"Your second sister-in-law came over two days ago and said that the couple had a fight and wanted to divorce."
Hearing Li Xiulan's words, Chen Lishu frowned. "Why did it get so bad?"
"Sigh." Li Xiulan sighed again. "It's all because your second brother is so unreliable. According to your second sister-in-law, he's seeing someone else."
"Seeing someone else?" Chen Lishu couldn't help but be stunned. "No way. Your second brother and second sister-in-law have always had a good relationship. Could there be some misunderstanding between them?"
Although Gu Xingmin was the most unreliable of the four brothers, it seemed unlikely that he would make a mistake in his relationships.
"I said the same thing, but your second sister-in-law said she caught him red-handed and there was no mistake. Your second brother denied it and they had a big argument in front of me. After much persuasion, they managed to reconcile."
As a mother, Li Xiulan naturally didn't want to see her children's marriages in trouble.
"If only they had stayed in the countryside, they wouldn't have all these messy things."
"Mom, don't overthink it. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding. Couples argue and say they want a divorce out of anger. Besides, your second brother and second sister-in-law have three children. How could they possibly divorce so easily?"
With Chen Lishu's comfort, Li Xiulan's mood finally improved.
Meanwhile, at the vegetable stall in the market, Gu Xingmin was busy weighing vegetables for customers. After weighing one, he announced the price. Liu Yuemin quietly collected money and made change. The couple had very little communication throughout.
"Hey, boss, what happened to your face? Did your wife scratch you after a fight?" An old customer came over and joked when he saw the two scratches on Gu Xingmin's cheek.
"She doesn't have that kind of ability." Gu Xingmin touched the wound and said with a smile, "It's just that we have a cat at home. I was teasing it yesterday and accidentally got scratched."
The customer kindly reminded him, "Getting scratched by a cat is no small matter. Cats and dogs have bacteria. You should get a rabies vaccine.
"It's fine, I'm tough. Besides, getting vaccinated costs money. I work hard all day and only earn a little. I'm not going to waste money on that."
Gu Xingmin quickly weighed the produce for the customer. "Half a pound of leeks, two ounces of bean sprouts?"
The customer nodded and handed the money to Liu Yuemin.
Business in the winter vegetable market was very busy, especially with the New Year approaching. As soon as one order was finished, the next customer came up.
The couple worked until dusk before they could finally catch their breath.
"Brother Gu, Sister-in-law."
Just as Gu Xingmin was thinking of pulling over a stool to rest, a female voice called out. He stiffened and subconsciously glanced at Liu Yuemin before replying, "Sister-in-law is here."
Seeing the injury on Gu Xingmin's face, the woman, as a woman herself, naturally knew what had happened, but she pretended not to see it.
"Brother Gu, I have two boxes of fruit that I can't move. I wonder if you could help me carry them."
Before Gu Xingmin could answer, Liu Yuemin slammed the cash box shut and said angrily, "I say, Mrs. Zhou, you have a man at home. Why do you keep coming to our place every day calling out for Brother Gu? It's like Xingmin owes you and has to do hard labor for you. Are there no other men to flirt with in the entire market? You're a grown woman, have some shame."
The woman looked at Liu Yuemin with shock, as if she had been deeply insulted. Her face turned red, and tears welled up in her eyes, about to fall.
"Sister-in-law, how can you say that about me? You clearly told me before to call for Brother Gu if I needed anything, and now you're slandering me. Everyone around knows what kind of person I am. Aren't you deliberately trying to make it impossible for me to do business here?"
Hearing her words, Liu Yuemin's anger flared. "You're talking nonsense. If I knew you had such dirty intentions to seduce my man, I would have slapped you across the face long ago. Believe it or not? Stop putting on that dejected look. I'm not a man, that trick won't work on me."
"Pah, you vixen. Stay away from my Xingye from now on."
Seeing that Liu Yuemin was getting more and more out of hand, and that many vendors and customers were looking this way, Gu Xingye couldn't help but pull her and frown, saying, "Enough, stop saying all sorts of nonsense. Didn't I tell you before that I'm good friends with Zhou Yu? It's just a matter of lending a hand. Besides, so many people are watching. Are we going to do business here in the future?"
If he hadn't spoken, Liu Yuemin's outburst of anger would have been understandable. But Gu Xingmin's words, in her eyes, were siding with that vixen, and she immediately exploded with rage.
"Good for you, Gu Xingmin. You say there's nothing between you two, but you're defending her. How can you face me?"
Gu Xingmin's temper also flared. "Why are you being so unreasonable? Do you only become happy when something really happens between us?"
"Dare you say you didn't take her hand and give her money that day? I saw it with my own eyes. Can it be fake? Shameless vixen seducing a married man, you're not a good person either. I gave birth to three children for you, and you're doing this behind my back. Gu Xingmin, you're not human!"
As soon as she thought of what she had seen that day, Liu Yuemin lost her reason again and lunged at Gu Xingmin.
She loved Gu Xingmin so much that, to spare him hardship, she pedaled a tricycle with him to get vegetables in the middle of winter. She was willing to endure any hardship for this family. Yet, Gu Xingmin had betrayed her, which she found unbearable.
Seeing her move, Gu Xingmin instinctively shielded himself with his arm. Liu Yuemin stumbled back a step, hitting her lower back on the shelf. She immediately winced in pain, her entire face contorted.
"Gu Xingmin, you've grown brave! You dare to hit me!"
After realizing what had happened, Liu Yuemin, regardless of the consequences, started scratching Gu Xingmin.
Gu Xingmin took two hits, but seeing that she had no intention of stopping, and considering that he was doing business here and had to maintain his reputation, he couldn't help but raise his hand and slap Liu Yuemin.
...
"Xiao Ju, go down and take a look. Your second brother and sister-in-law seem to be fighting. There's a crowd gathered at the shop entrance."
Zhang Xiaoju was giving change to a customer when a woman ran up quickly. Hearing that Gu Xingye and his wife were fighting, she quickly told the stall next to her to look after the shop for a moment and then hurried over.
As she pushed through the crowd, she saw Gu Xingmin slap Liu Yuemin.
Liu Yuemin was completely stunned by the slap.
Ever since she married Gu Xingmin, he had doted on her. Although they had argued and bickered, Gu Xingmin always apologized first.
Gu Xingmin was not only good-looking but also sweet-tongued and quick-witted, always managing to make her very happy.
Whether it was among her sisters-in-law or in the village, Liu Yuemin had always felt that she had the best taste in men.
But she never expected that one day this man would slap her in front of so many people.
And it was because of another woman.