Chapter 61: Liu Liyun Pays a Visit

"Was it you?"

After a month apart, Liu Liyun had grown haggard; her lips were cracked dry. Her swollen eyes, resembling peaches, glared at Tang Banxia with poisonous resentment.

Tang Banxia busied herself tidying up the room. It had been untouched for a month, a layer of dust settling over everything, and she paid Liu Liyun no mind whatsoever.

"Tang Banxia!" Liu Liyun shrieked, her voice breaking, "Was it you who spread it?"

Wen Mubai returned, carrying water. Upon seeing Liu Liyun, his expression turned cold. "What are you doing here?"

The sight of him brought back memories of the beating she received that night; Liu Liyun involuntarily shuddered. "I'm looking for Banxia."

"You are not welcome in our home." Wen Mubai brushed past her with his buckets, his eyes commanding her to leave.

Liu Liyun cursed inwardly. "Tang Banxia, if you didn't do it, why can't you look me in the eye? Are you feeling guilty?"

"Who said I didn't?" Tang Banxia's indifferent voice came from across the room. "I did it."

Liu Liyun's eyes nearly burst with fury. "You wretch!"

"What grudge do I have against you? Why must you slander me like this?"

Smack!

"Watch your mouth." Wen Mubai slapped her without hesitation.

The blow turned Liu Liyun's head aside. Hatred churned in her heart, but she stubbornly remained, switching tactics to pitifulness. "Banxia, I'm begging you. Please help me clear my name. I'll kneel if I must."

With those words, she dropped to her knees. "If this keeps up, my reputation will be ruined."

Tang Banxia finally spared her a glance. "What does that have to do with me?"

Let the shameless suffer.

Liu Liyun wanted to curse, but Wen Mubai watched her like a hawk; she dared not move. Tang Banxia was impervious to threats or pleas, so Liu Liyun played her trump card. "Tang Banxia, if you don't help me, I'll reveal your true nature to Comrade Wen."

"Do as you please," Tang Banxia replied without care.

Liu Liyun nearly ground her teeth to dust. Seeing Tang Banxia truly unconcerned, she turned to Wen Mubai. "Comrade Wen, listen to me. Don't let Tang Banxia deceive you."

"She already has someone she likes—she's fond of Yang Zhibo, the intellectual. That medicine was meant for Comrade Yang, only you drank it by mistake."

"She's always looked down on you. She's told me you're nothing but a pretty face living off women, a coward with no backbone, disgracing all men. She said she didn't know which unlucky woman would marry you someday."

"She even said she'd rather die than marry you."

"Comrade Wen, don't be fooled by her. She only married you because you’re a martyr’s orphan, with good class status. She’s a cruel woman."

"Look how well I treated her, and she still ruined my reputation, trying to drive me to despair. Open your eyes, Comrade Wen. Tang Banxia is cunning and calculating, not worth your kindness—she's just using you!"

Liu Liyun cried as she spoke, her haggard face making her appear genuinely pathetic. She looked at Wen Mubai, hoping he’d awaken and divorce Tang Banxia.

Let’s see if Tang Banxia can remain so smug as a pariah.

But Wen Mubai only smiled slowly, "I’m perfectly content."

"What?" Liu Liyun gasped.

Wen Mubai ignored her, pushed her out the door, clapped his hands, and stood at the threshold. "If you come to my house again, I’ll hit you every time!"

With that, he shut the door firmly, showing no mercy.

Liu Liyun hadn’t recovered from the shock before the door slammed shut before her eyes.

She stared in disbelief. What did Wen Mubai mean? Did he not care about Tang Banxia’s disdain?

Her expression twisted. She glared at the door, wishing she could barge in, shake Wen Mubai by the neck, and snap him out of it.

But remembering his slap, she dared not.

She sat dazed on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

A cold wind blew, jolting her awake. She saw passersby pointing and whispering, hurriedly stood up, and ran back to the Educated Youth Center.

Back at the Center, she was met with cold indifference. Her hatred for Tang Banxia deepened.

She lowered her head, hurried across the courtyard, returned to her room, then emerged with reddened eyes. "Who did it? Who was responsible?"

The female educated youths responded with icy disregard.

One stepped forward. "I did."

Liu Liyun recoiled when she saw who it was. "Pei Shengnan, are you out of your mind?"

The short-haired Pei Shengnan advanced, her eyes blazing. "Yes, I am mad!"

"Liu Liyun, as long as you remain in this Center, I won’t let you off." Pei Shengnan glared, as if she wished to devour Liu Liyun.

"You—I never wronged you," Liu Liyun insisted, though she knew the reason but couldn’t show it.

Pei Shengnan sneered. "Don’t believe me? Wait and see."

Liu Liyun looked around. Everyone watched impassively; not a single person spoke for her.

Her heart brimmed with resentment, but she hated Tang Banxia even more.

If not for her, would everyone treat her this way? It was all Tang Banxia’s fault!

Under the moonlight, Liu Liyun’s eyes were bloodshot, and deep within, a trace of madness flickered.

Elsewhere—

Tang Banxia had stewed a pot of mixed vegetables and made a piglet-shaped bun, filling the house with a delicious aroma when she lifted the lid.

Wen Mubai, for once, didn’t rush to eat. He sidled up to Tang Banxia, sticking to her like a puppy, whining and nestling close.

Tang Banxia attended to her herbs, her mind on Liu Liyun’s matter.

As for Liu Liyun, it was indeed Tang Banxia who spread the news. The whole affair was tied to another female educated youth, though that girl was already dead.

That girl had been schemed against by Liu Liyun, married off, suffered years of domestic abuse, and finally drowned herself. Few knew the truth. Tang Banxia had only half-guessed, then tricked Liu Liyun into confirming it.

She hadn’t decided what to do, but Liu Liyun had unwittingly provided a perfect solution. How could she not repay Liu Liyun’s earnest efforts?

As for Yang Zhibo, Tang Banxia remembered him—refined, always in a white shirt and black pants, book in hand, reciting poetry and playing the role of a literary giant.

This act impressed people, especially in the countryside full of rough men. Yang Zhibo stood out—if not for Wen Mubai.

Wen Mubai’s looks weren’t the era’s typical ideal, but his beauty was undeniable. Even if unconventional, he drew attention.

This made Yang Zhibo less conspicuous, though many, especially the educated girls, admired him.

To them, Yang Zhibo far outshone Wen Mubai.

But who was Tang Banxia? She’d seen every kind of monster; Yang Zhibo didn’t even catch her eye—not even the original Tang Banxia’s.

After all, she was a Tang family daughter, accustomed to excellent men. How could she fancy a shallow show-off like Yang Zhibo?

She glanced at Wen Mubai, raising her brows. "Xiaobai, I think you’re hiding something from me. You’re not quite the same as when we first met~"

Wen Mubai’s eyelids twitched wildly. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, I just suddenly remembered how impressive you were in that fight." Tang Banxia picked up some noodles with her chopsticks. "Feels like you have many secrets~"

Wen Mubai smiled ingratiatingly. "What secrets could I have? I was just worried about Qixin and Wenming~"

"I didn’t want them to get beaten."

He tilted his head in explanation, diligently offering Tang Banxia a piece of meat.

Tang Banxia looked at him with a half-smile. "Really?"

Wen Mubai nodded vigorously. "Of course!"

Tang Banxia lowered her head, her voice drifting across the table. "Xiaobai, I’ll believe whatever you say, but I hate lies. If I ever discover you’ve deceived me..."

She left the sentence unfinished, but her meaning was clear.

Beneath the table, Wen Mubai’s hand clenched into a fist. "That day will never come," he vowed firmly.

If need be, he’d live off her for a lifetime.

As for pride—compared to his wife, it was nothing but a distant cloud. At this moment, Wen Mubai felt utterly resolute.

Tang Banxia studied him for a while. "Eat up."

For now, she trusted this boy.

Liu Liyun’s troubles hadn’t disturbed Tang Banxia in the slightest.

Over the following days, Tang Banxia handled miscellaneous affairs, tended to villagers needing medical care, got the village in order, and began preparing for her trip to Jiangcheng...