The next morning, Qinghe Village did not wake gently.
It exploded.
Before the sun even climbed halfway into the sky, whispers had already flooded every corner slipping through door cracks, floating across courtyards, and curling into every curious ear.
"Did you hear? Liu Meilin was pushed into the river last night."
"Serves her right. A woman who seduces men everywhere, how clean could she be?"
"I heard she was meeting a lover secretly."
"Tsk tsk, she's shameless. Her poor husband."
Each sentence was sharper than a knife.
Each word carved deeper than the last.
And as always, the rumors grew uglier with every mouth they passed through.
By the time Jiang Yanyan stepped outside, the village had already rewritten her entire story.
She carried her bamboo basket as usual, heading toward the market.
But something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too tense.
When she walked past neighbor houses, people paused mid-conversation.
Some turned their faces away.
Some stared openly.
Some whispered without even lowering their voices.
Her footsteps slowed.
Her fingers tightened around the basket handle.
A group of women stood near the old fig tree, shelling peanuts.
When she passed, their voices sharpened deliberately.
"Nowadays, women really have no shame."
"Sleeping around and still acting innocent."
"If I were her, I'd drown myself."
The words pierced straight through her chest.
Her breathing hitched slightly but she didn't stop.
She kept walking.
Her back straight.
Her chin lifted.
But inside, her heart trembled.
When she reached the market, the atmosphere had changed completely.
Her stall used to be crowded.
Today, it stood almost empty.
Customers hesitated at a distance, glancing at her like she carried disease.
A woman she often sold buns to walked up then paused.
"You… are you really… that kind of person?"
Jiang Yanyan's throat tightened.
"What kind?"
The woman avoided her eyes.
"The kind that sneaks around with men."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"I didn't."
But denial meant nothing.
Soon, others joined.
"She was pushed into the river for a reason."
"I heard she has multiple lovers."
"No wonder she slimmed down so fast."
Each accusation slammed against her.
Her hands trembled.
The bamboo basket slipped slightly.
And then
A shrill voice cut through the crowd.
"Shameless woman!"
Zhao Huifen, the village's loudest gossip queen, strode forward, hands on her hips.
"So you still have the face to sell food?"
Her voice rose deliberately.
"Everyone! Let me tell you what kind of woman she really is!"
The crowd gathered instantly.
Zhao Huifen's eyes gleamed maliciously.
"She sneaks out at night!"
"She flirts with men!"
"She was pushed into the river because she was meeting a lover!"
Gasps erupted.
Jiang Yanyan's ears rang.
Her vision blurred slightly.
"Stop lying."
Zhao Huifen laughed loudly.
"Lying? Then why were you at the riverbank at night?"
Silence pressed heavily.
Her lips parted.
She remembered the boy.
The trap.
The push.
But before she could speak
A rotten vegetable smashed against her shoulder.
Splat.
Then another.
Then another.
Eggshells.
Mud.
Wilted leaves.
Someone shouted
"Disgusting!"
"Get out of our market!"
"Shame on you!"
Her dress quickly stained.
Her hair became messy.
Her cheeks burned.
Her chest felt crushed.
For a brief moment
She wanted to disappear.
"STOP."
A roar thundered across the market.
The crowd froze.
Lu Jianfeng pushed through, eyes blazing with fury.
When he saw her stained clothes, trembling hands, and pale face
Something inside him snapped.
He strode to her side, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her firmly into his chest.
"She is my wife."
His voice was deep.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"If anyone dares insult her again I'll tear their mouth apart."
Silence fell.
Zhao Huifen stiffened.
"You… you're blind! She.
Before she could finish .
Lu Jianfeng slammed his fist into the wooden stall.
BANG!
The entire structure shook.
Cracks split across the surface.
Screams erupted.
"Say one more word," he said slowly, eyes blood-red, "and I swear you won't walk home today."
Zhao Huifen's face drained of color.
She stumbled back.
No one dared speak.
Lu Jianfeng lowered his head and looked at her.
Her eyes were glassy.
Her lips pale.
Her body shaking faintly.
His heart clenched violently.
Without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms.
Gasps filled the air.
He didn't care.
He walked straight through the crowd, carrying her home.
Against his chest, Jiang Yanyan finally lost control.
Her fingers clutched his shirt.
Her tears soaked through the cloth.
"I didn't do it…"
Her voice broke.
"I swear… I didn't…"
His jaw tightened.
"I know."
Two words.
But they held absolute trust.
The moment they arrived home
The Liu brothers exploded.
Second Brother Liu Qiang smashed the door open.
"Who dared bully my sister?!"
Third Brother Liu Ming's eyes were red.
"Tell me who."
Fourth Brother Liu Wei grabbed a hoe.
"I'll break their legs."
Even Zhao Lihua rushed forward, panic and anger written clearly on her face.
"Who spread this nonsense?!"
Jiang Yanyan finally collapsed into her mother's arms.
Her entire body shook.
Her mother cried as she held her.
"My poor daughter…"
That night
The Liu family sat in grim silence.
Storm clouds gathered.
A battle was coming.In a shadowed corner of the village, Chen Yuyang listened to everything.
The chaos.
The rumors.
The humiliation.
The tears.
A soft smile curved his lips.
"Good."
"Very good."
He gazed toward Lu Jianfeng's house, eyes gleaming with obsession.
"Next…"
"I'll break her comp
That night, Jiang Yanyan lay awake.
Her eyes stared into darkness.
No tears fell.
Only calm.
Slow.
Cold.