Shen Mingshu’s exquisite phoenix eyes were cold, and she said icily, "They’ve come at the right time."
Yun Niang said anxiously, "What do you mean 'right time'? Fan Fangfang is not someone to be trifled with! She married into this town with money to spare, and nobody in the entire village dares to provoke her!"
Shen Mingshu patted her hand soothingly and said in a gentle voice, "Mother, just stand behind me. I will handle this."
Yun Niang looked into those dark phoenix eyes and felt that the girl before her was a stranger. Yet, that appearance and that gentle temperament were clearly her Shenshen. Perhaps it was because she had opened her Heavenly Eye that her personality had changed? Yun Niang could only comfort herself with that thought, whispering, "I will listen to you, Mother."
Clamorous footsteps sounded outside the courtyard, followed by the sound of someone pounding on the gate.
"You shameless hussy! Open the door for me!"
"If you dare to seduce another woman's husband, don't think you can hide inside and stay quiet!"
"If you don't come out, I'll tear your pathetic courtyard apart!"
The noisy ruckus drew several neighbors out of their beds, and they poked their heads out of their doorways to watch the spectacle.
Shen Mingshu opened the gate. Her face was so deathly pale that the people at the door recoiled in alarm. Fan Fangfang screamed in fright, "A ghost!"
Shen Mingshu said coldly, "I am a human."
"Good, so it's you, you little slut!" Fan Fangfang pushed past her and saw Yun Niang, shouting repeatedly, "You old hag! Get over here!"
She hurried into the courtyard and reached out to grab Yun Niang, but Shen Mingshu clamped down on her wrist. "Auntie Fan, let’s talk with words. Resorting to violence may hurt the peace."
"I spit on that! Who wants peace with you? You two shameless wretches seduced my husband, and you still have the gall to talk about peace?" Fan Fangfang found the idea preposterous, her chubby face twisted with ferocity. "If I don't teach you a lesson today, you won't know that I’m not someone to be trifled with!"
She tried to pull her hand away to slap Yun Niang, but discovered that Shen Mingshu’s grip was incredibly strong. "Let me go!"
Shen Mingshu pressed her fingertip slightly, sending a wisp of Chiyang Gold Fire into Fan Fangfang’s wrist, then shoved her hand away with force.
Fan Fangfang was broad and heavy; after being cast aside, she slammed directly into Liu Xingde. Liu Xingde was nearly crushed to death.
His son, Liu Cheng, rushed to support Fan Fangfang. "Mother, did you hurt yourself falling?"
Fan Fangfang sat on the ground, spotted the villagers watching, slapped her thighs, and began to wail, "Come look, everyone! This mother and daughter are bullying an honest woman!"
The crowd grew, and everyone began pointing at Shen Mingshu and Yun Niang.
Yun Niang shielded Shen Mingshu behind her and raised her voice, "You are slandering us! I have never seduced that man surnamed Liu! My daughter is only sixteen; don't you dare splash your filthy water on us!"
Someone spoke up for Yun Niang. Mother Zhang, from next door, rubbed her hands and said, "It must be a misunderstanding, Sister Fan. Yun Niang is a good person. She’s always been gentle and kind; she doesn't seem like the type you describe..."
Fan Fangfang interrupted her, "Shut your mouth! Whether it’s a misunderstanding or the truth, let my husband tell it!"
She grabbed Liu Xingde by the ear and threw him in front of Shen Mingshu. "You, Liu! Tell them exactly what happened!"
Liu Xingde was tall and thin, and he was terrified of Fan Fangfang. He immediately looked miserable and pointed at Yun Niang, saying, "It was her, it was her..."
Before he could finish, a dark shadow plunged into his body.
Beside him, Fan Fangfang felt a gust of cold air blow past, making her shudder. She muttered, "What a spooky place, it's freezing! No wonder her face was as white as a ghost's!"
'Liu Xingde' raised his voice and said, "It was her! She begged me to come and examine her daughter who had fallen into the water. I was overcome by lust and wanted to take advantage of them, but they drove me out! When I got home, my wife grabbed my ear and asked where I had been fooling around in the middle of the night. I was so angry that I falsely accused the mother and daughter of seducing me!"
Once Liu Xingde finished speaking, Fan Fangfang stood with her hands on her hips, saying, "Did you all hear that? It was these two sluts who seduced my husband! They probably had their eyes on my wealth—"
Before she could finish, it finally dawned on her what Liu Xingde had just said.
The villagers gathered at the gate looked at her with disgust. Someone muttered, "Beast!" "Worse than an animal!"
Fan Fangfang slapped the back of Liu Xingde’s head. "Is what you said the truth?"
'Liu Xingde' nodded frantically, "It is the absolute truth! I will never dare to lie to my wife again!"
"Liu Xingde—" Fan Fangfang was so furious that she swung her fists at him, beating him until he was scurrying around the courtyard clutching his head.
Liu Cheng forcibly held Fan Fangfang back, whispering, "Mother, let’s go back. Don't let the neighbors make a joke out of us..."
But Fan Fangfang wouldn't listen. She shoved him away and barked, "If you stop me again, I’ll beat you too!"
Liu Xingde was pressed to the ground, beaten and kicked, until he was bruised and battered, likely with two broken ribs.
Shen Mingshu watched the furious Fan Fangfang, a faint, imperceptible smile curling her lips. Just a single wisp of Chiyang Gold Fire was enough to drive a person into a manic, irritable state.
Whether she had finished venting or was simply tired, Fan Fangfang suddenly stopped. She looked at the unconscious Liu Xingde and gasped, "Hiss, I didn't beat him to death, did I?"
Liu Cheng hurried over to check his breathing. "My father is still alive."
Fan Fangfang sneered, kicked Liu Xingde in the backside, and shouted, "Drag him away!"
When they had arrived, they had brought a man in coarse hemp clothes, likely a clerk from the medical clinic. The clerk and Liu Cheng carried Liu Xingde out, but then they heard Shen Mingshu’s clear, cold voice ring out, "Wait."
"You slandered us; do you think you can just walk away like that? Where in this world is there such a good deal?"
Fan Fangfang turned to look at her and said with a stiff, insincere smile, "I was wrong today, so I apologize. We are all neighbors; let’s not hurt the peace."
Shen Mingshu hummed coldly, "Words alone lack sincerity."
"Girl, you can make a request, but don't go too far." Fan Fangfang was a woman who took responsibility, likely afraid that the villagers would no longer visit her clinic.
Shen Mingshu’s pale face looked less deathly in the moonlight. She curled her lips slightly and said, "Auntie Fan, let’s step aside to talk."
Fan Fangfang walked into the courtyard with her head held high and followed her to a corner. Shen Mingshu whispered a few words, and Fan Fangfang’s expression changed to one of shock. She glanced hurriedly toward Liu Cheng and the others.
The two whispered for quite a while. Fan Fangfang said, half-doubting, "You even understand these things?"
"Auntie Fan, I’ve been talking about strange things for years, but no one believed me. So, if you believe me this time, I will help you. If you don't, I won’t say another word."
Fan Fangfang thought of the various oddities in her home lately and whispered, "Come to the clinic tomorrow, and I will take you into my home."
Shen Mingshu nodded slightly. "Take care, Auntie Fan."
After they left, the villagers dispersed as well. Mother Zhang hadn't left yet and asked with concern, "Girl, are you feeling any better?"