Chapter 24: Gossip Sparked by Asking for Directions

"Little girl, is my husband using you well?"

"You collect men like trinkets—aren't you afraid of retribution?"

"Exactly! Look at that vixen’s face; she’s clearly no decent woman!"

"Don't think that just because you're pretty, you can go around seducing other people's husbands. If I catch you doing it again, I swear I won't let you off, you little slut!"

Luo Yunhe: "...??" When on earth did she seduce their husbands? Were their men particularly handsome or wealthy? She hadn't done a single thing! How had she ended up in this absurd situation where being beautiful was apparently a crime?

"Ladies, you've misunderstood. I didn't seduce your husbands; they followed me of their own accord. What does that have to do with me? You can't even keep your own men in check, yet you come here to lecture me? Look at yourselves—you’re all dried-up shrews! I doubt any man could stand being around such tigresses. You’d be better off going home and working on your own personalities and appearances instead of standing here blaming the world!"

Luo Yunhe let it all out. These women were acting like lunatics, blaming her for their own inability to manage their husbands. It was outrageous—she hadn't even asked them to follow her in the first place. No wonder these men didn't want to leave her side; it was clear they were stuck with hags at home.

"You—you little bitch, say that again if you dare!"

"Sisters, this little vixen not only seduced our men but dares to lecture us! She's overestimating herself. Teach her a lesson!"

"Right! This kind of woman won't know shame until she's been beaten!"

The women, having left their own husbands behind, rolled up their sleeves and charged toward Luo Yunhe.

*Oh, no! I've really ticked these hags off now.*

"System! System! Can you trade me a fighting skill?" Luo Yunhe called out desperately in her mind.

Just then, the men finally realized what was happening and immediately stepped forward, blocking their wives' paths.

"Wife, it has nothing to do with her! We followed her of our own volition, so stop harassing her!"

"That's right! We were just helping her find the way; we didn't do anything improper. Why are you all talking so viciously?"

"Wife, let's go home. I won't do this again..."

The women were blinded by rage. Hearing their husbands defend another woman only fueled their fury.

"You little tramp, what kind of love potion did you feed my man to make him defend you like this?"

"Damn man, you dare look at her one more time!"

"Slut! Shameless! Seducing other people's husbands..."

The men were speechless. They had only wanted to get a better look at this beautiful young girl, but they hadn't expected their wives to be so aggressive and foul-mouthed. They felt humiliated and ashamed to face the girl.

"Enough! I told you she was just asking for directions! We were only showing her the way, we didn't do anything else. Why are you all getting so worked up? If you keep spewing this garbage, don't blame me for slapping you!"

One man finally lost his temper. His wife froze and immediately clamped her mouth shut. The other men followed suit, shouting at their wives before grabbing their things and leaving without a second glance.

The women, silenced but still burning with resentment, glared viciously at Luo Yunhe as if they might pounce at any second.

"What are you looking at? I've already said it: I was just asking for directions, and they brought me here. We didn't do anything else. Why are you so worked up? No man likes a wife who swears and suspects him of everything. As a woman, I advise you all to reflect on your own failings."

Luo Yunhe offered this earnest advice before turning and walking away. She didn't bother checking how ugly their expressions were; she simply felt speechless. She never imagined that asking for directions would cause such a heated argument. If this got out, what would happen to her reputation? It seemed that being too beautiful wasn't always a good thing.

Lost in these random thoughts, Luo Yunhe followed her memory through the village toward the Su residence. Not long after she left, the women resting under the trees began to gossip.

"Isn't that the little girl? She had a whole group of men following her earlier!" one woman said.

"I saw it too! And I saw their wives—they looked like they were ready to eat someone alive," another agreed.

"Oh my, was there going to be a brawl?" a third woman asked in surprise.

"Of course! Everyone knows Zhang Er's wife is notoriously shrewish; she won't let this go easily!" the first woman said with schadenfreude.

"Hmph, who told that girl to be so pretty? She's probably trying to seduce their men!" the second woman scoffed.

"Exactly, that kind of person is the worst!" the third agreed.

"Don't talk nonsense. Maybe she was just passing through?" the fourth woman couldn't take it anymore and interjected.

"Pfft, what do you know? I'm telling you, she's doing it on purpose!" the first woman retorted.

"How do you know? You have no proof!" the fourth woman argued back.

"I know because my man told me: there isn't a man in this world who doesn't love a beautiful woman!" the first woman boasted.

"Your man? Hmph, your man is no saint himself!" the fourth woman shot back with a glare.

"What did you say? Say that again if you dare!" The first woman jumped up, pointing at the fourth woman's nose.

"Did I say something wrong? Your man does nothing but drink and gamble, and he hits you all the time—do you think we don't know that?" the fourth woman retorted without backing down.

"You... you..." The first woman was so furious she couldn't speak, her eyes fixed on the fourth woman.

The others rushed to mediate: "Alright, everyone, stop arguing! It's just a matter of opinion; fighting won't change anything!"

Just as Luo Yunhe reached her doorstep, she saw Su Shan stumbling out, looking weak and dazed. Luo Yunhe hadn't expected her to wake up so soon.

Su Shan spotted Luo Yunhe. Still feeling lightheaded, something seemed to click, and her eyes widened as she pointed a trembling finger at the girl.

"You... what are you doing here?"