Chapter 611: Madam Lu, the Sharp-tongued
However, Zhao Si was not pretending.
After all, although it is a common story to do good things but be bitten back, it is really unpleasant.
Li Ju's body began to tremble slightly as she knelt on the ground. It was not known whether it was because of fear or guilt. In short, she did not feel the slightest bit grateful to Zhao Si.
Before Zhou Chenghe could say anything, the Zhou family disciple next to him joined in.
A few of the disciples looked at each other and burst into laughter. "How dare you, a rat like you, go and help others? Are you tempted by Sister Li's beauty?"
"Oh my, oh my, look carefully, this woman still has some of the beauty of a middle-aged woman. Zhao Si, did you say you wanted to help her last night, but in fact you helped her to bed?"
They are used to showing off their power and causing trouble on a daily basis, and they can make people angry to death with just a few words.
Zhao Si angrily said, "How can you slander me with such open mouths? Can't I be kind for a moment? If you don't believe me, ask Li Ju yourself!"
Everyone's eyes were focused on Li Ju, including Zhou Chenghe.
He chuckled twice: "Okay, then let's listen to what Li Ju has to say."
Li Ju didn't dare raise her head. She just took a few deep breaths and then gritted her teeth and said, "I, after leaving the Lu Mansion yesterday, I went to Zhao Si's shop and heard him celebrating loudly, saying that he had taught both the Zhou and Du families a lesson in one fell swoop. Now that Miss Zhou has become a stinking woman that no one wants, he can take advantage of this opportunity to succeed!"
After she finished speaking, the crowd all looked at each other with a look of curiosity, but they did not easily judge right from wrong.
Because they have gone through the public opinion training in the past few days and have evolved into qualified and high-quality spectators.
Many people had a lot of experience in gossiping, and seeing that the Zhou family was only targeting the Lu family, they boldly stepped forward and said, "Wow, the Lu family's son and wife are all so handsome."
"I remember there were rumors a while ago that Zhao Si wasn't Madam Lu's biological brother, but I think they look like they're from the same family!"
"Hey, do you think what Li Ju said is true?"
A young wife carrying a basket smirked disdainfully, "I don't think so. Maybe she was kicked out by the Lu family herself and doesn't dare to provoke them, so she's picking on Zhao Si."
Another old man, stroking his beard, said tremblingly, "Based on my many years of experience listening to storytelling, Zhao Si shouldn't be that stupid. There must be something hidden behind this."
…
Amidst the various opinions, Hu Xin'er asked pointedly, "Since you were kicked out of the Lu Mansion yesterday, you should have stayed home sadly. Why did you come to Zhao Si's shop? Do you also like the comics here?"
Li Ju had anticipated this question and answered directly, "Because my husband beat me."
"That's even stranger." Hu Xiner noticed a bruise on her forehead, which must have been caused by her husband pushing her to the corner of the table or something like that.
But sympathy aside, she would not shield Li Ju.
She asked directly, "I remember your family didn't live here, and your relatives also lived in Tianshui Lane next to the Lu Mansion. Even if you were heartbroken after being abused, why would you run to Mu Xin Comics Shop, which is so far away from home?"
"Yes!" The onlookers began to discuss along her lines.
Li Ju panicked and subconsciously looked at Zhou Chenghe.
Zhou Chenghe glared at her: "Useless thing! Just tell the truth, what are you afraid of? She is not your master now."
After scolding Li Ju, he turned to Hu Xin'er and said, "I've always heard that Madam Lu is very sharp-tongued. Today I finally got to see it."
"Is that what you call sharp-tongued?" Hu Xin'er imitated him, chuckling. "I was just asking casually. Otherwise, if he were to just let anyone come up with whatever the truth was, and then he'd have to deal with a tyrant like you who'd dare to arrest people just by listening to his words, wouldn't the world be filled with rumors and injustices?"
The people laughed happily. Doesn’t Zhou Cheng wrongly accuse others every day?
However, they were angry but dared not say anything to Zhou Chenghe. The laughter only lasted for a brief moment and disappeared in Zhou Chenghe's gloomy glance. Everyone was like a duck with its neck strangled.
Zhou Chenghe's face turned pale: "You..."
Hu Xiner interrupted directly: "Li Ju, you haven't answered my question yet."
Li Ju raised her head hastily, meeting her scrutinizing gaze, her mind suddenly went blank: "I... I..."
Hu Xin'er saw her expression and understood about half of what was going on. She slowed down her tone and said with a smile, "Don't be afraid. I really sympathize with your situation. It's just that something happened in the mansion, so I had to let you go with great reluctance."
She paused, then continued, "I guess, after your husband abused you, you were too embarrassed to ask your relatives and friends for help, so you just wandered around, is that right or not?"
Li Ju was already in a state of panic at this point, and subconsciously followed her lead: "Yes, that's right."
"You passed by many shops along the way, but you didn't stop. Although those shops were brightly lit, there was only one light missing for you." Hu Xiner's words guided everyone into the scene she described.
In the cold winter, a beaten woman wandered alone on the street, unable to return home even though she had one.
"Then, you arrived at the door of Zhao Si's shop. What was Zhao Si doing at this time?" Hu Xiner asked slowly.
Li Ju answered subconsciously: "He was sitting on the counter, drawing, and smiling happily..."
Zhou Chenghe quickly replied, "Li Ju just said that Zhao Si was celebrating the success of his conspiracy."
As soon as his voice came out, Li Ju was as if awakened from a dream, and her whole body was trembling.
Hu Xin'er didn't respond, but continued, following Li Ju's description, "Zhao Si is the owner of a comic book shop. He loves money like his life, and seeing how much money comics can make, he wanted to learn how to draw. He was in a good mood and accidentally saw you, so he invited you in for some hot tea, right?"
Li Ju was speechless and couldn't answer. She just looked at Zhou Chenghe for help.
Hu Xin'er said slowly, "Li Ju, you haven't been in our family for long, but I know you. You're an honest and dutiful person. Although you're having a hard time, you're embarrassed to bother Zhao Si. After drinking a sip of tea, she left and then ran into Zhou Chenghe."
Zhou Chenghe frowned and said, "So what if I took her in? Don't think your brother is so wonderful. Who knows what dirty things he did last night!"
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