CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: GOSSIP

The next day

Shen Qinglan got up very early and went up the mountain again, hoping for some luck.

It turned out her luck wasn’t very good.

At least yesterday she had some harvest, but today she had nothing at all.

She wandered in the deep mountains for most of the day, and finally gathered a basket of honeysuckle before hurrying down the mountain.

Back home, Shen Qinglan quickly took a bath, changed her clothes, and went out again.

Since witnessing her prowess, the Shen family no longer worried about her safety, so when she left, no one asked anything, they just reminded her to come back early.

Shen Qinglan waited for the ox cart under the big tree at the village entrance. Besides her, there were a few women carrying baskets or with bamboo baskets on their backs.

Perhaps someone recognized her, since she arrived, a few women began whispering to each other, occasionally casting curious or surprised glances at her.

The ox cart arrived quickly, and on the road, the women were chatting about family matters, while Shen Qinglan sat quietly, not saying a word from start to finish.

After a while, one of the women suddenly sighed and said, "Our younger son also doesn’t know who he offended. After returning yesterday, his hand was broken, and his father took him to Dr. Li, who said the hand was useless. Even if it heals, it won’t be able to hold heavy things."

One of the women asked, "Your Zhou Si?"

The woman nodded, looking helplessly and said, "Who else could it be? Frankly, someone might as well have broken his legs or directly snapped his neck, to spare others from his troubles all day."

"Ah~ Your Zhou Si, he used to be good, but ever since he started hanging out with Sun He, his temper just..."

Someone sighed halfway, then suddenly stopped.

Upon hearing Zhou Si’s name, Shen Qinglan’s eyelids twitched a bit.

The woman continued, "This rascal, everyone in the family has lectured him, but he just won’t listen. No idea where he got injured yesterday, his father took him to Dr. Li and came back cursing, not sure who he was cursing at."

It was clear the woman felt helpless and didn’t intend to hold a grudge against whoever injured Zhou Si.

After all, she knew what kind of person her son was and was sure he must have provoked the wrong person, or he wouldn’t have suffered such a loss.

Someone sighed lightly and said, "If you ask me, it’s all Sun He’s fault. Ever since he came back, the good lads in our village have started neglecting their duties.

Take the grandson of Old Zhang’s family, for example—he used to be so honest, couldn’t even raise his head when he saw a girl.

Now, whenever he sees a girl or a new bride in the village, he acts all sleazy and teases them without the slightest decorum."

Listening to this, Shen Qinglan also felt that Sun He was quite harmful.

She thought best if this person didn’t provoke her, otherwise she would definitely get rid of him for the community.

As for that Zhou Si, if he dared to show off again, she’d definitely do as his mother wished and snap his neck.

"I heard the Li family argued again yesterday?"

Someone suddenly asked.

Zhou Si’s mother lightly nudged the person speaking and gestured for them to notice Shen Qinglan beside them with her eyes.

After all, every time the Li family argued, nine times out of ten it was because of the marriage arrangement between the Shen and Li families.

The person suddenly realized and hurriedly lowered their voice, asking in a tone they thought only the two of them could hear, "Could it be because of the Shen family’s marriage again?"