Seeing the village chief's dilemma, Xu Xinghe turned to look at A Cui, a smile in her eyes, a hint of provocation and smugness in her expression.
She has gained the upper hand in this game.
Ah Cui was already seething with anger, and seeing Xu Xinghe's smug look made her like a firecracker that had been lit. She couldn't hold back any longer and suddenly stood up from next to the village chief, pointing her finger at Xu Xinghe's nose, "You seduced a man! You seduced Yi An! I saw it with my own eyes!"
"That night, in the middle of the night, instead of sleeping at home, you two were secretly talking outside! How could an ugly outsider like you be worthy of Brother Yi'an? He's such a good person, he should find a beautiful girl he knows well, not someone like you with an unknown background and bad luck!"
The room fell silent the moment those words were spoken.
Everyone's eyes were unconsciously drawn to Yi An.
I never expected him to be involved.
However, it seems that a maid mentioned Yi'an's name before, but they didn't pay attention at the time.
Yi An frowned, her face grim.
He stepped forward, blocking Xu Xinghe's path, and looked at A Cui with icy eyes. "No one is unworthy of anyone else. I said that night that I was out on business and happened to run into Miss Su. We just walked together for a while, and there was nothing between us!"
"I explained it to you very clearly back then, why wouldn't you listen?" Yi An said with disgust. "Just because of your wild imagination, you led people to surround her, insult her, and beat her up. Do you think that's right?"
Xu Xinghe said with a playful tone, "I also find it strange. Yi An and I are completely innocent. It was just a coincidence that we ran into each other. What does this have to do with you? Why are you so concerned and insisting on bringing it up?"
She changed the subject, her gaze sweeping over the villagers present, her voice not loud but loud enough for everyone to hear, "You wouldn't happen to have some feelings for Yi'an, and you're jealous because he helped me, would you?"
If a girl who hasn't even met anyone yet were to be rumored to secretly like a man and then bully outsiders out of jealousy, that would be incredibly shameful!
Who will be willing to propose marriage in the future?
"I didn't!" Ah Cui's face flushed instantly, both ashamed and angry, tears welling up in her eyes. "I... I just think that Yi An is such a good guy, he could find someone better, and I didn't want him to be deceived by you!"
"Who I choose to be is my own business, and it has nothing to do with you." Yi An couldn't stand her unreasonable attitude any longer. "Please don't make decisions for me anymore, and don't make things difficult for others because of me!"
He gave Ah Cui a deep look and said, word by word, "Also, I would never look for you!"
After saying that, he stopped looking at Ah Cui's pale face and ignored the villagers and the village chief present. He turned around and walked towards his own home.
He truly loathed Ah Cui.
I loathe her meanness, her jealousy, and her unreasonable behavior.
This tendency to hurt people indiscriminately reminded him of his childhood.
Those who bullied him and his sister because they saw him as weak, those dark memories made him feel uncomfortable all over.
Moreover, the village chief's actions today have chilled his heart.
The so-called rules are nothing more than an excuse to protect one's own.
His surname is Yi. His grandfather's generation moved to Lijia'ao. He was always considered a semi-outsider in the village, and the villagers never treated him and his sister very well.
For so many years, he has supported himself and his sister by hunting, and he no longer has to depend on others for a living.
He was no longer the helpless child who couldn't even eat properly, but a real adult who wasn't afraid of offending them at all!
As A-Cui watched Yi-An's retreating figure, she could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face.
For a girl who hasn't even met her boyfriend yet, to be said such things to in public by a man is an immense humiliation, worse than being beaten up.
She no longer cared about seeking justice or the strange looks from the surrounding villagers. Covering her face, she turned and ran wildly towards her home.
Xu Xinghe looked at the village chief and knew that she had completely won this confrontation.
The other party certainly wouldn't dare mention kicking her out again. The parents of those girls also lowered their heads, too embarrassed to mention compensation, fearing that she would really spread the matter to other villages and ruin the reputation of the whole village, and then they would become sinners.
Instead of pressing her advantage, Xu Xinghe softened her tone and addressed the village chief and the villagers present, saying, "Village chief, fellow villagers, no one wanted things to escalate to this point. I admit that it was wrong to resort to violence, and no matter what, it's my fault for hurting someone."
These words immediately eased the atmosphere considerably.
The villagers were surprised that she would take the initiative to admit her mistake; she was a sensible girl.
Xu Xinghe continued, "But I hope that such things will not happen again in the future. I came to Lijia'ao just to stay peacefully for a while, and I never intended to have any conflict with anyone. I also ask everyone not to slander or surround people in the future. Wouldn't it be better if everyone just stayed home and didn't bother each other?"
She looked at the parents of the girls and said, "As for what happened today, I will not tell anyone from outside the village, nor will I go around spreading rumors that could damage the reputation of the girls in the village. Uncle Li is my relative, and since I live here with him, I am practically a member of Lijia'ao. I would never do something that would harm others and myself."
These words not only saved face for the villagers but also resolved their biggest concerns, allowing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.
The villagers with unmarried daughters nodded repeatedly, and their gazes toward Xu Xinghe changed from indifference to approval.
"I'm so sorry to have taken up so much of your time." Xu Xinghe nodded to the villagers who had gathered around. "Uncles and aunts are all busy, so please go do what you need to do and don't let my matter interfere with your farm work."
She raised her hand and gently touched the birthmark on her face, her eyes calm. "The birthmark on my face is congenital; I couldn't choose it, and I've never felt ashamed of it. But I can assure everyone that during my stay in the village, I will not cause any trouble or bring any so-called disasters—that's all feudal superstition. And I'll only stay for a few months at most before leaving."
After saying that, she didn't linger and turned to walk towards Uncle Li's house.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com