She even went so far as to bring up her own past, something other women would avoid like the plague, but she... wasn't she afraid of ruining her reputation?
Yin Lan had naturally thought about this issue as well. Even if she didn't bring up the matter from before, after today's events, how could the villagers not remember it? Although Chen Yourun had severely punished Zhang Laizi afterward and investigated the truth to tell the villagers, whether they believed it or not was their business.
So what she did today was both helping Widow Ye and helping herself.
“You plotted to smear someone’s name, not just her, but also others in the surrounding villages. This shows how despicable you are. How much credibility do you have?”
"You keep cursing Widow Ye, but what about yourself? You didn't even take your pants off, you didn't do it, and you still have the nerve to curse others?"
Zhang Laizi gasped, "But...but...she's a woman."
Oh.
Just because he has an extra thing, he's already in an unassailable position in public opinion?
Yin Lan was furious, but she was powerless to change anything. These unequal ideas had been deeply ingrained for too long. Even the villagers who were on her side now agreed with Zhang Laizi's words: women should keep their chastity, and men could be forgiven for whatever they did.
That's ridiculous.
But there was nothing we could do.
"You anticipated this, which is why you've been causing trouble for people everywhere? Once people fall into your trap and suffer losses, they won't dare to speak up. Even if they don't fall into your trap, you can still smear them and leave them with no way to defend themselves. In any case, you yourself won't suffer any losses."
As Yin Lan spoke, she grew angrier and angrier, and kicked Zhang Laizi in the head again, making him howl in pain.
The villagers naturally thought Widow Ye was wrong, but they also looked down on Zhang Laizi, so no one helped him.
When the eldest and second children saw their mother hitting someone, and knowing that their father had told them to protect their mother, they rushed over and kicked Zhang Laizi several more times.
“Dad said you’re a bad person, and that we should beat you every time we see you.”
Yes, Chen Yourun investigated the facts thoroughly, and he didn't hold it against Zhang Laizi. It seems that Zhang Laizi failed in his attempt, which further proves that he was a menace.
After Yin Lan had beaten the man to a pulp, she said, "From now on, Zhang Laizi is not allowed to enter or leave Iron Sword Village. Does anyone have any objections?"
Men don't want to associate with such a person, and women dislike him even more. Now that Madam Yin has spoken, everyone is counting on her, so naturally they agree.
Zhang Laizi was in so much pain that he couldn't utter a single word and had no way to refute the argument.
After much difficulty, she managed to utter, "No...no..."
The eldest son kicked him directly, knocking out several teeth and telling him to shut up.
"And those people he harmed are also pitiful. The past is the past. Since they are pitiful and their lives are not easy, Uncle Village Head..." Yin Lan saw the Village Head.
"Such a pitiful woman, shouldn't the village lend her some help?"
The village head naturally agreed. These were usually orphans and widows; in the past, everyone in the village was poor, and the village head had no way to help. But now, the village had resources—manpower, and money for the detained bandits...
"Chen Yourun and I offered a small token of our appreciation, thirty coins, hoping it could help them."
With Yin Lan's definitive statement, those women who were labeled as wicked and unchaste became pitiful figures.
Moreover, since they had taken the initiative to contribute money, it wasn't much for Yin Lan, but the villagers thought it was quite generous. They themselves couldn't afford to give it, but they could at least agree verbally.
"Yes, they have had a tough time; they were all harmed by Zhang Laizi."
"We should help them."
The whole process was so unbelievable that Widow Ye could hardly believe her ears and eyes. Just a moment ago, she was the target of shouts and threats, and the villagers looked down on her. She thought that after Zhang Laizi's outburst, no one in the village would want to see her anymore.
They might not be able to survive the days to come.
But....
Yin only said a few words, and she became the victim...
She could get help; everyone looked at her with pity, not hatred.
Her lips trembled, and her whole body shook.
Among the crowd, the other widows were either those who had been framed by Zhang Laizi but dared not speak out, or those who were living in hardship and constantly under the threat of these people. Everyone said that it was because they were promiscuous and that it was their own fault, but now Yin Shi said that they were the victims!
A few suppressed sobs rose from the crowd.
In the corner, several people who had colluded with Zhang Laizi exchanged glances, then looked at Zhang Laizi's current miserable state. They were so frightened that they broke out in a cold sweat, their eyes darting away, and they hurriedly slipped away.
Widow Ye stood up shakily, still afraid that her son would despise her. However, she had calmed down, and Tian Youwei, whose face was still swollen, protected his mother, afraid that people around them would scold her.
Widow Ye almost couldn't hold back her tears again.
Tian Youwei glanced gratefully at his friend, then looked at Yin Lan, his eyes reddening, and he almost couldn't hold back his tears.
Yin Lan just smiled.
That's all she could do; she couldn't change Yin Lan's deeply ingrained ideas.
Widow Ye also looked over, her gaze timid. She had wronged Madam Yin in the past, but she never expected... never expected things to turn out this way...
When Yin Lan's gaze swept over, Widow Ye quickly looked away. After thinking for a moment, she finally mustered her courage...
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