The Happy Farmer Wanderer-Chapter 113 The Hard Study of Human Nature_1

Chapter 113: Chapter 113 The Hard Study of Human Nature_1

Li Qing’s eyes reddened; he charged into the chaotic crowd like a frenzied, vicious wolf.

Forgetting the injuries on his body, he grabbed the women who were tearing at Yu Lan, punching and kicking until he forced them back and stood firmly in front of her, shielding her suddenly exposed, delicate shoulders.

"What are you all doing? When Hu Youyu was committing all sorts of evil, each of you bore it in silence like turtles shrinking into their shells, not even daring to let out a peep. Now that Hu Youyu is locked up, you turn around and bully a widow and her child. Do you find that amusing?" Li Qing roared angrily.

"That woman is no good either, always parading around all dressed up, turning the heads of all the men in the village, young and old. If this were the old days, she’d be nothing but a Su Daji, who brought calamity upon the nation!"

A woman with a waist as big as a barrel and a face full of flabby flesh was hopping mad and cursing aloud.

"She and Hu Youyu are two peas in a pod. How could she not be involved in the wicked deeds Hu Youyu did? Now that Hu Youyu is gone and we can’t do anything about it, we only have her to turn to!"

"She must give us an explanation today; otherwise, she has to settle our grievances, or else strip her naked and parade her through the streets to see how long she can still act high and mighty."

Li Qing turned and glanced at Yu Lan, who looked utterly dejected, clutching her clothes tightly and silently shedding tears. A surge of anger rushed to Li Qing’s head—he was seeing nothing but a bunch of bullies who picked on the weak.

"How many years has she been married here? If you have grievances, go find Hu Youyu. There’s no need to trouble them," Li Qing shouted loudly.

But no one listened to him.

The crowd continued to clamor and hurl abuses at Yu Lan.

All sorts of filthy language, as offensive as it could get.

"Li Qing, you little brat who’s barely grown any hair! Protecting this seductress so much, are you having an affair with her?" a woman yelled with a sneer.

"Go back and take care of your babies. I simply can’t stand the sight of you all bullying people like this. Not a word from me even when I clashed with Hu Youyu to this extent, and now you’re seizing the opportunity to exploit the situation. How are you any different from Hu Youyu? Have you no shame?" Li Qing cursed back in fury.

Village Chief Tang Jianmin squeezed out from the crowd, spread his arms, and shouted to everyone, "Quiet down, quiet down, everyone!"

"Qingzi is right. A debt is owed by the one who incurs it. If you have issues with Hu Youyu, go find Hu Youyu. There’s no need to make things difficult for a widow and her child. How much could Yu Lan have been involved in Hu Youyu’s affairs since she just came to the village a few years ago?"

"Village Chief, easy for you to say without a care. When Hu Youyu was bullying us, why didn’t I see you step up to do justice? Now you’re standing up for their family instead. Could it be that justice is only for the rich?" someone sneered.

A look of embarrassment was clear on Tang Jianmin’s face.

Seeing this, Li Qing shouted even louder, "Hu Youyu has already been locked up. If you also want to end up there, I won’t stop you—feel free to go ahead."

These words had quite an effect, making the villagers immediately wary.

"Who the hell do you think you’re scaring? Can the police really meddle that much?" a young man snarled with a sneer.

Li Qing retorted sarcastically, "Who else should handle fighting if not the police? That nonsense on the head of your bed at home, even if you wanted them to care, they wouldn’t bother."

"Since you’re so eager to seek trouble right now, I won’t stop you. Go ahead if you want to stir things up!"

Li Qing stepped aside, no longer blocking the path in front of Yu Lan.

Yet no one from the village dared to take action anymore.

Even though there were a few hotheads constantly stirring the pot and saying that Li Qing was just bluffing, nobody stepped forward.

Those few hotheads didn’t do more than courageously move their mouths amid the crowd.

Seeing the opportunity, Tang Jianmin called out, "Everyone go home, you’re really not doing yourselves any favors by staying."

"Let’s go, let’s go. There’s still work to be done in the fields. What a waste of time this is," someone chimed in first.

Soon, the villagers dispersed in small groups.

Some who loved to stir trouble, seeing the crowd thinning and no drama left to entertain them, also left with their heads down.

"Auntie, are you alright?" Li Qing looked at Yu Lan with a somewhat complicated gaze.

With so many people around, he didn’t dare to be overly affectionate.

Yu Lan’s eyes brimmed with tears as she shook her head and said to Hu Wei, "Xiao Wei, let’s go home."

The mother and son, who were only four or five years apart in age, restarted their motorcycle.

Li Qing watched their lonely and sorrowful figures, feeling a pain in his heart as if pricked by needles.

Today, he couldn’t even manage to say a few words of comfort.

Han Mei and Tian Yue’e walked over.

Tian Yue’e followed Li Qing’s gaze for a while and asked, "You’re not really having an affair with that pretty widow, are you?"

Li Qing’s heart tightened suddenly, and he quickly came back to his senses, "Yue’er, what are you talking about!"

"I just felt suddenly uneasy. Hu Youyu is definitely not any good, but the way everyone acted today wasn’t very commendable either."

"Auntie Yu Lan has helped me a lot, and it was she who got the contract fees back for me. I think she’s not a bad person."

Han Mei gave Tian Yue’e a side glance and said, "Yu Lan’s character is indeed quite good, I’ve talked to her quite a bit before. Hu Youyu never treated her properly at home, almost not allowing Yu Lan to say an extra word."

"But whenever someone in the village sought help from the Hu Family, Yu Lan always lent a hand. It’s said she even got beaten by Hu Youyu for speaking out for others. Yet today, aside from you and the village head, not a single person stood up for her. It makes me feel disheartened just watching it."

"People tend to bully the weak and fear the strong. Life is probably going to be hard for Yu Lan and Xiao Wei from here on out."

Li Qing, too, couldn’t help but worry.

He thought that he should visit Yu Lan when he had the chance and help out however he could.

The three of them walked towards Li Qing’s house together, and Han Mei quietly squeezed Li Qing’s hand, "Don’t mind that wild mare’s nonsense, your sister-in-law understands you."

Li Qing smiled slightly, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.

If his sister-in-law discovered that he actually had an affair with Yu Lan, he probably wouldn’t have any chance of a future with her.

Back at home, the two women diligently helped Li Qing wash bed sheets and clothes and cleaned everything inside and out.

With his injuries, Li Qing inevitably became an idle spectator.

He stared at the enticing figures of Han Mei and Tian Yue’e as they bustled in and out, appreciating them repeatedly.

The figures of beautiful women were truly something you could never tire of looking at.

From the front, there was the beauty of the front; from the back, there was the allure of the back.

"Had your fill of looking? Why do you always stare at my butt, can’t you look somewhere else?" Tian Yue’e suddenly came over, hitting Li Qing with a broom.

"You noticed?" Li Qing laughed.

"Am I blind? Do I have flowers on my butt?" Tian Yue’e said in annoyance.