Chapter 524: Chapter 524 Rumors Arise Chapter 524: Chapter 524 Rumors Arise Ever since they knew Big Bull had left, rampant rumors were spreading throughout the Mo Family Village.
Everyone was discussing Big Bull and Xuexue’s affair.
They said that they were seen together so often, with Big Bull calling her “my lady” every day, it wouldn’t be surprising if they had already crossed the boundaries between men and women.
Lady Li seemed to have caught a handle on the situation and went around the entire village proclaiming that she had personally witnessed Big Bull and Xuexue embracing each other in full view of the public, claiming Xuexue was no virgin anymore. Now that Big Bull didn’t want her, she was nothing but a worthless shoe.
Madam Xie, while washing clothes by the river, heard those filthy words and her eyes reddened with anger. She had a few words with Lady Li: “You woman, with such a vicious tongue! My Xuexue still bears the maidens’ tears on her hands! Don’t spout nonsense and tarnish her reputation.”
“Cackle…” Lady Li burst into a sinister laugh. With that Plague God, Big Bull, gone, she felt her day of revenge had finally come: “Maidens’ tears? Has anyone seen them? I surely haven’t and you’re her mother, of course, you would take her side.”
In those days, no woman, whether from a farmer’s family or a wealthy one, allowed much of their skin to be exposed. They all dressed very conservatively, hardly ever showing their arms, so in truth, the villagers did not know whether Xuexue had maidens’ tears on her arms.
The women washing clothes by the river suddenly fell silent, not uttering a word.
Lady Li laughed triumphantly. She’d been waiting for this day for a long time, finally rid of that Plague God, Big Bull. She felt a surge of liberation and no longer had to be wary of Xuexue.
Madam Xie was furious, so much that she didn’t even finish washing the clothes. She flung the washing into the basin with a force and stormed off.
“Cackle cackle cackle…! Ashamed of her own daughter and still trying to defend her.”
Lady Li’s smug voice followed from behind.
Madam Xie trembled with rage, quickening her pace as tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.
“Mother, why are you crying?”
Madam Xie carried the wooden basin in one hand and wiped her tears with the other as she stepped into the courtyard.
Chuner, seeing her, hurried to her side to offer comfort: “Is it because Big Bull Brother has left that someone bullied you again?”
“Mother isn’t crying; it’s just sand in my eyes.” Madam Xie was seething inside but didn’t want to share the unpleasantness with her young daughter Chuner.
“Really?” Chuner asked, tilting her head to look at Madam Xie.
“It’s just sand in my eyes. I’m a grown woman and won’t easily start crying,” Madam Xie’s voice was muffled as she placed the basin on the ground.
“Mother, if your eyes are uncomfortable, you should rest a while. I’ll hang the clothes to dry.” There were many little wooden stools in the yard, all made by Big Bull when he had time. Each was unique and rather pretty. Chuner tried to get Madam Xie to sit on one of them.
“You aren’t even as tall as the bamboo used for drying clothes! How are you supposed to hang them?” No matter how Chuner tried to pull, Madam Xie refused to sit down.
Just then, Xuexue came back from the fields.
Although Xuexue felt an emptiness with Big Bull gone, life had to go on. She had been reborn in this life and her life no longer belonged only to herself; there were still many things she had to do! Such as seeking revenge, and protecting the important people around her.
So every morning, she continued to check on the watermelon fields before coming back. After breakfast, she returned to the fields to pick watermelons and waited for Shopkeeper Fan’s cart to arrive.
As Xuexue looked up, she saw Chuner pulling at Madam Xie and asked in confusion, “What are you two doing tugging at each other for?”
“Sister, you don’t know, mother’s eyes are sore. I want her to take a rest while I hang the clothes, but she won’t let me,” Chuner pouted, telling on her mother.