Before the laughter and joy had faded away, a cold wind quietly blew into the Lu family compound.
First, a few aunts gathered together and whispered, their eyes sweeping towards Shen Qiqi like searchlights, and then some groundless rumors spread quickly like a virus.
"Have you heard? The third daughter-in-law seems to be a tough one." "That's right. I thought she looked so weak, but I didn't expect her to be so powerful that she even drove the eldest sister-in-law away!" "Who knows what kind of seductive tricks she used to bewitch the third sister-in-law so much that even the old lady is on her side."
These words, like fine needles, pierced into Shen Qiqi's ears.
Her face, which was originally smiling, gradually froze.
What is this about?
Were you all toasting together to celebrate just now? Why are you all so upset now?
Lu Qing also noticed something was wrong. He frowned and held Shen Qiqi's hand tighter.
"Ignore them, they're a bunch of fence-sitters." He whispered soothingly.
But this comfort seems pale and powerless.
Sure enough, not long after, Mrs. Lu came over with a gloomy face, her tone full of reproach: "Qiqi, although you are a new daughter-in-law, you must also understand the order of seniority and respect the elders. How could you force your eldest sister-in-law away? She is your elder!"
Second uncle also chimed in: "That's right, Qiqi, we should be harmonious as a family. Can't we discuss things peacefully? Why do we have to make such a scene?"
The head of the Lu family, who had originally praised Shen Qiqi, now looked serious: "Qiqi, young people should learn to be humble and not be too aggressive."
Shen Qiqi felt a surge of anger in her heart, but reason told her that she couldn't confront him head-on now.
She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her inner fluctuations, and said calmly: "Grandma, Second Uncle, Clan Leader, things are not what you think..."
"It's not what we thought. What's going on?" Uncle suddenly appeared, his tone aggressive. "Did we wrong you? Sister-in-law ran back crying. You have to have an explanation!"
Shen Qiqi glanced at the crowd and found Lu Qing's cousin hiding behind the crowd, her eyes flickering, as if she had something to say but didn't dare to say it out loud.
Her heart moved, and she vaguely felt that there seemed to be an invisible hand controlling everything behind this matter.
She held Lu Qing's hand tightly, feeling the warmth of his palm, which gave her great strength.
She raised her head and looked at everyone with a determined gaze: "I believe that the truth will eventually come out. I will find the mastermind behind this and give everyone an explanation!"
Lu Qing looked at her, his eyes full of trust and support.
He held her hand tightly and whispered, "Qiqi"
As night fell, the Lu family compound was shrouded in an eerie silence.
Shen Qiqi stood in front of the window, looking at the flickering lights in the distance, her heart full of doubts.
Who is behind spreading rumors?
What is their purpose?
Suddenly, she remembered the evasive look her cousin Lu Qing had given her during the day, and an idea struck her: "Lu Qing, let's go talk to your cousin."
The night was dark, like ink that could not be spilled, stained the Lu family compound with shadows.
Shen Qiqi and Lu Qing followed their memories and found the cottage of Lu Qing's cousin.
Under the dim kerosene lamp, my cousin was mending clothes. When she saw the two men, she was obviously frightened. The needle in her hand pierced her finger, and a drop of bright red blood oozed out.
"Sister Qiqi, Brother Qing, why... are you here?" The cousin twisted her fingers nervously, avoiding their gaze, not daring to look them in the eye.
Shen Qiqi got straight to the point: "Do you know anything about what happened today?"
My cousin's face turned even paler, and her lips trembled, but she still refused to speak.
Seeing this, Lu Qing softened his tone: "Little sister, we are not here to blame you, we just want to know the truth. Don't worry, we will protect you."
After repeated assurances from the two, the cousin finally plucked up the courage and told them what had happened in a fragmented manner.
It turned out that it was the eldest uncle's wife who spread rumors and sowed discord behind the scenes, and even bribed a few aunts to spread the rumors with exaggerations.
The purpose is to take revenge on Shen Qiqi and regain her position in the Lu family.
"That's too much!" Shen Qiqi was furious and pulled Lu Qing up, "Let's go find her!"
The two men came to the uncle's house in a rage and pushed open the half-closed door.
The eldest uncle's wife was sitting on the kang eating melon seeds. When she saw the two of them, she was stunned at first, then put on an innocent expression: "Hey, third sister-in-law, third brother, it's so late, what's going on?"
"Stop pretending!" Shen Qiqi scolded, "Why are you spreading rumors and ruining my reputation?"
The eldest uncle's wife calmly patted the melon seed crumbs on her hands and said lightly: "Third sister-in-law, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. When did I ever ruin your reputation? Don't wrongly accuse a good person!"
"There are witnesses and evidence, and you still want to deny it?" Lu Qing's face also darkened.
"What witnesses and evidence? I don't understand what you are talking about." The uncle and his wife spread their hands innocently, "I didn't do anything."
Shen Qiqi was so angry that she was shaking all over. She didn't expect that her uncle's wife would be so shameless.
Lu Qing held Shen Qiqi's shoulders, motioning her to calm down, then turned to his uncle and aunt and said, "Do you think you can hide what you did? We already know the truth."
The eldest uncle's wife's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure: "Since you know the truth, why bother asking me?"
Shen Qiqi sneered: "We just want to see how long you can pretend!"
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