Lin Qin nodded emphatically, accusing word by word, "I am Liu Li's second sister-in-law. Back then, Liu Li's second brother, Liu Yongming, got into high school but had no money to attend. They knew I had a dowry of a hundred yuan and came to propose. After I married into the Liu family, they took the hundred yuan from me for various reasons!
All these years I have labored in the Liu family like a beast of burden. Six years, six years! I didn't even dare to buy a single new piece of clothing or pants. Just look at what she's wearing, what she's using!
I have dedicated myself wholeheartedly to the Liu family. Now that Liu Yongming is about to graduate from college, they despise me for being uneducated, for having given birth to a daughter, and want to kick us mother and daughter out!
More than half a month ago, the whole family ganged up to knock me unconscious and accuse me of infidelity. It was only when my father called the police and they intervened that they confessed their crimes.
While I was recovering at my parent's house, they sent someone to tell us that Liu Yongming was back and wanted us to return. But when we returned, we didn't see Liu Yongming, and my child was sent to the hospital by Liu Li with a ladle of scalding hot water!
Afterwards, they claimed it was because my child was naughty and bumped into the sister-in-law, causing her and herself to get hurt!
But that's not the truth at all! It was my mother-in-law Liu Cuihua and sister-in-law Xu Manzhi who were holding me from both sides, letting Liu Li splash hot water on me. It was my child who, trying to save me, knocked over Xu Man, which is why the hot water splashed on my child's and Xu Man's backs!
All of this was done by Liu Li! She's a vicious, heartless, ungrateful snake!
I swear to the heavens, everything I'm saying today is true, and if there's a single lie, may I be struck down by lightning!"
Zhang Hua looked at the hysterical Lin Qin, then at Liu Li, who was avoiding eye contact, and felt her heart sinking.
Liu Li had been her student from seventh through ninth grade, a promising young girl, sweet and considerate, getting along well with classmates. How could she do such things?
Unwilling to believe it, Zhang Hua glanced at Liu Yaya on the stretcher, squatted down, and gently asked, "Little one, can you tell Auntie who hurt you?"
Liu Yaya lifted her head to look at Liu Li, "It was her! She's a bad woman. She hit my mom, kicked me, cursed at my mom, and poured hot water on my mom. She's really, really, really bad."
"You're lying! I did not!" Liu Li's vision blurred with tears, crying in anger.
But Lin Qin retorted loudly, "There are plenty of children from our area who attend this school. Just ask around and you'll know whether Liu Li did these things! On the day my daughter was hurt, I went door to door begging neighbors to lend me money to treat my child. Everyone knows! It's not about you saying it didn't happen!
Also, the police station still has the case records. How you Liu family ganged up to bully me is all written there!
Liu Li, how can your heart be so vicious! Your brother could continue his studies because of marrying me, yet your family shows no gratitude and even wants to harm us, aren't you afraid of retribution?"
Seeing Lin Qin so agitated, Zhang Hua went next door to ask some students from the same neighborhood as Liu Li.
With investigation from several class teachers, the results were not much different from Lin Qin's claims.
The crowd was in an uproar, pointing fingers at Liu Li.
For the first time, Liu Li felt panic, helplessness, and confusion. Clearly, it was Lin Qin who splashed her first, and she was merely fighting back. Why was everyone blaming her!
Zhang Hua shook her head in disappointment and apologized to Lin Qin, "Comrade Lin Qin, we understand the situation, but since this is a personal moral issue, it doesn't violate school rules and regulations. I have no authority to deal with her. I can only ask her to apologize to you. Is that acceptable?"
"There's no need!" Lin Qin said coldly, glaring at Liu Li, "I came here to expose Liu Li's hypocrisy, to let everyone know what kind of person she is. Her apology is too cheap, I don't want it. I just want to see what kind of end a vicious woman like her will meet!"
Having said that, Lin Qin bowed to Zhang Hua, "I'm sorry, teacher, for disturbing your class. I apologize, I'll take my child and leave now."
Her actions won even more sympathy from Zhang Hua and the students.
After Lin Qin left, everyone covertly eyed Liu Li. Those who used to be on good terms with her turned their heads away, avoiding her.
Zhang Hua said nothing and continued with the lesson.
As if nothing had happened, but only Liu Li understood, from today on, she was infamous, no longer the admired sister of a college-bound brother or the promising student in the teacher's eyes.
Lin Qin! It was all her doing!
Liu Ling watched the whole drama unfold, running home faster than Liu Li after school.
Once she got home, she eagerly recounted Lin Qin's feat to her family.
Granny Liu was dumbfounded, "This, this... with Lin Qin making such a scene, will Ma Cuihua's family let her off? No! Something big is going to happen!"
Liu Li was Ma Cuihua's beloved daughter, treasured like a jewel. She couldn't bear to see Liu Li wronged. Lin Qin really stirred up trouble this time.
Sure enough, as soon as Granny Liu reached the door, she heard Liu Li's crying and Ma Cuihua's furious cursing.
"Did that bitch Lin Qin really go to your school to tattle to the teachers and classmates?"
Liu Li stomped her feet anxiously, tears and snot covering her face, "Now the teacher looks at me differently, and classmates won't play with me. They gossip behind my back and point fingers at me. Mom! What should I do, what should I do?"
Ma Cuihua's eyes darted around as she decisively pulled Liu Li to leave, "Let's go find your second brother. Only he can help you now!"
The mother and daughter inquired their way to Liu Yongming's workplace.
"Mom, little sister, what brings you here?" Liu Yongming frowned unconsciously at Liu Li's unkempt appearance.
Ma Cuihua was furious, complaining in a flurry, "It's all because of your future! Your sister went against Lin Qin and that bitch dared to make a scene at your sister's school, spilling our family's affairs to the school's teachers and classmates. Now your sister can hardly stay at school! What do you think we should do?"
Liu Yongming was shocked, "How is that possible! If Lin Qin had such courage, she wouldn't have been suppressed by you all these years!"
"There you go again!" Ma Cuihua glared in anger.
Liu Yongming quickly changed his tone, "Alright, alright, mom, you take little sister back first. I'll head to Shanglin Village later. As long as we get Lin Qin to explain at the school again, it will all be fine, not a big problem."
Ma Cuihua finally calmed a little, "She's becoming more unruly. If this keeps up, we'll all fall apart. If necessary, just divorce her outright!"
"Mom! I'd love to! But I can't just find a reason! Divorcing without cause would ruin my reputation! This concerns my personal conduct and could affect job assignments, I can't be reckless." Liu Yongming said, frustrated, as he pondered a solution.
No matter what, Lin Qin needed to be dealt with. Only someone like Fang Yin, an intellectual, could be Liu Yongming's wife.