Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 153

Her willow-like brows furrowed slightly, and her delicate face carried a new edge of cold heroism. The killing intent radiating from her was undeniable. 

Her features sharpened, and her bright black eyes cut through the crowd like a sword breaking through fog and darkness. The force of her gaze alone subdued many villagers on the spot.

Zhang Duomei couldn’t help shrinking back, but she stubbornly retorted, “I’m not spreading lies to confuse people, it was the monk who said it! Don’t let this calamity star scare you. If she wasn’t a calamity, then why didn’t she drown when she fell into the Dongjun River? It must be because she knows witchcraft! Otherwise, how could a woman like her possibly defeat Li Dazhi?”

Good. The icy curve of Ying Su’s lips deepened. If you insist on framing her so relentlessly, then you’d better be ready to face the consequences.

“If I really were a calamity star, then everyone close to me should have met with misfortune. So why has nothing happened to my mother-in-law’s family? If I truly had witchcraft, do you think you’d still have the chance to stand here exposing me in front of everyone? Wouldn’t I have already killed you with a spell?” Ying Su’s cold smile was laced with eerie menace.

Zhang Duomei’s eyes rolled, searching for a rebuttal. “Didn’t you already jinx Erlang to death? How can you say nothing’s happened? The only reason you haven’t harmed me is because the monk master protects me!”

Ying Su turned to the villagers and then to Village Head Zhang. “Everyone knows a calamity star only brings ruin and disaster. Yet I, Shen Cuihua, am clearly someone destined for fortune and prosperity! Have you ever seen anyone recover after losing their mind? Li Ergou threw me into the Dongjun River, but I survived! Isn’t that proof of great blessing?

“And those people Zhang Duomei claimed I jinxed, they all died of natural causes, of fate itself. But she insists on pinning it on me! She is the one with ulterior motives. For all we know, she’s the true calamity star, trying to destroy me, someone blessed with fortune!”

“As for her claim that I blocked the village’s prosperity, utter nonsense! These past years, Dongjun Village has had good weather, no droughts, no floods, no locust plagues. Every household’s harvest has been plentiful!”

The villagers paused to think. Indeed, in recent years Dongjun Village has enjoyed favorable weather and good harvests. Only in the earlier years, when spring floods swelled the river from melting mountain snow, had the peach-blossom floods ruined their fields. But those bad years haven’t come back since.

Seeing the villagers wavering, Zhang Duomei panicked. “Don’t let this little witch fool you! If she really had such great fortune, why would she have ended up in a small village like ours?”

Ying Su’s lips curled. “Naturally because Dongjun Village is a blessed land of feng shui, our mountains and rivers nurture people well!”

“Anyway, the monk said you’re a calamity star, an ill-omened woman! Stop trying to talk your way out, little witch! If you weren’t, then why would you have stolen a man? You’ve corrupted our village’s morals!” Zhang Duomei tried to drag the topic back to Ying Su’s supposed affair.

All eyes once again turned to Feng Dayou. Being stared at made him squirm, but with things already too far gone, he could only stick with Zhang Duomei’s side. He forced himself to declare, “No wonder I was bewitched by you, you’re a witch!”

Ying Su’s lips twisted into a mocking sneer. “Do you really think I, Shen Cuihua, am weak and easy to bully? That you can insult me, slander me, throw filth on me, and I can only endure it in silence? You think far too little of me!”

Before anyone could speak, she continued coldly, “Fine. I’ll prove to you right now whether or not I am truly a woman of great fortune!”

Her words riveted everyone’s attention. She pointed to a withered osmanthus tree by the Dongjun River. “Watch closely. If I can prove I’m blessed with fortune, then they—” she suddenly swung her finger toward Zhang Duomei and Feng Dayou, her voice ringing sharp, “are the ones with malicious intent, the ones truly trying to ruin our village’s fate!”

Her firm and powerful words left the villagers staring at her every move.

Ying Su strode to the withered tree, and the crowd followed. Placing her hand on its trunk, she silently activated her system.

Thanks to that so-called Young Master Su she had met in the mountains, the system had drawn energy from him, and now it played a crucial role.

The villagers, of course, couldn’t see the system repairing DNA. All they saw was Ying Su pressing her hand against the tree. Moments later, their eyes widened in shock as the withered osmanthus tree began reviving at visible speed. Tender green leaves sprouted, its branches grew lush, and at last, blossoms opened in full bloom.

“Imm…mortal arts! This is immortal arts!” Someone cried, trembling with excitement. Soon, voices echoed through the crowd, “A deity has shown their power! A deity has appeared!”

Zhang Duomei shook her head in disbelief, muttering, “Impossible… impossible!”

The miracle left everyone awestruck. Some of the older villagers dropped to their knees, kowtowing toward the blooming osmanthus tree and chanting, “Bless us, immortal! Bless us!”

Village Head Zhang finally snapped out of his shock. His tone now carried awe as he asked, “You… Cuihua, how did you do this?”

Ying Su smiled faintly, her enchanting phoenix eyes gleaming sharply. “There’s an old saying, one who survives great calamity is destined for great fortune. The reason my madness was cured was because I received the enlightenment of…” She raised a slender finger to the sky. “An old white-bearded immortal! He said I am destined for wealth and prosperity, and that my blessings will protect those around me.”

Village Head Zhang thought back to all the changes since her recovery and found himself increasingly convinced. After all, what ordinary woman could do what she just had? He nodded unconsciously. Some of the elderly women and men crowded around Ying Su, saying eagerly, “Let us share a little of your fortune too…”

Zhang Duomei’s face twisted with panic. It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this! Moments ago, that little widow had been cursed and condemned by everyone, and now she was being hailed as someone touched by an immortal?

Wang Lanhua slunk to the edge of the crowd, terrified Ying Su might hold a grudge for her earlier backstabbing words.

“She’s lying! She’s nothing but a jinx, a calamity star! She’s not some blessed woman!” Zhang Duomei screamed in desperation. 

Fear and disorder consumed her heart. She knew all too well how dangerous Shen Cuihua was, if the villagers accepted her as blessed, Zhang Duomei’s own end would be tragic! If Shen Cuihua rose again, she would never spare her!