"Isn't that the case? None of them are fools. How could Lin Ruixue stop being with Li Shan after just a few words from Qi Zhenzhen? There must be something fishy going on.
No matter who this fishy business was about, it made people curious.
'I'm not arguing with you about this. I'll ask you, how did Ruixue lose her child?' Li Shan stared at Qi Zhenzhen and asked, 'Do you resent me, so you harmed Ruixue's unborn child?'
Qi Zhenzhen wanted to curse. Did he have any brains at all? She disliked Li Shan, but the child wasn't solely Li Shan's. Could she force Lin Ruixue to have an abortion against Lin Ruixue's feelings? It was simply unreasonable.
'Do you have any evidence? If not, don't spout nonsense here. If you anger me, I'll invite the officials from the yamen to sort things out,' Qi Zhenzhen said with a cold face.
'Yes, falsely accusing someone can be considered slander. If you end up in the yamen, you won't escape twenty heavy planks,' someone from the crowd spoke up.
Qi Zhenzhen followed the sound and saw an unfamiliar face, but the person next to him was familiar.
Song Mingyue winked at Qi Zhenzhen and said loudly, 'My cousin's husband is a constable!'
'I am Wen Cen, a constable at the county yamen,' Wen Cen stepped forward and cupped his hands to greet everyone.
The constables of the county yamen were officials. The onlookers subconsciously took a step back, maintaining a certain distance from Li Shan and Wen Cen.
'Brother, please speak your mind. If this young lady truly intended to harm someone, I will arrest her and bring her to the yamen to receive her due punishment. Conversely, if you are slandering her, brother, this cannot be let go,' Wen Cen said politely.
Li Shan felt a bit guilty, but if he backed down now, wouldn't that be admitting he was slandering her?
Besides, Lin Ruixue did lose her child at the Qi family's home. Couldn't he harbor some suspicion? Although he had divorced her and agreed to let Lin Ruixue take the two children, it didn't mean the two children had no connection to him, Li Shan.
Thinking this, Li Shan felt more confident.
'Although I don't have conclusive evidence, Ruixue was fine when she left home. Within a few days of arriving at the Qi family, the child was gone. Everyone, tell me, who wouldn't be suspicious in such a situation? Am I not even allowed to ask? You must know, I am the father of that unborn child. Even if I divorced Lin Ruixue, that child is still my seed,' Li Shan said loudly, appearing righteous.
Qi Zhenzhen sneered. Given how Li Shan had readily agreed to divorce her without hesitation, it showed his heart was extremely cold. How could he care about the child's life and death now?
The crowd nodded and whispered, feeling that Li Shan's words had some merit.
A flicker of smugness flashed in Li Shan's eyes. With someone on his side, his confidence grew even greater.
'You talk a better game than you sing. Do you think I'm brainless?' Qi Zhenzhen sneered. 'You might as well tell everyone what your intentions are!'
'What intentions could I have? Ruixue and I were married for eight years, living in harmony. If it weren't for you, we would surely be living well. It was because you instigated her that Ruixue heartlessly left me. Constable Wen, please judge this. Even if I took Lian'er, what was wrong with that? Isn't it normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines? Ruixue couldn't serve me while she was pregnant, so taking Lian'er was for Ruixue's own good,' Li Shan revealed his inner thoughts.
Wen Cen nodded, 'Having multiple wives and concubines is indeed not against the law.'
Li Shan proudly raised his head, 'So, Ruixue clinging to this issue and refusing to let go is a violation of the seven grounds for divorce. What was wrong with me divorcing her? However, out of our past affection, I didn't want to be too harsh. Lian'er is also understanding and worried that Ruixue might not be living well outside, so she begged me to bring her back!'
Utterly shameless, how could there be such a shameless person? Qi Zhenzhen felt her worldview being shattered. Indeed, when a person is utterly shameless, they become invincible. Li Shan was aiming for the heavens!
Although what he said sounded reasonable, in the countryside, such a matter was probably a once-in-a-century occurrence, and few people would understand him.
As expected, after hearing Li Shan's words, the crowd looked at him strangely.
'You want to take her back? I don't agree,' Li Hu said, his little face flushed. 'You are my father, and as your son, I cannot judge you. But you divorced my mother, so we will not go back.'
'You brat, whose seed are you?' Li Shan retorted, his neck stiff.
'I am ashamed to be your son. If I could choose, I would not be your son,' Li Hu said clearly, word by word.
Li Shan was embarrassed, 'What do you know about grown-ups' affairs!'
'At least when I get married in the future, I will be devoted to my wife and will not harbor your despicable thoughts. You claim to be saving someone, but perhaps you were already involved with her,' Li Hu shouted, not backing down.
Li Shan raised his hand to strike, but Qi Zhenzhen was quick and pulled him back, dodging Li Shan's slap.
'Li Shan, I don't care what your intentions are, I will not go back,' Lin Ruixue said, supported by Yun Shi.
Qi Zhenzhen was anxious, 'Mother, why did you let Sister Ruixue come out? Her condition cannot withstand the cold.'
Yun Shi looked helpless, 'I couldn't persuade her, but I put the rabbit fur vest on her. She said she just wanted to say a few words and wouldn't delay.'
The concern shown by Qi Zhenzhen and her mother towards Lin Ruixue was evident to everyone. With such care, how could they have caused Lin Ruixue to lose her child?
'I don't want him to shamelessly smear your names. He knows best what happened. To twist the facts like this, this person's heart is truly black. I, Lin Ruixue, was truly blind to have been with such a person before,' Lin Ruixue said with a cold smile. 'Li Shan, there is no longer any relationship between us! Esteemed villagers, my child is gone, but it has nothing to do with the Qi family. When I was at the Li family, I overexerted myself and my body was severely depleted. The child was already unstable. If it had been properly nurtured, I could have given birth safely, but Li Shan brought such a woman back. He repeatedly claimed she was like a sister, but what was the reality? None of you are fools, can't you understand? To all the sisters present, I want to ask, if you encountered such a situation, would you be magnanimous? Would you not be angry?'
There was no need to think; of course, they wouldn't be willing.
If their husbands acted like this, they would surely scratch them to death. Thinking this, the women present felt pity for Lin Ruixue and despised Li Shan and Bai Xuelian immensely.
'It is natural and proper for men to have multiple wives and concubines,' Li Shan said, his neck stiff and his tone righteous.
'Go to hell with your natural and proper! Li Shan, do you have any shame? You've disgraced all the men in our village,' Zhang Erniu said, landing a resounding slap that spun Li Shan halfway around."