Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 346 - 346 347 Wanting the Archway More Than the

Chapter 346: Chapter 347: Wanting the Archway More Than the Bride_1 Chapter 346: Chapter 347: Wanting the Archway More Than the Bride_1 “How should these people be handled?” a man came forward and proactively asked Muniang. After this incident, Muniang’s status in everyone’s hearts had risen significantly, and now all decisions were directly referred to her.

“Tie them all up, each receive fifty heavy blows to ease the villagers’ anger, then hand them over to the officials to be beheaded and displayed publicly!”

“Alright!”

The villagers immediately found ropes and tied the people up, preparing to drag them out for the beating.

But suddenly, a sharp scream rang out, “Disaster! Dabao’s Mother has rammed her head into the wall in a suicide attempt!”

Muniang’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurried into the house. Dabao’s Mother was the first woman they pulled inside, and she likely had suffered the most at the hands of those beasts.

The house was already crowded with onlookers. Dabao’s Mother, with disheveled clothes and a gaping wound on her head, already had someone pressing clothing against her wound to stop the bleeding. She was delirious, muttering, “Even in death, I won’t grant you satisfaction. It’s better I die.”

Muniang felt a pang in her chest and quickly ordered for a doctor to be called.

“It’s all because of her mother-in-law, always stirring up trouble. She was the first to push her daughter-in-law forward. Isn’t this practically forcing her to death?”

By now, Dabao’s Mother was barely lucid, looking gaunt and with her face smeared with a mix of tears and blood. It was a sight that pained the heart.

Suddenly someone, as if remembering something, asked, “Where is Jin Clan, Dabao’s Mother’s mother-in-law? Not even a shadow of her to be seen. Her daughter-in-law is in such a state and she doesn’t care at all?”

But no one answered. The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law wasn’t one of blood thicker than water; when it truly mattered, Jin Clan could push her own daughter-in-law forward. How could she care about her daughter-in-law’s life or death now?

Although the villagers later came to their senses and fought back against the scattered soldiers from Qilian Kingdom during the crisis, several women still suffered. After all, there were only a few like Dabao’s Mother who would rather die to preserve their resolve.

“Mr. Village Head, what should be done about these women who have been defiled?” somebody eventually raised the question.

The Village Head showed a conflicted expression. In principle, a woman should maintain her virtue; whether willingly or not, a loss of chastity should be met with death to demonstrate purity, but this was indeed too cruel. It was the villagers’ own weakness that caused these unfortunate women to suffer. How could he now force them to death?

However, Jin Clan’s voice rose shrilly, “They should demonstrate purity through death. Our family will absolutely not accept unfaithful and impure women. They are defiled; how can they continue to stay? In death, they could still get a memorial archway. Don’t bother saving our Dabao’s Mother, either. She chose her own path to death; it’s better she dies quickly and spares our family’s reputation.”

“Your Dabao’s Mother wasn’t defiled, was she? People inside said she desperately struggled and rammed her head into the wall; those scattered soldiers didn’t touch her. Why insist on her death?”

Jin Clan sneered, “She was lying there, disheveled. Who knows how dirty she is? She was the first one to be dragged in! Besides, even if she wasn’t defiled, now that her body has been seen by all, how could she still have the face to live? If it were me, I’d feel too ashamed to show my face!”

Village Head said, infuriated, “You have the nerve to mention that Dabao’s Mother was the first to be dragged in, but wasn’t it because you were the first to push her out?!”

Muniang felt a wave of anger rising within her. She had never been able to tolerate the ancient practice of a woman being considered tainted and better off dead. Jin Clan’s cold-blooded treatment of an innocent woman like Dabao’s Mother was even more revolting to her.

“Mr. Village Head, I firmly disagree with causing these innocent women the slightest harm! They either volunteered or were compelled to step forward to protect their families, preferring to bear the shame and sacrifice themselves. They are more grievously wronged than anyone else; they are the true victims. It was this group of frail women who stood in front of the patriarchs to protect us all, and now everyone wants to turn against them and see them dead. If Tupo Village really forces them to die for such so-called ‘face,’ then how are we any different from those cold-blooded, heartless scattered soldiers?!”

Muniang spoke sternly, her tone tinged with the deep sadness that spread from her heart.

Many women had already started to cry, sobbing quietly. Not everyone wanted to be a hero or be immortalized on a memorial arch. They preferred to survive. Who would willingly give up the hope of life?

Nangong Qian looked on at Muniang with interest. It seemed that every encounter with her revealed a different facet of the woman. During the few days they had spent together in the valley, he had seen her ruthlessness and her vindictive, fiery temper. He had thought this woman could be described as heartless and selfish. He even questioned himself why he was interested in such a woman, but the answer remained elusive.

But today, he seemed to understand much more. When crisis struck and she sought to rescue the villagers, her stern words repeatedly roused the villagers to action. None of her actions had anything to do with cold-bloodedness. Even in the valley, despite her abominable attitude towards him, she never acted inappropriately. She applied medicine when needed, and she found food for him. She had simply erected a protective wall around herself with an outward appearance of coldness.

She was indeed an interesting woman.

The Village Head pondered for a moment, glanced at the weeping, heartbroken women, let out a long sigh, and then said, “Our village has gone through such an ordeal, and they are innocent. Let’s just take them back and comfort them.”

No one objected to the Village Head’s suggestion. Even those who were previously somewhat repulsed now felt their cheeks flush with shame after hearing Muniang’s accusations. How could they have the gall to inflict further pain on these women when they had been unable to stand behind them and sought safety instead?

However, Jin Clan expressed her dissatisfaction, “That won’t do. Our family definitely can’t take Dabao’s Mother back. After all, this woman is no longer pure. Our family is strict in its principles, and we absolutely cannot allow a woman who tarnishes our social mores to remain with us. Your family might be open-minded, but don’t drag ours down with you!”

Dabao’s Mother had just regained consciousness at the time, and her eyes immediately reddened upon hearing these words.

The meaning of Jin Clan was clear: she didn’t want an impure daughter-in-law but only a plaque to show off her family’s honor.

The villagers immediately became enraged. What did they mean by their family lacking proper values? It was clearly Jin Clan’s character that was lacking!

“Enough!” said the Village Head. “The decision has been made, and there’s no need for further discussion. We’re not going to put to death any woman who has suffered harm! Dabao’s Mother has indeed displayed a commendable attitude by choosing death to make a statement, but now you should go home and rest well.”

Jin Clan wanted to say more but was met with a cold glare from the Village Head, which silenced her. She felt a deep resentment and could only glare at Dabao’s Mother, as if to say: Why didn’t that blow you took earlier just kill you outright?!