He Fusheng looked toward the entrance upon hearing the noise and saw Liu Qiaoqiao leaning against his gate, sarcastically cracking sunflower seeds in her mouth.

"Does this have anything to do with you?" He Fusheng was fed up with Liu Qiaoqiao; having such a neighbor was truly unfortunate. She was always stirring up trouble between the Xi Family and Dong Family.

He despised this kind of woman the most!

"No relation. How could I be as clever as you, He Fusheng, and Liang Xiuzhu! You pretend to be honest, but who knows how many schemes you have brewing inside." Liu Qiaoqiao’s sharp words matched her thin lips, dripping with sarcasm.

"I, He Fusheng, walk the straight path and act uprightly! Say what you will!" Fusheng pounded his chest; he always acted with integrity and had a clear conscience.

When they rescued Ning Chenguang, they didn’t know he was a leader’s child, nor were they after money.

"Oh, really?" Liu Qiaoqiao scoffed, cracking the sunflower seeds even louder, "Who would believe that? How could you be so kind to this child without some benefit? Everyone is pretty clear about your intentions; they say you’re raising a son-in-law for yourself!"

"Spit! Who’s spouting nonsense!" He Fusheng was infuriated by Liu Qiaoqiao.

"Isn’t it so?" Liu Qiaoqiao enjoyed bullying honest people, feeling more pleased as she saw He Fusheng boiling with anger, her words turning more malicious, "We’re all neighbors, so I’m kindly giving you some advice. The child belongs to a leader, and he will definitely return to his parents eventually. You better think it over; don’t end up losing both your daughter and the son-in-law you’re grooming!"

"Liu Qiaoqiao, what nonsense are you spouting!" Liang Xiuzhu was usually gentle, but hearing Liu Qiaoqiao slander them and their daughter was too much even for her, "Leave! Stay away from my home! The farther, the better!"

"What’s wrong with your doorstep? Anyway, this is village land! I’m not leaving; what can you do about it?" Liu Qiaoqiao smirked defiantly.

Liang Xiuzhu was beyond angry, she rushed into the kitchen, scooped a ladle of cold water, and headed to the entrance: "Leave! Go quickly! If you don’t, I’ll douse you with cold water!"

"Oh! Now that you have a leader backing you, you’re so bold! Go ahead and splash me! Do it, and I won’t let it go!"

Liang Xiuzhu didn’t say another word and splashed the entire ladle of cold water onto Liu Qiaoqiao’s face.

"Liang Xiuzhu! You really dared to splash me! I’ll never forgive you!" Liu Qiaoqiao tossed her sunflower seeds aside, ready to brawl with Liang Xiuzhu.

Liang Xiuzhu ignored her, stepped back, and closed the door with a bang, leaving Liu Qiaoqiao shouting outside with no response.

Filled with rage and nowhere to vent, Liu Qiaoqiao sneaked over to Zhao Ergou’s house under the cover of darkness that night.

Zhao Ergouzi was sitting alone in the yard, eating peanuts and drinking wine. Hearing footsteps at the entrance, he looked up to see Liu Qiaoqiao approaching.

"Oh, my! The magpies were chirping at me all morning; I thought something good would happen today. I waited all day and nothing came, and now you’re here! My good fortune has arrived!" Zhao Ergou took a swig of wine, tossed his glass aside, and rubbed his hands as he approached Liu Qiaoqiao.