C7 My Husband Is Back

"Don't be ridiculous. Our little Xue would never say such things. You're here making baseless accusations, tarnishing her reputation."

"Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you can go around slandering people without consequences. I'll call you out on it just the same."

When Shuling flipped the table, she felt her stomach ache more, but the table was already overturned. If she didn't argue to get to the bottom of this, she'd feel cheated. She decided to make a big scene today, enough for everyone in the neighborhood to hear about it.

"Alright, Liu Xue, you dare to do it but won't admit it. I have ways to make you beg for mercy."

Shuling nodded at Liu Xue, her eyes cold and sharp. Just as she was about to leave Liu Xue's house, Liu Xue, who had been in a daze, finally realized that Shuling might be heading to the police. If the police got involved and started asking questions, everyone would know she was spreading false rumors.

No, she couldn't let Shuling go to the police station. She needed a way to stop her from leaving. Liu Xue's eyes fixed fiercely on Shuling's frail back. If she took a fall, especially one that hurt the baby, Shuling wouldn't be able to leave, right? Her yard was already uneven, so it could easily look like an accidental fall during their argument, especially since Shuling had come over to cause trouble in the first place.

Even if the cops show up, what can they do?

Liu Xue reached out with both hands, charging at Shen Shuling with a speed that left her mother in disbelief. Just as her fingers were about to touch Shuling's back, a hand appeared out of nowhere, intercepting Liu Xue's malicious intent.

Shuling was gently but firmly pulled away, colliding into a chest that smelled of sweat. The man's shirt clung damply to his skin, and she could hear his heart pounding rapidly in his chest.

Looking up, she saw a face full of youthful energy, probably in his twenties. His eyes were bright and alert beneath double eyelids, and a fresh scab marked his strong nose. His sun-kissed skin had a wheat-like hue, exuding a rugged masculinity.

It was her husband in both name and reality, Lim Fuqing—the man rumored to have died buried in a mudslide.

Thinking of the tough days she had recently endured, Shuling's anger flared. This man had taken all the money from home, leaving them nearly unable to afford food, and almost without funds to save her father's life.

With a forceful shove, Shuling pushed Fuqing away and slapped him across the face.

With a loud smack, Shen Shuling's face turned a deep shade of anger. "Jerk," she muttered. She shoved Lim Fuqing aside and stormed out of the crowd, heading straight for the local women's association.

Once inside, she passionately laid out the situation, leaving the women there visibly upset. A rumor had spread through the village, and the victim was a pregnant woman. How much animosity must there be for such a thing to happen? And the one spreading it was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl who clearly needed some guidance.

"Hmph, we're supposed to focus on building a better community, and yet we have people like this here," Director Yang remarked. She personally led a group of association members to Liu Xue's house to address the issue.

After handling everything, Shen Shuling finally collapsed onto a tree stump at the edge of the village, exhausted. Lim Fuqing, with a clear handprint on his face, crouched nearby, silent and expressionless. The slap had left his face numb, but he preferred this to her usual cold demeanor. A little fiery spirit made life more interesting, just like when his mom used to chase his dad around, arguing every day.

"Honey, you've hit me, so can we go home now? I brought some things back for you all on this trip..."