She stopped in her tracks.
She looked closer and saw a group of gossipy women gathered in the Gossip Corner. Amongst them stood her nemesis, Fatty Li.
These people often badmouthed her behind her back.
She sneaked over quietly and hid behind the tree.
She was determined to catch this group of b*tches red-handed.
"What's the connection between the Fu family and your lost cash? They're pretty preoccupied with their new baby girl."
Wasn't that allegation a little far-fetched?
"The Fu family has always been extremely unlucky. It's not like you all don't know that."
The Fu family was well known in the village for being extremely unlucky
In the past, Second Fu had almost lost his life when he was working. Later on, both his sons had almost gone to jail after failing in their attempt to save someone.
The Fu Family seemed to have a constant streak of bad luck.
While other farmers were blessed with successful harvests, the Fu Family struggled to reap any rewards for their hard work.
No matter what they attempted, they seemed to always come in first place for unlucky circumstances.
In the year when there was a hailstorm, the roof of the Fu Family's house was the only roof in the village that was damaged. In fact, it was smashed into pieces… The list could go on and on.
Some people said that the Fu Family was the reincarnation of a jinx, which was why there were endless disasters and misfortune.
"Yesterday, Liu Guimei entered my house. Immediately after that, I lost my money. She must have spread the family's bad luck to me." Fatty Li believed that this matter definitely had something to do with the Fu family.
Some people didn't believe it and said, "It can't be. I often talked to Jiang Xinghua, but I didn't encounter any bad luck."
That's probably a coincidence, isn't it?
"That's right. The Fu family's bad luck spreads within their family, and it rarely implicates outsiders."
Behind the tree, Liu Guimei gritted her teeth in anger.
D*mn this Busybody Li.
How is it her fault when she's the one who lost her money carelessly?!
Though their Fu family was indeed unlucky, they would not just take on any blame.
"What's the deal with Liu Guimei showing up at your place out of the blue?" some of the more astute ones among the group queried. "Haven't the two of you been at odds?"
Fatty Li pretended not to hear the question and changed the topic, "I have never lost any money in all my years of marriage, but my luck became rotten right after Liu Guimei from the Fu family stepped into my house. It's up to you to believe whether what I said was true, but here's my word of caution: you may be their next victim."
Liu Guimei rolled up her sleeves, rubbed her fists, and did a little stretch behind the tree.
Fatty Li was livid at the prospect of not only losing her money, but also failing to consume a pigeon. This combination of events spawned a deep sense of resentment within her.
She continued to sensationalize the story, "I was lucky to just lose some of my money from their bad luck. Who knows, you might just lose your lives if you are implicated. I advise you guys not to get too close to the Fu family. Otherwise, you'll probably suffer in the future."
"You Fatty Busybody Li, are you done talking!"
Liu Guimei roared and jumped out from behind the tree.
Her eyes swept through the group with a killing intent.
Her sudden appearance shocked everyone.
They all looked guilty from what they had said about the Fu family just now.
Some people stepped aside tactfully, whereas some gave the excuse that they had something to do at home and disappeared.
The villagers knew how scary Liu Guimei could be. Her combat power was ever higher than that of Mdm Fu.
She had never lost any verbal quarrels or physical fights.
As Liu Guimei caught her in the act, Fatty Li quickly tried to avoid her gaze.
But when she remembered the Fu family's misfortunes, she stood tall and sucked in her stomach. She no longer felt guilty and was full of confidence.
"Fatty Busybody Li, what does your misfortune of losing money have anything to do with my Fu family? Don't try to pin all the blame on our family." Liu Guimei pointed at her and shouted.
Fatty Li put her hands on her hips and said firmly, "I have never ever lost money, but I lost it after you entered my house. Your Fu Family has always been unlucky. If this wasn't bad luck from your guys, what else could it be?"
"Do you even remember why I had to enter your house?!"
Liu Guimei inched threateningly towards Fatty Li, who retreated weakly. Liu Guimei continued, "It was because you snatched the four pigeons from my family. If I hadn't gone to your house, they would have already been eaten up by you.
Daxing and Erxing had only just picked up the pigeons when you snatched four from them immediately. You were quicker than a bandit.
If it weren't for the fact that we're from the same village, I would have gone to the police to complain about you. Did you think you'll still have the chance to blabber nonsense here and spread rumors about my family?!"
Liu Guimei amplified her voice so that everyone present could hear the full story. "I wouldn't have even wanted to go into your house if not for that, not even if you personally invited me. Entering a house like yours is unlucky. Everyone, come and judge, who's the more shameless one here."
After understanding the whole story, the surrounding villagers discussed animatedly.
The public opinion instantly changed. Fatty Li was at an obvious disadvantage.
"Four pigeons ain't cheap."
"The Fu family is lucky to have picked up pigeons."
"Snatching four of them in one go? If it were me, I would have definitely gone all out and fight to the death."
Everyone knew that pigeons were expensive. Snatching just one was already outrageous, let alone four.
Fortunately, Mdm Fu was still in confinement. Otherwise, Fatty Li would have been torn into two.
"Fortunately, I had the good sense not to say anything. She's obviously trying to pin the blame back on the victim, even though she's the one who stole their stuff."
"I completely agree. She not only stole those four pigeons, but then had the audacity to try and shift the blame onto the victim. She's outrageous."
Fatty Li could not take it lying down after being criticized on the spot.
"So what if I took your pigeons? If it weren't for me, your Erxing would have died long ago."
She shamelessly claimed the credit.
"I wonder if your skin has grown thicker as you age." Liu Guimei clapped her hands. "Your daughter, Li Cuicui, wanted desperately to marry my Erxing back then. Erxing refused, and Li Cuicui pushed him into the water. How dare you bring up that matter again?! On one hand, you kept on spreading rumors that my Fu family is unlucky. On the other hand, you badmouthed me to everyone so as to increase the chances of your daughter marrying into the Fu family." Liu Guimei continued to fire on.
Everyone in the village knew that Li Cuicui was in love with Fu Erxing.
Fatty Li was instantly dumbfounded and fell silent.
Liu Guimei had no intention of letting her off just like that.
She would settle her new and old grudges together.
"Nobody wants to love her even if she throws herself at them desperately. Your daughter is pathetic." Liu Guimei deliberately attacked Li Cuicui. "Your Li Cuicui has been married for so many years and yet hasn't had any children. I'm afraid she'll be chased out of the house by her in-laws soon."
Li Cuicui had suffered retribution thanks to her mother's nasty tongue.
"Liu Guimei, I won't allow you to say that about my Cuicui." Fatty Li was so angry that she pushed Liu Guimei hard.
Li Cuicui was the world to Fatty Li.
She would not allow anybody to say anything bad about her daughter in front of her.
Liu Guimei was caught off guard and fell to the ground.
D*mn it!
How dare she push her!
She was so angry that she wanted to fight back. Suddenly, she thought of something and stopped.
She sat on the ground and did not get up. She clutched her back and grimaced, saying, "Ouch! Everyone, look! She pushed me! My back hurts. It hurts so much!"
Liu Guimei rolled on the ground in pain, giving the villagers who were standing around a fright.
When no one was looking, she secretly pinched her own thigh hard.
It was so painful that tears started streaming down her face.
"Fatty Li, look what you've done! How could you use so much force?"
"Did she hurt her back?"
"Look, she's in so much pain that she's crying. Something must be broken."
Fatty Li was quite big-sized, so everyone assumed that she was quite strong.
The crowd's support fueled Liu Guimei's determination to fleece Fatty Li.
She was determined to rip into her, no matter what it took.
Fatty Li stared at her hand in disbelief. She had only used minimal force just now when she pushed her.
In fact, she didn't use any strength at all.
"What's going on with you, Liu Guimei? You're usually not this weak. Don't try to pull a fast one on me by pretending to have an accident. Get up and stop messing around!"