Chapter 2: Tu Sanmei's Troublesome Past

The older woman bristled instantly: "What do you mean 'what'? Not a scourge? Not a leech? Not a bandit or a robber? In this courtyard, which family hasn't been forced by you to give you food?

You beg for food with such self-righteousness; are you a born bandit, you damn girl?

Feeding you is worse than feeding a dog; at least a dog wags its tail at me after eating. You, you damn thing, are just like an evil spirit, clinging to us and sucking our blood endlessly. Do I owe you something? You damn thing, you almost stripped away my coffin money. Bad luck!

If it weren't for Ling Yang's sake, I would have torn that cheap skin of yours off long ago.

Hmph, Ling Yang doesn't want you anymore, let's see how arrogant you can be now."

It was clear that this older woman held a deep grudge against Tu Sanmei.

Tu Sanmei’s first impression was one of dullness, gloom, and cowardice; at first glance, she even seemed a bit pitiful.

At the beginning, whether out of respect for Ling Yang or genuine pity, whenever she had nothing to eat, the people in the courtyard were more or less willing to give her something.

Later, after being forced to provide food countless times and seeing her take various things as if it were her due, their opinions changed completely.

Coupled with her slovenly and lazy nature, everyone felt that their initial pity should have been fed to the dogs, and they regretted it so much they beat their chests in frustration.

Tu Shan…

"I am not Tu Sa—"

"Hey, hey, Auntie Wang, you’re literate, hurry up and see what this says!" An older woman squeezed into the room, bumping into Tu Shan and making her stumble, cutting off her words as she picked up the paper from the floor and handed it to Auntie Wang.

Auntie Wang was the landlady, the only literate old woman there. She took one look and said, "Whoa, a Big-Character Poster. Tu Sanmei, you’re ruthless! You actually put up a Big-Character Poster against Zhang Limei. Look at this, is this even human language?

'Zhang Limei is shameless, seducing a married man, should be paraded through the streets and drowned in the pond, deserves to die.'"

"Pah! Zhang Limei is a clean, innocent young woman, a widow at that. You’ve come to her door to cause trouble time and again; she’s had the worst luck in eight lifetimes. You’ve dumped such a huge pile of filth on her that she can barely go on living.

This doesn't just ruin Zhang Limei's reputation; you’ve also ruined half of Ling Yang’s bright future. Act like a human, you animal!

No wonder Ling Yang wants to divorce you. You deserve it."

Tu Shan pursed her lips, carefully recalling until she remembered who this person was.

Zhang Limei was the widow of one of Ling Yang’s comrades-in-arms. She worked as a temporary employee at the military hospital, a job specifically arranged by the organization to care for the families of martyrs.

She had a delicate, pretty face, but her figure was exceptionally full and hot, always drawing men’s eyes.

Ling Yang had a good relationship with his late comrade and took extra care of Zhang Limei. Zhang Limei, in turn, reciprocated by often sending him small gifts or snacks out of gratitude.

When Tu Sanmei found out, she thought Zhang Limei was seducing Ling Yang.

She had sought Zhang Limei out to fight once and had caused a scene at her workplace once.

Zhang Limei was miserable, everyone was disgusted, and Ling Yang was criticized because of it.

Ling Yang had warned Tu Sanmei, but it was useless.

In front of Ling Yang, Tu Sanmei was obedient, letting him hit or scold her like a punching bag.

But behind his back, she would go crazy and cause trouble like a lunatic.

The day before yesterday, she had gone to the hospital again to put up a Big-Character Poster.

Zhang Limei was so ashamed and indignant that she cried and threatened to jump off the building to prove her innocence. It had caused quite a stir at the time.

"Oh my, no wonder she was so cold and quiet, she was as angry as a firecracker. She scared the life out of me just now.

It’s good they divorced; once they’re divorced, we’ll have some peace."

The older woman’s dark fingernails were almost poking Tu Shan’s forehead: "You won't even admit you're a scourge when you are one. You only do things that hurt others without benefiting yourself. Was your brain eaten by a pig?

Look at that, you’ve ruined a perfectly good life, haven't you?

Come to think of it, it’s a miracle that Ling Yang could provide for a piece of trash like you for ten years. You must have saved all of humanity in your past life.

You have hands and feet, yet you do nothing, only knowing how to reach out and ask Ling Yang for money. Ten yuan a month, and you blow through it in half a month. It’s a sin!

If it were me, I would have divorced you long ago. Pah, you bad-luck charm."

Auntie Wang had the most to say: "It’s not just bad luck. Look at my perfectly good room, ruined until it looks like a dog kennel. The smell of the outhouse outside is better than the smell in here.

And my furniture..." Auntie Wang beat her chest: "A whole room of furniture, and since this scourge moved in, not a single piece is left.

You plague-ridden scourge, you spend all the money Ling Yang gives you in the first half of the month, and spend the second half selling my furniture to get by. Is this something a human would do?"

The first few times, out of respect for Ling Yang, she had replaced what was sold. After the third time, she wanted to tear the person apart. What kind of freak was this?

Auntie Wang had roamed the world for decades and had never met someone so shameless.

Tu Shan felt like a mute eating coptis—she had bitterness she couldn't voice.

Being pointed at and scolded by these older women, she couldn't say a single word of rebuttal. After all, it was all true.

Over the years, although Ling Yang didn't care for Tu Sanmei, he had fulfilled the duties and responsibilities of a husband, ensuring Tu Sanmei was fed and clothed.

Yet, Tu Sanmei, who had been trained like an old ox in the Tu family, had inexplicably become a lazy woman after marrying Ling Yang, doing absolutely no housework.

She didn't change her clothes, didn't sweep the floor, didn't even bathe; a dog was cleaner than her.

All year round, she spent Ling Yang’s money in the first half of the month and sold the landlord’s furniture in the second half. When there was no furniture left, she would beg for food all over the courtyard. Everyone in the courtyard was a creditor of Tu Sanmei.

It was hard to even comment on.

Ling Yang was the landlord’s savior; otherwise, she would have kicked Tu Sanmei out long ago.

So, don't let the landlord’s rough appearance and fierce face fool you; she was a good person who knew how to repay kindness.

"I heard she used underhanded means to marry Ling Yang. Ling Yang was such a fine young man, and he was ruined just like that. It’s a sin."

Auntie Wang snorted coldly: "You're telling me! If it weren't for her back then, Ling Yang might have married my niece. They’d have seven or eight kids by now; he wouldn't have had to suffer like this."

Everyone fell silent. Auntie Wang wasn't the only one who had wanted to play matchmaker for Ling Yang, so if Tu Sanmei hadn't been there, it wouldn't necessarily have been Auntie Wang’s niece who married him.

Tu Shan didn't know about that, but Ling Yang was indeed very attractive; otherwise, she wouldn't have been thinking about marrying him before she was even an adult.

Back then, after she married Tu Liang, Ling Yang came to see her.

Not only did he not see her, but he was schemed against by the Tu family, forced to save the drowning Tu Sanmei, and then pressured into marrying her.

She had wanted to help Ling Yang escape the Tu family, but she hadn't expected Ling Yang to agree to it himself.

She had been heartbroken for a long time back then.

These were the sins committed by the Tu family and Tu Sanmei. Now that she was wearing Tu Sanmei’s skin, she had to grit her teeth and accept it.

Anyway, even if she swore on her life that she wasn't Tu Sanmei, no one would believe her.

"I will pay it back." She would pay it back, even if she had to sell her blood. Whether she owed these people or Ling Yang, she would pay it back.

Heaven had let her return; she was already luckier than everyone else, so she was willing to pay Tu Sanmei’s debts.

"Pay back my foot! You pay back?" Auntie Wang spat in Tu Shan’s face. Her fierce features, twisted by anger, looked like a female demon: "Don't think I don't know what kind of tricks you're playing, you damn girl.

Ling Yang doesn't want you anymore, so you're using the excuse of paying things back to cling here shamelessly and continue to plague us all.

Maybe you're still thinking that since Ling Yang is a good, soft-hearted person, if you act pitiful enough, he’ll keep supporting you.

I spit on that! Keep dreaming! Get lost! Get out of my room right now, immediately! Don't force me to use my hands to throw you out myself."

"That's right, get out, get out, get out! Don't think about staying here to plague people anymore. Ling Yang is waiting to marry a new wife; don't go looking for trouble here, you damn girl."

"We were all tolerating you for Ling Yang’s sake. Don't be ungrateful. Get out while our tempers haven't flared up yet, or if we start, your cheap skin won't be able to take it."

This group of older women had already started scouting for a new wife for Ling Yang. In a few moments, seven or eight faces had passed through their minds. They were determined not to let Tu Sanmei cause trouble here.

Tu Shan’s mouth twitched violently. She wasn't her, she didn't do it, she was being wronged.

Forced to retreat repeatedly by the group of older women, she felt a breath trapped in her chest, and her blood pressure surged.

She finally understood what it meant to be the target of public criticism.

Forget it. Tu Sanmei’s persona wasn't suited for a gentle approach anyway.