"Poor thing, her eldest brother was stricken with paralysis in the prime of life, and had to watch helplessly as his wife was harassed by local thugs, passing away before he even turned thirty."
"First her spouse died, then her son, their mother couldn't withstand the successive blows, and soon she succumbed to depression."
"Her sister-in-law, after losing her support, suffered even worse bullying and humiliation, eventually unable to endure the disgrace, she chose suicide."
"Without parental care, her second and third brothers went astray, one became a hoodlum enticed by street punks to steal from others, and ended up disabled for life, while the other got caught participating in the black market and was sent to prison."
"However, Dong Wenzhong and Chen Yanran, once they left, started a business with the money she gave them and prospered more and more, owning several storefronts, with children in pairs, living a happy and fulfilled life."
"Later, after going to great lengths to find them, before she could settle accounts with them, she was bound up by Dong Wenzhong and Chen Yanran working together."
"She vividly remembered their disgusting faces, Chen Yanran sitting in triumph before her, looking down with a mocking smile, "Xu Ying, I've never seen such a dumb woman like you, but thanks to you."
"Dong Wenzhong and I were able to return to the city and live the good life so early, do you know how grateful we are to you?""
"Xu Ying sat in the chair, her face twisted with rage at these words, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted from her nose and mouth."
"After Chen Yanran finished, she shot a coquettish glance at Dong Wenzhong and continued with a beaming smile, "Do you know how your third brother got caught?""
"Xu Ying's heart shuddered, and she looked at Chen Yanran with anger, "Chen Yanran, what do you mean by that?""
"Chen Yanran gave a giggle, "Your third brother heard that you were sick and had no money for treatment, so he went to the black market to make money, then we tipped off the authorities and he was captured."
"Tell me, with people so good to you around, why don't you cherish them?""
""Chen Yanran, I'm going to kill you." Xu Ying, facing the couple's mocking smiles, felt the irony intensely as she screamed, cutting through the ropes and grabbed the blade in her hand to charge at Chen Yanran, only to be hit on the back of the head by a bottle from Dong Wenzhong."
"And then she died from blood loss."
"Thinking of her own death, Xu Ying looked at Chen Yanran full of hatred."
""Chen Yanran, you say you saved me? Can you swim?""
""If you really saved me, then go swim in the river now and show me." Xu Ying said as she grabbed Chen Yanran's arm and dragged her out."
"Chen Yanran was startled by her expression and was pulled out before she could react."
"The commotion at the captain's house had already attracted many onlookers, and now seeing Chen Yanran being dragged out by Xu Ying, they all craned their necks in curiosity, "Xu Ying, you're not dead?""
""It's you who's dead, your whole family is dead, my daughter is perfectly fine, anyone who dares say my daughter is dead again, I'll scratch you to death," Mrs. Xu swore through clenched teeth."
"This shameless, total loss, cursing her daughter's death—she remembered each of those people, waiting for the chance to deal with them."
""Xu Ying, what are you doing with Chen Zhiqing?" The bystanders were already used to Mrs. Xu's antics."
"Everyone was more curious about what had happened between Xu Ying and Chen Zhiqing."
""Xu Ying, Chen Zhiqing saved you, how can you be so ungrateful and treat her like this?""
"Xu Ying, seeing so many people, sneered and bluntly revealed, "Chen Zhiqing says she saved me."
"But I clearly saw it was Lu Daya who saved me, I want to know who truly did it.""
""Lu Daya? Lu Daya was involved in an accident on the day you fell into the river too, and she's still unconscious!" A sharp-eyed person remarked."
"Chen Yanran's face turned pale; she couldn't swim at all, and if Xu Ying really pulled her into the river, she would be drowned."
"She frantically struggled, but was still tightly gripped by Xu Ying, "Xu Ying, I don't feel well, I can't go into the river?""
"Some who loved a good spectacle teased, "Chen Zhiqing, is it that you really can't enter the river, or are you scared to go in?"
"I find it strange, Xu Ying is a head taller than you, on any given day you can't lift this or carry that."
"How on earth could you have pulled Xu Ying out, she must weigh at least ninety pounds, right?""
As soon as these words were out, everyone began to grow curious.
Jianguo, observing that his daughter had a grip on Zhiqing that he couldn't escape from, knew all too well what was happening.
His expression grew darker and darker, and he said ominously, "I'm going to find Lu Daya and ask her for a clear explanation."
Upon hearing this, Yanran immediately panicked. She thought Xu Ying had lost consciousness and had no idea who had saved her.
At that time, after Lu Daya had pulled Xu Ying out of the water, she, too, had fainted. With so many people around, Wen Zhong had her wet her clothes and take credit as the savior.
She had thought that she would be recognized as Xu Ying's savior, and that Captain Xu would surely be grateful, assigning her an easier task.
Even if Xu Ying knew who had saved her, considering Wen Zhong, Xu Ying wouldn't dare to say anything.
They had thought through all the possibilities, but they hadn't expected Xu Ying to suddenly act as if she'd lost her mind.
And just now, that wretched girl looked at her as if she were an enemy.
Could she have found out something? Impossible!
Afraid that her lie would be exposed, she looked up and saw Dong Wenzhong in the crowd, grasping at him like a lifeline, she called out, "Dong Zhiqing, you saw it, didn't you? It was I who saved Xu Ying, right?"
Dong Wenzhong, originally standing in the crowd, now singled out when called like that, faced everyone's gaze and could no longer hide.
He walked towards Xu Ying, his eyes tender as a gentle spring breeze, and said, "Yingying, I can testify that it was Chen Zhiqing who saved you."
"How can you testify? Just taking Chen Zhiqing's word for it that she saved me? I'm not blind; I saw very clearly who saved me," retorted Xu Ying, stepping back with disdain and fighting back nausea.
Dong Zhiqing's face stiffened, finding it unexpected that she would dis him publicly and asked somewhat angrily, "Yingying, you don't believe me?"
Xu Ying wanted to slap him right across the face. It was all a lie, and yet he expected her to believe it. The nerve of him!
Such a scumbag, and to think she had loved him so much in her past life.
She held back her anger, her voice cold as she asked, "Dong Zhiqing, why are you lying for Chen Zhiqing?"
Dong Wenzhong's face showed anger and with a lowered voice he approached Xu Ying, "Xu Ying, what are you trying to do? This is no time for jokes."
Xu Ying, unable to contain her anger at Dong Wenzhong's approach, slapped him across the face.
"Get lost, keep away from me."
The people around were stunned.
Everyone knew how much Xu Ying adored Dong Zhiqing, always trailing behind him, one day bringing steamed buns and eggs, the next day chicken legs.
She never stinted on her attentions, while Dong Zhiqing always kept her hanging with his superior attitude day in and day out.
The young men in the village were green with envy, and even some of the girls wished they were Dong Zhiqing.
But today, she suddenly turned on Dong Zhiqing.
Both Mrs. Xu and Mr. Xu were also astonished.
Xu Ying, having just recovered from her fever and still suffering a headache, the sight of Dong Wenzhong fuelling her hatred, feared she couldn't hold back her wrath any longer.
Turning to Mrs. Xu she said, "Mom, I'm still feeling unwell, I want to lie down in my room for a while."
Mrs. Xu, upon hearing this, felt her heart constrict and immediately helped her daughter, intending to return to the room.
Blocking the crowd, she rebuked them, "What are you looking at? Get out of the way! If you delay my daughter getting back to her room and something happens, none of you will be allowed to leave."
Jianguo also worried about his daughter, shouted at the rubbernecking crowd, "What are you looking at? Aren't you supposed to be working? Hurry up and go eat, then get back to work."
The captain's authority was profound; at his shout, the onlookers scattered in fright.
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