"The villagers of our Willow Tree Village are all straightforward, honest, and peace-loving people. A village this simple and upright mustn't have any bad rumors going around, making people think our Willow Tree Village has a bad reputation."
"At that time, it might affect the girls in our village who haven't married yet, as well as the young men who haven't taken a wife."
Those last few sentences were something Su Qiao had picked up from Old Master Su and Old Madam Su, as well as Second Uncle and Second Aunt. Seeing how much Ernie herself valued marriage, she had added them on the spur of the moment.
Those few words had hit home. Quite a few of the surrounding villagers' expressions changed.
All of them had daughters or sons who were about to begin discussing marriage proposals.
Old Master Xia hadn't expected Su Qiao to be not only sharp-tongued but also so calculating. His expression shifted.
He gripped his cane tightly, suppressing his fury as he glowered at his eldest daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
"Erya, from today onward, until you're married, you're not allowed to take even half a step outside your room. Otherwise, I'll break your legs!"
"Grandpa, clearly it was..." Xia Xiaodie was deeply indignant.
Old Master Xia roared angrily, "Shut up! Get back inside immediately!"
"And you, Madam Liu. Our Xia Family doesn't need a daughter-in-law like you, stirring up trouble and throwing the household into chaos. Go back to your mother's family!"
If Old Master Xia hated his granddaughter for failing to live up to expectations, then toward his eldest daughter-in-law, he felt nothing but disgust and hatred.
In his eyes, everything had been caused by this troublemaker.
Whether it was what had happened last time, what had happened this time, or the fact that she