First watch, asking for pink votes.

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Upon hearing Xiao Xi say this, and recalling the behavior of Lian Yeye, Lady Zhang, and Lady Wu Wang earlier, the young girls all guessed roughly what had happened. This sort of thing was beyond their ability to interfere. Therefore, the young girls were all worried and anxious for Lian Yeye, but could only stay at home and wait for news.

At the same time, Lady Zhang and Lady Wu Wang, bringing Lian Yeye with them, were on the road to the old house, accompanied by Han Zhong’s Wife attending to Lady Zhang, followed by two long-term workers.

"...Wasn’t it said that the Wife of He Laoliu had already been asked to move out, so why has this issue arisen again?" Lady Wu Wang asked quietly as she walked alongside Lady Zhang.

"...Originally, the idea was to move them into that ramshackle hut. As soon as the Old Master mentioned letting them move back there, the very next day, the hut was set on fire, nearly burning down the neighbor’s house. Everyone suspected it was those two lads of He Laoliu who did it. With the hut gone, they refused to leave again. They’ve been chased off several times, but won’t go. They cry, roll around, make a scene, threaten to slit their wrists, or hang themselves. They promised all sorts of things, swearing they would behave and saying that they would let the kids stay with the Old Master to learn how to behave. They even said they would leave when spring came and the weather warmed up. They told the Old Master that forcing them out in the dead of winter was as good as killing them."

"They’re like sticking plasters," sighed Lady Wu Wang, "Back then, it was your second uncle who had the guts to let them in, alas..."

Indeed, Old Master Lian was quite courageous and very kind-hearted. But when he wanted to chase people away, no matter what he said, he couldn’t get them to leave.

"The Old Master might have a good heart, but he always pities these types of shameless people, there’s nothing he can do..." sighed Lady Zhang.

"Today’s incident..." Lady Wu Wang glanced at Lian Yeye, who was being held by Han Zhong’s Wife, and asked Lady Zhang.

"It’s really tough on this girl Yeye," said Lady Zhang, looking at Lian Yeye sympathetically.

Isn’t it hard on her? Lian Yeye is so young, and she had to see her own father with another woman.

It’s truly sinful, both Lady Zhang and Lady Wu Wang sighed.

The group reached the entrance of the old house, where a few pairs of villagers were peeking in curiously.

It’s fortunate it was during the New Year, when people are busy visiting relatives, going from house to house, and attending feasts, otherwise, the doorway would have likely been surrounded and impassable. There’s nothing more captivating and gossip-worthy than a scandal like this, not only do folks from farmsteads enjoy such a commotion, everyone does.

Standing at the door, Lady Zhang and Lady Wu Wang could hear the sound of crying and yelling coming from the courtyard, the loudest of which didn’t belong to Lady Zhao, but to the Wife of He Laoliu.

"I think handling today’s matter might be quite difficult," Lady Wu Wang whispered to Lady Zhang.

The two walked through the gate of the old house, following the sound of Lady Zhao’s crying, heading straight for the West Wing Room.

As soon as they entered the West Wing Room, they were both startled.

In the West Wing Room, the home of Lian Shouli’s family of three, Lady Zhao sat disheveled on the edge of the kang bed, sobbing, with Chunzhu’s Wife and Lady Gu trying to console her. Close by the kang, sat a woman with her hair loose, her clothes unbuttoned, her waistband slack, revealing a large portion of her chest — it was the Wife of He Laoliu.

The Wife of He Laoliu was also crying, cursing through her tears. Next to her sat Lady He, occasionally offering words of comfort, but her eyes kept darting towards Lady Zhao.

Upon seeing Lady Zhang and Lady Wu Wang enter the room, Lady Zhao remained as she was, but the Wife of He Laoliu slapped her thigh, pulled her coat open further, and started wailing loudly.

"...I am a widow, but I am chaste, I was a virgin when I married He Laoliu, he was my only man. No one else has ever touched me. Now that Lian Old Three has slept with me, I have no face to meet people. My kids have no face either. Don’t stop me, my children and I will go jump into the ice hole."

The Wife of He Laoliu made a gesture as if to get off the kang bed, but in reality, she didn’t move an inch.

"Wife of He Laoliu, don’t do anything foolish. If you do something rash, Old Three will have committed a grave sin. Let’s talk this out," said Lady He, pretending to hold back the Wife of He Laoliu while loudly persuading her.

"Your Lian Family claims to be honorable, but what kind of honor is this. This is bullying a widow. How naive was I to let myself move in here without realizing your bad intentions from the start.... Lian Old Three, he pretends to be sincere, but when he’s outside he stares right at me, ... helps me sweep the floor, ... unlike others, he’s never glared or raised his voice at me or my kids ... Lian Old Three, he must have planned this out long ago..."