The words from the people around grew increasingly offensive, and Cai Xianās expression became more and more devastated.
Originally a strong woman, two decades of high-pressure life had long stretched her nerves taut, like a bowstring ready to snap.
She looked at Jiang Lai with reddened eyes, her lips trembling.
She clearly hadnāt done anything, all she wanted was to earn a good reputation, fulfilling her parentsā dying wish for her to live a blameless life.
Admittedly, this wish was filled with some of the selfish decay of the older generation, but it had become Cai Xianās obsession.
She respected the elderly and protected the young, feeling confident in her conscience.
Now, her parents-in-law were looking at her with disgust and disdain, her son and daughter-in-law insulted her with greed and anger, and neighbors of over twenty years mercilessly defamed her.
Was it truly her problem, or was there something wrong with the world?
Cai Xian suddenly felt that her life had no meaning anymore.
Jiang Lai had found her biological parents, so sheād be well-fed and clothed for the rest of her life.
With this in mind, could she just...
"If you continue spouting nonsense, arenāt you afraid that after death, a ghost messenger will pull your tongues out in hell?
Grandma Lu, if no one else will say it, I will! Over twenty years ago, when my mom first started her business in this market, she rented your house for the first two years. You came for the rent every month without fail. If it was late by even a day, youād jump around making a fuss.
During those two years, did my momās belly ever grow? If youāre not blind, you should be clearer on this than anyone else, right?!
And Aunt Wang, you sold jewelry with my mom when you were young. Back then, if she had time to get pregnant, youād surely know!
Donāt damn well tell me youāve all forgotten!!
If any of you dare to lie today, Old Mrs. Lu, your grandson wonāt get into college!
Aunt Wang, if you dare to say one false word, your son will die in a car crash tomorrow!!
If your tongues accumulate no virtue, donāt blame it when retribution falls on your descendants!
Go ahead, say it again!!"
The two people being directly called out fell silent immediately.
The harsh words that had just come from their mouths suddenly felt icy under Jiang Laiās chilly gaze.
After all, their grandchildren were the most important, more precious than their own lives. They usually argued all day if someone said a bad word about their baby, but now, because of a few of their own careless words, they were being cursed like this.
They got furious immediately, especially Old Mrs. Lu, whose grandson was repeating his studies for three years and had the best hope this year. Hearing Jiang Laiās curse made her slap her own mouth repeatedly.
"I didnāt say anything; I didnāt say your mom did anything. Iāve known Xiao Cai for over twenty years, I know her character, and I remember clearly the year you came; it was when my son got married."
Aunt Wang was in a rage and wanted to slap Jiang Lai, but when she saw the fruit knife in Jiang Laiās hand as soon as she got close, she immediately backed down.
"Cursing someone elseās son like that, your mouth is so venomous!"
Jiang Lai adhered strictly to her principle of madness, and the proof showed this method indeed worked.
"If you speak the truth, itās not called a curse. If you lie, you deserve to be a beast of burden your whole life!"
Since their mouths held no virtue, and they intended to force Cai Xian to her death, Jiang Lai had no qualms about using their descendants as leverage.
Donāt damn well talk about not implicating the children.
Before doing everything, the elders should consider their own children. Since they feared retribution, they should keep their damned mouths in check.
Aunt Zhang was mumbling, unable to utter a single word.
From her expression, everyone around could see what was going on.
Turns out, the ones who were the loudest and most venomous knew all along that Cai Xian was being falsely accused.
Now, afraid of retribution on their children, they finally knew how to shut up.
"Tsk tsk tsk, how shameless, what exactly are they gaining by slandering Cai Xian!"
"For what? Ha! Those two women always thought their sons and husbands liked Cai Xian, itās jealousy!
Not as pretty, not as successful, only full of bound feet feudal thoughts, now really afraid after being cursed by Jiang Lai."
This tactic was effective.
Immediately, the way people looked at Cai Xian changed.
Jiang Lai didnāt care about these peopleās opinions at all; their rumors were like farts to her.
But Cai Xian did care, she lived most of her life for these words, so Jiang Lai had to help her maintain them.
While she couldnāt shut all their mouths, she could pick out the most conspicuous ones. Itās like being beaten by a group, running around like a headless chicken would only lead to a miserable defeat after being covered in wounds.
But if you focus on retaliating against one or two reckless ones, the rest of the paper tigers would naturally feel fear and back off.
The suffocating and desperate situation for Cai Xian was resolved.
The remaining gossipers, seeing Jiang Laiās fierce gaze and the knife in her hand, immediately shut up in fear.
They even pretended to speak up for Cai Xian in turn.
After all, they just came for the spectacle, no matter whose misfortune they watched.
And so, Jiang Dao Haiās plan backfired spectacularly on himself.
As soon as everyone changed their tune, they immediately began criticizing him.
Jiang Lai couldnāt resolve these scoundrels, but she could use them, turning them into a double-edged sword against Jiang Dao Hai.
"Cai Xian has been exceedingly kind to you. All these years, apart from playing cards, all you do is smoke and drink, yet you havenāt earned a penny. Now you still dare to say such unscrupulous things."
"The two old ones arenāt anything good either. They take whatever they eat and use from the supermarket, as if the supermarket belongs to them. Sometimes, I even saw them stuffing the cash into their own pockets!"
"Jiang Dao Haiās spawn is just as despicable! Jiang Zhi borrowed thirty thousand from my son recently and still hasnāt paid it back! He even said to wait until he sold his momās supermarket, then heād have a few million in hand!
He probably came this time for the supermarket! Not even considering how his mom worked tirelessly for it her whole life, now heās going to let this leech take it away!"
Jiang Dao Hai never expected things to turn out this way.
He glared furiously at everyone around him, spewing nothing but the vilest and most obscene words back at them.
Causing the people around to frown, looking at him with disdain and disgust.
Unlike Cai Xian, who held a heavy sense of pride, he only cared about himself. As long as he could protect his interests, he wouldnāt care about anything else.
"Weāre still husband and wife! Half of all the money you earned is mine!! You donāt want to acknowledge it now?! Keep dreaming!!
You sold the house without considering our family? Fine, then this supermarket is mine!!"
With that, Jiang Dao Hai went crazy, trying to grab the money from the cash register, which was locked. Cai Xian had changed the password beforehand, so Jiang Dao Hai couldnāt open it, his face turning red, his expression becoming increasingly deranged.
"Open it!!! Open it!!! You bitch!!"