Chapter 726: 726 shocked
Yuanyuan and Hongling exchanged a glance. "Wow, that’s classic gold digging."
"Isn’t it because their family was struggling financially, so they opted for an ugly rich one?"
"But since that woman was way too ugly, the man hardly stayed home during the day. Slowly, he hooked up outside."
Yuanyuan and Hongling listened intently, but suddenly the eloquent Aunt paused.
Hongling, quite perceptive, urged, "Aunt, what happens next? Why was there a scandal?"
The Aunt was satisfied and didn’t continue being mysterious.
"That ugly wife’s family is indeed wealthy and powerful, but it couldn’t stop the man from sweet-talking his wife. This went on for two years, and they had a chubby baby boy. The kid didn’t take after his dad at all, resembling his mother completely."
Both girls were curious, just how ugly could that wife be?
"Didn’t the kid get born? Initially the husband was thrilled, but upon seeing his son’s appearance, he didn’t come home for days."
"Aunt, isn’t that like being a whore wanting a monument? Wasn’t it solely because she was rich?"
"Exactly, the woman was supporting the whole family with her job.
The story continues, the woman was willing to be sweet-talked by the man, but only as long as he wasn’t caught.
One day, the woman went back to her parents’ home with the child, planning to stay a few days. But that night, the child cried to go back, and that’s how they got caught red-handed."
Hongling realized she had interrupted before and didn’t ask further.
"No matter how eloquent the man was, it didn’t work anymore. The woman finally realized. She packed her things, took the child, and returned to her parents’ home.
Their family initially thought she was just angry and would return in a few days, so they didn’t reach out.
Little did they know that the woman’s family would insistently talk her into leaving the man."
"Aunt, how was there a scandal?"
"Don’t rush, let me drink some water."
Hongling eagerly fetched a glass of water, very attentive.
The Aunt appreciated her good manners and stopped being secretive.
"Now that the woman isn’t coming back, their family manages to live for a few days. But the man and his two kids had been relying on her, how could they survive when she left? Having no choice, the man went to her workplace, being sly, but didn’t dare visit her family home.
The woman was completely over him. They hadn’t officially registered their marriage, just a verbal agreement sufficed.
But how could the man’s family let go of such a cash cow?
Oddly enough, the man always goes asking for money.
The woman’s family is influential, holding high positions in the city. Seeing their young woman lose hope, how could they let the man off? So they caught him, hence the scandal."
"Aunt, your storytelling is so fascinating."
"Isn’t it? Let me tell you, I even know the man’s brother wants to marry the ugly wife too. But why would she fall for it twice? Jump into the fire?"
Yuanyuan listened but wasn’t surprised. With information scarce these days, many people are like that. It’s just that news doesn’t spread."
"You two should keep your eyes peeled when choosing a man; handsome ones are seldom good things."
Both nodded appreciatively. At this moment, noises came from outside.
"Are they parading them through the streets?" The three middle-aged women rushed out. Hongling grabbed Yuanyuan and followed behind. They stood watching at the inn’s entrance.
"Hey, I really want to see if that man looks better than Daoist Zhan."
Yuanyuan chuckled at Hongling’s words.
"Hongling, if Daoist Zhan knew you were comparing him to someone like that, he wouldn’t be pleased."
"I’m just being honest." Hongling realized her error and laughed it off.
There were indeed many people joining the parade. The two being shamed couldn’t be seen among the crowd.
Hongling went back to bring out two stools, and the girls stood on them to get a clear view.
The woman was practically naked, as was the man, wearing only underpants.
Both were tightly bound, with heads bowed, as others threw things at them.
"Yuanyuan, look, that man does look quite handsome, but can’t compare to Daoist Zhan."
The crowd watching was full of energy, spitting and hurling lumps of earth at them while cursing them.
No one sympathized with the woman, knowing she had a wife and kids yet still got involved with that man. It’s her own fault. Plus, the women envied her relationship with the man everyone wanted to marry, hence the anger.
"Yuanyuan, why didn’t that Aunt mention the woman’s situation?"
"Just keep watching."
The parade attracted lots of people, especially women.
Yuanyuan overheard some women eager to catch a glimpse of the locally renowned handsome man’s body amidst the chaos of voices.
She felt disgusted. The man kept his head down, but Yuanyuan recognized his face. She was startled by his resemblance to Tan Shaoting.
Upon closer inspection, there’s indeed a sixty percent similarity.
She recalled past events unknown to her.
Looking at the similar face, it must be a relative of Tan Shaoting.
She had just seen Tan Shaoting last month; there’s no way she is mistaken.
Seriously, can this man be called a handsome one? How remarkable, yet speechless.
Yuanyuan felt quite unlucky; fortunately, she didn’t know him. Just pretend she didn’t know, and tell Shaoting when he gets back. At least it would repay some favors owed.
The parade passed by. Hongling sighed, "I still couldn’t see the man’s face. What does a handsome man look like?"
"If you want to see a handsome man, just look at Daoist Zhan."
"What are you looking at?" Zhan Yunzhao and the others returned at this time.
"Nothing, nothing," Hongling quickly said.
Yuanyuan chuckled; this girl was really timid in this regard.
Yixin gave his sister a look, "Why bother watching that?"
"Weren’t you watching too?" Hongling immediately retorted.
"We weren’t; we just bumped into it on our way back."
They returned to the inn, "We asked the recycling station; there’s currently no ginseng, it’s not the right time," Wei Guangxiang said, afraid Yuanyuan would suspect him of watching the parade.