Song Yulian's hair was disheveled, making her look like a madwoman.
Cheng You's words had stripped them of their last shred of dignity.
Each sentence struck a raw nerve, causing their faces to turn ashen with pain.
Cheng You looked down at them from her high vantage point, as if they were mere ants.
Song Yulian prostrated herself on the ground, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the earth.
Yang Yunian watched coldly, showing no trace of sympathy.
"Cheng Tianhua, he's not the only man she's been with. You'd best open your eyes and see whose child Cheng Tao truly is!"
Cheng Tao wailed, "Are you trying to force us to our deaths?"
Yang Yunian let out a cold snort, gave Cheng You a nod, and left.
Cheng Tianhua felt utterly disgraced and stormed off, abandoning his beloved wife and daughter.
The crowd pointed and shook their heads.
Cheng Tianhua was ruined because of this woman.
He recalled how glorious Cheng Tianhua had been when Jiang Qing was still alive.
Dressed impeccably, working as the production team leader, with two lovely children.
Everyone had praised their family as perfect.
Now, because of this one woman, it was shattered.
Cheng Tao's face contorted, and she clutched her stomach in pain.
"It hurts so much! So much!"
Song Yulian rushed to her side, embracing her, "Cheng Tao!"
"Oh dear, is she going into labor prematurely?"
No matter how much they disdained them, now that a life was at stake, no one could stand by and do nothing.
Fortunately, they were right outside Uncle Li's house, making it convenient to carry her in.
Cheng You stood aside, watching everyone bustle about, not stepping forward.
She detested Song Yulian and her daughter to the extreme and couldn't bring herself to set aside her grievances to help them.
After standing at the entrance for an unknown amount of time, Qi Chengyan arrived.
"Going home?"
Nothing needed to be asked. Song Yulian and Cheng Tao's affair had spread throughout Wujing Village.
Now, everyone knew about the scandal between Cheng Tianhua and Song Yulian.
They were also speculating about whose child Cheng Tao really was, with rumors as nasty as could be imagined.
Cheng You placed her hand in his, their fingers intertwined, and they walked side by side.
"I already knew Cheng Tao was Cheng Tianhua's biological daughter."
Qi Chengyan listened to her quietly.
"You might find it hard to believe, but the day you pulled me from the water, I had a dream. This dream told me that Song Yulian and Cheng Tianhua had been involved for a long time, and that my brother Cheng Wenyu and I would meet a tragic end because of them and their daughter. Chengyan, do you think my mother was sending me a message?"
Cheng You looked at him with a lost expression, her face filled with helplessness.
Qi Chengyan embraced her, "Perhaps. It's all in the past now."
Cheng You nestled into his embrace. Though it was only August, she felt a chill run through her.
If she hadn't known anything, what would her fate have been now?
"Qi Chengyan, you'll stay with me forever, won't you?"
A sigh came from above her head, "Where would I go without you?"
Love that ran bone-deep, rooted like a plant.
To leave would be like having her heart and flesh gouged out.
"Let's go home. I bought some soybeans to make you tofu pudding."
Cheng You had wanted to make it herself long ago but found it too troublesome to start.
He had borrowed a stone mill from a neighbor and prepared to do it himself.
Cheng You said, "Then let's make two flavors, one savory and one sweet."
When it came to tofu pudding, she and Qi Chengyan had different preferences.
One liked it sweet, the other savory.
The two walked home slowly, chatting the entire way, as if their few words could dispel the gloom brought by Cheng Tianhua and Song Yulian.
As they reached their doorstep, they saw Cheng Wenyu hopping out.
"Sister, I heard!"
Cheng You nodded, "If Cheng Tianhua comes looking for you, don't pay him any mind."
Cheng Wenyu's face lit up, "I won't! It's karma, all karma!"
He was too happy that the truth was finally out!
People like Cheng Tianhua and Song Yulian deserved to be condemned by everyone.
...
By evening, Cheng Tao had given birth to a daughter prematurely.
The Zhao family's doors were tightly shut, but they couldn't contain Wang Hongxia's curses.
Wang Hongxia had already felt deeply ashamed because of Song Yulian's scandal.
Now that Cheng Tao had given birth to a daughter, she was even more displeased.
In comparison, her eldest daughter-in-law was better; at least she had given birth to a boy.
Zhao Lifang had gone to chat with Cheng You early in the morning, imitating Wang Hongxia's tone as she cursed, laughing uncontrollably.
"It truly is retribution. You think Cheng Tao deserved this, don't you!"
Cheng You didn't interject, just listened to her.
Zhao Lifang spoke without restraint, daring to say anything.
Cheng You couldn't bear to listen any longer and said, "You're pregnant. Can you please watch your words?"
Zhao Lifang then reluctantly shut her mouth.
She detested Cheng Tao so much that she wouldn't have minded if she died.
Why should she hold back her words for someone like that?
"Cheng You, is Cheng Tao really your father's daughter?" Zhao Lifang asked, confused.
Cheng You shook her head, "I'm not sure either."
She had been certain before, but after hearing Yang Yunian's words yesterday, she became uncertain.
Now, it seemed Cheng Tao and Cheng Tianhua didn't bear much resemblance.
"Then aren't you going back to ask?"
She was actually quite eager to see Cheng You and Song Yulian tear into each other.
"I don't want to get involved in their family affairs."
Her mind was entirely focused on her own matters now.
Now that everyone knew the truth and had seen the real faces of Song Yulian and Cheng Tianhua, she felt her mother, wherever she was, could finally rest in peace.
She had already seen Cheng Tao's retribution and didn't need to do anything more.
Zhao Lifang's visible disappointment meant there would be no more good drama.
Cheng You glanced at her, "Aren't you going back yet?"
Zhao Lifang had never intended to stay here long-term.
Even though she had divorced Qian Dazhi, Deputy Director Qian doted on her and her unborn child, treating her quite well.
The house Qian Dazhi used to live in was now under Zhao Lifang's name, a reward for giving birth to this child.
"A few more days. Things are still chaotic at home. I'll watch a bit more drama and then leave."
With so much drama unfolding in Wujing Village, she didn't want to miss out.
The affair between Cheng Tianhua and Song Yulian had become the talk of the town, a joke for people to discuss over tea and dinner.
For several days, Cheng Tianhua and Song Yulian didn't leave their house.
They didn't even visit Cheng Tao after she gave birth to her daughter.
Only their neighbor Zhang Yunmei knew that the couple was fighting every day at home.
From the sounds, they were rehashing old grievances.
While they had protected each other in front of outsiders, as soon as they were behind closed doors, they started arguing about whose child Cheng Tao was.
Zhang Yunmei listened with interest and nudged Ye Changfu's hand.
"Did you hear that? Cheng Tao isn't Yang Lao Er's child, nor is she Cheng Tianhua's. Isn't that a bastard child!"
Ye Changfu put down his chopsticks and slammed the table forcefully.
"What nonsense are you spouting all day! Haven't you brushed your teeth for days? Your mouth stinks! She just gave birth, and you're calling her a bastard. Watch your mouth!"
Zhang Yunmei was berated by him and couldn't quite comprehend what was happening at first.
It wasn't until she saw him walking out that she stood up.
"What do you mean! The whole village is talking about this, it's not just me!"