012 A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Liu Jianhua couldn’t bear the looks she was receiving. The words she had been forced to say against her will left her with no way to complain.

She was unwilling to accept this.

She had always been the one who trampled others underfoot, never had she been so humiliated.

All of this was Xu Xinyou’s fault. It was because of her that Liu Jianhua had become the village's laughingstock, a joke for idle gossip.

Suddenly, Liu Jianhua sprang up like a shrew, yelling sharply at everyone.

“Don’t believe a word of what I just said! None of it was voluntary—every word was a lie. I’m so wronged! It’s that despicable Xu Xinyou who cursed me and forced me to speak against my will. She can’t stand to see me well off.”

Liu Jianhua wailed and raged, rolling on the ground in fury.

“Xu Xinyou, you cursed soul, you bring misfortune! May you be cursed a thousand times! Your granduncle specializes in funerals, and before your father died, he too dealt with the dead. Your whole family is involved with the dead—no one normal among you. You’ve made my life miserable!”

Someone couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up, “It takes two hands to clap, and you’re the one at fault here. Liu Jianhua, I advise you to curse less and accumulate some virtue with your words.”

“Yang Pingzhi, mind your own business! Don’t interfere in my affairs,” Liu Jianhua snapped.

Yang Pingzhi shrugged in resignation. “Fine, do as you please. In the end, it won’t be me who suffers the consequences.”

Qu Zhanyi wore an innocent expression. “Auntie, how could I harm you? We have no grudge or enmity—I wouldn’t do that.”

Liu Jianhua, shamelessly frank as ever, admitted, “You didn’t harm me—I falsely accused you on purpose.”

Her tone was self-righteous, as if Qu Zhanyi deserved to be bullied.

Everyone exchanged looks.

Their faces were full of pity.

They had seen shameless before.

But never someone like Liu Jianhua who threw her face straight into the dung pit.

The women who usually kept close to Liu Jianhua now avoided her as if she were a venomous snake.

Seeing her situation hopeless, Liu Jianhua completely lost her mind and screamed, “I’m innocent, I’m innocent... Ahhh! I’m miserable! If I can’t have peace, no one else will!”

She unleashed her tantrum to the fullest, snapping at people like a rabid dog.

Everyone scattered at once, rushing into their homes.

They bolted doors and locked bolts in one swift motion.

Too afraid to be caught by Liu Jianhua and scratched to death on the spot.

Spotting Qu Zhanyi alone, Liu Jianhua lunged at her like a starving wolf.

Qu Zhanyi stood her ground calmly, using a gentle yet effective move to deflect all the attacks.

Liu Jianhua’s right foot slipped; her toe caught her left heel, and she instantly lost her balance, falling straight forward.

*Thud.*

*Splash.*

Two sharp sounds echoed in quick succession.

Hidden behind a door, someone peeked out from the wall and saw a figure planted in the village’s old dung pond.

Head down, feet up.

A perfectly inverted posture.

Liu Jianhua flailed her limbs, struggling to climb out of the dung pit.

Her fate truly matched the curse she uttered: “May the dung basin be placed on my head.”

Someone couldn’t hold back.

“Ugh…”

“Disgusting... Ugh, ugh…”

Liu Jianhua had no dignity left. She pulled up her sleeve to cover her face and tried to run home.

But her sleeve was smeared with indescribable filth, which ended up smearing all over her face.

Then she too couldn’t hold back.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh…”

That day, the villagers witnessed a foul-smelling, dung-covered fat woman tailing away in utter disgrace.

Even the passing dogs were sickened and retched.

The farce had finally come to an end.

Qu Zhanyi had nothing to do.

She strolled leisurely through the village.

The winter sun shone warmly on her.

It was so comforting.

So peaceful.