Chapter 74: A Bad Reputation

  It's not yet noon, and the vegetable market is still bustling with people coming and going. On both sides of the street are vendors selling vegetables, mostly elderly women and children, but also some young men and middle-aged husbands. However, this place has a completely different atmosphere from the grand commercial streets of Dahe. This might be the most populous and lively gathering place for the poorest residents in town.

  Xue Lengyu wove through the crowd, her mood slowly relaxing. She was just an ordinary person from a humble background, accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the vegetable market and the liveliness of street food stalls, where people were in close proximity to each other. In contrast, both the Murong and Muwang estates gave off a cold, distant feeling that seemed a thousand miles away.

  Xue Lengyu walked through the vegetable market, looking at the small stalls on both sides. The goods of this era were indeed poor and single-minded. Apart from fish, meat, chicken, duck and other savory foods, there were only seasonal vegetables coming and going. This season, it was nothing but lotus root, cucumber, winter melon, eggplant, green vegetables and the like, with no others to be found. As for fruit, there was even less, pitifully so.

  Xue Lengyu felt a pang of sadness in her heart, and slowly walked forward, thinking about whether to buy some useful things, and try making a face mask tonight. But she hesitated again, knowing nothing about ancient silver coins, and still having a lot of money on her, what if someone took notice of her, or accidentally gave the wrong thing, that would be a huge loss.

  As I walked and thought, I turned a corner and heard a cacophony of noise, as if many female voices were speaking at the same time.

  Xue Lengyu saw everything as fresh at this time, and hurriedly looked towards the place where the sound came from. He saw a stall in front of him, crowded with seven or eight women, most of whom were 18 or 19 years old girls, who were eagerly selecting something to buy.

  Xue Lengyu suddenly became interested, what new and fresh goods were they? Or was it particularly cheap, like a supermarket's limited-time big sale?

  Xue Lengyu quickened her pace, not forgetting to reach out and touch the purse that was safely tucked in her bosom, before hastily turning sideways and squeezing into the crowd.

  "Don't push, don't push. Everyone has some." A gentle and familiar voice comforted the crowd, while also saying: "Miss, you owe a total of twenty cents."

  "Thank you, Xiao Ge." The woman's voice was tinged with a hint of shyness.

  "I thank you for taking care of business, take good care of things." Zhang Fengsong's voice was warm and gentle like the early summer sunshine: "Be careful on the road."

  Xue Lengyu squeezed into the crowd and saw a vendor selling peaches on a wooden cart, which seemed to have just been picked from the tree, still with fresh leaves attached, looking tender and delicious.

  It's obvious that this isn't the reason why so many girls are attracted to him. In the middle of the stall, Xian Feng Song, who is still looking handsome despite wearing a simple outfit, was busy helping the girls pick out goods, weighing them, and collecting money, with a smile on his face that was just like the one he had that day.

  Neither arrogant nor humble, calm and gentle. With a smile, he wraps up the goods for customers with a courteous bow, just like a gentleman's demeanor. Standing up straight with a smile, his image suddenly becomes tall and majestic.

  The faint chill in Xue Lengyu's heart had actually warmed up in that smile. Warm, kind-hearted, and good-natured, such a man, even if he was at the bottom of society, couldn't be ignored. Unlike Shi Li's cold and oppressive indifference, unlike Li Mu's high-and-mighty attitude, or Murong Haoyuan's condescending charity. This man, even though it was only their second meeting, still made Xue Lengyu feel like there was no distance between them.

  Not wanting to disturb him at this time, Xue Lengyu quietly stepped aside and watched from the outside of the crowd. More than half a period of time had passed before the peaches on the stall were sold out, and the girls also dispersed one after another, only then did she move forward slightly.

  Xuan Feng was bowing his head and packing things up, feeling that someone else was approaching, so he said: "Sorry, it's already sold out."

  Xue Lengyu smiled: "That's a pity, I wanted to ask for two."

  The voice sounds familiar, Zhan Feng Song hurriedly lifted his head and saw that it was Xue Leng Yu. He was stunned for a moment: "Miss Xue, how is it you?"

  Xue Lengyu smiled and said, "I was wandering around the street, saw that it was lively over here, so I came to take a look. As a result, I saw a group of girls surrounding you. Xiao Zhan, your charm is really great, just look at those girls, their eyes are full of love."

  Zhan Feng's face suddenly turned red as he lowered his head and said, "No way... Miss Xue, you're joking."

  It's really too cute, watching Xue Feng's face turn slightly red, Xue Lengyu suddenly didn't dare to speak nonsense anymore, afraid that people of this generation are not used to making such jokes, and really think she is a frivolous woman, but actually ruining the impression in her heart.

  For some reason, Xue Lengyu suddenly felt a little at a loss. Thinking of her identity, she suddenly felt a hint of fear, afraid that Zhan Fengsong would look down on her.

  The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat depressed, and Xue Lengyu, who thought he could be careless, stared at his shoes, not knowing what to say. Until a voice broke the silence of this strange atmosphere.

  "Oh dear, Xiao Zhan, it's sold out so quickly!" A middle-aged auntie in her fifties from the next stall poked her head over.

  Xuan Feng suddenly came back to his senses from his confused thoughts, raised his head and smiled: "Auntie Li, there aren't many things today, so they're selling quickly."

  "You're still so modest. It's not like you're handsome or anything, but you've got a group of girls swooning over you." Auntie Li's voice was tinged with jealousy: "Hmph... I don't know what kind of luck Old Man Zhang has, picking up someone as filial as you to bring home."

  Xue Lengyu was shocked upon hearing this. What? Wasn't Xian Fengsong also a child born to the Xian family?

  A few days ago, Xue Lengyu was too busy to think about Zhan Fengsong. Now that Li Daxiong has mentioned it, she suddenly remembered that her mother had introduced them at home that day. If Zhan Fengsong were originally from this village and around the same age as her, even if they weren't childhood playmates, there's no reason why they wouldn't know each other.

  Zhan Fengsong didn't mind Li Dasa's impolite words, she was notorious in this market for being a gossip and having a sharp tongue. She was also an older woman, so what's the point of arguing with her?

  Xian Feng smiled slightly: "My foster father and mother are good people, they rescued me, I treat them well, it's what I should do."

  The smile of Zhan Fengsong was indeed universally lethal, and Li Daxiang's heart skipped a beat. The sarcastic remarks she had prepared were left unspoken. Just as she was about to turn around and attend to her own business, she saw the woman standing beside him, furrowing her brow, and couldn't help but exclaim loudly: "You are Xue Lengyu?"

  Could it be that this Auntie Li also knew herself? Xue Lengyu didn't dare to say that she had lost her memory, so she just smiled and greeted: "Auntie Li."

  "Hey, how is it that Miss Xue, a delicate young lady like yourself, would also come to such a dirty place?"

  Xue Lengyu was taken aback, not knowing why Li Dasa had this attitude towards her. She could only think that maybe the original Xue Lengyu would put on a high and mighty, arrogant air, so she must have had conflicts with these people before.

  Xue Lengyu couldn't say anything else and could only continue smiling: "Auntie Li really loves to joke around."

  "Kidding? A young lady like you, how dare I joke with you?" Li Dasa seemed to have no intention of letting Xue Lengyu off so easily, instead raising her voice, causing the people at the nearby stalls to turn their heads in curiosity.

  Xue Mu often sells some by-products in the market to supplement her family's expenses, so far and near, most of them are familiar with each other. It seems that they all know Xue Lengyu, and when they see her, a hint of disdain appears in their eyes.

  I don't know what Xue Lengyu did in the past, so I don't know how to react. Moreover, the other party is a big shot, and Xue Lengyu doesn't want to argue with her on the street in front of Zhang Fengsong, losing face. With a slight sadness in his heart, he lowered his head and said softly, "I'll leave first."

  Zhan Feng hurriedly said: "I've already packed up, let's go together."

  Xue Lengyu didn't even have time to speak, and only heard Li Dasa say "Little Zhang, it's not that I like to talk about other people's affairs, but I'm doing this for your own good. A woman like Xue Lengyu, you'd better keep a distance from her. You should know, in the past she...

  Li Da Shu curled her lip, seemingly unwilling to say it out loud.

  Zhan Feng Cong listened but was displeased: "Auntie Li, Miss Xue is a young lady from a respectable family, how can you speak of her like that in front of everyone."

  Auntie Li, however, was unconvinced: "What did I say that was wrong? She's been flirting with rich men, looking down on her own parents. She indulges in luxury and lets them suffer alone, struggling with hunger and cold. A heartless and vicious woman like her is not worthy of a good young man like you."

  Xue Lengyu lowered her head and didn't speak, secretly sighing. What could she say? Shouting out loud, in fact I'm not Xue Lengyu.

  It would be strange if others didn't think she was crazy, and no one would believe her anyway.

  Moreover, judging from her own understanding of the current situation, what Li Daxi said might not be entirely false. Even if there's a bit of exaggeration, Xue Lengyu abandoning her parents and marrying into the Murong family is probably true. Otherwise, the Xue family wouldn't be in such a dire state now.

  Even a minor concubine from the Murong estate would have enough wealth to provide for the two elderly members of the Xue family.

  Xue Lengyu was somewhat resentful and didn't speak, but Zhan Fengsong refused to listen to such talk. At first, he had no good impression of Xue Lengyu, but later when they met again, seeing that she could maintain her composure in front of Mrs. Xue despite the circumstances, he couldn't believe what was said about her in the message, and he couldn't believe that Xue Lengyu was such a heartless woman.

  "Li Daxiong, you must have misunderstood." Zhan Fengsong said: "Xue Niang is not that kind of person, she is also very filial to Xue Dama and Xue Dabo."

  "Filial piety?" Li Daxi sneered, "Now it's natural, was she kicked out by the Murong family? Besides the two honest old men of the Xue family, who else would take in a discarded concubine. It's said that she was kicked out for doing many shameful things. If she doesn't pretend to be filial and obedient, where can she go? Xiao Zhang, don't be deceived by her appearance, this kind of broken shoe deserves to never marry."

  Xue Lengyu's fist clenched and unclenched, unclenched and clenched again. He really didn't want to be on the same level as this middle-aged woman, but she spoke with increasing enthusiasm, saying more and more unpleasant things, although they were all about Xue Lengyu's past, first of all, it was inaccurate, secondly, after all, he was listening now, and in front of such a handsome guy like Zhan Fengsong.

  In the end, Xue Lengyu couldn't bear it anymore and let out a loud roar: "Enough!"

  Li Dabao didn't expect Xue Lengyu to suddenly flare up, her whole body involuntarily shaking for a moment, taking a step back. Then she sneered again: "What? You can't bear it when someone hits your weak spot? Those shameless things you dared to do, why don't you dare let people talk about them?"

  Xue Lengyu's hands trembled slightly as she took a deep breath, her expressionless face staring at Li Dasa, saying word by word: "What shameless things have I done? You'd better say them out loud and listen."

  "You..." Auntie Li was momentarily stunned by Xue Lengyu's aura: "You have the nerve to ask, after all the things you've done."

  "What's going on?" Xue Lengyu let out a cold snort, taking a step closer: "If I said that I was bad to my parents before, it was my fault. Now I've changed and my parents have forgiven me. It's none of your business what happens in someone else's family. You can gossip behind people's backs if you want, but don't keep harping on about it right in front of them. Let me tell you, Xue Lengyu has never been one to be bullied. Even though I'm not at the Murong estate anymore, if you provoke me, you'll still have trouble living a peaceful life."

  Li Da Shu's heart was in a flurry, wanting to retort, but she opened her mouth and couldn't say anything. This Xue Leng Yu, how did he become different from what she had imagined?

  In the past, Xue Lengyu was also overbearing and arrogant, but he didn't have this kind of aura now.

  Xue Lengyu saw that Li Dasa didn't speak, and took another step closer: "I was indeed driven out of the Mu Rong estate, but I'm telling you, I've never done anything I shouldn't have done, I've never done anything shameful. Even now, standing in front of Mu Rong Haoxuan, I can still hold my head high with confidence and righteousness."

  Li Da Shu said with discontent: "If you hadn't done anything shameful, how could you have been driven out?"

  Xue Lengyu said coldly, "You say you've done it and that's it? Did you see it with your own eyes? You've only heard some rumors and don't understand the truth, yet you're spreading them everywhere, ruining people's reputations. Do you think you're proud of this?"

  Someone next to him chimed in, "Xue Lengyu, everyone knows about your affairs. There's no need for Li Dajie to spread the word. Without wind, there are no waves; surely it can't be that the Murong estate intentionally framed you? You're nothing compared to their esteemed family."

  Xue Lengyu had been scolded like that before, and in a fit of anger, she almost wanted to grab something and throw it at the source of the sound. Before she could say another word, a white cabbage leaf suddenly appeared out of nowhere, flying through the air in an arc and hitting her right on the collar, making a slapping sound, instantly leaving a dirty stain.

  Xue Lengyu was stunned for a moment, not knowing what had happened. He looked up to see a girl of only twelve or thirteen years old standing in the crowd of onlookers, her hand still in the throwing motion.

  That crisp and clear childish voice said: "Shameless woman, trying to seduce my brother."