Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Something’s Not Quite Right
Translator: 549690339
“Yes, Su Wenyue, just because you’re a young rich lady doesn’t mean you can behave recklessly. You’ve not only framed and bullied my cousin, but you’ve also caused me to lose my job and be disgracefully kicked out of the Su Family. That was all your doing, wasn’t it? How cruel you are! Of course, a rich lady like you will never understand the hardships of us poor people. You have no idea how miserably you’ve harmed me with your schemes!” Wang Fangru harbored resentment towards the Su Family, and upon seeing Su Wenyue, she couldn’t help but vent all her bitterness.
“Tsk tsk, who would’ve thought the Han Family’s new daughter-in-law would be such a formidable person? That’s just too ruthless.”
“Yes, isn’t that just too malicious? These daughters of rich families have no idea of the sufferings of the world and have no sense of proportion when they act, only caring about their own pleasure, completely disregarding the life and death of others.
These Wang cousins, whether Wang Qianru or Wang Fangru, definitely had their schemes. They both aimed to tarnish Su Wenyue’s reputation, manipulating everyone’s sympathy to achieve their own ends.
Watching the Wang family reverse right and wrong to such a shameless extent was too much for Su Wenyue. Naturally, she wouldn’t let them slander her and tarnish the reputation of herself and the Han Family. Stepping out from behind Han Yu, she confronted Wang Fangru, “Oh? You sisters make it sound quite tragic. If you didn’t tell me, I would have never known I was so malicious. You cousins keep saying I’ve framed and bullied you—why not tell everyone here exactly how I’ve done that? It would be better for everyone to know, otherwise, I’ll be bearing this undeserved evil reputation!”
“Don’t you know what you have done? I’d been working well in the Su Family for years, always following the rules and being devoted to my duties, never doing anything to wrong the Su Family. Yet, they dismissed me without any good reason, wasn’t it all because of you, Su Wenyue? What else do you have to say about that?”
“You’re sidestepping the issue and still haven’t said how I specifically framed you. It seems these are all unfounded accusations and imaginations you’ve pinned on me without any evidence, so you’re trying to make a big fuss about it. As for your so-called rule-following and devotion, if you were truly like that, the Su Family wouldn’t have kicked you out. Our family has always been fair in dealing with matters. If you keep insisting on defaming my reputation, I don’t mind going to the Su Family and asking someone to verify the facts. We’ll see who is wrong and who is right, and everyone can get to the bottom of it. Just relying on your word is far from persuasive.”
Upon hearing Su Wenyue mention bringing someone from the Su Family to verify the facts, Wang Fangru felt guilty and frightened. However, she was not willing to show weakness to Su Wenyue by backing down now.
“What difference does bringing someone for verification make? You’re a daughter of the Su Family, and the people from the Su Family will certainly take your side because of your status. What’s so impressive about that!”
“So you’re afraid then? It seems to me you’re feeling guilty about having done something against your conscience and are afraid of being exposed in front of everybody. As for so-called reliance on status, our Su Family has always been just. We can speak plainly in front of all the villagers. Let’s talk based on evidence, shall we? Do you dare to confront me with the truth?”
“I… I…” Of course, Wang Fangru did not dare to accept the challenge, but to refuse in front of all these people would be like slapping her own face, admitting she had slandered Su Wenyue.
Seeing her cousin struggling, Wang Qianru stepped forward, “Fourth younger sibling, my cousin was just indignant on my behalf, which is why she spoke out. Why must you be so aggressive? Can you dare say that what happened to my mother’s family wasn’t your doing, that you didn’t have someone take vengeance on my mother’s family to get back at me, tricking my brother into gambling and causing him such misery?”
“Indignant on your behalf, so she can falsely accuse others? What sort of behavior is that! And as for your claims of being wronged and bullied in the Han Family, that’s just your word. The truth isn’t something that can be concocted by the Wang family’s saying so.”
“As if I would lie about such a thing. Why would I do that? It benefits me in no way. Have you decided that the Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law are biased and will stand on your side, so you refuse to admit it?” Wang Qianru’s words seemed reasonable, and many people in the crowd nodded, thinking there was sense in what she said.
“Of course not. If I am innocent, why should I fear a crooked shadow? I won’t acknowledge something I haven’t done. And as for who framed whom, Third Sister-in-Law, you know very well in your heart. Since you claim the Han family members are biased, let’s ask the Village Chief and some respected elders to come over and clarify the entire situation from beginning to end. That way, everyone will see clearly who’s right and who’s wrong, without having to take just one side’s word for it.”
“Invite the Village Chief? It’s just our family’s internal affair, is that really necessary?” Wang Qianru faltered in her speech. She was hoping to use the Wang family’s greater numbers to pressure Su Wenyue and manipulate public opinion and rumors, all to make the Han Family give in. She wanted the
Mother-in-Law to bow down to her and get silver from Su Wenyue. If the Village Chief and the elders were to come and lay out the facts openly, all her cunning would have been for nothing.
However, Wang Fangru’s desire to handle things her own way wasn’t enough— Su Wenyue had already sent for the Village Chief and several village elders before she even spoke up. This seemed to be the most appropriate course of action given the atmosphere and doubts Wang Fangru had created. Now, no matter who from the Han Family stood up to speak, it wouldn’t be right, and no one would believe them. Yet, having the Village Chief and others present would help clarify things, as the Han Family was just in their position.
Wang Fangru was still thinking about how to stop it, not expecting Su Wenyue to act so fast, with the Village Chief already on the way. She realized things weren’t looking good but by then didn’t have any other choice.
After the Village Chief and the elders gathered all the facts, everyone understood what had transpired. The way they looked at Wang Qianru and the Wang family changed; it wasn’t the Han Family who had been excessive, but the Wang family’s actions were too much. For a daughter-in-law who, instead of repenting for her mistake, had back-talked to her Mother-in-Law and even stirred up such trouble with her mother’s family, they would have dismissed such a daughter-in-law long ago.
“Well, what have you got to say for yourself, Wang Qianru? In what way has our Han Family wronged you so much that you hate us? Look at what you’ve done; the Han Family has become a laughingstock in the village. We, the Han Family, do not need a daughter-in-law like you,” Mrs. Yang could no longer tolerate recognizing this daughter-in-law after enduring so much.
“Mother, please forgive me this once, I truly realize my mistake.” Wang Fangru was full of regret, panic darkening her vision to the point she suddenly fainted and collapsed..
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