Liu Meilan felt very much like crying. From when she was young, her heart had always been soft. She was timid and emotional and never knew how to fight people with words. Even now, facing these women and hearing all these accusations, her lips trembled but no words came out. She could only endure because she didn't want her daughter to feel helpless She didn't want Shen Anran to think there was nobody standing beside her. Shen Anran had already given her a look signalling her to keep quiet and just take it all. Her heart broke seeing the brave look in her daughter's eye. Her daughter was still so young yet she already learned how to swallow grievances like this. She didn't want Shen Anran to remain in this village thus she decided to hastily look for a house at the city county housing area. Even if it was small. Even if they had to save and suffer for it. It was still better than staying in this village where rumors could kill people without knives.
"The mother of a slut is accusing someone else of being a slut?" One of the women spoke, her voice cold. Her hands pointing at Madame Zheng. She continued, "what is that saying, those who live in glass homes shouldn't throw stones."
Madame Zheng's face instantly turned black. She could feel the colour drain from her face, she was taken aback by this remark. She was indeed a mother of a slut, a mother to a girl sleeping with another woman's husband. No, she shouldn't show them she was affected. She tried to mask her emotions and said, "those news aren't true." But it came out as if she was trying to convince herself of the reliability of this news. This matter had already spread round the village like wildfire. No matter how much she denied it, she herself was already shaken inside.
The women sneered at the two women who didn't even ask their daughter where she went to but came here to fight Liu Meilan and Shen Anran because they were defenseless.
At this point, the pain Zheng Shanshan had felt in her abdomen had subsided but she felt very weak and her face was drenched in sweat even though it was cool by this time. The time was almost 7pm. She opened her mouth weakly, wanting to explain things clearly, but one of the women suddenly came closer and spoke gently first.
"Shan'er where were you all this time?" She asked with a gentle tone.
To this Zheng Shanshan replied, her voice weak, her head lower slightly before replying, "I was with auntie and Anran."
Madame Zheng shouted as if she had won a mahjong game, "you heard that? Even Shan'er admitted it herself! They took her away to ruin her dignity!"
The women were offended by this remark and rolled their eyes. What dignity? Even the village head didn't deny the rumors. Even Shen Anran couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes. She truly didn't know where Madame Zheng got all this confidence from. She then quietly grabbed her mother's hand and sat her gently in the cart. At this moment, Liu Meilan was already shivering like a leaf. She could never belief Zheng Shanshan's words could be misread. After sitting down for a while, her breathe relaxed as the warmth from her daughter's hands calmed her down.
"Then, what were you doing there?" The woman patiently asked again.
Zheng Shanshan felt sorry for Liu Meilan and Shen Anran, so she began crying. Shen Anran frowned at this point and even Liu Meilan regretted allowing Zheng Shanshan to follow her. She would have refused to accept Zheng Shanshan right from the beginning of this trip. It was her daughter who told her to do those things. She felt bad. Madame Zheng on the other hand, looked victorious while her sister in-law although saying nothing had some happiness in her eyes. It was like she found joy in bullying Shen Anran and her mother. The women present also felt something bad might have happened, were the two women really doing shameful things and using foodstuffs as a cover?
Zheng Shanshan saw that everyone present took her action otherwise so she waved her hands frantically, wanting to explain. She tried to calm down and spoke, "auntie and Anran work in a food stall, so I stayed with them."
The women breathed in relief. Even Mr Xu never knew he was holding his breath.
But madame Zheng refused to stop. At this moment she hurriedly came close to where her daughter stood, grabbed her hands and spoke softly, "Shan'er, tell me the truth. Did they take you somewhere else to do something wrong then threatened you with it?" Yes they must have instilled fear in her daughter. She must get justice for her daughter.
Zheng Shanshan was surprised by her mom's question, she answered again, "auntie and Anran are working at a food stall at Yuxi county. I also met other employees and also their employer. They are not doing things against their virtue rather they are earning money honestly."
Madame Zheng was angry at this answer and flung her daughter's hand away then said, "stupid child, must you even defend them, even at this moment? I your mother will never blame you." She sounded like an aggrieved mother who was trying to defend her hurt child, "I understand." She added last as if she understood why her daughter didn't want to taint the other reputation.
"I'm telling the truth..." Madame Zheng's cry interrupted her speech.
"Oh my daughter! Who bullied you? I will get compensation for you," she said crying loudly and bitterly, she looked like one who had lost a precious item.
Zheng Shanshan felt bad and even blamed herself for leaving home. She wondered why her mother kept insisting that she must have been taken to somewhere else. Suddenly her eyes rolled back and she fainted. The woman who was asking her questions held her, preventing her from falling. Every one came closer except madame Zheng who kept on insisting that her daughter had been taken away by Liu Meilan to do shameful things.
Shen Anran after consoling her mother, came to where Zheng Shanshan had fainted. The girl wasn't faking it indeed. Earlier, the girl's complexion was pale, so she didn't read any meaning to it, only now did she realize that something was indeed wrong with her. One of the aunts quickly checked Zheng Shanshan's pulse and then looked up at the others. She didn't know if to say it. The girl's reputation had already been ruined this far by her mother's insistence. Saying this would ruin it further. The other aunties understood the look and shook their heads, telling her not to say anything. They all looked at madame Zheng who looked worn out from crying. The women ignored her and carried Zheng Shanshan, bringing her to the Zheng's family residence. Madame Zheng seeing she was ignored and that her daughter had fainted, quickly dusted her clothes and quietly followed them. Her sister in-law was no where to be found.
The crowd hiding and eavesdropping all left to their houses with different thoughts and feelings. Why was madam Zheng intent on ruining her daughter's reputation?
Shen Anran seeing everyone dispersed, carried their empty baskets and held her mother's hands as she used the small torch in her hands to guide the way home. She understood from those looks that Zheng Shanshan might be pregnant. She decided to remove herself from any future entanglement with Zheng Shanshan. After arriving home, she sat her already shaken mother down. Then kept their loads and went to the kitchen to boil water. After the water boiled, she brought her mom to come bathe. Liu Meilan looked at her, her voice shaking, "let's get out of this village quick."