Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 6 - 6 6 A Different Person

What kind of absolute nonsense was being spewed?

Chiang Songhai and Ge Liutao were trembling with such rage that they could scarcely draw breath.

The girl was a mere thirteen years old—this was nothing short of dragging her name through the dirt! How could anyone utter such despicable words?

Who exactly was Old Li from the front alley? He was a widower in his forties who had been childless since his wife passed away over a decade ago. He was nearly the same age as Chiang Songhai. Guihua truly possessed no sense of morality; how blackened must a person’s heart be to cast such filth upon a thirteen-year-old child?

As for Desheng, he was the son of the village’s most alluring widow. Three years older than Chiang Xiao, he had inherited his mother’s striking features. Despite being only sixteen, his handsome face caused many local girls to blush whenever he crossed their paths.

According to Guiying’s vile implications, was Chiang Xiao supposedly seducing both the elderly and the young?

“Guiying, you are going way too far!” Ge Liutao, who was normally mild-mannered and unaccustomed to conflict, felt a painful tightness in her chest from Guiying’s cruel accusations, managing to squeeze out only that single sentence.

Chiang Songhai lifted his hand in anger, but in the end, he didn't dare to actually deliver a slap.

When faced with a woman like Guiying, who thrived on malice and public tantrums, what could an older man really do? Was he truly supposed to strike her?

Seeing her grandparents’ faces turn a deep crimson from fury, Chiang Xiao felt a surge of resentment. Gripping the broom with all her might, she leaped up in a rage to strike Guiying’s head.

“I’ll teach you to spew filth! I’ll teach you to ruin my name with your disgusting rumors and lies!”

Guiying clutched her head and began hopping about on one foot. In the past, Chiang Xiao had always maintained a certain level of dignity because she was educated, acting as though the common villagers were beneath her. Now, however, she was behaving exactly like a common shrew!

Wasn't this girl supposed to be bedridden with a burning fever? Yet here she was, possessing more than enough strength to beat people!

Gritting her teeth, Chiang Xiao shouted, “Grandma, go fetch the boiling water! I’m going to douse this foul-mouthed woman who dared to tarnish my reputation!”

What?

Scalding her with boiling water?

Looking at the girl’s fierce expression, it seemed she was truly capable of following through with the threat!

Terrified for real, Guiying bolted toward the door to make her escape.

“You just wait! I’m going to get Da Qiang from my house! If you don’t pay me back for ruining my innocence, this won't be over!”

Her parting shouts were a mix of empty bravado and hidden panic.

The moment she crossed the threshold, Chiang Xiao violently hurled the broom at her. It whistled past Guiying’s body and slammed into the ground, causing the woman to shriek in terror and run even faster.

Song Xiyun, having witnessed the entire ordeal, stood there in shock. Had Chiang Xiao ever acted this way? Because she excelled in school and read many books, Chiang Xiao had always believed she would one day enter university, leave this impoverished mountain village, and become a refined urbanite. Consequently, she had always maintained a cold distance from the other villagers.

Usually, she was even reluctant to help Chiang Songhai with his medicinal herbs, only doing so because she had no other choice.

Song Xiyun remembered seeing Chiang Xiao’s fingernails stained with medicine that wouldn't wash off; the girl had sat under a tree in the courtyard and wept silently for a long time.

Furthermore, because of her naturally pale skin, she didn't look like the other tanned, weathered children or women of the village. She was striking, possessing large, watery eyes and a small, pouty red mouth. She always spoke in a soft, gentle whisper, having been pampered by Chiang Songhai and Ge Liutao like a delicate young lady.

To Song Xiyun’s mind, there wasn't another child in the village as fragile as Chiang Xiao.

Between feeding livestock, chopping wood, gardening, hauling water, cooking, and cleaning, what other girl her age hadn't mastered these chores?

It was obvious that Chiang Xiao usually conducted herself like a dainty mistress from the city.

But just now, Chiang Xiao appeared to be a completely different person!

Not only did she attack Guiying with a broom, but she also threatened to scald the woman with boiling water and used harsh phrases like ‘spewing filth.’ When had the old Chiang Xiao ever spoken such words?