Chapter 72: Watching the Show

Wang Wen, Shen Yunlian, and Shen Nian—Yun Jiao’s maternal uncle—had all grown up together. They were close childhood friends with a strong bond.

Wang Wen had always been strong-willed and fiercely protective of her own.

So, no one was surprised that she would hit Shen Cuimei for Shen Yunlian’s sake.

Shen Yunlian was no pushover either. Holding Yun Jiao, she said to Shen Cuimei,

"Saying things like that to a child... Shen Cuimei, you really are regressing with age. No, I take that back. You’ve been this acerbic and unlikable your whole life!"

Shen Cuimei scrambled up from the ground, looking disheveled.

"Shen Yunlian, you think everyone’s like you, using your good looks to flirt with men all over the place? I thought you’d marry some rich guy, but you ended up with a poor bastard. You just married into a life of hardship, huh... And with so many kids! I see you were just born for a life of toil!"

Wang Wen shot back, "Shen Cuimei, looks like you haven’t had enough, have you?!"

Shen Cuimei retorted, "Bring it on! You think I’m scared of you? I was just caught off guard before, that’s the only reason you pinned me down!"

Wang Wen eyed her sideways. "What, did your husband beat you and kick you out again? You’re so aggressive with us, why haven’t we ever seen you act this way with your husband? If you’d shown him just a fraction of the attitude you show us, you wouldn’t have ended up in this mess."

Shen Cuimei glared at them hatefully. Just as she was about to say something, Yun Linhai arrived.

"Honey, I heard someone hit you! What happened?"

Yun Linhai nervously pulled Shen Yunlian this way and that, looking her over. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw she was unharmed.

He was an honest man, and an honest man who doted on his wife.

A young man like him—tall, handsome, and honest—was the type the elders liked best.

"Oh, Lin Hai, so worried about your wife."

"My, my, the two of you have been married for years and are still so loving."

"Lin Hai, do you have any brothers back home? I have a niece—she’s a good-looking, hardworking girl. Her standards aren’t high; she just wants someone about as tall as you, as handsome as you, with a good personality, strong, and able to work."

The older aunts and grannies crowded around Yun Linhai, peppering him with questions.

Yun Linhai didn’t know how to respond and just smiled foolishly.

"No, I... I don’t have any brothers."

"Younger brothers or nephews would be fine too."

Yun Linhai: "None of those either."

He kept shooting glances at Shen Yunlian, begging for help.

’Honey, save me!’

Smiling, Shen Yunlian handed Yun Jiao to him.

Yun Linhai took her instinctively.

"Grannies, Aunts, the little one is getting sleepy. We have to head back now."

Yun Jiao blinked. ’Should I give a token yawn?’

Shen Yunlian skillfully navigated the conversation with the women.

Watching this scene, Shen Cuimei nearly ground her teeth to dust, her eyes burning red with jealousy.

She didn’t want to admit it, but Shen Yunlian’s life was simply better and happier than hers.

Thinking of her own husband at home—plain-looking, pot-bellied, a drunk who liked to hit people—made her even angrier.

Before, at least her family had the status of being village cadres, and they were wealthier than most others in the village.

And now? The cadre position was gone, and that good-for-nothing husband of hers had nearly squandered all their money!

Just then, someone ran over, saw Shen Cuimei, and grabbed her.

"This is bad, Cui Mei! Your husband is fighting with Wang Yaozu from the next village over Widow Zhao!"

What?!!!

In an instant, the previously bustling crowd fell silent. Everyone perked up their ears, listening with intense focus.

Shen Yunlian, who had been about to leave, also stopped, tugging on Yun Linhai’s sleeve.

Wang Wen turned around, excited.

Shen Cuimei’s face flushed red with anger.

Forgetting everything else, she let out a scream and charged off.

"Shen Jiantong, I’m not done with you!"

The others didn’t exchange a word, but they all followed in unison.

Yun Jiao clung to Yun Linhai’s neck. "Dad, Dad, follow them! Hurry, let’s go!"

Yun Linhai hesitated. "A little kid like you..."

Although he didn’t know the exact details, he could guess some of it from what the woman had just said.

Yun Jiao wasn’t having it. Annoyed that her dad was dawdling, she stretched out her little arms, wanting her aunt to hold her.

"Auntie, hold me..."

Who could resist such a pitiful sight?

Wang Wen took her from him.

Yun Jiao urged, "Go, go, go..."

Shen Yunlian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Why do you love to join in the commotion wherever you go?"

It was the same back in their village. She loved to worm her way into clusters of gossiping old ladies, craning her little neck to get a look at any excitement.

Yun Xiaowu and the others were already impatient.

"Mom, I want to go see too."

Shen Xiuyuan said, "Mom, I’ll go watch my cousin."

Yun Xiao Liu: "Mom, I’m going to find my big brother."

Yun Xiaojiu: "Wait for me!"

Yun Jiao squirmed. "Put me down, put me down!"

’If the adults won’t take me, I’ll go by myself!’

Alright, now they had no choice but to go. The kids were all as slippery as loaches.

By the time they arrived, a crowd was already gathered three-deep.

Dissatisfied with her view, Yun Jiao climbed right up onto Yun Linhai’s shoulders.

Now she could see clearly.

Shen Cuimei was finally unleashing the same ferocity she’d shown Wang Wen and the others. Shamelessly, she grabbed a man’s clothes, clawing and scratching at him.

"Shen Jiantong, I bore you children and raised them! I manage everything inside and outside this house, but what about you? You dare to cheat on me! I’ve been too good to you, haven’t I? I’ll fight you to the death!"

Shen Jiantong’s face was scratched up, and he grimaced in pain.

"Shen Cuimei, are you crazy? You lunatic, let go of me! Believe it or not, I’ll beat you to death!"

Shen Cuimei slapped him again. "Go on! If you have the guts, then kill me and go to jail!"

Although Shen Cuimei had the upper hand for a moment, she was still a woman.

Shen Jiantong was stronger and quickly slapped her away.

He put all his strength into that slap, knocking Shen Cuimei to the ground so hard she couldn’t get up for a long time. Blood trickled from her nose, and her head was ringing.

Wang Wen and several of the village women couldn’t bear to watch any longer and helped Shen Cuimei up.

"Shen Jiantong, are you even a man? Hitting your own wife so hard! Do you actually want her dead?"

Even though Shen Yunlian had never gotten along with Shen Cuimei, she despised men who committed domestic violence.

Shen Jiantong’s expression was ugly. He was still drunk, and his eyes were particularly vicious.

"Pah! This is my family’s business, what’s it got to do with you? She’s my woman, I can hit her if I want, so what?"

His eyes swept the area. Seeing that Wang Yaozu and that bitch had taken the opportunity to run away, he spewed a fresh string of curses.

SPLAT...

The moment the words left Shen Jiantong’s mouth, a black, gooey lump flew through the air and hit him.

"What the hell? Who? Who threw mud at me? Which son of a bitch did that!"

No one confessed. Another lump of mud just flew past.

Shen Jiantong roared, "Which one of you..."

Before he could finish, another glob flew at him. This time, it was...

"Ugh, what’s that horrible smell?!"

"It’s cow dung! They’re throwing cow dung this time!"

The crowd instantly scattered, shooting disgusted looks at Shen Jiantong, who was left fuming impotently.

It was getting dark, so no one saw who had thrown the mud and cow dung.