"Village chief, I swear, I'm telling the truth, Yuan Chun and I are really seeing each other. If I'm lying, let me be struck down by lightning and die a terrible death."
In front of the village chief, Chen Shengjun didn't hesitate to make a solemn oath to clear his name.
The villagers were still quite wary of such oaths, and their eyes immediately turned to Yuan Chun, filled with some doubt.
Yuan Chun looked furious, "You're lying! Who saw us dating? With so many people in the village, even if we were sneaky, someone would have noticed. I ask everyone now, did any of you ever see me with Chen Shengjun?"
Yuan Chun wasn't really worried about this.
Chen Shengjun was afraid the Feng family would interfere, so he never dared to let anyone see him meeting with the person in question. Consequently, the villagers angrily glared at Chen Shengjun.
"Chen Shengjun, to slander Yuan Chun, you've resorted to lying and swearing oaths. You really have no shame."
"Chen Shengjun, aren't you afraid of retribution for trying to harm Yuan Chun this way?"
"Just now, you even tried to molest Yuan Chun."
"He's trying to get a wife without any effort."
"Village chief, Feng Family Village can't keep such a miscreant here. What if one day he takes a liking to another girl and starts molesting her next?"
"Right, drive Chen Shengjun out."
"And the Chen Family too, drive them out together. Chen Shengjun has two single brothers. What if they imitate him and want to snatch a wife too? Our village's girls wouldn't be safe."
"Yes, drive the Chen Family out."
The villagers felt deceived, having trusted a bad person too easily. In a fit of anger, they wanted to expel the Chen Family.
Chen Shengjun became anxious, "I didn't mean to molest her, I really wanted to apologize to Xiang Yuanchun, I swear..."
"Stop swearing, the state prohibits superstition. Even if you swear, heaven won't respond."
"Exactly, do you think swearing a few times will make us believe you? We watched Yuan Chun grow up, she's as decent as they come, there's no way she would secretly date you."
"Chen Shengjun, you tried to molest her but got beaten by her, and now you're trying to cover up your crime by slinging mud at her. That's even worse."
"Village chief, drive the Chen Family out."
The villagers again passionately called for the Chen Family to be expelled.
Granny Chen, upon hearing the commotion, disregarded her whole body aching and hurried over, kneeling before the village chief, crying her heart out, "Village chief, please don't drive us out, it's all my fault. I told Shengjun to apologize to Xiang Yuanchun, sob sob... I didn't expect Xiang Yuanchun to misunderstand."
Granny Chen looked at Yuan Chun, crying pitifully, "Yuan Chun dear, I was wrong, I shouldn't have bullied you this morning. I deserve to be punished, I deserve to die... But Shengjun is innocent, please, be kind and forgive him, don't let our family be driven out of the village. Otherwise, we won't have any way to live."
Granny Chen cried heart-wrenchingly, in extreme sorrow, making the villagers find it hard to eradicate them completely.
A few families who usually had good relations with the Chen Family even pleaded with the village chief.
"Village chief, let it go. Yuan Chun wasn't really harmed, just forgive Chen Shengjun this time."
"Exactly, village chief, we can't have the whole Chen Family die over this, that would be too heartless."
The majority of the villagers were kind and simple-hearted, not wanting to force someone to death. In the end, the Chen Family was not driven out, but for the safety of the village girls, the village chief warned Chen Shengjun to stay away from any of the village girls.
The village chief also told the villagers to keep an eye on him in case Chen Shengjun had any ulterior motives.
Filled with resentment and grievance, Chen Shengjun glared at Yuan Chun hatefully as Granny Chen helped him leave.
Yuan Chun smiled with satisfaction.
Haha, you scumbag, it doesn't feel good to be despised, does it?
You even swore, but I don't acknowledge it. What can you do about it?