CHAPTER 103: CHAPTER 103: TELLING THE TRUTH

"Dreaming, dreaming... must be dreaming..." Qin Hongmei got up and sat on the bed, her eyes vacant. Suddenly recalling something, she reached out to touch herself, realizing her clothes were intact. Instantly, she breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"Really dreaming... scared me to death, what kind of dream was that..." Qin Hongmei frowned, her face flushed. At over fifty years old, she was embarrassed to even dream of such things!

She glanced at the time, realizing it was already late. She hurriedly got up from the bed, ready to have breakfast.

"Jinfeng, that deadbeat didn’t call me. It’s so late now, only calling me after finishing eating, right!" Qin Hongmei cursed Bai Jinfeng while putting on shoes.

Arriving in the outer room and finding no one around, she lifted the pot lid, discovering only the bottom layer of porridge was left.

In anger, Qin Hongmei slammed the pot lid down with a loud bang, craning her neck towards the west room and shouting, "Jinfeng! Where’s the food! You deadbeat, didn’t know to call me earlier, only after you all finished eating? Are you tired of living!"

Suddenly, a child’s wailing could be heard from the west room, scared by her shout, followed by Bai Jinfeng’s hurried attempts to console the child.

"Crying, crying, can’t even console a child, what’s the use of you! Village girls are useless, if there was any other option, I wouldn’t let my son marry you!" Qin Hongmei continued with her verbal tirade, as if venting the palpitations from the dream.

Every time she reached this point in her scolding, she would make Bai Jinfeng cry. After all, Bai Jinfeng came from the countryside! Qin Hongmei once considered a girl from the city, but the dowry demands were too high. She sent her son to pursue her, he did chase after her but failed to win her over. If Luo Xuqiang had any competence, there would have been no problem!

Otherwise, she’d have a city daughter-in-law, something to show off for sure.

But this time, she didn’t hear any crying from the west room. Qin Hongmei snorted, people become numb after being scolded so much, no longer knowing shame!

"Still standing there? Aren’t you going to cook for me!" Seeing Bai Jinfeng still busy consoling the child and ignoring her priority, Qin Hongmei shouted.

"What are you fussing about!" Old Mrs. Luo walked in, glaring at Qin Hongmei.

Qin Hongmei, currently angry, wasn’t afraid of Old Mrs. Luo, but had to comply due to Luo Aiguo.

"I say, mom, how come you all didn’t call me for breakfast this morning? What’s the meaning here?" Though Qin Hongmei’s voice lowered, her attitude remained foul.

Old Mrs. Luo, with a cold face, replied, "You still want to eat? A shameless woman like you expects my granddaughter-in-law to cook for you? Let me tell you, there’s no food for you in this house from now on. Since you’re awake, pack and leave!"

Hearing this, Qin Hongmei’s eyes widened. Although Old Mrs. Luo often spoke harshly, she had never told her to leave.

"Mom, what’s wrong? Did I make you unhappy?" Qin Hongmei slightly adopted a softer stance. Without Old Mrs. Luo, she wouldn’t have entered this house. Now that Luo Aiguo still listened to this old lady, she had no choice but to soften her words.

"Offend me? You haven’t offended me, and I dare not offend you. You’re so shameless, who knows what you might do. Hurry up and pack your things! People say a registered marriage is required nowadays; you never registered with Aiguo. Once you walk out of this door, you can marry whomever you want. We can’t manage you!" Old Mrs. Luo pushed her.

Growing angry, Qin Hongmei broke away from her grasp, stepping back a few paces. "Old lady, I call you mom out of respect. It’s too much for you to say such words at your age. If I did anything wrong, tell me and I can change. You want to drive me away outright, say these things without fearing Aiguo will turn against you? People say destroying ten temples is better than breaking one marriage. Look at the nonsense you’re saying, registered or not registered, Aiguo and I are legally married!"

Angrier by the second, Qin Hongmei seethed. The old hag’s words were infuriating, unregistered? Once she’s out of the door, give her away to anyone?

Listen to this! Is this something a mother-in-law should say to a daughter-in-law?

"You still dare mention Aiguo? He can’t stay in the village again because of you!" Old Mrs. Luo pointed at Qin Hongmei’s nose in anger, "You shameless hussy, old as you are, still doing disgraceful things. Let all the villagers witness your shameful behavior. How can I face the village as a member of the Luo family!" Grandma Luo began to wail again.

Hearing these words, Qin Hongmei suddenly became dazed, understanding everything instantly. Yesterday was not a dream at all!

She said to herself, yesterday felt too real. The scolding of Sweet Root Wife and Tian Da Jiao, the look of shame and anger, she remembered it all. Dazed, eyes half open, seeing unclearly, only she knew she was very clear-headed at that time but felt an irresistible urge, she couldn’t help but act.

She even heard the mocking remarks and sneers from the people around on her way back, and someone laughingly said if Luo Aiguo was not capable.

Most terrifying was sensing Luo Aiguo’s body trembling when she lay on his back, believing it to be anger...

"This can’t be true... it can’t be true!" Qin Hongmei repeated, grabbing Old Mrs. Luo’s arm, "Where’s Aiguo, where is he?"

Old Mrs. Luo was painfully gripped, lacking strength to shake her off, resorting to scratching with nails. Even drawing blood, Qin Hongmei wouldn’t let go.

"Let go of me! He’s in the yard!" Old Mrs. Luo gritted through the pain.

Finally releasing Old Mrs. Luo, Qin Hongmei looked at the half-draped door between the outer room and yard, yet didn’t dare lift it.

A sigh from the yard came through, breaking Qin Hongmei further. She staggered out, seeing Luo Aiguo smoking in the yard.

His brow furrowed, enough to kill a mosquito, his expression bleak. Though hearing the commotion, he didn’t even glance at her.

Luo Xuqiang crouched by the west wall, not looking up even as she came out.

Panicking, Qin Hongmei exclaimed, "Aiguo, I’m not... I’m not... you have to believe me!"

At this moment, she didn’t even know how to explain—as if she had cheated with another man, she could claim innocence and being framed. But she was alone in the mountains...

"What else can you say? The whole village saw your shameful act!" Old Mrs. Luo, her arm bruised red, angrily responded.

"No, impossible, I clearly drugged Little Tian’er, it should’ve been her and Huazi there, how did things turn out like this? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Absent-mindedly muttering, Qin Hongmei finally drew stunned and disbelief-filled gazes from the father and son.