Among the villagers, Zhao Qiao'e, who had just returned to Rongshu Village from matchmaker Zhou, was there. She stepped out of the crowd and looked at Song Yuntang with disappointment on her face.

"Tang'er, why are you here?"

Song Yuntang raised his eyes and looked in Zhao Qiao'e's direction. "I haven't done anything shameful, why can't I come here?"

As expected, Zhao did not disappoint her and was still as distrustful as ever.

Just like the last time Lin Zhaozhao came to the Song family.

The words I promised you in the past are now like forgotten memories.

After finishing his painting, Song Yuntang put down his brush, picked up the drawing paper on the table, blew on it, stood up and walked out of the study, and handed the drawing paper to Zhu Deming.

"Please review it, my Lord."

Turning to face the villagers of Rongshu Village.

"I'm just here to paint a waterwheel for Mr. Xu's friend. What's wrong with that? Is it worth mobilizing all this force?"

Zhu Deming, who was confused by the sudden actions of the villagers in Rongshu Village, finally reacted. He put away the drawings on the table and looked at the villagers with a frown.

"The government must provide solid evidence to solve a case. Moreover, Brother Xu and Miss Song are not alone. They are innocent. I..." Zhu Deming paused, "I am in this courtyard and can testify."

Song Zhimei sized him up and said sarcastically, "This gentleman obviously comes from a wealthy family. He must be a patron of Song Yuntang, right? Naturally, he'll speak well of her."

"You!" Zhu Deming blushed at Song Zhimei's shameless words. "You girl, don't humiliate Miss Song's reputation. You're so young, yet you're still spewing obscenities. It's simply disrespectful to a gentleman!"

It is true that people cannot be compared.

There are indeed not many women in the world who are as smart, quick-witted and considerate of the overall situation as Miss Song.

Song Zhimei didn't care about what he said. She sneered and looked around in the direction of the villagers.

"To be honest, two nights ago, I couldn't sleep and went out for a walk. I saw Song Yuntang coming out of Mr. Xu's yard. She was holding the lantern that Mr. Xu gave her. Am I kidding? You can go to my third uncle's house and look for her. Given his family's financial situation, they would at most use torches at night and definitely wouldn't buy lanterns."

Zhao Qiao'e had seen that lantern before. It was now hanging under the eaves in front of Song Yuntang's house. Although she was curious before, Song Yuntang was unwilling to communicate with them in those days, so she had no chance to ask where the lantern came from. She didn't expect that it was taken away from Mr. Xu.

Zhao Qiao'e looked at Song Yuntang and Xu Qingye with a curious look on her face. Could it be that something really had happened between them?

Otherwise, why would this girl suddenly say that she wanted to get engaged to Mr. Xu?

Thinking of this, her heart sank a little bit.

Song Zhimei looked at Zhao Qiao'e, who was looking worried, and suddenly laughed, "Oh, my Third Aunt is here. She must have seen that lantern too, right?"

"I..." Zhao Qiao'e was not good at lying, her eyes dodging, "I haven't seen it."

Since it concerns her daughter's innocence, she certainly cannot say anything nonsense.

"Third Aunt is feeling guilty," Song Zhimei said with a gloating smile. "A man and a woman alone in a room, who knows what they did? Song Yuntang is so indecent, I'm really worried about the reputation of the girls in our village. After all, I was once a victim. If it weren't for Song Yuntang's actions, how could the Wang family of Shili Village have rejected my engagement?"

After hearing her words, everyone looked at each other.

These people all have daughters in their families. Some of them have reached the age of marriage, while others are not yet of age but will have to get married in a few years.

If Song Yuntang affects their marriage because of a momentary weakness, it would be a loss.

Looking at the expressions of these people, Zhu Deming couldn't help but say something for Song Yuntang. After all, this matter was caused by him. If he hadn't wanted the drawings of the waterwheel, Song Yuntang would not have been criticized today.

"Being rejected for marriage means that the girl herself has bad character, what does it have to do with others? Instead of looking for the problem within herself, she looks for excuses from others. I think it's only natural for this girl to be rejected for marriage."

Song Zhimei was very angry when she heard this.

"How can you talk like that? Don't think you're great just because your family is rich. This is Banyan Tree Village!"

Zhu Deming smiled faintly, "So what about Rongshu Village? Are you still planning to fight? I never knew when the people of Rongshu Village became so fierce!"

The issue of Rongshu Village's morals escalated, and the previously silent village head, Song Hongfu, was forced to speak up. "Sir, please be careful with your words. The villagers of Rongshu Village have always been well-behaved and have never done anything illegal or harmful to others. To say that our people are unruly is a serious statement."

I didn't say anything just now because Xu Qingye didn't express his opinion.

He was a teacher that the village had hired with great difficulty. If he was driven away because of Song Yuntang's incident, it would be extremely difficult to find a teacher better than him.

For the future of Rongshu Village, he cannot do anything he wants.

Just when Song Hongfu turned his gaze to Song Yuntang, Xu Qingye suddenly stood up and protected her behind him.

"There's something I've been wanting to tell the village head. It just so happens that he's here today, so I don't have to go back to his house again."

Seeing this, Song Hongfu said respectfully, "Mr. Xu, please speak."

"After the field holiday, I will no longer teach at the private school."

Song Hongfu was shocked. "Why? If it's because of what happened today, then we were indeed the ones who offended us. I'll punish the person who caused this trouble when I get back."

Sure enough, Mr. Xu was still angry.

Song Zhimei looked at him in disbelief.

"Uncle Village Chief!"

Xu Qingye said calmly, "It's not because of what happened today. I've already planned this, but I just haven't had time to tell the head of the village. Also..."

He paused and looked in the direction of Song Yuntang.

"I called Miss Song here today to paint for my friend. I didn't handle it properly. Miss Song can't be blamed. There's nothing wrong with her and me. I hope everyone won't make random guesses."

As for his family's proposal of marriage to the Song family, he was not in a position to say anything until Song Yuntang took the initiative to admit it.

"Uncle head of the village, since Mr. Xu is no longer in the private school, you don't have to worry about anything. We must not let Song Yuntang delay the girls of our Rongshu Village." Song Zhimei hurriedly added fuel to the fire.

Song Hongfu sighed.

"Song Yuntang, why don't you just leave Rongshu Village."

Although he knew that she might not have done anything inappropriate, the matter had already become known to everyone. When the time came, people would follow the crowd and it might really affect the marriage of the girls in the village.

Song Yuntang had an indifferent expression and she looked at Zhao Qiao'e.

"what do you say?"

Zhao Qiao'e, who was already panicking, hurriedly pleaded with Song Hongfu.

"Please show some leniency, village head. I believe my daughter is not someone who would break the rules. If she leaves Rongshu Village, she will have nowhere to go."

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