Chapter 43 - 043 Key Evidence
Chapter 43: Chapter 043 Key Evidence
Chapter 43 -043 Key Evidence
Bai Ruozhu’s voice was clear and resounding, attracting the attention of all who heard it.
Although she was heavy with child, she held herself upright with a scholar’s pride.
Many looked at her with envy; being a part of the Bai Family, known for its scholarly background, clearly had its advantages.
Even their daughters were imbued with the scholar’s arrogant bone.
Many were reminded of the good deeds Scholar Bai Yihong had done for the village’s school.
The money that should have been owed to the Bai Family by the Liu Family was treated as their donation to the school, a clear gesture of goodwill.
In contrast, many turned to look at Mrs.
Liu, notorious for stirring up gossip behind people’s backs.
“You blame me for assaulting you and for the exposure of your illicit relationship with Chang Sheng.
You think I was the one who blew the whistle on you,” Mrs.
Liu’s eyes darted back and forth, believing that if she could tarnish Bai Ruozhu’s name, she’d be safe.
Yet Bai Ruozhu remained calm, “My husband is missing.
How could I have become Chang Sheng’s mistress?
How can you accuse me without any evidence?
Are you the one spreading rumors?”
Someone shouted, “Yes, it was Mrs.
Liu who told me that the Bai girl is Chang Sheng’s mistress.
She claimed that her cousin in town, who has many business contacts, accidentally got wind of it.”
Another added, “I heard it from Mrs.
Zhang.
I wonder who she heard it from?”
The mentioned Mrs.
Zhang quickly turned to look at Mrs.
Liu, saying, “It was also Mrs.
Liu who told us while we were doing laundry by the river, even saying that her cousin had seen the mistress with his own eyes.”
“I was only stating the facts.
The real wife might show up any day now.” Mrs.
Liu glared at the people around her, angry that her name was being connected with the gossip, but she wasn’t scared.
Worst comes to worst, she could just get her cousin to impersonate the supposed wife and stir up some real drama.
Bai Ruozhu let out a cold laugh, “Very well, when this so-called wife shows up, I’ll hand her over to the government office.
Then we’ll see if she has a legit marriage certificate.
If she doesn’t, she would be accused of fraud and be sent to prison.
I wonder if she would then sell out the mastermind, so the villagers can see who’s really tarnishing my reputation!”
Everyone turned to look at Mrs.
Liu to see how she would respond but saw her face turning pale.
Apparently, she had no response.
She hadn’t considered what would happen if the impersonator was caught by the officials and the lack of a marriage certificate would blow their plan apart.
Bai Zepei, who had been silently observing everything, felt a chill rising.
He had been busy studying of late, aiming to become a scholar to bolster his family’s standing, but he didn’t anticipate someone plotting against his sister.
He realized that Mrs.
Liu had been planning to send an imposter to play Chang Sheng’s wife to scandalize the Bai family, intending to ruin their reputation in the Back Mountain Village!
Mrs.
Liu was truly despicable, trying to push his sister on to a path of no return.
Bai Zepei narrowed his eyes and took a few steps forward, saying in a deep voice, “Although I, Bai Zepei, am but a student, I can still pass a note to the county magistrate to ask him to investigate the rumors spread by the Cao family.
Let’s see if someone is really planning a fraud or if someone is trying to taint my family’s reputation.”
Turning to Bai Zehao, he continued, “Brother, take care of things at home while I go to the Government Office personally.
If someone is spreading false rumors, I, Bai Zepei, will not tolerate it!”
With that, he walked towards the entrance of the village.
He had lost some weight due to his rigorous study sessions
Recently, his gaunt figure was a stark contrast to his sister’s upright posture.
Only then did fear set into Mrs.
Liu.
She wailed, shouting, “The Bai Family is bullying us.
They’ve committed a taboo and now they’re using their connections to suppress it, bullying us common folks.
Is there no justice left in this world?”
Old Mrs.
Wang smirked, “Stop shouting.
You’re the one who had an illicit affair and now you’re trying to smear others.
I bet the purported wife who will show up at our door is part of your plot!”
Lin Ping’er, supporting Bai Ruozhu, glared at Mrs.
Liu.
She hadn’t been told of this by Bai Ruozhu or Bai Zehao and had only found out just now.
Liu’s maliciousness was beyond expectation, and Ping’er wished she could scratch Liu’s face apart.
“Ha, we’ll see what really happened when my second brother enlists the help of the magistrate to investigate.
We will all know who’s going to wind up in prison,” Lin Ping’er declared loudly.
Bai Ruozhu chimed in rather indifferently, “We don’t care what you say about us, because you are hardly the first to slander me.
But now you’re accusing my second brother of having connections.
Are you implying that the magistrate is not impartial?
All the folks here today can bear witness to this.”
Old Mrs.
Wang chuckled delightedly and glanced at Mrs.
Liu, “We, the Wang family, can testify that Mrs.
Liu has slandered the Government Office!”
Mrs.
Liu turned pale with rage, turning to the village head, “Did you see that?
The two of them are collaborating against me.
When have I ever said anything about the magistrate?”
The village head rapped the ground with his cane and asserted, “You shouldn’t have said that Bai Zepei was using connections.
The magistrate is impartial and will investigate as necessary.
If you are not conspiring against someone, you will be proven innocent.”
The villagers nodded in agreement.
The village head swept his gaze over the Liu and Wang families, saying, “Whatever Mrs.
Liu has done is the Liu family’s business.
The Wang family should stop interfering.
Why are we all idling here instead of working?
Let’s disperse.”
Old Mrs.
Wang retorted, “Mr.
Village Head, it’s not us picking a fight with the Liu family, but the Liu family bringing trouble to our doorstep.
They accused us of spreading rumors about their daughter-in-law in town, but I have done nothing wrong.
I witnessed their disgraceful act with my own eyes.
Are we not allowed to speak the truth?”
Mrs.
Liu broke into a wailed again, threatening, “You two are the only witnesses, so you must be trying to smear me!
In that case, I shall vindicate myself with death.
I might as well kill myself!”
Bai Zehao held her firmly, so she couldn’t possibly hurt herself, but to the people watching, it appeared she was serious.
Old Mrs.
Wang was worried.
Her eyes darted around until suddenly they widened, a toothless grin spreading across her face as she yelled, “I remember now!”
Curious eyes turned toward her, and seeing her thrilled expression, Bai Ruozhu internally chuckled.
It seemed that the old woman finally remembered the crucial evidence.
“When Mrs.
Liu was having an affair, her clothes slipped and I saw a red mole on her chest.” Mrs.
Wang gestured towards her left side, as if recalling the moment, “Yes, it was on the left side of her chest.
So, Mrs.
Liu, can’t deny what this old lady just said, can you?”