Silence.
Nothing but silence.
No one dared to even breathe loudly, especially Li Mei and Fang Jie.
"Nonsense! Do you realize what’s happening right now?"
Wang Chaoying had just returned from visiting his son’s family in the city, and this was his first time meeting Shen Nanchu.
He had no idea about Shen Nanchu’s notorious reputation.
Wang Jianguo, on the other hand, felt a headache coming on the moment he saw Shen Nanchu’s demeanor.
"Nanchu, what are you up to this time?"
"Nothing much. Just looking for two people. Everyone else can go on with their exams."
Shen Nanchu’s gaze swept casually over the villagers and educated youths taking the exam.
"If you need to find someone, can’t you wait until the exam is over?"
Before Wang Jianguo could respond, Wang Chaoying cut in.
"It’s not right to interrupt people’s exams like this."
[Dislike Points +3]
[Dislike Points +3]
[Dislike Points +1]
...
"Not right?"
Shen Nanchu couldn’t help but laugh.
"It’d be worse if I didn’t interrupt the exam."
Wang Jianguo caught the hidden meaning in her words.
He quickly pulled back the visibly irritated Wang Chaoying.
"Nanchu, what do you mean by that?"
Shen Nanchu’s sharp eyes locked onto Li Mei and Fang Jie, who were pretending to be meek.
"Some people have rotten hearts—how can they teach children properly?"
"My sister-in-law is right!"
Pei Yunxi chimed in, brandishing a rolling pin.
"Some people are scheming, two-faced, and downright vicious."
"Today, my sister-in-law and I are here to represent justice and teach them a lesson!"
She pointed the rolling pin directly at Li Mei and Fang Jie.
Wang Jianguo finally noticed something off about Pei Yunxi.
"Nanchu, what’s wrong with Yunxi?"
"You’ll have to ask Li Mei and Fang Jie what they’ve done."
Shen Nanchu didn’t hold back.
"Bullying my sister-in-law like this—did you think you could do whatever you wanted just because the men in our family aren’t around?"
Wang Jianguo: "..."
The villagers watching: "..."
Wang Chaoying also took note of Pei Yunxi’s condition.
Earlier, Shen Nanchu had been blocking the view, and her overwhelming presence had made it easy to overlook Pei Yunxi behind her.
"What exactly happened?" Wang Jianguo’s expression grew stern.
Pei Yunxi spilled everything in one breath, waving her rolling pin for emphasis when she got worked up.
"Li Mei, Fang Jie—is what Pei Yunxi said true?" Wang Jianguo frowned.
Li Mei and Fang Jie turned pale but stubbornly refused to admit anything.
"This has nothing to do with me."
"Me neither. I was just helping her look for her hairpin."
"I only stood next to her and told her where it was."
With no evidence, they were determined to deny everything.
"You’re lying!" Pei Yunxi fumed.
"If you hadn’t pushed me, how would my hairpin have fallen?"
"Do you have proof that I made you fall into the river?"
Li Mei was getting smarter.
"I—"
Pei Yunxi faltered.
Shen Nanchu almost facepalmed.
Oh, you silly girl, why are you trying to prove yourself now?
Luckily, fortune was on Pei Yunxi’s side.
"I saw it. I can testify."
A deep voice rang out from the doorway.
Everyone turned to see a tall young man in military uniform standing there—Wang Weimin.
Wang Jianguo’s face lit up at the sight of his eldest son.
"Weimin, you’re back?"
"Dad, I’m home."
Wang Weimin was equally happy to see his father after so long.
The two exchanged brief greetings.
Pei Yunxi’s cheeks flushed faintly when she saw Wang Weimin.
Shen Nanchu studied Wang Weimin with open curiosity.
"So this is the one who saved you?"
"Yeah."
Pei Yunxi nodded, embarrassed.
For dramatic effect, she was still wearing his shirt.
Wang Weimin glanced at her before addressing the crowd.
"I’m Wang Weimin, son of Wang Jianguo, head of Wang Family Village."
"I came home on leave today and happened to witness these two female comrades—"
He pointed at Li Mei and Fang Jie.
"—working together to trick this young lady into the river."
The crowd erupted.
Li Mei and Fang Jie turned ashen but kept up their act.
"Comrade, you’d better speak with a clear conscience."
"Exactly. You can’t just side with Pei Yunxi because she’s pretty."
"We have no reason to harm her!"
Wang Weimin scoffed.
"No reason?"
"Then why did you hide her hairpin?"
His eyesight was sharp—even from a distance, he’d clearly seen Li Mei bump into Pei Yunxi and pocket the fallen hairpin.
Li Mei forced a calm facade.
"You’re accusing me just because you don’t like me, huh?"
"Fine, go ahead and search me if you dare!"
She held out her arms defiantly.
She’d already tossed the hairpin on the way here. No evidence, no case.
Wang Jianguo trusted his son implicitly.
But without solid proof, and with Li Mei and Fang Jie refusing to confess, he was at a loss.
Pei Yunxi was so furious she raised her rolling pin, ready to swing at them.
This was beyond frustrating.
Shen Nanchu grabbed the rolling pin and gave Pei Yunxi a meaningful look.
Pei Yunxi instantly understood and let go.
"Ah! A snake!"
The moment Shen Nanchu shouted, Pei Yunxi screamed.
"Ahhh! I hate snakes!"
"Don’t worry, I’ll catch it!"
Shen Nanchu charged toward Li Mei and Fang Jie with the rolling pin.
"Li Mei, it’s under your feet!"
Li Mei shrieked and jumped.
Chaos erupted as people scrambled in all directions.
Amid the commotion, Li Mei and Fang Jie felt themselves being jostled repeatedly.
Wang Weimin spotted Shen Nanchu’s moves instantly.
Pei Yunxi sidled up to him and whispered,
"Pretend you didn’t see anything."
"That way, everyone’s happy."
Her sister-in-law was fighting for her—she’d cover for her in return.
Wang Weimin looked down at her.
"Comrade Pei, seems you’ve forgotten something—I’m your savior."
"Is this how you treat your lifesaver?"
Pei Yunxi paused, then immediately switched to a pitiful expression.
"Please? Pretty please?"
Sister-in-law says a woman must be adaptable—sweet or fierce as needed.
Wang Weimin’s face reddened, though his tan hid it well.
"Just this once."
Shen Nanchu made sure every strike landed on tables or chairs, never directly on Li Mei or Fang Jie.
But if furniture toppled and hit someone… well, that wasn’t her fault.
Wang Jianguo initially searched for the snake before realizing the ruse.
Ah, whatever. She’s one of us.
As long as it wasn't too excessive, Wang Jianguo decided to turn a blind eye.
After all, if justice wouldn't come on its own, then Shen Nanchu might as well deliver it herself.
つ﹏⊂
