Chapter 31: Chapter 31 - Memory?

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Hahaha, that fellow looks gentle and weak. I know he can’t do it…”

“Who can’t do it?”

“Gah!”

A burst of bold and teasing laughter came from under the large pagoda tree, followed by a cold question. Then the laughter stopped.

Everyone looked over and saw Li Qingmu walking over with a dark expression. He was staring coldly at Auntie Liu who was spouting nonsense and a middle-aged man beside her.

“Ha, you’re singing to each other’s tunes?” He looked over sharply at Auntie Liu. “Can Auntie Liu’s man do it?”

“Uh.”

Everyone under the large pagoda tree fell silent. No man would tolerate being said to be impotent, but they were laughing so loudly and were caught red-handed.

How awkward!

It served them right that Li Qingmu was getting angry!

The corners of Auntie Liu’s mouth twitched. In Great Zhou, insulting men could become a serious matter requiring a verdict in court. She was so pleased with herself that she did not notice that Li Qingmu was actually beside her. She was momentarily dumbfounded.

She instinctively replied, “He can!”

“Since your husband is capable, why are you flirting with this person?”

Li Qingmu suddenly pointed at the middle-aged man. Auntie Liu said angrily, “Who is flirting with him? Don’t slander us with empty words!”

“Is that so? Since you’re not flirting, why is he singing to your tune?”

“This…” Auntie Liu was dumbfounded by the question and said casually,” What’s wrong with that? Is it against the law for neighbors to talk to each other?”

“Then my wife just came to the county city in Chai Tieniu’s ox cart to pick me up. What was wrong with that? How could you say that she was involved with someone? Auntie Liu, shall we go to court to get a verdict on your slander?”

Li Qingmu’s words were clear and his aura was aggressive. Auntie Liu looked silently at Longyue, who was gradually approaching from behind him, and then at the angry Chai Tieniu. She felt uncomfortable.

This… This little hussy is actually bringing her husband home?

She had previously told everyone that Longyue had hooked up with Chai Tieniu, but now it seemed like she had to eat her own words.

How can this be? she wondered.

She knew that she was in the wrong, but she could not admit her mistake in public. She could not bear to lose face. So she made up her mind and said simply, “Can you blame me? Your wife has a past record. Everyone will think along that line!”

“So Auntie Liu likes to pass judgment?”

Huh? What the hell was that? Auntie Liu did not understand but her expression changed when she heard the rest of the sentence.

Li Qingmu said, “Well, previously, I saw Auntie Liu put her arms around a man’s shoulder and enter a residence in the county city. What should I say? Or could it be that Auntie Liu also likes to do business with the door half-closed, the kind that loses money instead of getting paid?”

“Pfft!”

Some of the villagers laughed scornfully and looked at Auntie Liu with meaningful gazes.

Having the door half-closed referred to women engaging in sexual activities in the home at certain times, unlike women at the brothels, who were available at any time.

Li Qingmu’s words were incisive. Auntie Liu’s face turned blue.

‘This happened last year. That person was drunk and wanted a woman. He even said that he would give 10 taels of silver as compensation. Auntie Liu happened to pass by at that time and heard his offer, so she agreed.

She thought that this matter was a secret and would not be discovered by anyone. She had rationalized that she only had to do it once to earn 10 taels of silver.

But Li Qingmu had actually witnessed the incident. How did this happen? she wondered.

“You… You’re talking nonsense!”

Auntie Liu’s voice was sharp, revealing her guilty conscience.

Li Qingmu looked at her as she was about to go berserk. Suddenly he laughed and said calmly, “Since Auntie Liu is unwilling to admit it, why don’t we go to that house again? I still remember the location clearly. It’s in the northern part of the county city, the Wang residence…”

“Ahhh, No. 3 from the Li family, you little bastard, shut up! Shut up! How dare you slander me? I’ll rip you apart and strangle you!”

Li Qingmu barely finished his sentence when he saw Auntie Liu charging at him in a frenzy. She looked like she wanted to skin him alive!

“Stop her quickly! This person wants to commit murder in public!”

Longyue saw the commotion and shouted quickly. Immediately a villager grabbed Auntie Liu.

Now everyone knew that there was something wrong with Auntie Liu.

“Tsk, she actually hooked up with someone but kept slandering Longyue. This person is really… wicked!”

Longyue pouted her lips and said unhappily, “Husband, I was wondering why this person always thought of people in that way. It turns out that she herself isn’t a good person! There’s a saying in Buddhism—Looks come from the heart.’ It seems like because she does this herself, she thinks others are

doing the same! Hmph, how shameless!”

“Yeah, shameless!”

Someone muttered. It was a woman’s voice. Perhaps this person had been slandered by Auntie Liu before. Now that she had an opportunity, she wanted to add fuel to the fire.

“Hubby, let’s ignore such uncouth people. Let’s go home!”

Longyue hooked her arm around Li Qingmu’s waist and said coyly. She was being flirtatious and showing off her affections for him to the people of Qingshui Village.

“These two are so loving. Didn’t they say that she had an affair with someone else, causing her to be betrothed to the poor No. 3 of the Li family, who couldn’t get a wife?”

“That’s hard to say. If she was not a virgin on the wedding night, which man would dote on her and love her so much? Unless that man is a spineless coward! No. 3 of the Li family, he…”

Everyone looked at each other with dumbfounded expressions. They had all seen Li Qingmu’s strong side just now. He had rendered Auntie Liu speechless. He did not look like a coward!

In addition, when they thought about how he was the one dealing with all the matters of the Li family, the rumors about Longyue’s adultery were naturally quelled.

Longyue put her arm around Li Qingmu’s waist as they walked. When they were out of sight, she let go of him.

Li Qingmu touched the spot where she had held him and felt a longing for her. He said, “Wife, that felt pretty good just now.”

“Good for you but not good for me!” Longyue glared at him unhappily and said, “You actually followed an old woman all the way to that man’s house. Tell me, do you have some secret, strange hobby? Like being a stalker or something?”

…” Li Qingmu looked like he wanted to die. “Wife, I’m innocent! I really happened to pass by that day and saw them enter that house…”

“Then why did you remember the address so clearly? And do you dare say that you had no other intentions?”

Longyue gasped. Li Qingmu felt that life seemed so gloomy. He said gloomily, “Wife, you don’t know, but I have a photographic memory.”

Hmm… This man has a good memory. She had known this in her previous life, but he had a photographic memory… If he had not said it himself, she would not have known it!

“If you don’t believe me, do you want to test me later?” he said faintly. His tone sounded very resentful..