"Mom, even if you donât like me, you shouldnât curse my dad like that."
Jiang Huâs face looked incredibly dark.
Shen Yan was in a rant, and with her backers arriving, she couldnât hear Jiang Huâs words, and continued to point and curse, wishing to vent all the grievances she had suffered.
Jiang Hu held a stern face, clutching his coat tightly.
He had worked hard at the port all day, swallowing sweat mixed with mud when exhausted, yet his own mother hadnât even delivered a meal to him, not even once.
This very mother repeatedly caused a scene at Jiang Haiâs workplace to get back at him, crying and shouting for him to come back and back her up.
After all this time, Jiang Hu no longer had the strength to back her up.
So ignoring what Shen Yan was saying, Jiang Hu walked rigidly to the woman and openly stated.
"Handle this as you wish, it has nothing to do with me, my dad and mom have separated."
Having said that, Jiang Hu turned around and left without a backward glance.
Shen Yan was still squawking behind him and realized only when she turned her head that Jiang Hu was gone.
"Worked hard to raise a son who turned out to be useless! The whole family sides against me, not caring for me at all!"
The street director shouted a few words, and the women quieted down.
"Stop it! Keep making a scene, and youâll be cleaning the streets next year! Look at yourselves, as neighbors, what do you look like?"
Turning back, he looked at Shen Yan, his small eyes flashed, signaling to her, and after a few mock scolds, he put his hands behind his back.
"Last time you caused an uproar around here, I assigned you to clean the east side; you cleaned it well!"
"Thatâs right, I havenât slept all night just to clean! These women spread rumors wrongfully accusing me! If thereâs justice, theyâll be cursed just like me!"
Satisfied with her little victory, Shen Yan left.
The director followed closely behind.
Watching them discreetly leave, the women couldnât help but smirk.
"Those two, the more they talk, the more there must be something!"
"Canât walk by the river without getting your shoes wet, theyâre truly related!"
"Report, we shouldâve reported it yesterday!"
They recalled what they had seen last night under the oil lamp; Shen Yaoyaoâs nephew holding a woman, making out with her, they saw it clearly!
Unfortunately, one of them, in excitement, called out.
"What are you two doing?!"
Shen Ping bolted like a rabbit; the woman in his arms was slower and stumbled, exposing her bare back.
They tried to catch her, but their legs werenât as good as the young womanâs and she got away.
Finally, one of the women disdainfully remarked.
"Donât worry, Shen Yan and her precious nephew will get what they deserve, theyâre all the same, not one good bird amongst them!"
---
Without any evidence, the news of Shen Ping getting intimate with a woman out in the open at night quickly spread.
Having seen it with their own eyes, the accounts were vivid, even describing the fist-sized birthmark on the womanâs back.
Shen Pingâs days became difficult.
He had been reported for immoral behavior and dealing with women improperly, a serious accusation.
The team leader who had considered hiring him temporarily at the supply and sales cooperative, due to his looks and eloquence, now feared trouble and told him not to come anymore, not even as a temporary worker.
Disheartened from the cooperative, Shen Ping, now jobless, found himself taking out his frustration, even kicking at the kids playing in the alleys.
The child, after being kicked, cried out loud, attracting the attention of a strong man who grabbed Shen Ping and punched him in the face.
With that punch, blood gushed from his nose, his vision blurred, his teeth loosened, and he staggered, glaring at the man, he cowered, holding his head in silence.
"Useless beast! Bullying kids isnât a skill!"
The man took the child and left, only then did Shen Ping dare to stand up, supporting himself against the wall, spat in the manâs direction, cursed, and left quickly holding his nose.
Back home, Shen Yan had already prepared a meal, waiting for Shen Ping to return.
As soon as her nephew returned, Shen Yan quickly became concerned and asked after his wellbeing.
"Howâs work? Must be busy at the cooperative, right? With the festival coming, lots of people must be shopping, tired? I made some meat stew for you today, eat well to work well."
"Eat, eat, eat, all day long itâs eat! Do you raise me as your pig just to eat all day long?!"
Shen Pingâs sudden outburst startled Shen Yan, upon closer look, she noticed her beloved nephewâs face was bruised and his nose was red.
"What happened to your face?! Who hit you?!"
"Who hit me?! Everyone who sees me wants to step on me now! Iâm ruined! You ruined me!"
Shen Yan stood dumbstruck, staring at her nephew, her heart wrenching painfully.
"Dear child, whatâs the matter, tell your aunt clearly whatâs happened?"
Outside being scolded, beaten, pushed to the edge, Shen Ping finally let it all out at home.
Shen Yan worried and hurt.
"Why wonât you speak up, whatâs there you canât tell your aunt?!"
"The cooperative doesnât want me anymore! Those gossiping women ruined my future!"
"You lost your job at the cooperative?!"
Shen Yan focused on the main point.
Shen Ping, overwhelmed, scratched at his hair, his impotent rage led him to throw out the only throwable thing in the room, Shen Yanâs dowry, a sewing box.
From outside came a scream.
Shen Yaoyao, who had returned unknowingly, stood at the door covering her face, the flying needle from the sewing box had scratched her face.
"Shen Ping!! What madness is this?!"
Was there anything left in this house worth her longing for?
Shen Ping glared at the new clothes on Shen Yaoyao, asked gruffly.
"Where did you get the money and coupons to buy new clothes?"
Then stared fiercely at Shen Yan, as if ready to devour her, angrily asked.
"I canât bear this life anymore, and youâre buying her new clothes from fabric?!
Shen Yan, still in shock, hearing this, wanted to speak but couldnât say a word.
She too wanted to know, where did Shen Yaoyaoâs new clothes come from.