Chapter 96: Reputation Utterly Destroyed

On the women's prison side, Cao Shi had already woken up, huddled in the corner trembling.

Seeing Wang Bujiu bring a beautiful-looking girl into the neighboring cell, Cao Shi instantly grabbed at a lifeline, rushing to the bars and shouting wildly.

You damn bastard, let me out quick!

I haven't broken the law, I'm innocent!

I'm going to sue you before the magistrate, you wolf‑hearted dog‑gutted scoundrels, bullying with power, you'll die a bad death!!

Wang Bujiu dug at his ear, giving a glance to the female jailer beside him.

The female jailer walked over with a stick, slammed it hard on Cao Shi's hand back, shouting, "What's the noise? Keep shouting and you get no food!"

Cao Shi's eyes teared from the pain; she quickly pulled her hand back from the bars, curling up in the corner, not daring to even fart.

Seeing her behave, Wang Bujiu\({}^{-1} then turned his attention back to Du Mingzhu.

"Miss Du, stay here nicely; if you need anything, ask the elder sister‑in‑law—she'll arrange anything reasonable for you."

Du Mingzhu stared fixedly at his face, "Why didn't you tell me earlier you're not Jiang Li?"

Wang Bujiu was speechless, "You didn't ask either."

I really can't understand—both of them are like that; earlier the younger siblings were too, at first sight they mistook him for Jiang's younger brother; now this poisonous woman is the same, chasing after him and calling him brother‑in‑law.

It's just, very puzzling.

Du Mingzhu stopped dwelling on the topic, instead lowering her head to kick the grass pile on the ground, "There won't be rats here at night, will there?"

"No rats, though." Wang Bujiu crossed his arms, a smug look on his face, "But there might be cockroaches."

"Cockroaches?" Du Mingzhu's face changed dramatically.

"No way, she can't stay here; the cockroaches will eat her!"

"I want to change to a clean cell." Du Mingzhu lifted her foot to walk out.

Wang Bujiu drew his waist knife and held it across her neck, sneering, "Miss Du, do you think you're staying at an inn? Want to switch, just switch?"

Du Mingzhu glared at him hatefully, gritting her teeth, "But there are cockroaches here!"

"What's the big deal about cockroaches? I've eaten them when I was starving; what's all the fuss?"

Du Mingzhu's head ached from anger.

Forget it, I can't make this brute understand; I'll wait for my parents to come and let them figure it out.

No matter what, she absolutely refuses to share a room with cockroaches!

Du Mingzhu leaned against the wall with a cold stare, eyes watchful on the ground at her feet, guarding against cockroaches suddenly popping out.

The elder sister‑in‑law came over and locked the door.

Wang Bujiu gave her a few instructions and then left.

After they all left, Cao Shi jumped up from the corner, grabbed the bars, and asked Du Mingzhu furtively, "Hey, did you also offend Jiang Li and the Du clan and end up here?"

Du Mingzhu gave her a sidelong glance and then looked away.

A country bumpkin woman—she's not worthy of speaking to her.

"Let me tell you, that couple aren't anything good; they're black‑hearted, last time…"

Cao Shi chattered on endlessly, recounting everything that had happened these days in the Second Branch of the Jiang family, then cursed heaven and earth, heaping abuse on Du Ruo and Jiang Li until they were drenched in dog's blood.

After hearing that, Du Mingzhu's mouth curled into a cruel smile.

I never expected that lowly creature, after marrying into the Jiang family, would actually have done so much.

It seems I underestimated her—I thought she was still that timid, useless crybaby who'd only weep at trouble, and that's why she ended up in utter defeat.

No matter, there's plenty of time ahead.

Du Ruo, I will make sure you die without a burial place!

At this moment, Du Ruo was already sitting in the carriage with Zheng Shi.

And Zheng Qinghe was there too.

Zheng Qinghe, hearing what had happened at the Li manor, was furious, his teeth itching, "Du Mingzhu that bad seed—she's got evil oozing from her very bones, all she thinks about all day is harming others; now she's gotten this retribution, she totally deserves it!"

He went on, unwillingly, "Just locked up for a year—she's getting off too easy."

"Don't underestimate this year," Du Ruo laughed. "From the moment Du Mingzhu stepped into the prison, her reputation was already ruined; thereafter she could never hope to marry well—this is the real blow to her."

For women in ancient times, marrying is like a second rebirth; if the rebirth goes wrong, the whole life is ruined.

Zheng Qinghe thought about it and agreed, then cheered up again.

Zheng Shi had remained silent.

Du Ruo sensed it, shook her arm and asked, "Mom, what's on your mind?"

Zheng Shi shook her head, "Nothing, Mom's just… a little tired."

Du Ruo didn't believe it.

Having been locked up for most of the day, fatigue is certain, but Zheng Shi is clearly absent‑minded, spacing out from time to time—this isn't just from tiredness.

I guess it's because she saw her ex‑husband, the scumbag Mei, today—her heart isn't feeling right……

Du Ruo also didn't press the matter; feelings are something outsiders can't meddle in, one has to work it out oneself.

In the mid‑afternoon, the carriage entered Xinglin Village.

Seeing Zheng Shi return safely, the Zheng family breathed a sigh of relief; learning the full story, they were so happy they might as well have set off firecrackers to celebrate.

That wicked Du Mingzhu has finally gotten her comeuppance—at least for a year we don't have to worry about her coming out to harm anyone!

Soon, Zheng Shi's personal belongings were all loaded onto the carriage, and they headed all the way to Longquan Village.

Before leaving, Du Ruo called Zheng Qinghe to the side.

"Third brother, are you still doing the dock‑hauling work?"

Zheng Qinghe scratched his head, "I am, why are you asking?"

He can't not work—the family only has a few mu of land; with parents and two sisters‑in‑law, the manpower is enough, but he and his two brothers have to go out looking for work, otherwise they couldn't support so many people.

"You quit that job." Du Ruo smiled and said, "Wait a few days and come to our house; I have work for you to do, guaranteed to earn more than you do at the dock."

Zheng Qinghe immediately became unhappy, "A Man, you're treating Third Brother like an outsider? Having you work and still asking for wages—just say the word and it's done."

Du Ruo felt warm inside and wanted to laugh.

"No, Third Brother, I have a good way to make money; I want to pull you in as a partner!"