The Chen family even kept spreading rumors that Yin Lan was embezzling her allowance. In the eyes of the villagers, she was lazy, but the Chen family had a good reputation. How could a woman like her possibly stand up to the gossip of an entire family?
So Yin Lan ended up ordering the Chen family around to run errands, while pocketing all the allowances herself. The Chen family had all split up, and each family needed to give their elderly parents some money or food for their old age, but Yin Lan didn't give them a single penny.
Therefore, she had a terrible reputation in the village.
She pocketed so much of the allowance, yet raised her child to be like that, while using the money to support her own family. She refused to cultivate a perfectly good piece of land, and even when the Chen family offered to help, she wouldn't. She's simply an extremely heartless, lazy, and ungrateful wretch.
"I don't know," Chen Youju feigned ignorance. "Nobody told me how far it is from the village. You often go back to your parents' home and don't have time. Anyway, I'm in the county. It's the same as helping you take it back. What? Do you doubt me? You used to ask me to help because you thought it was too far. I've never accepted any payment for my help, let alone touched your things."
The surrounding village women, overhearing their conversation, looked at Yin Lan differently. "It's only a short distance, and she already complains? But she doesn't complain about going back to her parents' home? She even has to order her sister-in-law around to get her allowance, and she doesn't even get any benefit from it."
Looking at Yin Lan's fair skin and delicate features, she didn't seem like someone who could do any work; she was clearly a lazy bum at home.
When the time comes, they still suspect their sister-in-law; what a heartless bastard...tsk tsk tsk.
Chen Youju noticed this and became smug. Knowing this sister-in-law's personality, she should be blushing with embarrassment by now.
Yin Lanzhen... has never seen anyone so shameless, yet willingly walk into a trap!
She feigned ignorance, "I've never doubted you, sister-in-law. I know you would never touch my things. Huh?" Yin Lan looked at the envelope, then turned to ask, "Brother Guan, are these envelopes sealed?"
The official had a very good impression of Yin Lan and waved his hand, "Of course it must be sealed. No one but the person in question can open the envelope. Otherwise, what if someone is missing something?"
Chen Youju's face stiffened.
How could she be so calm, daring to question an official? And what did she mean by those words?
Yin Lan feigned ignorance and aggrieved expression as she rummaged through her bundle and pulled out an identical envelope. "But the envelope you gave me, Aunt, was already opened..."
Chen Youju's face turned pale. She could have fooled them in other places, but there were so many people around... She panicked for a moment, but then calmed down. "Sister-in-law, you must be mistaken. Did you open it and use it yourself? I work at the county school. Schools are places that value integrity above all else. Don't you trust me?"
Between Yin Lan and the people from the school, everyone naturally sided with Chen Youju.
"Yes, he probably used it himself."
Chen Youju immediately felt more confident. "That's right, the banknotes inside are all consecutively numbered. Sister-in-law, please check if anything is missing. Don't make false accusations."
Would she dare to take out the money in front of so many people?
Even if she takes it out, she'll use the less money herself, and no one will believe her no matter how much she says it.
Chen Youju smiled smugly, "Sister-in-law, I'll help you, but you can't turn around and slander me. I know you didn't mean it. In the future, shall I help you with the money? Anyway, you don't know how to exchange the tickets for money. If you keep the tickets on you, they might be taken by your family again, which is really pitiful for the three kids who can't even get a full meal."
These words further worsened the others' impression of Yin Lan. "What kind of person is she..."
Yin Lan silently looked at Chen Youju, "Are you sure you didn't touch the envelope?"
"nature!"
Yin Lan smiled and asked, "Then how did you know the banknotes inside were consecutively numbered?"
Chen Youju froze.
"I...I heard it from someone else..." she stammered for a long time before finally finding a reason.
Yin Lan remained composed and neither humble nor arrogant. "Oh? Who told you that? Their name? Where are they located? We'll go over there and ask them ourselves right now."
Yin Lan pulled Chen Youju, but she hurriedly pushed her away.
"Go ahead and ask! We'll go ask now!"
How could a village woman know about consecutive serial numbers? She would be even less likely to name such a fictitious person.
She knew that her sister-in-law was proud, had a thin skin, and that was why she dared to expose her shortcomings in front of everyone. Yin Lan didn't dare to say anything, and she couldn't argue with her sharp tongue. But she never expected that her sister-in-law would be like this today.
Standing there with such an imposing presence, Chen Youju felt a little uneasy when she stared at people. She even started arguing with her in the street, and Chen Youju couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
"I..."
Yin Lan looked at her calmly, "Everyone saw the envelope in my hand. I've never taken one before. My sister-in-law always gives me opened envelopes. I haven't opened this one yet. This one is a sealed letter that I picked up myself today. So, do you think the amount inside matches up?"
Chen Youju's face turned pale. "You...you clearly spent the money yourself!"
Yin Lan looked innocent. "Didn't you say I didn't know how to exchange tickets for silver? How am I supposed to use them?"
Chen Youju's face darkened further. Since she was the one who had said those words, she couldn't refute them for a moment, and could only stammer, "You...I..."
The onlookers gradually realized that Chen Youju's guilty conscience was not genuine, and her words were contradictory, making her look like she was contradicting herself.
On the other hand, her sister-in-law spoke in a loud, clear, and pleasant voice, and every word she uttered was clear and easy to understand and trust, which naturally made people feel good about her. Now, she was going to open the envelope in public, which was exactly the kind of lively scene that everyone loved.
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