The villagers couldn't help but whisper amongst themselves.
Liu Demao's face was also grim. "Xiao Shan, if you intend to harm my son, you'd better consider it carefully. He's not like those notorious bullies."
"Harm him?" Xiao Shan's smile didn't reach his eyes. "What is he, that I would bother to harm him? Liu Demao, I'm talking about you. The second house in Qiushui Lane, south of the city. Your concubine's belly must be showing by now! Does Liu Donghuai know he's about to have a younger brother or sister?"
As soon as Xiao Shan spoke, the crowd erupted.
Liu Demao's face turned ashen. He clenched his fists tightly, looking at Xiao Shan with a mixture of shock and anger.
The village chief sternly said, "Demao, what does this mean? You have a concubine?"
Wang Cuilan trembled all over. She looked at Liu Demao blankly, "Her belly is big? Belly is big… that bitch, that bitch, that bitch!" Her shouts grew louder, becoming wild and unhinged. Anyone could see something was wrong. "Liu Demao, you and she actually had a child! That bitch! I kindly took you in and gave you food, and you treat me like this! Go to hell, all of you!"
Xu Daniu cried out, "See! This is it! Aunt Cuilan has really gone mad!"
Wang Cuilan lunged at Liu Demao, scratching his face, drawing blood.
"You madwoman! What are you doing!" Liu Demao awkwardly grabbed Wang Cuilan's hands, hating Xiao Shan with all his might at this moment.
Xue Niang never expected such a turn of events. Held in Xiao Shan's arms, she looked up at his calm eyes, which held a cold glint. Something seemed to be churning within them.
If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have cut her own neck. It hurt so much.
"Liu Demao, it's one thing to have a concubine, but what is your concubine's status? A military prostitute! A military prostitute from Qiang country. Tell me, how is your son qualified to take the imperial examinations?"
Xiao Shan's casual words struck Liu Demao and Wang Cuilan like lightning from a clear sky.
"Qiang, Qiang country? Military prostitute?"
"No, what nonsense are you spouting? Ran Tao is just an orphan whose parents died and who was left in Lin'an County. What military prostitute? I was her first man! Xiao Shan, you're slandering me!" Liu Demao had completely lost his composure. If he hadn't been restraining Wang Cuilan, he might have lunged at Xiao Shan.
Having done business for so many years, he considered himself intelligent. Today, he had called some of his kin to stop Xiao Shan and ruin his reputation, which was only the first step. There were more tricks up his sleeve.
Even if the first step failed, it didn't matter. The second move was the key. But he never expected Xiao Shan to not want to escape unscathed and instead attack his son with rumors.
It was one thing to keep a concubine; at most, he'd be subject to a few unpleasant remarks. But to speak such nonsense, to say Ran Tao was a military prostitute from Qiang country!
He had almost been led astray by him just now.
If you want to ruin Donghuai's future, find a more credible reason. He was the one who had deflowered Ran Tao. Didn't he know if she was a military prostitute or not?
He had just admitted it in front of the villagers. Everyone's mouths hung open in shock. In this poor little village, a man had one wife, and perhaps a concubine if she couldn't bear children.
A concubine was an object that only existed by the side of wealthy men in the city, and a despised object at that, even worse than a concubine, feeling dirty even emotionally.
At this point, regardless of whether the concubine was a military prostitute from Qiang country or anything else, Liu Demao was already disliked by the villagers.
"Liu Demao, Liu Demao, you are truly a disgrace to our Liu family! Look at what Cuilan has become. You've made some ill-gotten gains these past few years, and you've really gotten carried away!" the village chief lamented.
The villagers used to envy Wang Cuilan. Her husband was capable, her son promising, and perhaps in a few years, he would become an official. Who in the village was more dignified than her? Everyone spoke flattering words to her when they met.
She had always been an elegant woman.
But it turned out to be all superficial!
The villagers looked at Wang Cuilan, who appeared like a madwoman, with sympathy.
"I'd rather my husband have no money than have him find other women."
"Exactly! How pathetic. No wonder Liu Demao doesn't come home two out of three days. He's out with his mistress."
"How disgusting. Wang Cuilan must have known for a long time, no wonder she's gone mad!"
Wang Cuilan stopped struggling, her eyes vacant. Looking at her disheveled state, she started to laugh. After all, what had made her run out today, discarding all dignity and revealing her shame to everyone?
What face did she have left to live?
Liu Demao frowned and released her. Wang Cuilan slumped to the ground.
"We'll talk about this at home. What are you doing making a scene here, becoming a laughingstock for everyone!"
In the end, it was still her who was being laughed at!
This was the man she had followed her entire life!
Back then, he had sworn to make money for her, to let her wear gold and silver, and live a good life.
For that, she had given all her savings.
When he went to get goods, the road was blocked by heavy snow. It was she who, disregarding her health, searched for him on foot, bringing him food, saving him from freezing to death in the snow.
But she had been invaded by the cold, injuring her body, and could no longer conceive.
He was the one who said having only Donghuai was enough.
What was this now?
Haha! Men!
Wang Cuilan's face was like a ghost's. Her gaze flickered around, and she picked up a stone from the ground, bringing it down towards her forehead.
The crowd cried out in alarm.
In the end, it was Xiao Shan who reacted quickly. He kicked the stone away, and Wang Cuilan fell to the ground. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Liu Demao recovered and helped Wang Cuilan up, roaring at Xiao Shan, "Are you satisfied now! If anyone else dies today, let's see how you escape blame! Murderer!"
Xiao Shan was amused by his anger.
Even Liu Demao's own kin felt he was going too far.
"Brother Demao..."
"Shut up!" Liu Demao interrupted fiercely, then turned to Xiao Shan. "Don't get too smug. I, Liu Demao, may not have great abilities, but I've built up some connections over the years. You'd better not fall into my hands."
"Good, I'll see how strong your connections are. We haven't finished discussing what happened earlier. Let's see if you can get out of prison unharmed after harboring a Qiang spy." Xiao Shan retreated. "You think bullying my woman will just be forgotten like this?"
"Xiao Shan! You're twisting facts and blackening my name! If I were truly harboring a spy, do you think the entire village could escape? What are your intentions?"
Liu Demao's words were actually true, and some villagers were already looking at Xiao Shan with displeasure.
The village chief said gravely, "Xiao Shan, you mustn't speak such words carelessly."
"Whether they are careless or not, the magistrate will decide."
The village chief shivered and looked at Xiao Shan's cold eyes, too shocked to speak.
Could he be telling the truth?
"Immeasurable… Heavenly Venerate!"
Just as the village chief was considering how to beg Xiao Shan to let it go without arousing suspicion, a strange voice cut through the crowd from behind.
Everyone turned to look, and saw a tall, thin middle-aged Taoist priest, dressed in a Taoist robe, wearing a Hunyuan cap, and holding a whisk, walking towards them.
Judging by his posture, with his head held high and eyes squinted, he had a bit of the air of an otherworldly master. The villagers had always held monks and Taoist priests in awe, so they all took a step back, clearing a path for him.
The Taoist priest walked straight to the front, flicked his whisk, bowed, and shouted again, "Immeasurable Heavenly Venerate."
The village chief also bowed and respectfully said, "Greetings, Daoist priest. Are you here in Bozi Village for an important matter?"
"This Daoist priest was passing by and observed a black aura enveloping this village. I fear there may be evil spirits at play, so I have come to investigate."