Chapter 5: Zhang Qingqing Publicly Frames Yan Ziyue

Upon hearing this, Yan Ziyue immediately understood that Zhang Qingqing was once again trying to pin the blame on her.

She had endured far too many such injustices in her past life.

Instantly, she transformed into a pitiful, tearful figure. “Qingqing, how have I ever wronged you?”

“Was it I who forced you to secretly marry Xu Lecheng? Was it I who spread those rumors? I only just found out myself.”

“Ever since Father married your mother, I have been an outsider in this home—treated as if I were a burden, even beaten for eating more than my share.”

“I never intended to compete with you for Father’s affection, nor did I try to steal from you. I only thought that he was my father too.”

Her display of sorrow and grievance only deepened the villagers’ disdain for Zhang Qingqing. “What kind of person is Zhang Qingqing? Secretly marrying Xu Lecheng herself, yet running around to frame Yan Ziyue!”

“Poor Yan Ziyue truly deserves sympathy.”

Zhang Qingqing was stunned by Yan Ziyue’s tearful and wronged demeanor. How on earth could this shameless woman act so convincingly?

Snapping back to herself, she glanced furtively towards the main room and loudly accused, “Sister, everyone in the village knows you’re always with Lecheng, always clinging to him, sneaking off into the woods together… Ah!”

Yan Ziyue delivered a heavy slap across her face, trembling as she pointed a finger at her. “Zhang Qingqing, I swear I have done nothing wrong to you. Stop with your vile, baseless accusations!”

The villagers were utterly contemptuous of Zhang Qingqing.

“Zhang Qingqing is truly malicious. She and Xu Lecheng sneak off together, yet she dares to frame Yan Ziyue!”

“Now that I think about it, those rumors about Yan Ziyue stealing things and money from home, and being involved with so-and-so—most likely it was Zhang Qingqing’s doing. She’s utterly despicable.”

Crying, Yan Ziyue ran to Village Chief Luo, pleading for justice. “Chief, I know Father has never favored me, especially after he remarried, my life has only worsened.”

“I also understand that I’m not as good at pleasing Father as Zhang Qingqing is, but I have never done anything to betray this family. Why would Zhang Qingqing want to harm me like this?”

Before Village Chief Luo could respond, Yan’s father shouted angrily.

“Yan Ziyue, what nonsense are you spouting? It’s clear you’ve been unchaste with Xu Lecheng, and now you dare to frame Qingqing?”

Yan’s father fiercely protected Zhang Qingqing, looking as if he wanted to crush Yan Ziyue.

He had never liked this daughter since childhood—she was nothing like Qingqing, immature and always mingling with men.

“Her father, what will become of Qingqing?” Zhang Juhua leaned against his shoulder, overwhelmed as if the sky was falling. “She’s just a girl, and now her reputation is ruined. How will she live from now on?”

Having endured countless hardships in her past life, hearing this biased treatment and scheming from her father no longer stirred a single emotion in Yan Ziyue’s heart.

Just as she was about to confront the family, a voice came from behind.

“Do you think I’m dead?”

Xiao Heshuo stepped forward, shielding Yan Ziyue behind him. His eyes were cold, like a still pond, glaring at Yan’s father and the others.

Yan Ziyue’s heart swelled with warmth and bittersweet emotion. She looked at the broad, strong silhouette of the man and felt a deep pang of guilt. How could she have been so blind in her past life?

To reject someone as good as Xiao Heshuo and cling to a scoundrel like Xu Lecheng.

Xiao Heshuo’s arrival silenced the crowd for a few seconds.

Yan’s father and his companions immediately cowered and took a step back.

“Heshuo, I know you care for Yan Ziyue, but she really did have a thing with Xu Lecheng and slandered Qingqing,” Yan’s father stammered.

Xiao Heshuo ignored him and instead looked to Village Chief Luo. “Chief, please call the authorities. We need the police here.”

“Tell them there are people in the village defaming a woman’s reputation and someone is acting indecently.”

Village Chief Luo nodded and turned to head towards the office.

But Zhang Juhua and Zhang Qingqing, mother and daughter, blocked his path.

“Chief, you can’t believe just one side of the story from Xiao Heshuo. This never happened.”

“Chief, you know how protective my brother-in-law is of my sister. This isn’t how things are.”

Village Chief Luo took a drag on his pipe and sneered at the pair. “If Zhang Qingqing truly hadn’t married Xu Lecheng and you didn’t frame Yan Ziyue, why are you afraid of the police?”

The villagers started to murmur, “That’s right, that’s right.”

“There’s an old saying: if you’re innocent, you have nothing to fear. If you haven’t done anything, you’d welcome the police. The ones to worry about are Yan Ziyue.”

Zhang Juhua and Zhang Qingqing were left speechless. The mother and daughter were anxious and fearful, looking to Yan’s father for help.

“Yan, you better think carefully,” Village Chief Luo spoke first. “I’ve heard that slander can land you in prison. Don’t say things lightly.”

Hearing that slander could mean jail, Yan’s father clamped his mouth shut, too scared to utter another word. Nowadays, going to prison meant being branded for life.

Village Chief Luo looked at Zhang Juhua and Zhang Qingqing with utter contempt, his words sharp as a blade. “I know all about the dirty deeds you two have done around the village.”

“Before, I thought since nothing serious happened, I’d turn a blind eye.”

“Now… Hah, Zhang Qingqing is shameless—secretly marrying Xu Lecheng but pretending to be single, running around the village seducing men and chasing after valuables.”

Zhang Juhua and Zhang Qingqing wanted to argue, but when they met Village Chief Luo’s ruthless gaze, they dared not utter a word.

They clearly knew that if they said one more thing, the chief would send them straight to the police station.

Village Chief Luo continued, “Now, you have two choices.”

“One: return all the things and money you took from the villagers. Two: refuse to return them, and I will send your entire family to the police. Whatever penalty they impose, the village will recognize it.”

Neither Zhang Juhua nor Zhang Qingqing wanted to admit to taking anything, waving their hands vehemently in denial.

Village Chief Luo had expected this and gestured to the villagers. “Beat them. Just don’t kill them.”

“Afterwards, I’ll take them to the police myself.”

At this, the villagers swarmed forward, grabbing Zhang Juhua and Zhang Qingqing, beating them mercilessly.

They screamed loudly, “Don’t hit me! Don’t hit me!”

Watching this scene, Yan Ziyue felt indescribably satisfied and relieved.

In her past life, she was the one who suffered such treatment, while Zhang Qingqing was seen as a girl of impeccable reputation in the village.

This time, Zhang Qingqing would taste the bitterness of being scorned and beaten by all.

In the end, with Yan’s father’s promises and pleas, Zhang Juhua and Zhang Qingqing, battered and bruised, were spared from being sent to the police.

But the reputations of Yan’s father, Zhang Juhua, Zhang Qingqing, and Xu Lecheng were thoroughly ruined.

Especially Zhang Qingqing and Xu Lecheng—they became objects of universal scorn.

For Yan Ziyue, this was a blessing.

She stood before Xiao Heshuo, holding his hand tightly.

“Now do you believe I saw through Xu Lecheng and Zhang Qingqing’s true nature long ago?” she said with hopeful eyes.