When she saw all the windows of the house had been smashed.
Zhao Cuinong was beside herself with anger, grabbing a feather duster from the table and chasing after them, "Pah! You untaught dogs born without motherly raising!"
Seeing this, Lin Guixiang felt wronged, her nose soured, and she burst into tears again.
Outside, a group of children scattered in all directions, Zhao Cuinong stood with hands on hips, cursing furiously.
Aunt Wang from next door came over to watch the drama, "Guodong's mom, why are you making such a fuss over a bunch of kids!"
Zhao Cuinong sighed.
Aunt Wang continued, "I heard that your daughter-in-law seduced someone else's husband, and Xiao Wu is an illegitimate child, is that true?"
In earlier years, people in town already found Lin Guixiang's unmarried pregnancy odd.
There were whispers then, but they weren't widespread.
But now, the whole town was talking, saying Lin Guixiang seduced a big boss from Qing City, becoming pregnant before marriage.
This time, Lin Guixiang suddenly took Lin Wu to Qing City was to find that big boss.
Lin Guixiang originally wanted to usurp the position of the principal wife.
Who would have thought that they'd be outright denied by the man at their door and sent packing!
"Nonsense!" Zhao Cuinong said sternly, "Aunt Wang, you saw our eldest grow up, you know better than anyone what kind of person she is!"
Zhao Cuinong had been married into the family for only eight years, and she wasn't clear about the old affairs.
She only knew that her sister-in-law had not remarried over these past years.
Because the topic was sensitive, she usually never asked about it and rarely brought it up with her husband.
Aunt Wang squinted her eyes, "Then why didn't Xiao Wu come back with your sister-in-law?"
At this point, Aunt Wang paused, then continued, "Is it because Xiao Wu is ashamed of her mother for being a mistress and thus doesn't want to come back?"
Who would want a mother that was a mistress?
Lin Wu wasn't a fool!
Upon hearing this, Zhao Cuinong frowned slightly.
Lin Wu was seventeen this year!
She should be sensible by now.
She clearly knew Lin Guixiang wasn't a mistress, yet not only had she failed to stand up to protect her mother, but she also despised Lin Guixiang for bringing shame upon herself, unwilling to return!
How utterly heartless!
If even her own daughter didn't believe Lin Guixiang, how could they expect outsiders to believe?
"Xiao Wu is busy with her studies! Aunt Wang, I have things to do, I won't keep you any longer!" With that, Zhao Cuinong turned and went back inside, 'bang' closing the front door loudly.
Aunt Wang watched the door slam shut, scoffing coldly, thinking to herself, becoming a mistress and yet not allowing others to talk about it?
Just after Aunt Wang left, Zhao Cuinong's mother arrived.
Mother Zhao was seventy-eight this year.
Her body was very robust, able to crunch broad beans with ease.
"Mom, what brings you here?"
Mother Zhao glanced at her daughter, "If I don't come now, our family's reputation will be completely ruined by you!"
"What did I do?" Zhao Cuinong was startled.
Mother Zhao, frustrated at the situation, said, "Your sister-in-law went to Qing City to seduce that big boss and got kicked out by his legal wife, right? I heard even her own daughter doesn't want her."
Zhao Cuinong immediately pulled her mother to the side, speaking in a lowered voice, "Mom, don't go spreading baseless rumors."
Mother Zhao intentionally raised her voice, "She even had the audacity to be a mistress! Shameless! Cuinong, your husband is an educated man, the Old Lin Family is a family of scholars, and you can't let this kind of woman tarnish the family name!"
Mistresses are despised by society.
"Mom!" Zhao Cuinong was exasperated, "You're so loud, your grandniece might hear you."
Mother Zhao shouted toward Lin Guixiang's side, "I am saying it so she can hear it! If I were her, I'd drown myself in the Yellow River and die, to spare the living the shame and avoid dragging others down with me!"
Hearing the voices outside, Lin Guixiang inside the house was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Her life was so bitter.
It was truly bitter.
She felt aggrieved but had no one to confide in.
Lin Guixiang, though uneducated, understood that as a woman, she needed to be aware of shame and not do things against her conscience.
Back then, she didn't understand why, after she gave birth to her daughter, Zhang Dalong ran away!
Only now did she understand.
It turned out she was the shameful mistress!
Ridiculous!
It was utterly ridiculous!
"Dad, Mom, I miss you so much," Lin Guixiang hugged her parents' portrait tightly, "wait for me. As soon as Bingqiang returns, I'll come to meet you."
Her parents had passed away early.
Her younger sister had married far away.
Now, before death, all she wanted was to see her younger brother one last time.
"Mom! Can't you speak less?" Zhao Cuinong pulled her mother outside, "I've been troubled enough these past few days!"
Mother Zhao glanced at Zhao Cuinong, "I'm doing this for your own good! A woman who seduces someone else's husband deserves to die. Thirty years from now, such a person would have been plunged into a pig cage!"
Zhao Cuinong, pushing Mother Zhao out, said, "Mom, it's getting late, you should go back! Dad is still waiting at home for you to cook for him!"
She had also been a bit annoyed these past few days.
Everywhere she went, people pointed fingers and made remarks, with some even saying that with such an aunt, she definitely couldn't be any good either.
Mother Zhao lowered her voice, "My silly girl, isn't it all for your own good? Soon, Bingqiang will take you and your son to Qing City! What about your auntie? She can't just follow you there, can she?"
Lin Bingqiang had been performing well at his job, and his salary had increased over the years. He had purchased an apartment in Qing City and had it nicely furnished.
With the apartment ready, naturally, he wanted to bring his wife and children to Qing City to live together.
If Lin Guixiang were to follow them, wouldn't she become a burden?
As the words fell, Mother Zhao looked up at the sky, "Cuinong, I'll be going back first, but you must take my words to heart."
Zhao Cuinong nodded her head.
After Mother Zhao left, Zhao Cuinong entered Lin Guixiang's room.
"Big sister, don't be offended by my mother's harsh words. It's just that there are too many rumors outside," as she said this, Zhao Cuinong looked at Lin Guixiang, "Can you tell me what's really going on? Why, after you visited Qing City, did everyone start saying you're the mistress who destroyed someone else's family?"
During this time, she only heard the outsiders' gossip and had never heard Lin Guixiang utter a word in her defense.
If this continued, she would start to wonder if Lin Guixiang really had been unfaithful.
But Lin Guixiang was like a mute, doing nothing but crying.
Even now, she remained silent.
Zhao Cuinong was somewhat angry, looking at Lin Guixiang with a gaze filled with speechlessness.
Having such an aunt, she felt she was truly unlucky.
--
Qing City.
Zhang Xianxian stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the view of the backyard.
Within the garden.
Her mother was holding her three-year-old brother, laughing joyfully.
Zhang Xianxian narrowed her eyes. Her mother was impressive, tolerating the illegitimate child of her father and that other woman.
Just then, the assistant stepped in from outside: "Miss."
Zhang Xianxian turned around, "What is it?"
The assistant continued, "Lin Wu has returned to Lin City."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianxian's lips curved into a smile, "Good, have you contacted Ma Jiaojiao?"
This time.
She was going to send Lin Wu a big gift.