Forced to marry, I picked up a young powerful official

After hearing about this, Shen Nankui felt a dull pain in his heart and felt sorry for the young and innocent life.

"Grandma, please accept my condolences."

She walked over to Mrs. Li and helped her up.

Mrs. Li suddenly knelt down in front of her, holding her hand tightly and said, "Mrs. Gu, you don't know that I am not blessed. My son and daughter-in-law both died early, and I only have Cui'er as my granddaughter. We have depended on each other for more than ten years, and Cui'er passed away when something like this happened. I hate her so much!"

"Just now I heard you say that it was the tiger's fault when a vicious tiger hurt people. I think that's right, but if it was really a tiger, it would be fine. A tiger eats people, it doesn't mean to, it just wants to eat when it's hungry. What's hateful is that it's this world that eats people!"

Mrs. Li burst into tears and looked at everyone.

"Tell me, what did Madam Gu do wrong? And what did my poor Cui'er do wrong?"

Listening to her tearful accusation, no one dared to look her in the eye.

Shen Nankui and Liang helped Mrs. Li up.

Shen Nankui comforted her softly, "Grandma, I know how you feel. Cui'er shouldn't have suffered this kind of misfortune, but the dead are gone. I can't do anything for Cui'er anymore, but what I can promise is that as long as I am alive, I will continue to spread these words today, so that more women like Cui'er will know how to cherish themselves, how to be strong, how to resist, and how to seek fairness in this cannibalistic world, instead of the wrongdoers going free and the victims suffering unjustly."

As she spoke, her eyes became more and more determined.

"well!"

Mrs. Li was so shocked that she couldn't speak for several times.

After a long while, her emotions gradually calmed down, and she took Shen Nankui's hand and said, "Mrs. Gu, thank you. The anger and hatred in my heart can finally be dispelled today."

She raised her sleeves to wipe her tears and suddenly let out a long sigh.

"If my Cui'er had met you earlier and heard what you said, perhaps... she would not have committed suicide."

Mrs. Li paused and continued, "I will definitely go to Cui'er's grave and read these words to her, so that the silly child can rest in peace in the underworld."

Hearing this, most of the women outside the ancestral hall were wiping their tears, and many men also had red eyes.

The head of the village was also very moved. He walked in front of everyone and said slowly, "Fellow villagers, don't think gossiping is a trivial matter. Who knows that these groundless rumors will cause innocent people to lose their lives? Do you want such a thing to happen to your family members?"

Everyone shook their heads.

The head of the village bowed to Shen Nankui.

"Today, Master Shen taught us this truth. We should feel ashamed for the words that have slandered her. Master Shen, I will bring my fellow villagers to apologize to you."

Seeing that the village head bowed and saluted, everyone also apologized to Shen Nankui sincerely.

"Master Shen, I'm sorry."

Shen Nankui smiled calmly, "The world is cruel, but human nature is good. I hope everyone can really understand this."

Now the misunderstandings have been resolved.

The head of the village said, "Everyone knows the situation of the private school. With this meager tuition, it is difficult to invite scholars or candidates to be teachers. During the time that Master Shen has been in charge of the private school, have the children in the family become more sensible and have they made progress in their studies? I believe that these results are obvious to all. Therefore, I intend to let Master Shen continue to teach in the private school. Do you have any objections?"

For a moment, no one stood up to object.

Wang Ping was indignant and dissatisfied that all the limelight was stolen by a woman like Shen Nankui today.

He had a worried look on his face.

"Fellow villagers, please think carefully. Although Madam Gu's teaching seems to be correct, do you know what the teacher of Cang County Academy said when he knew that Lai'an Town Private School invited a woman to teach?"

There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"They say that it is absurd for a woman to be a teacher. Not to mention whether she can teach well, with a woman's feminine nature, how can she teach a man to start a family and achieve success in the imperial examinations? Even though the children you send to private schools are not very old, this stage is also the time to lay a solid foundation. A group of children studying with a woman is no different from playing house. Isn't it misleading the students?"

"Besides, even if Madam Gu is innocent, what will the students think of her being involved in such a big case? Are they willing to do that?"

Everyone was silent again for a moment.

After all, the children studying in private schools are all young. Shen Nankui is related to such a big murder case. Will the children be scared when they see her?

Wang Ping couldn't help feeling proud when he saw the expressions on everyone's faces.

"Mrs. Gu has been frightened and has been wronged these days. In my opinion, it is better for her to rest at home for a while. As for the future of the private school students, there will be suitable people to take over. Wang, relying on the support of the villagers, will not sit idly by."

He raised his arms and bowed to everyone, looking very confident.

"We don't agree!"

Before anyone could reply, a group of young people's voices suddenly rang out.

Everyone looked up and saw that the people coming were students from the private school. They were wearing Confucian robes and turbans on their heads, and were striding towards them.

The leader was Yang Ze, who bowed deeply as soon as he saw Shen Nankui.

"I heard that you were ill, may I ask if you are feeling better now? Due to some reasons, I was unable to come to visit you, please forgive me."

Yang Ze's parents were also present, and they looked a little unnatural when they heard him say this.

Not only the Yang couple, but other students' relatives present also felt embarrassed.

In fact, the students had been clamoring to visit the teacher these days, but they disliked Shen Nankui's bad reputation and did not want the students to have anything to do with her anymore, so they made an agreement and locked all the children who were studying in the private school at home.

But I didn't expect that they would all come here at this moment.

Shen Nankui looked at Yang Ze, with a hint of pride and relief in her eyes, and smiled slowly, "I'm fine now."

Yang Ze breathed a sigh of relief, and then said to everyone: "Don't be confused, I released all the students. Today, the head of the village called everyone here to discuss matters related to the teacher and the private school. As students, we should also have a say."

He said loudly with a firm gaze: "It is said in the book that the reason why a teacher is a teacher is that his words must come from the Tao, his actions must be based on the Tao, and his teaching must be based on the Tao. This is also true for Master Shen. Although she is a woman, her words, actions, and teaching are all flawless. I have been a disciple of Master Zhao. Even compared with the former Master Zhao, Master Shen is not much inferior. Therefore, on behalf of all the students in the private school, I do not agree to change the teacher."

"A good teacher can make learning easier and achieve twice the results. We don't want to miss out on a good teacher like Mr. Shen."

"Please think twice, fellow villagers!"

The students all bowed and saluted to everyone.