed, tears dripping onto the back of her hand as she sobbed softly. Then she suddenly stood up as if about to rush out.
Seeing this, Lin Changning dared not let anyone leave and coldly called out to them, "Stand there! Go back and sit down!"
Upon hearing this, Shi Juqing, who had just stood up, was taken aback. She didn't know whether to leave or stay. Lin Changning glanced at the two children from the Hu family, and the clever Xiaoya quickly pulled Shi Juqing back onto the stool.
"Sister, sister, Uncle asked you to sit down, so please sit down."
The group of children and girls were seeing Lin Changning get angry for the first time, and none of them dared to say another word. Although Lin Changning was usually kind and gentle, his cold face was still quite intimidating: "Sit down, everyone."
The group fell silent instantly. Lin Changning lifted his robe and sat down on the stool: "Miss Shi? Do you feel wronged?"
Shi Juqing seemed surprised that Lin Changning would ask her, and choked back tears, saying, "No, I'm not wronged. It's my family's fault. Third Aunt was right."
Lin Changning's gaze swept over the group of girls: "I want to ask you a few questions. First, why didn't Commander Shi take his younger brother with him when he fled?"
Zhang Qianhu's eleven-year-old daughter stammered, "Because, because we left in a hurry."
Lin Changning took a deep breath: "If they were truly your closest relatives, would you run away when your family is in trouble?"
Ma San Niang seemed to understand what Lin Changning wanted to say, and shook her head: "No, we are family, we should live and die together."
"That's it. He didn't take them with him, but ran away with his own children and wife. What does that mean? It means that the relationship isn't as close as you might think. Miss Shi, you must feel wronged, right? May I ask, Miss Shi, what is the usual relationship between your father and your uncle?"
Shi Juqing understood that Lin Changning was speaking up for her and said hesitantly, "We still keep in touch, but we separated our families a long time ago. My father and my uncle's relationship is just so-so."
Lin Changning smiled and said, "We're not usually that close, but I helped you and Commander Ma's family arrange a marriage. Aren't you grateful to your uncle?"
Shi Juqing nodded with tears in her eyes: "Father and Mother are indeed grateful to my uncle for arranging a good marriage for me, but ever since, ever since the day Commander Ma was arrested, they have been cursing my uncle."
In those days, if Commander Ma really was a traitor, his daughter's life would be ruined if she married him. Even if she broke off the engagement, it would be difficult for her to find a good marriage. When Commander Ma got into trouble, the second son of the Shi family was both shocked and frightened. It was Commander Shi who told him that he could break off the engagement first and then make careful plans to avoid being implicated.
Lin Changning stared at the faces of the group of girls in the room and said, "Speaking of this matter, Miss Shi should also be a victim. If her family really had any collusion with Commander Shi's family, she could have simply left like Commander Shi, right?"
You should all know the consequences of betrayal, and Commander Shi certainly knows even better. Therefore, Miss Shi's family has been thrust out to bear the brunt of everyone's anger. But what wrong have Miss Shi's family done? Absolutely not. They were kept in the dark. If there's any guilt, it's only that they share the same family as the culprit.
Lin Changning looked at the group of girls in the room, who seemed to understand but not quite: "So even if you're angry, you shouldn't ridicule Miss Shi. Although her family name is Shi, they are clearly two different families from Commander Shi's family. The real beneficiaries are Commander Shi and his children. If you want to hate someone, you should hate Commander Shi, or his children who have benefited from this."
As for Commander Shi's niece's brother, firstly, he knew nothing about Commander Shi's matter, and secondly, he did not benefit from it. Therefore, they should not be so harshly criticized. Especially since they are also women, they should understand the innocence of Miss Shi in this matter.
Lin Changning looked at the somewhat ashamed girls exchanging glances and patted Da Huang's head: "Marriage is a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaker's words. Miss Shi cannot decide her own marriage. The Ma family incident has already ruined most of her marriage prospects. After what happened to Commander Shi, I'm sure everyone can imagine her difficulties. Commander Shi is indeed hateful, but this shouldn't be borne by an innocent woman."
Third Sister, I've told you before that it's already difficult for women to survive in this world. Even if you can't empathize, as fellow women, you shouldn't kick someone when they're down. It was Commander Shi who burned the granary, it was Shi's parents who got the engagement, yet it's Miss Shi who suffers the humiliation. This is wrong.”
The group of children looked around, and the girls were also pondering what Lin Changning had said. Ma San Niang blushed, feeling somewhat ashamed.
Outside the door, a group of women had been listening for a while. Upon hearing this, Aunt Liu entered the door first, glared at her daughter, and then walked to the side of the aggrieved and sobbing Shi Juqing, patting the girl's back: "Changping is right. This matter has wronged Aqing. Third Sister, come and apologize."
Ma San Niang was convinced. Upon hearing this, she walked to Shi Juqing's side, bowed, and apologized: "I'm sorry, Miss Shi."
Aunt Liu sighed and looked at the girl who was choking and unable to speak. She hugged her and said, "Aqing is a good girl. Don't cry. Our Ma family will not cancel the engagement. The date will still be the original one. We will still hold the ceremony as planned."
The girl turned around and hugged the woman, tears welling up in her throat, too moved to utter a single word.
Other women also entered one after another, carrying wontons and freshly fried dough sticks. Aunt Hu joked, "Alright, alright, why are you crying on such a joyous occasion? Hurry up and wash your hands and eat first."
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