Chapter 73: The Shrew

This woman was dressed in a red camisole, black stockings, and dazzling crimson high heels, but she was short and stout. Her face was sharp and harsh, exuding not a trace of gentleness. Especially when she pointed at Zhao Cuihua’s nose and scolded her, she looked fierce and impossible to reason with.

Zhao Cuihua endured the abuse with grievance, her skin reddened and swollen over a large area—clearly scalded by the fish soup just moments ago.

“What’s going on?” Lu Hao stepped forward, shielding Zhao Cuihua.

Seeing this, the woman showed no fear. She stared at Lu Hao and said, “Well, well, the lascivious widow’s lover has arrived. I didn’t expect him to be such a handsome young man.”

“You sly fox, you really have a way with men, don’t you? Is there any man you haven’t seduced?”

Zhao Cuihua glared angrily at the woman before her and shouted, “Shen Ting, I advise you to mind your manners and not speak nonsense.”

“This is between you and me—don’t drag others into it.”

“Others? At this hour, in the dead of night, coming to a widow’s house—how is he an outsider?” Shen Ting sneered, hands planted firmly on her hips, showing no intention of letting up.

“And all this fish soup on the table—it must be for that young man, right? I didn’t expect you to be so skilled, you shameless woman.”

Lu Hao, hearing Shen Ting’s every word laced with venom, grew impatient. “What are you implying?”

“Watch your words. If you have something to say, say it directly. Don’t come to someone else’s home late at night and cause trouble.”

“Was it you who poured the fish soup on Cuihua?”

Shen Ting crossed her arms. “Yes, and what of it? You’re the man sneaking into a widow’s home at midnight for a tryst, and you dare threaten me?”

As she spoke, Shen Ting even winked flirtatiously at Lu Hao.

Lu Hao felt a wave of disgust.

“Tired of playing with the widow already? If you don’t mind, elder sister can entertain you as well. My ‘Star-Draining Technique’ isn’t a joke, you know.”

Perhaps seeing Lu Hao’s delicate features and youth, Shen Ting pressed her advantage, brazenly flirting with him right before his eyes.

Lu Hao didn’t indulge her. He slammed his palm onto the table and said, “Your name is Shen Ting, isn’t it?”

“Whatever your reasons, apologize to Cuihua right now.”

“Otherwise, you won’t like what happens next.”

Shen Ting sneered. “You won’t like it? Do you know who my man is? How dare you speak to me like that.”

“I’ll tell you—the only reason this shameless widow has no backing is because she wants to cozy up to my husband and get her hands on our family’s money.”

“I came out here to teach her a lesson, so she knows her place. Otherwise, she’d really think the Li family is soft.”

Hearing this, Lu Hao looked at Zhao Cuihua in confusion.

Zhao Cuihua’s face was full of grievance, tears brimming in her eyes, though she struggled to hold them back.

“No, Lu Hao, let me explain—it’s not like that.”

“Since I became a widow, men in the village often harass me. I’ve always responded coldly and refused them.”

“But these men are relentless. Whenever they get a chance, they come to my yard to peek.”

“They either bring gifts on purpose, cause trouble, or try to chat with me.”

“I’m exhausted, but there’s nothing I can do.”

“Li Zhuzi from their family is one of them. Recently, he’s been coming over every day to deliver water, always showing up.”

“….”

At this point, Zhao Cuihua explained the situation between herself and Li Zhuzi.

To be precise, Li Zhuzi was a married man, but he had taken a fancy to Zhao Cuihua and wanted to pursue her.

He repeatedly harassed her, constantly bringing things to her house in an attempt to win her over.

But Zhao Cuihua rejected him many times, even verbally rebuked him, yet he wouldn’t give up.

Then, Li Zhuzi’s wife, Shen Juan, discovered what was happening, had a huge fight with Li Zhuzi, but ended up getting beaten by her husband.

Unable to bear it, she stormed out to make trouble for Zhao Cuihua.

“So that’s how it is.” Lu Hao now understood the basic situation and turned to Shen Juan.

“Shen Juan, nothing has been proven between your husband and Cuihua. You have no evidence. What gives you the right to come to Cuihua’s home and cause trouble?”

As he spoke, Lu Hao took Zhao Cuihua’s arm, finding a large patch of skin that was red and even oozing.

The injury was severe—if left unchecked, it could ruin her skin.

“Cuihua, quickly rinse it with cold water. I’ll deal with her here.” Lu Hao spoke with concern.

“Alright.” Zhao Cuihua nodded and walked toward the faucet.

“Don’t you dare! You shameless woman deserves this punishment!” Suddenly, Shen Juan blocked her path.

“I usually don’t hit women, but you’re so despicable, I have no choice!” With that, Lu Hao kicked Shen Juan to the ground.

Zhao Cuihua walked past Shen Juan as she writhed on the floor, her cries of pain echoing.

“Help! Help! Assault! Murder! This family’s killing people! Someone’s going to die!”

“No justice! Adulterers! Wicked pair! Oppressing the innocent!”

Shen Juan’s screeching, as shrill as a cracked bell, pierced the night, easily heard by neighbors all around.

She was famous in the area for being a shrew; she never lost an argument with anyone.

Though her husband often beat her, she was the one who tormented him mentally and verbally.

Li Zhuzi was fierce and quick to use his fists, but when it came to arguments, his wife wore him down to the point of utter exhaustion.

Whenever they clashed, her shrill voice could summon people from five miles away.

This was why he so often visited Zhao Cuihua’s house; compared to Shen Ting, Zhao Cuihua was gentle, considerate, and charming.

But that gentleness was only on the surface; deep down, Zhao Cuihua was pure and steadfast.

Meanwhile, Shen Juan’s outburst continued, growing ever more intense.

“Murder! Arson! These adulterous ducks should be drowned in a pig cage! Dead ducks, undertakers making money off corpses!”

“You two damned, rotten-footed pests, troublesome as toads! Your hearts are darker than coal, and your whole family deserves to die!”