Chapter 281: Chapter 281 Laundry Chapter 281: Chapter 281 Laundry “Really?”
The women wore a look of confusion, glancing at each other. Although they had washed their clothes here for so long, they never knew that the water where Lady Li had fallen wasn’t deep.
“Would I dare to fool you with something as serious as this?”
The young woman couldn’t hide the smile on her face, “Maybe, just maybe, Lady Li saw that you didn’t help her just now and purposely squatted in the water, not coming up to scare you a bit.”
When the women heard this, they became angry. How could this be reasonable? Lady Li was so hateful; she had been the one to spread rumors and stir up trouble and was caught out, unrepentant, even cursing Xuexue and Big Bull, who ended up throwing her into the river. And now, she was actually blaming them when they were all intent on figuring out how to save her.
So, they all kept silent, squatting back in their places, heads down, continuing to wash their clothes, ignoring Lady Li as if she was invisible.
Lady Li was so cold her lips turned purple, her body shivering uncontrollably, yet not a single person paid her any attention. The women washing clothes by the riverbank went about their business as usual, utterly ignoring her cries for help.
“You people, all from the same village, watching me almost drown in the river and not coming to save me,” Lady Li shouted angrily, standing up from the water and calling out to the shore.
Indeed, the water only came up to her knees.
Everyone gave her a cold look but said nothing, bowing their heads again to wash clothes. It was the beginning of spring, and there was a lot of work to be done at home; they needed to finish their laundry quickly to get back to the farm work. They had no spare time to waste indulging her antics.
An old lady, unable to watch anymore, said, “Lady Li, after making a fuss for so long, aren’t you tired? Even if you’re not, it’s exhausting just watching you. Better go home, quit embarrassing yourself here.”
Lady Li continued to wail, “Go back? I’m almost drowning!”
“The water only reaches your knees. Get going and don’t embarrass yourself here,” the old lady scorned.
Lady Li looked down, saw that it was indeed true, and dared not make a scene any longer. She obediently climbed ashore and squatted down, disheartened, to wash her clothes.
As if they disliked her behavior from before, no one engaged with her any longer. They talked among themselves, exchanging news about their own and other families while scrubbing the clothing, and no one paid any heed to Lady Li.
Lady Li, who was usually quite talkative, couldn’t bear it and couldn’t help but interject, eager to join in the conversation.
But everyone acted as if she were air, completely ignoring her.
“Hey, hey, hey, is that really necessary? Just for Madam Xie’s sake, you’re all ignoring me now?”
The old lady couldn’t hold back and spoke, “It’s not for Madam Xie; they’re afraid you’ll gossip. Naturally, they want to keep their distance from you as much as possible.”
“I… When have I ever gossiped?” Lady Li looked utterly wronged.
“Wasn’t it you gossiping about Big Bull and Xuexue, talking too much while the two kids are just fine?”
“Oh, old lady, if you don’t understand, then don’t talk nonsense. Where are those two good? They’re full of bad intentions, just now they even threw me into the river.”
“Who told you to talk when you shouldn’t have? I think you got what you deserved.”
“You… you… you.”
“What about me? Are you thinking of hitting me, Old Maid?”
“Talking to you gets nowhere. I can’t be bothered with you; I’m leaving.”
Lady Li stood up in a huff, picked up her wooden basin, and left.
“Go on then, peace at last for our ears.” Some women on the side couldn’t help but tease.
“You… You all… Humph.” Lady Li, clutching her wooden basin, stormed off huffily.