Chapter Sixty-Five: The Green Hat That Appears and Fades
The people around immediately burst into laughter.
Zhong Jingui wished she could tear Zhang Chunxue's mouth apart.
Zhang Chunxue gave her a disdainful glance: "For something like this, Zhong Jingui jumped out and started a fight with me, insisting that I dressed up so flamboyantly and was trying to seduce people... Is she sick in the head?"
As she spoke, she pointed to Song Xingzhi standing to the side, "Secretary Song is over thirty and still unmarried. She's probably quite pleased with herself! After all, while she didn't get the better deal, no other woman did either!"
"So when she heard that I had treated Secretary Song to a meal, Zhong Jingui was indignant, feeling that Secretary Song had gotten off easy for me... This is as clear as day."
The villagers burst into laughter, and some even started clapping.
"Sister Chunxue gave me a good scolding today!"
"Everyone in the village who's older knows what Zhong Jingui is thinking. It's just that no one says it outright because they're all related by marriage."
"And she still has the nerve to cry over there? They've been married for over ten years, and she's never given up on the idea!"
Wang Anguo was so angry that he trembled all over.
He realized that Zhang Chunxue was trying to confirm that his wife was having an emotional affair.
Zhang Chunxue was scolded by Zhong Jingui, and she wanted to vent, which Wang Anguo understood.
But wouldn't that mean everyone would know that Wang Anguo's green hat was barely visible?
Seeing Zhong Jingui's face turn pale and then green, Zhang Chunxue's lips curled slightly: "Even if Secretary Song really does end up benefiting me, it's none of your business, Zhong Jingui!"
A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd; men, women, young and old alike laughed, their laughter revealing a knowing, unspoken understanding.
"Ouch, my stomach hurts. It was definitely worth listening to today."
"Zhang Chunxue's mouth is really sharp! Don't mess with her easily in the future!"
"Sister Chunxue is a really nice person. She won't scold you if you don't provoke her..."
Just as everyone was laughing, Song Xingzhi couldn't help but cough twice, a smile on his face.
It was a mixture of helplessness and indulgence.
When Zhang Chunxue saw him cough, she assumed he also thought she had been a bit harsh, so she turned her head and asked, "Secretary Song, did I go too far?"
Before Song Xingzhi could answer, an auntie in the crowd chimed in, "Not at all! Sister Chunxue, you're absolutely right. We old women feel so comfortable hearing that!"
"Someone should have spoken ill of Zhong Jingui a long time ago, and those gossipy women in the village too! I don't even care to talk about them! All they do is spread rumors about people!"
Wang Anguo stood in the crowd, his face as black as the bottom of a pot. One hand was still in his pocket, and the other was clenched into a fist, his knuckles cracking as if he might strike at any moment. But he didn't dare to move. There were people all around him, and if he dared to cause trouble, he would probably be kicked out on the spot by the captain.
After a burst of laughter from the crowd, he felt a burning sensation on his face, as if someone had pulled him around the square by his underwear.
That green hat, though not actually worn, was practically blatantly displayed on his head, so much so that even the wind seemed to accentuate it.
Just then, Song Xingzhi, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up straight. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stone thrown into a pond: "Zhong Jingui, I'm going to make this clear today. Seventeen years ago, you told me you wanted to be my girlfriend, and I already very solemnly refused at the time. Since then, there has been no connection between you and me."
"Don't use any excuses to spread rumors about me in the village, especially those involving people around me. You have no right to interfere in my private life."
"Your little schemes are worthless and dishonorable."
These words were like a pot of boiling water being poured down, making even the air feel scalding hot.
Zhong Jingui froze for a moment, then burst into tears, covering her face and squatting down on the ground: "I...I didn't mean to do anything, I just felt...I felt that Zhang Chunxue is not good enough for you at all, sob sob sob!"
Song Xingzhi looked down at her and asked coldly, "Whether she's good enough or not is none of your business. Who she marries is none of your concern. Do I need your approval to marry whomever I choose?"
"Are you her biological mother, or am I your son?"
“Zhong Jingui, no matter how thick-skinned you are, don’t try to take advantage of others. This matter has blown up so much. If word gets out, it’s not her who will be embarrassed, it’s you.”
After he finished speaking, he raised his hand to check his watch, then turned to Zhong Aiguo: "Brother Aiguo, you heard it too. From beginning to end, Sister Chunxue did nothing wrong. She did nothing, she just treated me to a meal. She shouldn't be attacked like this."
Zhong Aiguo exclaimed "Ah!" and opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, when suddenly something popped into his mind.
This kid was just calling me "Uncle Patriot," and now he's calling me "Brother Patriot"?
How did they get promoted in just a few words?
Just as he was about to ask a question, another noisy commotion came from the other end of the village.
"Where is it? Where is it? I'm going to find out today!"
With that ear-piercing roar, an old woman with a fierce face, wearing a blue-gray cotton vest, stormed into the crowd, followed by two women.
It was Liu Cuie, Zhang Chunxue's former mother-in-law, who brought her two daughters-in-law—Gao Xiuli and Huang Xiaolan.
The two women followed Liu Cuie on either side, like two little demons beside an old witch.
As soon as Liu Cuie entered, the wrinkles on her face trembled three times. She immediately started cursing at Zhang Chunxue, who was standing in the middle of the crowd: "You shameless hussy! How dare you stand here? I heard you're getting married? Oh! You really are remarrying?"
"If you really marry him, then you'd better give me back all of Zhong Guosheng's compensation!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in uproar.
"Aunt Liu, how dare you even say something like that?"
"Her son has been dead for six years, and she's still asking for money?"
When Zhang Chunxue saw Liu Cuie trying to cause trouble, she didn't even bother to lift her eyelids and sneered, "You're still alive?"
"You're really lucky. I thought you were already in your coffin, but it turns out you're still alive and kicking around outside."
"You're saying I have to pay back the compensation just because I got married? I'll just ask you one question: when we separated our family twenty years ago, didn't you publicly confront Zhong Guosheng in front of the whole village and kick us out? Didn't you say 'None of you four should come back' with such righteous indignation?"
"The year you kicked us out, Zhong Chengyi was still a baby, and we didn't even get a bowl of rice! How dare you say I have to give you compensation? Tell me, is your skin made of iron or tin foil?"
"Last time your eldest grandson had a fever, I gave you a packet of berberine, and you thought I was trying to poison you. Now you remember I can give you money?"
"Are you crazy?"
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