The onlookers' expressions were complex when they learned that the reporter and Xu Teng were friends. No wonder the reporter's emotions were so agitated earlier; it turned out she was bringing personal feelings into it!
The woman felt a bit awkward under their gazes. To avoid being misunderstood, she quickly explained, "Actually, we're not that close. I just felt sorry for Mr. Xu, so... so I chatted with him for a while during this period.
Isn't there a saying that a friend from afar is a joy? Since we could converse, it's natural to treat each other like friends. You don't need to misunderstand. I'm a fair person; I'll report truthfully on who is right and who is wrong!"
Faced with the woman's explanation, the people present merely nodded meaningfully. As for whether they believed her, only they knew for sure.
To prevent the situation from worsening, the woman shifted the topic, "Miss Chen, I'd really like to know how long you stayed in Gui Jia Village?"
Chen Lishu leaned back lazily against the chair. Facing the woman's questioning, she calmly replied, "On and off, about a week."
Upon hearing the answer she wanted, the woman slapped the table and declared, "Miss Chen, this was your first time visiting Gui Jia Village, right? You didn't know anyone or have any relatives there. This means you stayed at Xu Teng's home during this time!
I ask you, a man and a woman alone in the same room, and you claim nothing happened. Who would believe you? I seriously suspect Miss Chen might have committed bigamy!
Or are you trying to say that nothing happened during your stay at Xu Teng's home? Are you questioning a man's endurance? Who would believe such a thing if it were said?"
Looking at the confident woman, Chen Lishu's face showed a hint of disdain. She immediately retorted, "Madam Reporter, are your methods of conviction all about forcibly assigning a series of crimes to someone?
I did stay at Xu Teng's home during that period, but Xu Teng was always out hunting in the mountains to make a living. He was away for six out of seven days. The day we met was the day he forced me to marry him.
However, I've always been lucky. The day he forced me into marriage, my man happened to find me. That means during those seven days, I was merely recuperating at the Xu residence; nothing else happened!"
Hearing Chen Lishu's words, Xu Teng couldn't stand it anymore. He stood up and said emotionally, "When your man arrived, our wedding was already concluded. Although we didn't get the certificate, it was witnessed by everyone in the village. How can a fickle woman like you deserve a good life?"
Chen Lishu lazily raised her eyelids, her gaze carrying a hint of pressure as she questioned, "Mr. Xu, think carefully, was our wedding really concluded at that time?"
Xu Teng confidently lifted his head. After all, there were no cameras, and no outsiders were present. The situation then was whatever he said it was.
With that thought, Xu Teng nodded with certainty and said, "Of course. It was concluded with the witness of everyone in the village!"
"Well, I believe the best evidence would be the people present here. I happen to have a few witnesses who can prove my innocence!" With that, Chen Lishu nodded to Su Nian beside her, signaling him to bring those people forward.
Seeing Chen Lishu's nonchalance, Xu Teng felt a sense of foreboding. But then he thought, who could possibly be her witness? This was just Chen Lishu's desperate struggle.
With that thought, just as Xu Teng was about to relax, Su Nian had already arrived in the center of the conference room with a group of people.
When Xu Teng saw who they were, his pupils constricted. He then glared fiercely at them, seemingly unable to understand their reasons for being there.
"Officers, I can testify here that Xu Teng and Chen Lishu were not married! Moreover, for a long time, Xu Teng spent his days in the mountains, and the two of them never had anything happen between them."
"Yes, officers, I remember this matter caused quite a stir. Many police officers came to our village, and it even alarmed people from the neighboring village.
If you don't believe us, you can go to the neighboring village and ask about the real situation! At that time, the wedding day was interrupted by the police, and Chen Lishu was taken away by her man."
"..."
These words struck Xu Teng's head like a heavy blow. Xu Teng questioned with disbelief, "Third Uncle, Xiao Zhang, what are you talking about? Have you also been bribed by Chen Lishu?"
"You scoundrel! You've learned to shift the blame now! Today, I'll educate you, this unfilial son, on behalf of your father and grandmother!" After saying this with a red and swollen neck, Third Uncle eagerly rushed towards Xu Teng.
Seeing this, Xiao Zhang secretly thought it was not good. At Chen Lishu's signal, he quickly blocked Third Uncle and earnestly persuaded him, "Third Uncle, don't be anxious! There are so many people watching. It will not be good for our reputation if this gets out!
If you ask me, this kid Xu Teng has clearly become bad after getting rich. We, as honest villagers, can't fight against these capitalists. Let's calm down. Just listen to my arrangement, and I will definitely get back all the money from selling the pigs!"
Hearing Xiao Zhang's words, Third Uncle lowered his hand and sighed in frustration, "Everyone, when Xu Teng and Chen Lishu were getting married, the entire village was present. If you don't believe what we two are saying about what happened then, you can ask everyone in the village. If we two are lying, it's impossible for the entire village to be lying, right?!
At that time, nothing happened between Chen Lishu and Xu Teng. One was in the mountains, and the other was outside. The only wedding day was disrupted by someone else!"
Xu Teng seemed not to have expected such an unexpected turn of events. Seeing Third Uncle getting more and more agitated, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Third Uncle! If you're short on money, I can give you this money later, but there's no need to lie. Have you considered that doing this might damage the relationship among our villagers?"
Xu Teng initially thought that if he showed goodwill, Third Uncle would at least act for him out of consideration for their village. To his surprise, the other party showed no intention of stopping. Instead, he said sternly, "What, are you threatening me? I'm telling you, everyone in the village knows what you've done. This time, we are here on behalf of all the households in Gui Jia Village!"