Shen Dingshan was usually submissive and never argued with Madam Yu. But this sudden outburst made Madam Yu regret her choice even more.
Back then, in her early teens, suitors flocked to her door, but she didn't take a liking to any of them. Only Shen Dingshan greeted everyone with a smile and was gentle and considerate towards her...
"When a couple is of humble origin, everything is filled with sorrow..." Yu's nose tingled and tears fell.
"Fine, Shen Dingshan, you're quite the actor. I was blind back then." She closed her eyes and swallowed her tears. "I guess I'm just unlucky..."
Ignoring the heart-wrenching cries of her eldest and second sons, she wiped away her tears and ran out of the yard.
It was getting dark by then.
Shen Dingshan remained silent, burying his head in his pipe and puffing away, completely ignoring the two little brats who were crying hoarsely.
They were so happy when they got married. He vowed to be considerate and gentle to Yu for the rest of his life... How did things turn out like this?
...
After leaving the house, Yu disappeared without a trace.
Her family was from the next county. Her parents passed away years ago, leaving only a distant older sister who also married far away. The Yu family's old house was in ruins.
She didn't even have her maternal family anymore.
Yu was walking aimlessly when he suddenly spotted a light on the opposite bank of the river.
That's the Huo family.
She sent some things to the Huo family a few days ago, thinking she could ruin their business, but so many days have passed and there hasn't been a single word.
Why is it that everyone else gets promoted and becomes rich, even the Huo family, who used to be the poorest in the village, has surpassed her... It's as if she's the only one in the world who deserves to endure this rotten life.
She's having a hard time, and nobody can get past her!
Madam Yu stared at the Huo family's courtyard, her gaze filled with venomous resentment.
As if blessed by the heavens, the gates of the Huo family compound were wide open, and no one was there.
The Yu family collected many poisonous herbs along the way; just a few leaves mixed in could destroy the Huo family.
The first time she put the heartbreak grass flowers into Lin's wife's basket, she was still uneasy, and for several days she was not at ease for a moment.
But now, she is very calm. Once you've done something like this once, you'll become more skilled at it the second time.
There were many winnowing baskets in the yard, filled with freshly prepared medicinal herbs, and the air was filled with the aroma of herbs.
Without the slightest hesitation, Yu grabbed a handful of poisonous plant leaves and put them into a winnowing basket—
Just then, a voice came from outside the courtyard, "What is Sister-in-law Shen doing?!"
Her hand was suddenly grabbed, and a handful of poisonous plants scattered to the ground.
Turning around, they saw Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan, as well as the eldest son of the Xue family at the village entrance and... Liu Zhengshan, the village head of Heqing Village!
Yu was terrified and pulled her hand back. "You...you're home? I thought no one was home, so I said I'd help close the gate...Really, why didn't you say anything when you were home? You scared your sister-in-law half to death."
Several people were looking at Madam Yu, making her feel guilty.
"Oh, the Xue family boy and the village head are here too?" Madam Yu forced a smile, a cold sweat running down her back. She withdrew her hand. "If you have something to do, I'll head back. Remember to lock the door next time you go out, what if you get robbed?"
She walked out under the watchful eyes of several people.
Gu Fengyan smiled, completely ignoring her, "Sister-in-law, you helped us close the door... then what are you holding in your hand? And why did you mix that poisonous stuff into the medicinal herbs?!"
Madam Yu's face turned pale, her smile stiffened, and her tone was displeased, "Is Yan-ge trying to slander me?!"
However, it was all bluster and no substance. With Liu Zhengshan there, she already remembered Liu Laosan's fate and trembled all over.
Gu Fengyan ignored her and picked up the scattered poisonous plant leaves from the ground.
"Heartbreak grass, it takes effect immediately after being ingested, causing unbearable pain and death... My sister-in-law said, how come there are so many heartbreak grass plants in the honeysuckle?" he sneered.
Only then did Madam Yu notice the honeysuckle piled up in the corner of the courtyard.
They actually found it!
"You two decided against me gathering the herbs! What? Now that there's a problem, you want to blame me?!" she retorted.
Xue Daqi was furious at the thought that his wife might be suspected and have her reputation ruined because of this.
"You still dare to argue? Yesterday, the Lin family was with you all the way. How could you not know what you put in her basket?" He pointed at Madam Yu and roared.
Just as Madam Yu was about to make a denial, Liu Zhengshan spoke up, "Since Madam Shen feels she didn't do such a thing, then let's send her to the authorities tomorrow. Xue's eldest son and I can also act as witnesses. It's so late, nobody wants to go through all that trouble..."
He looked at Madam Yu as he spoke, his tone calm, even gentle.
Yu was horrified... At that time, Liu Laosan was also sent to the government and exiled to the Northwest, and there has been no news of him since.
Even a man like Liu Laosan never returned after going there... and if a woman like her were to actually enter the yamen, she would likely be unable to live or die.
Thinking of this, Madam Yu's legs trembled, her face turned pale, and she gritted her teeth and said, "I did it, I admit it!"
Chapter Thirty-Five
When Liu Zhengshan saw that she admitted it, he sighed and was furious. "I think you've lost your mind and done such a lousy thing!"
"A whole village! How could you do this! If these herbs are sent to the county and cause someone's death, the two Huo boys' lives will be ruined because of you!" He was furious, pointing at the scattered herbs on the ground, seemingly unable to believe that Yu, a woman, could be so wicked.
Liu Zhengshan had received an education in his early years and had always treated the villagers with gentleness after becoming the village head of Heqing Village. This was the first time he had ever been so angry.
Yu was completely terrified, but she still wouldn't let it go and continued to argue, "Blinded by greed? It was the Huo family who forced me into this first!"
Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan remained silent.
This person is truly being unfairly blamed.
“Sister-in-law, you can’t just say things like that. Huo Duan and I are honest and kind to everyone, and Father rarely goes out… Does the Huo family force you? Where did you get that idea?” Gu Fengyan laughed and spread her hands.
Upon hearing this, Liu Zhengshan became even more furious with Madam Yu and angrily retorted, "You still dare to argue!"
Thinking of the argument she had just had with Shen Dingshan and the mess at home, Madam Yu immediately burst into tears. "That day, when the Huo family was recruiting workers, I kindly agreed to join... but you were all so arrogant, humiliating me in front of so many people and making the whole village laugh at me. How could it not be because of you that I was forced into this situation?!"
Huo Duan was almost shocked by this shrew's thought process.
After holding back for a long time, she calmly and politely said, "Sister-in-law, are you going to kill me and Yan'er over this?"
Yu looked at him with resentment in her eyes.
Huo Duan continued, "Does sister-in-law know that in your momentary anger, you put poisonous herbs into the medicinal herbs, harming not only me and Yan'er, but possibly several or even a dozen innocent lives..."
Yu's face began to turn pale.
The group fell silent for a moment. Liu Zhengshan took a few puffs of his pipe and asked Madam Yu, "More than a dozen lives... Madam Shen, after this is exposed, can you bear the guilt of being a murderer?"
Yu lowered her head, clutching her patched sleeve tightly.
Like a casual greeting from a passerby, or a casual chat in the fields at the village entrance, Liu Zhengshan took a long puff of his pipe, squinted, and said, "Your eldest son should be in school by now, right?"
As he spoke, he did not look at Madam Yu, but instead peered through the darkness and across the courtyard wall at a tiny, dim light on the opposite bank of the river.
Yu was startled and looked up abruptly. "Village head, I know I was wrong. Please... please don't report me to the authorities. Da Bao and Er Bao are still young. They can't be without their mother!"
The courtyard was silent except for the sound of Yu's weeping.
After a long silence, Liu Zhengshan tapped his pipe. "This matter is not up to me. The people you have wronged the most are the two Huo boys."
Yu wiped away her tears with her crumpled sleeve and threw herself at Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan's feet. "Huo boy, Yan-ge'er, I was blinded by greed and did such a terrible thing to you. I know I'm in the wrong and have no face to ask for your forgiveness... but please forgive me this time for the sake of the two children and Shen Zhuorui'er."
Gu Fengyan quickly dodged, saying, "Sister-in-law, I dare not accept this gift!"
He was still angry. If he hadn't discovered the problem with the honeysuckle that morning, Huo Duan would probably have been gone by now after drinking that cup.
Thinking of this, Gu Fengyan frowned. "Sister-in-law, you think you're wrong now? Do you know that Huo Duan and I were almost killed by you this morning! What, are your eldest and second sons treasures, but our lives are so cheap?!"
"You think you can get my forgiveness in this lifetime? Don't even dream about it... People like you deserve to never have a good life!"
After saying that, he no longer gave Madam Yu a glance, ignoring her pleas and cries.
Gu Fengyan has never had a saintly heart. Yu's behavior is clearly an attempt to take out her frustrations on him and Huo Duan.
Since Yu was capable of doing such a foolish thing, she should be prepared to bear the consequences... Why should she be forgiven just because she regrets it now, cries a little, and makes a fuss?
Should he and Huo Duan suffer this undeserved calamity and escape death just because they survived?
Gu Fengyan's eyes showed disgust, and he felt angry inside.
Having known him for so long, this was the first time Huo Duan had ever seen him truly angry. If there were no outsiders at home, he would definitely have picked him up and coaxed him until he calmed down.
"Don't be angry, Young Master Gu, I'll talk to them." He pulled Gu Fengyan aside and turned his back to them.
The remaining people, seeing this, assumed that Erdan was trying to appease his angry husband... They were all experienced people, and it was only right to say a few considerate words in this situation.
Aside from Yu looking at the two of them with despair in her eyes, no one was surprised.
Gu Fengyan glanced at Huo Duan, "You almost died, and she still dares to ask us to forgive her. Who wouldn't be angry?"
So that's why she's angry with me... Huo Duan felt a pang of tenderness in his heart.
"Is Young Master Gu feeling sorry for me?" he said with a smile.
Gu Fengyan stared at him... In this situation, he could still smile and ask such a question. He should really crack open his head to see what's inside.
"Are you an idiot?" he gritted his teeth, cursing for the first time in his life, "Who do I care about... I care about dogs!"
Seeing the elegant and aloof Young Master Gu cursing for the first time, Huo Duan was even happier.
Huo Duan was too tall, so he could only put his arm around Gu Fengyan's shoulder and hide him in his arms to avoid being seen in an overly intimate manner.
But he had to bend down to see Gu Fengyan's eyes clearly.
“If Young Master Gu feels sorry for dogs, then I’ll be a dog.” He chuckled softly.
They stared at each other for a while, and the atmosphere became inexplicably ambiguous.
Gu Fengyan raised his eyelids slightly and said with a smile, "President Huo, I never knew you were this kind of person..."
He's calling him a dog and he's still laughing, what else could he be but an idiot?
Huo Duan was dizzy and his heart was pounding. He hurriedly let go of Gu Fengyan, saying, "There are many things you don't know."
Gu Fengyan's smile was truly astounding. Why was there no law specifically for punishing those who use beauty to commit crimes? He should be arrested and locked up properly... Huo Duan felt indignant.
Mrs. Yu was still sobbing.
Huo Duan glanced at her, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for this act. You should have thought this through before you did something like this..."