Some said Cheng Siniang was lazy and foolish; otherwise, how could she have let the Meng family bleed her dry for all these years? Others mocked her for being ugly, claiming that was why she had fallen for the handsome Meng Nanzhou at first sight, practically throwing herself at him. Still others ridiculed her, saying it was only a matter of time before the Meng family cast her aside, and warned households to keep a close eye on their young men so they wouldn't be targeted by this pile of cow dung.
The first time the two met was by lamplight in the dead of night. Shiqi had not examined Cheng Siniang’s face closely then, though he vaguely recalled a long, thin scar on her left cheek, which looked as though it had been clawed by a wild beast. Whether it was the flickering, indistinct light of that night or the unique aura surrounding the woman, he had overlooked her appearance, remembering only the eyes that had shone brilliantly in the candlelight.
The day before yesterday, inside the courtyard gate, was the second time he saw Cheng Siniang. She was wearing an apron with her sleeves rolled up to her forearms, her movements swift and unconstrained. She had merely checked the courtyard after hearing a commotion before leaving again.
Chapter 84