Chapter 41: Confusion of right and wrong
Where could Li Nanshan go? He went to the abandoned cattle stables of the brigade, intending to spend the night there.
Tonight, let his father think about it carefully, and he himself should also think about it carefully, whether his feelings for Tao Xiaoxi are to repay a favor or out of love between a man and a woman.
But it seemed as if God was testing him. Before he could figure it out, his eldest brother Li Nanlin came running and said in a daze that their father had drunk pesticide and was foaming at the mouth.
At that moment, two words flashed through Li Nanshan's mind: accept your fate.
The family hurriedly lifted Old Man Li onto the tractor. With his last remaining consciousness, Old Man Li stubbornly held onto the door handle and refused to let go. Li Nanshan finally plopped down on his knees and solemnly promised, "Dad, I won't marry her."
Only then did Old Man Li let go and let them drag him away.
But the old man drank too many medicines and was already unconscious when he arrived at the hospital. The doctor at the clinic took one look and waved his hand, "We can't treat him here, let's go to the county hospital."
Li Nanshan ran forward for his life carrying his father on his back. When the second brother drove the tractor over, the others got on the tractor and headed straight for the county town.
It was already late at night, and the loud sound of the tractor echoed in the boundless wilderness, like the death of the god who was taking lives. Li Nanshan supported his father, his deep eyes sinking into the night, completely swallowed by the darkness.
Such a big thing happened and caused such a big commotion that the entire Mantou Village woke up and came to the Li family to ask what happened.
There were only three women left at home to take care of two children. Mrs. Li was frightened and still in extreme worry, so she had no intention of answering. As for the eldest sister-in-law, she was pregnant and had little sense of existence at home, so no one asked her and they all flocked to the second sister-in-law.
The eldest sister-in-law winked at the second sister-in-law, asking her not to say anything, but the second sister-in-law always loved to be in the spotlight. After finally becoming the focus, she couldn't control her mouth and opened and closed it, and all the words came out.
She just changed the plot of the story, and it became that Tao Xiaoxi shamelessly pestered her brother-in-law Li Nanshan, and Nanshan was forced to agree in order to repay her for saving his life. The father-in-law Li Maocai could not accept a witch like Tao Xiaoxi, so he had to commit suicide by taking poison.
Yang Rongzhi was talking with great excitement and spit flying everywhere. Sister-in-law Zhou Lan was terrified and felt uneasy. She tried to defend Tao Xiaoxi, but found that no one listened to her at all.
As Yang Rongzhi continued to talk, Tao Xiaoxi was labeled with another stigma: whore!
At this time, those who still had some independent thinking ability heard something was wrong and asked, "Xiao Xi has always been a well-behaved and honest person. When her husband Sun Wangcai was having affairs like that before, she didn't say anything and continued to do the laundry, cook, and take care of her children and husband."
"That was in the past. Haven't you noticed that she has become a different person since she died once? She never wore a headscarf before, but look now. Not only is the headscarf red, but I've seen her wearing lipstick a few times. When I passed by her, I could smell the scent of cold cream. Tell me, would a decent woman be like this? Which one of you would be like this?" The second sister-in-law said indignantly.
"That's right, I smelled it once too. It smells really good." Someone agreed.
"You still dare to smell it. Be careful that you have seduced the soul of your man. That's why I say that Tao Xiaoxi today is no longer the Tao Xiaoxi of the past. Her husband was thrown into jail by her, and her mother-in-law went crazy. Look at what is left of the Sun family. Nothing is left. If this woman is not a witch, what is she?" The second sister-in-law struck while the iron was hot.
Everyone sighed, feeling terrified, and thankful that they hadn't been targeted by the witch. At the same time, they began to feel sorry for Li Nanshan. It was a pity for such a good young man. What a pity.
When Tao Xiaoxi woke up, the entire Mantou Village was avoiding her. She went to the Qushui River to wash clothes, but before she even reached the river, the village women picked up their clothes and fled the scene like ghosts. When she went to fetch water, men and women alike would pick up their buckets and run away, regardless of whether they had any water or not.
Tao Xiaoxi stood there with her hands on her hips, stunned. "What's going on?"
The eldest sister-in-law, wearing a headscarf and covering her face, came over cautiously and timidly, "Come with me."
Tao Xiaoxi was stunned for a moment. She seemed to have said that she would ignore the Li family from now on, but looking at Zhou Lan's expression, it seemed that she had something urgent to worry about. Forget it, it would be okay to listen.
Zhou Lan kept walking until she reached a secluded place and stopped. She pulled Tao Xiaoxi into the haystack and looked out in panic.
"What are you doing? Are you being followed?" Tao Xiaoxi asked.
"You're still in the mood to joke around. Don't you know that you've become public enemy number one in Mantou Village?"
"Public enemy? Number one? What on earth happened?" Tao Xiaoxi still didn't take it seriously.
Zhou Lan told him everything about the quarrel between Li Nanshan and his family last night, her father-in-law drinking pesticide, and what Yang Rongzhi said. She spoke a little long-windedly and confusedly, but Tao Xiaoxi still sorted out the main information.
"So now everyone in Mantou Village thinks that I was the one who hooked up with Li Nanshan and caused Li Maocai to commit suicide?" Tao Xiaoxi said with a frown.
"Yes! You made it clear."
"No, why? Is this my fault again?"
"What pot? I didn't say pot?" The sister-in-law didn't understand.
Tao Xiaoxi didn't feel like explaining at the moment, so she just asked, "Where's Mr. Li Nanshan?"
"He's still not back from the hospital. I don't know if he's safe." Zhou Lan looked worried. "I came here just to tell you to be careful from now on."
"What should I pay attention to? I didn't do anything." Tao Xiaoxi was a little angry, but when she thought that this matter was caused by her, she felt an indescribable sadness in her heart. Li Nanshan, oh Li Nanshan, why did this happen?
"Anyway, just worry about it yourself. I have to go back. There are so many things going on at home. It's a mess."
Tao Xiaoxi watched Mrs. Zhou Lan walking back talking to herself. She was still standing there. She felt that there might be no possibility for her and Li Nanshan anymore.
Li Nanshan, that idiot, why didn't he discuss it with her first? Did he think she would be moved by his defense of her like this? Okay, she admitted that she was a little moved when she heard him say in front of the whole family that none of them had the right to look down on her, but this feeling was far less shocking than the old man Li's suicide, so it was better not to mention it.
On the way home, she was no longer surprised when she encountered villagers avoiding her. Instead, she straightened her back and walked with confidence. She was not wrong, and although she felt bad about it, she did not want to take the blame.
The Li family finally welcomed the return of their daughter Li Nanqiu who was studying in high school away. She came back to get money. Her father, Old Man Li, got all his old illnesses and new ones from drinking a bottle of pesticide. The little money she brought was not enough.
But there is no money left at home, it has all been taken away.
"We can only borrow it." Li Nanqiu frowned and looked at her mother.
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