The woman, wearing white canvas shoes and a plaid long skirt with flushed cheeks, stood beside Zhang Xiaoshan.
The onlooking crowd was stunned.
"Well, that Zhang Xiaoshan is quick on his feet, isn’t he? Mr. Xu has only been in the village for a few days, and he’s already slept with her."
"Little Shan is our village’s top young talent. Maybe it was Mr. Xu who seduced Little Shan."
For a moment, everyone was abuzz with discussion.
Xu Jing, hearing these words, wished she could burrow into a hole.
But she still chose to stand firmly by Zhang Xiaoshan’s side.
Zhang Xiaoshan was also quite baffled. Where did Xu Jing come from all of a sudden?
"Mr. Xu, you are still an unwed maiden. Speaking such words might make others laugh their teeth off," said Wu Damming, somewhat discontentedly.
Just when they were about to pin the blame on Zhang Xiaoshan, Xu Jing’s interruption made things complicated.
Xu Jing took a deep breath and bravely said,
"I know, but what I am saying is also the truth. Last night, Zhang Xiaoshan slept in the village school dorm with me until it was almost dawn."
As she spoke, Xu Jing’s face was so red it could drip blood.
"Damn you, Zhang Xiaoshan. You’ve completely ruined my reputation this time. I’m not done with you."
"Wow, city girls are really open. Not even married and already sleeping together," someone remarked.
"Speaking such words in public, how shameless," another voiced.
Zhang Xiaoshan was deeply moved.
Clearly, Xu Jing was trying to help him.
"Zhang Xiaoshan, is what she said true?" Wu Damming asked coldly.
At this point, there was no better option available, and since Xu Jing had already gone this far, Zhang Xiaoshan could only go with the flow.
"Yes, I slept with Xu Jing at the village school last night," he admitted.
"We are dating, and we were planning to announce it later."
"Impossible. Mr. Xu has only been in the village for a few days. They’ve hardly been seen together before. How could they be dating, and to even sleep together? Mr. Xu must be covering for Zhang Xiaoshan. Don’t be deceived. We must drive Zhang Xiaoshan out of White Dragon Village for good," Wu Yong interjected forcefully on the side.
Zhang Xiaoshan shot Wu Yong a fierce glance.
"I thought a few days locked up in the county might have straightened you out, but you’re still a scoundrel."
"Wasn’t it because of you? They’ve cleared things up now, and I’m innocent. I’ve got nothing to fear from you. If you dare lay a hand on me again, I’ll call the police," Wu Yong said grinding his teeth.
"Call the police? I’ll give you a reason to call them right now," Zhang Xiaoshan said, rolling up his sleeves, preparing to teach Wu Yong a lesson, who, terrified, hid behind Zhang Yulian.
Wu Damming felt quite depressed at this time.
Zhang Xiaoshan had grown increasingly defiant, overshadowing even his stature as the village head. If he didn’t put Zhang Xiaoshan in his place, he might very well lose his position as village head to him.
This was a chance he absolutely couldn’t miss.
He slammed the table hard, silencing the entire place.
"Zhang Xiaoshan, how dare you act so insurgently, attempting to hit someone right in front of me?"
"Are you trying to commit murder and silence people?" ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝙣𝙚𝙩
"Yes, yes, yes, uncle, Zhang Xiaoshan indeed wants to commit murder," Wu Yong chimed in, spurring from behind Zhang Yulian.
Zhang Yulian also yelled fiercely at Zhang Xiaoshan.
"You little bastard, you got my son thrown in jail, and now you even dare to hit someone? Zhang Ercai’s wife must have been stolen by you. I knew you were no good from the start. Thank goodness my Little Ru didn’t marry you, or I would have regretted it to death."
"Nonsense, I can testify for Zhang Xiaoshan. We were together all night; he left only at dawn," asserted Xu Jing, skinning her scalp and speaking up.
Though for an unmarried maiden to speak such words was extremely embarrassing, she was prepared to go all out to protect Zhang Xiaoshan at this moment.
"Evidence, where is the evidence that you were with my Zhang Xiaoshan?" Wu Yong shouted.
Wu Damming’s eyes lit up as well.
"Right, since you’ve mentioned you guys are dating, then show us some proof."
"As long as you can produce evidence, I will consider Zhang Xiaoshan innocent."
"Yes, yes, yes, we need to see the evidence. How did you guys sleep last night, tell us all about it, and we’ll believe you," the villagers, eager for a spectacle, encouraged.
Xu Jing was dying of embarrassment, her eyes rolling at Zhang Xiaoshan with a look of deep reproach.
Zhang Xiaoshan was somewhat helpless too.
"Speak up, Mr. Xu. If you can’t produce any evidence, I won’t be polite anymore; not only will Zhang Xiaoshan be punished, but so will you," Wu Damming pressed aggressively.
Suddenly, she remembered something.