Cheng Xiao Xiao certainly did not ask for this.
She had no intention to offend anyone, so she reached out and took her sister by her arm, and was about to bid Zhou Yu Niang farewell.
Unfortunately, Hung niang wasn't going to let them go so easily. She lifted her chin proudly and gave them a sidelong look filled with contempt, "Listen, the two of you. You think just because you are fair looking you can look down on us poor people? I've heard that your dad was beaten up. You guys can't even afford to buy food. You really think you can marry into a wealthy family. Hah! That is hilarious!"
Even Cheng Xiao Xiao was upset by the vicious remarks but before she could say anything, little Lan Lan shouted again, "An da niang1, that's just gibberish. We have lots of money and bought lots of stuff. We now have meat and white rice every day. You are the one who can't afford to eat, I hate you....."
The crowed didn't expect that rebuttal from little Lan Lan. They all felt that was unfanthomable, nor did anyone believe that could be true. Everybody more or less had an idea of the situation that the Cheng family was in.
Cheng Xiao Xiao frowned, she didn't feel right to announce their current situation publicly.
"You have money? Eating meat every day? And white rice"?" Hung niang snickered, "That's too good to be true. Did the money fall from the sky? I didn't see you guys wearing expensive jewelries. If you are going to lie, you should at least make up something more believable!"
"I am not lying!"
Little Lan Lan was flustered. She wanted to say more, but someone walked out from the crowd right at this moment and attracted everyone's attention.
It was Liu Danhang noticing they were Cheng Xiao Xiao and her sister and he had heard the entire conversation. He face was beet red. He looked at the cold and silent Cheng Xiao Xiao and the flustered little Lan Lan. He looked like he wanted to say something. His mouth moved a bit, but he did say a word after all.
He turned and still flushed, said to Hung niang, "Da niang, you can stop making fun of her. Look, people are already gathering to watch the drama."
"Oh, you silly. Da niang was doing this for you. Hrm, you should stop thinking about her. She would never care about someone like you. But don't worry, da niang will find you someone prettier. Look, their whole family are liars. You don't need someone like that!" Rudely, Hung niang shouted.
That was the last straw that broke the camel's back, Cheng Xiao Xiao couldn't remain silent any longer, coldly she said, "You treat others like how you want to be treated. As the old saying goes, a woman with a long tongue loves to gossip. They spread what is not true. They could not tell truth from lies. They aim to create rumors and spread them and create drama. They make up stories that are not true and place blame on the innocents. Their behaviors are abhorrent and will be punished for their sins after their death. Hmph!"
After she finished, she bowed to Zhou Yu Niang and left with her sister without looking at anyone else again.
Everybody there was dumbfounded. They were all illiterate and could barely write their own names. They couldn't understand the highly literate speech from Cheng Xiao Xiao. They caught a couple words here and there, and figured it was something bad.
Hung niang was so angry her complexion turned red and then white. She stared at the back of the two girls and stomped her feet and scolded, "Oh you slut, you couldn't just speak human speech? You didn't think I could understand you? I knew you called me a shrewd and said I'll go to hell, right...."
"That's enough. Control yourself, you do look like a shrewd right now. You were the one who started this with them, have you no shame?"
With an unhappy look, Cheng Xiao Xiao could hear both Hung Naing and the Patriarch Liu's words from afar. She black listed Hung Niang in her mind.