Although Lin Youwen was a scholar, he had been well-behaved since childhood and wasn't one of those bookworms who couldn't do manual labor. There he was, squatting by the river, huffing and puffing as he processed some wild game.
Not far upstream, some of the village aunties were washing clothes. As is often the case with rural women, their hands weren't the only things busy while they worked – their mouths were equally active.
Chen, the third daughter-in-law of Fifth Grandma's family, was notorious in the village for her gossiping. There wasn't a bit of neighborhood news, good or bad, that escaped her notice.
With her high cheekbones and gaunt face, she wasn't particularly attractive to begin with. Add to that her trademark expression of idle chatter and gossip, and she gave off a distinctly weasel-like impression.
"Hey, listen up. Did you all hear about this?" she said, furtively jerking her chin towards Lin Youwen and lowering her voice with a few snickers.
"There's been some new drama in Old Eight's family. Did you know?"
Lin Yuanshan was ranked eighth in the clan's hierarchy.
"What drama? Third Aunt, what have you heard now? Hurry up and tell us!"
Gossips tend to flock together, and those who mixed with Chen were certainly not known for their virtue or discretion.
Wang, the granddaughter-in-law of Sixth Grandfather, was Chen's perfect counterpart in Lin Family Village. Any news, good or bad, that circulated in the village invariably passed through the mouths of these two women.
"Hehe, you know how the clan leader called all the men in our clan to Zhou Family Town yesterday? They gave You'an's uncle quite a beating."
"We all know that already. What are you going on about?"
Sister-in-law Huang, who had never gotten along with Chen, snapped at her. Then she let out a contemptuous snort.
"Hmph, I heard from my husband when he came back that most of the property Old Sixteen left behind was snatched up by that vixen Zhou Yuhe.
They say that when it came time to sell Old Sixteen's daughter, it was Zhou Yuhe herself who agreed to it.
What kind of mother does that?
How can someone be so heartless?
She always seemed so quiet and delicate before. Who could have imagined that as soon as her husband died, she'd change her tune so quickly?
It's true what they say – you can't judge a book by its cover!"
Everyone nodded in agreement with these words.
"Isn't that the truth? How long has it been since our family's scholar died? And that woman has already remarried? You don't think she was up to something while Old Sixteen was still alive, do you?"
"Who knows? In any case, she's no good. Her husband dies, her in-laws are gone, and her children are still so young – yet she just up and remarries without a second thought. Hah, clearly she's the type who can't go a day without a man!"
"Come on, isn't it obvious? I think Seventh Sister-in-law might be right – that Zhou woman was probably up to no good even when she was pregnant!
No wonder she threw such a fit about going back to her parents' home. Think about it – which normal woman, whose husband has just died leaving behind a sizable estate, and who has sons to rely on, would insist on going back to her maiden home for no reason?"
"Exactly! She really can't go a day without a man. I wonder what kind of happiness she thinks she'll find now?"
"What kind of happiness? Don't you know, Seventh Sister? It's obviously the kind of happiness she'll find in bed. Why else would she be in such a hurry to run off?"
Some of the older women cursed without restraint, causing the younger wives to blush with embarrassment.
"Where are you all going with this idle chatter? Will you let me finish or not?" Chen clapped her hands forcefully to get everyone's attention. The gossiping women all turned to look at her.
Ninth Aunt laughed and egged her on. "Alright, alright, we'll all be quiet now. Let's hear what Old Third's wife has to say. Let's see what kind of juicy story she's got!"
"Hmph, I do have some inside information," Chen said, pursing her lips and holding her head high.
"You all know that the clan leader's wife is my aunt. When I went to see her yesterday, I happened to overhear something.
You know how You'an found himself a stepmother? I heard she's quite a looker and incredibly skilled in martial arts, with tremendous strength. Apparently, she's the daughter of some martial arts school master – in any case, she's exceptionally skilled."
"We all know that already. Our husbands came back yesterday and told us."
"That's right, when my husband came home, he was so excited he was practically spitting as he talked. You'd think he'd hunted down a bear himself!"
"Same here. My husband's eyes were gleaming by the end of it. I was starting to wonder if he had his eye on that bear.
They say that young woman – no, that young wife – went hunting alone in the mountains yesterday and actually encountered a bear and a wild boar. Most people would have lost their lives right then and there.
But she managed to drag both of those big game animals down the mountain, which just goes to show she really does have some genuine skills!"
"Well, well, if you all know that much, let me tell you something you don't know."
She glanced furtively in Lin Youwen's direction, then continued in a shrill voice, spreading her so-called truth to everyone.
"That Chu woman, right? The official story is that she was betrothed to Old Sixteen as an infant, but in reality, tsk tsk tsk."
She clicked her tongue a few times.
"We all know what kind of lecherous devil Old Eight is, don't we? When Zhou Yuhe kicked up a fuss back then, I don't think it was all lies.
As they say, there's no smoke without fire. If none of it were true, why would Old Eight admit to any wrongdoing?
This so-called sister-in-law, Chu, was most likely prepared for Old Eight himself. That scoundrel is living the good life – only a fool like Lady Liu would believe those lies.
If this engagement had really been arranged when Old Fourth Uncle was alive, how could our clan leader not have heard even a whisper of it? I heard from my aunt yesterday that the clan leader only just found out about this.
Isn't it clear that everything hinges on Old Eight's words? With Old Fourth Uncle and Old Sixteen both gone, he can spin whatever tale he likes, and no one can say otherwise."
She had fabricated this rumor so convincingly that it sounded like the truth.
The village women listened with a mix of belief and doubt.
"That can't be right, can it? Third Sister, don't spread nonsense. Be careful, or Eighth Sister-in-law might come after you."
"I don't believe it either! When Sixteen Brother was alive, he took such good care of his brother's family. How could Eight Brother do something as awful as cuckolding his own brother? It's impossible."
While some kept their wits about them, others were quick to believe the gossip.
"What's so impossible about it? They say when the lamp goes out, that's the end of it. What's wrong with borrowing his brother's name for a bit?
It's all because Eighth Sister-in-law has been too controlling these years, scaring Eight Brother into coming up with these crooked schemes."
This outrageous talk was immediately countered.
"Haha, right, right. Among all the wives in our Old Lin Family, who could possibly match your virtue, Sixth Sister-in-law?
Your husband fools around outside, and you're right there behind him, covering up his tracks. I suspect that if he brought home a bastard child one day, you'd raise it as your own, wouldn't you?"
