Everyone nearly dropped their jaws when they heard what Su Xiaofeng said.
Su Xiaofeng claimed that the child in her womb wasn't Liu An's. Could it be that to avoid marrying an idiot, she had been involved with men other than Liu An?
With this thought, the villagers' gazes towards Su Xiaofeng shifted.
Tsk tsk, who would have thought? Usually, you can't get a peep out of Su Xiaofeng who looks so frail and vulnerable, yet here she is, a real charmer, not only involved with Liu An but also with other men.
Indeed, it's always the quiet ones who cause the biggest shocks when they strike.
"Did everyone hear that? Xiaofeng said the child isn't Liu An's. God, Xiaofeng, who were you with this time?" Hu Xiulan, hearing what Su Xiaofeng said, was wildly excited—the news was absolutely earth-shattering for all the surrounding villages. Once this news spread, Su Xiaofeng's reputation... tsk tsk.
"Xiaofeng, you can eat messy, but you can't talk messy. If the child in your womb isn't Liu An's, then whose is it?" He Yong, He Ximei's brother, was also shocked when he heard Su Xiaofeng's words. It surely couldn't be Pengzi's.
But then he thought, Pengzi was twenty-one this year. Aside from being slow-witted, he might not be clueless about romantic affairs, but it was impossible; Pengzi wouldn't do such a thing.
Liu An's eyes shifted. He knew the child in Su Xiaofeng's womb wasn't his. That day he had intended to do something with Su Xiaofeng, but who knew she, appearing so frail, would struggle like mad. In the struggle, they both rolled down the slope.
He had fallen hard, and it took nearly two months for his body to recover. Thinking to visit Su Xiaofeng and perhaps take advantage of the situation revealed by Su's father while investigating, which also unearthed the news of Su Xiaofeng's pregnancy.
At the time, he was shocked out of his wits. Quickly he realized that if Su Xiaofeng was unmarried and pregnant, if he showed up at this time with a proposal and told everyone that the child was Liu An's, Su Xiaofeng would have no choice but to marry him.
He was no fool; he wouldn't marry a woman who had lost her virginity and raise someone else's child.
Su Xiaofeng was quite attractive. After marrying her, he could find any excuse to terminate her pregnancy, then let her stay at his place for a while, and eventually have her look after his brothers.
With Su Xiaofeng's beauty, just standing in a crowd was enough to make those men drool. Relying on Su Xiaofeng, this cash cow, his future days would be incredibly comfortable.
Talk about a hasty wedding, he immediately dragged his father to propose marriage, with some earnest money ready to be presented. Now, hearing Su Xiaofeng claim the child wasn't his, he sneered, "Su Xiaofeng, think carefully before you speak. Have you forgotten what happened on the mid-hill slope two months ago?"
If it were the original Su Xiaofeng, hearing Liu An bring up that incident from two months ago would have devastated her. However, the Su Xiaofeng of today, no longer the timid woman of the past but someone from the modern era who had dealt with all sorts of people in her entrepreneurial ventures, did not take this thug seriously at all.
Glancing at a corner of her house, she saw a broom and a few hoes quietly standing there, a newly made hoe by Su's father shone with a cold, metallic gleam because it was yet to be used.
Upon hearing Liu An's words, the veins on Su's father's forehead seemed about to burst, but at the moment, Xiaofeng's words were more shocking.
What does she mean her child in the womb isn't Liu An's? If it's not Liu An's, then whose is it?
Considering Xiaofeng's reputation and with so many villagers waiting to see a joke, Su's father who had initially intended to interrogate her swallowed his words back down: That little beast, once we get home, I'll be sure to break her legs. Look at all this mess.
With Liu An's words out, all eyes were on Su Xiaofeng, eager to hear her answer about who exactly was the father of the child in her womb.
"Xiaofeng, think carefully before you speak about this, as it's no laughing matter. If you can't tell who the father of the child is or if you admit to being with more than one man, let alone your father, just the villagers' gossip could drown you," He Ximei whispered into Su Xiaofeng's ear.
She had selfish reasons for suggesting Su Xiaofeng take part in the wife swapping, but she didn't mean for Su Xiaofeng to marry a scoundrel like Liu An.
She had found out that the Li Family, ten miles away, was just as poor as theirs. The sister was capable, but the brother was also not right in the head, so he likewise couldn't find a wife.
If Xiaofeng was willing to marry the brother from the Li Family and the sister was brought over to marry Pengzi, Pengzi would naturally have a wife then.
Having carried a load of pig fodder home, Su Peng saw many people gathered at his doorstep and shouted, "Make way, make way, you're blocking my way home."
Like He Ximei, Su Peng was tall and strong, with eyes shaped like those of a bull. He had a handsome appearance, but unfortunately, he wasn't bright.
Seeing Su Peng's return, Hu Xiulan mocked, "Oh, Xiaofeng, you said the child in your stomach isn't Liu An's, could it be this fool's?"
He Ximei really wanted to spit in disgust. Her son would never do such a thing, but... Without a word, she inadvertently glanced at Xiaofeng and chose to remain silent.
Marrying a scoundrel is nothing good, better to marry the Li Family's brother.
Seeing He Ximei's expression and hearing Hu Xiulan's words, everyone began to speculate, "Could it really be the fool's child?"
"Impossible," Liu An scoffed. "You've forgotten how you moaned that day, how you begged me to marry you, haven't you? Su Xiaofeng, you whore, you dare to mess with me but don't dare admit it, do you? If you think you can take my seed and marry a fool, let me tell you, as long as I'm alive, you can forget about it." Liu An's tirade grew more and more vigorous, his words increasingly harsh.
As he spoke, he himself almost believed that the child in Su Xiaofeng's belly was his.
"Girl, my son says the child you're carrying is his seed, so it must be his. Marry into our family with peace of mind, the Liu Family will surely treat you well. Tell us, is it your stepmother who is giving you trouble? If she's making it hard for you, tell us and we'll decide for you," Liu Datou's forceful duck voice rang out, making people think again, "Could it be that Su Xiaofeng's child is really Liu An's?"
Having set down the pig fodder aside, Su Peng, seeing a dark crowd, squinted painfully, "Mom, why are they all gathered at our doorstep?"
Upon hearing this, Liu An responded with a smile on his face, "Big brother-in-law, make sure you see clearly. Your sister is already carrying my baby. I'm here to ask for her hand in marriage, and from today onwards, we will be one family."
He even wanted to step forward, hoping to have Su Peng stand by his side.
Su Peng raised his hand authoritatively and commanded in a mighty voice, "Butterfly, you better not come over."
Liu An instinctively got scared, the fool might be simple-minded, but his voice could indeed be intimidating, almost scaring him for real.
Hearing Su Peng call Liu An 'Butterfly,' Su Xiaofeng burst into laughter.
Everyone looked over.
Su Xiaofeng, with clear and bright eyes, stood at the doorway, her smile blooming like peach blossoms, brilliantly captivating, drawing gazes that were hard to turn away.