The wild boar had several bloody holes, clearly indicating it had just been pulled from a trap.
"Heavens, it's really a wild boar!"
"How did Shen Lao San's family manage this? Going out for a stroll and hunting a wild boar? Our village hunters don't have this skill!"
"Now it's obvious that Shen Lao Da's wife was the one lying, trying to smear someone else's name!"
...
After gasps of amazement, everyone turned their scornful gazes towards Madam Yang.
"No, it's not like that..."
Madam Yang shook her head weakly, wanting to explain but not knowing how.
"You wretched woman!" Shen Wang's face darkened like the bottom of a pot. He raised his hand and slapped her again.
"Slap!"
With the loud crack of the palm, Madam Yang fell to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Her ears buzzed for a good while before she recovered, only to hear Shen Wang shouting, "I want a divorce! Village Chief, I want to divorce this hussy!"
"No!" Madam Yang was in a complete panic. "Your father, I truly did nothing to betray you, don't divorce me..."
Despite her desperate pleas, Shen Wang showed no softening of his heart. The onlookers merely pointed and whispered; no one stepped forward to intervene.
From beginning to end, Li Yue Shu's face remained impassive, silently observing the spectacle.
As the crowd dispersed, she smiled faintly and addressed them, "Next time I go out, I'll be sure to inform my family. Thank you all for making the trip today. Tomorrow, I'll host a pork banquet. The remaining pork will be sold to you at half the town's price. We'll all celebrate together then."
In this world without refrigerators, she couldn't simply store the entire boar in her personal space. It was better to do a favor for them.
After Madam Yang's outburst, even if she cleared herself of the matter, gossip was inevitable.
It was said that a full stomach makes a soft heart.
Indeed, as soon as Li Yue Shu spoke, everyone's faces lit up with joy, and some even volunteered to help tomorrow.
Only Shen Wang and Madam Yang wore expressions of utter despair and grief.
...
At the crack of dawn the next day, the pork banquet was in full swing.
In this remote mountain village, if a family hunted a wild boar, they would generally sell it in town for money after keeping some for themselves.
Such a lively pork banquet was a rare occurrence, happening only once every few years, so everyone was naturally delighted.
Moreover, Li Yue Shu was selling the meat at half the town's price, so everyone was even more enthusiastic.
In stark contrast to the revelry, the Shen family was shrouded in gloom.
The night before, Shen Wang had driven Madam Yang out of the house. However, in the middle of the night, as a respectable woman, she couldn't possibly leave.
The village chief intervened, allowing Madam Yang to stay at the Shen residence for one more night and discuss the matter the following day.
The next day, Shen Wang went to the village chief early in the morning to have a divorce letter drafted, expelling Madam Yang.
Madam Yang had not slept all night, but no matter how she pleaded, Shen Wang remained resolute.
With no other options, Madam Yang headed to town to find Shen Cheng Cai at the academy.
For the past few years, the Shen family had been prosperous, and she had held her head high among her own family. If her family learned she had been divorced, they would surely not let her off the hook!
Her only hope now was her beloved son.
Shen Cheng Cai was completely unaware of the events at home. Hearing that Madam Yang was looking for him, he assumed she had brought him some good things.
But upon hearing that she was divorced, Shen Cheng Cai's eyes widened in shock. "What?! Why would Father divorce you?"
"It's all Li Yue Shu, that wicked woman, she deliberately framed me!"
Madam Yang couldn't help but cry, recounting the events of the previous night, naturally shifting all blame to Li Yue Shu.
However, Shen Cheng Cai's concern was clearly elsewhere. "You mean the entire village knows?"
Madam Yang nodded aggrievedly. "It's all that Li Yue..."
"How could you be so foolish!" Shen Cheng Cai interrupted her angrily. "I intend to become a scholar and later a high-ranking official. If outsiders find out you did something like this, what will happen to my future?"
Madam Yang stared at him in shock, seeming unable to comprehend his words.
Shen Cheng Cai, however, didn't have time to dwell on it. He cautiously glanced around, ensuring no one was paying attention to them, and quickly pulled Madam Yang into a corner.
He lowered his voice and said, "Mother, you must leave immediately. Absolutely do not let anyone at the academy know about this!"
Madam Yang stared at him blankly. "Cheng Cai, you don't believe Mother?"
Shen Cheng Cai frowned displeasedly. "What use is it whether I believe you or not? The entire village knows what you did. If you truly cared about my reputation, you should have become a nun or died to prove your innocence, not come running to me here!"
"If the academy finds out, my future will be ruined!"
Madam Yang never expected her own son, whom she had doted on since childhood, to say such things.
Shen Cheng Cai, however, didn't consider it deeply. He had been raised with the belief instilled by his mother and Madam Yang that he was destined to be a high official and nothing should interfere with his path.
He pushed the still-stunned Madam Yang. "Go back quickly and never come to the academy to find me again!"
With that, he hurried back into the academy, showing no intention of helping her.
Madam Yang stood there with a pale face, utterly shocked by the outcome.
Not long ago, she had lived in the only house with blue tiles in the village, had a good relationship with her mother-in-law, her husband doted on her, and her son was obedient and well-behaved. Why had things changed so drastically?
Madam Yang pondered for a long time, but she felt that it was all because of Li Yue Shu.
If it weren't for that wicked woman, she wouldn't have ended up like this!
With this thought, Madam Yang turned and fled.
She absolutely would not let that wicked woman have an easy time!
A short while later, Madam Yang arrived at an inn not far from the academy and sought out Li Xiang Ru once more.
"Miss Li, you must help me, Li Yue Shu is trying to force me to my death!"
Madam Yang immediately sat on the ground and began to wail uncontrollably.
At this point, she no longer cared about her dignity. As she cried, she recounted the events of the previous night.
Of course, she still blamed everything on Li Yue Shu.
Li Xiang Ru could hear the hidden meanings in her words and simply thought her foolish, yet she couldn't help but feel puzzled.
This Li Yue Shu was becoming less and less like the foolish and dim-witted sister she remembered.
As Li Xiang Ru's suspicions grew, Madam Yang continued to lament.
Slightly annoyed, she found a casual excuse to send Madam Yang away.
Thus, Madam Yang's last hope vanished.
Reluctantly, she had no choice but to return to her maiden home with the crumpled divorce letter.
Li Xiang Ru paid no attention to her, her mind occupied with the information she had gathered about Li Yue Shu.
Her sister seemed to possess more and more secrets. It seemed she needed to find an opportunity to meet her again.
With this decision made, Li Xiang Ru prepared to act immediately.
Her return to Tong Mu County was for two reasons: to retrieve something, and for Mo Lian.
Now that she had obtained the item, there had been no progress with Mo Lian. She had to do something.