Chapter 16: Feeling Wronged? Don't Accept It!

After a threat, Wufu briskly strode away, dragging Madam Zhou with her.

"Wufu, why must you argue with them about such trivial matters? By doing this, I'm afraid it'll only become more..." Madam Zhou was deeply worried. She knew the villagers' venomous tongues. She feared that after this outburst, who knew what kind of gossip they would spread about the mother and daughter behind their backs.

All these years, they had heard every unpleasant thing imaginable. She didn't have to take to heart what people said about her, but her Wufu was gradually growing into a young woman. If her reputation were to worsen, what would become of her future?

"Mother, life is too short. Why must we always suppress and belittle ourselves? We've endured for fourteen years, that's hardship enough. Can't we live freely and to our liking from now on?" Wufu said with a smile.

Hearing this, Madam Zhou pursed her lips, "It's because I'm useless..."

"Don't say such things. Your giving birth to me is enough of a contribution." Wufu reached out and blocked her mother's lips with her hand.

Madam Zhou's eyes reddened, and she couldn't help but raise her hand to brush a stray lock of hair from Wufu's forehead to behind her ear, moved as she said, "My child has grown up!"

The old Wufu would never have said such things, hearing them made you want to cry. It seemed that falling into a deep sleep had made her more sensible; truly, the Bodhisattva had blessed them.

"But Wufu, you still need to be more careful. Our reputation as women is too important. Next year you'll be reaching the age of marriage, a girl ready to be betrothed, and a good reputation is..." Madam Zhou's voice trailed off as she spoke.

As for reputation, if Wufu's father didn't come to claim the mother and daughter, Wufu's reputation would probably remain tainted with no hope of recovery.

And without a good reputation, what kind of decent match could she hope to make?

The label of "illegitimate daughter" twisted Madam Zhou's heart, and looking at her daughter's delicate face only intensified the ache.

Madam Zhou's worries were completely unknown to Wufu, and even if she knew, with her personality, she would hardly care.

What was reputation anyway? It was her life, and she was in charge. The heavens had given her a second chance, not to live as a submissive and aggrieved little wife.

As for getting married? Forget it, marrying at fifteen and then just being a wife popping out babies, stuck in the back house? What a joke.

This time around, she wanted to live as she pleased. If her reputation meant she couldn't get married, that suited her just fine. She'd have all of Jiangnan to explore and make her mark.

With their individual thoughts, the mother and daughter continued toward the town.

And it was only after the figures of the mother and daughter Wufu had nearly vanished from sight that Lady Guiniang blinked and realized, had that little brat just threatened her?

What's this about 'next time it will be her mouth that's rotten,' a wild brat daring to threaten her?

Lady Guiniang, with her hands on her hips, shouted and cursed at the retreating Wufu, spewing all sorts of vile and nasty words like rapid-fire, just short of chasing after them to argue some more.

So, it wasn't long before the neighbors on all sides knew of the awful incident with Wufu, and coupled with her status, their impression of her soured rapidly, painting her in the worst light possible, and dragging Madam Zhou through the mud along with her.

At this juncture, Madam Lu happened to pass by and was unwittingly caught in the crossfire, getting cursed at as well.

But Madam Lu was not as meek as Madam Zhou. She was fiery, shouted back in response, and then stormed off home in a huff.

"Mother, we can't live like this anymore. If you don't do something about Little Aunt and her lot parading around town, our Zhou family won't be able to survive in this village. We'll be drowned in their spit," Madam Lu said to her mother-in-law with a vicious look on her face.