Calling You a Cuckold
"Mom, don't worry! These mushrooms aren't poisonous. I saw wild animals eating them in the mountains with no problem, so I'm sure they're safe." Lily Evans grinned, recalling how she picked the mushrooms by the roadside while hunting for game.
Margaret Evans finally relaxed and said, "Animals in the mountains are clever. If they can eat it, it must be fine. My Lily always figures things out—I'd never have thought of that way to tell if a mushroom was safe!"
"Wife, have some meat!" Lucky picked out the biggest, best piece and placed it in Lily's bowl, then gave another to Margaret before digging in himself.
The family was enjoying their meal when suddenly a group of women carrying baskets passed by outside, craning their necks to sniff at the meat on Lily’s table. "Oh, Lily’s family has meat today!"
As they spoke, the women exchanged strange looks, covering their mouths to whisper among themselves.
Lily found their behavior odd. Normally, people avoided passing by her house when foraging in the mountains, so why were so many gathered here today? It was definitely strange.
The women only glanced a few more times before leaving, and Lily didn’t give it much thought.
The next morning, Lily took Lucky to the river to fetch water and wash clothes. She planned to go mushroom picking in the mountains afterward and sell them in town.
On the way, Lily noticed the villagers giving her strange looks. Quite a few people dodged her as if she were the plague.
Lily wondered, What’s going on? I haven’t offended anyone, have I?
"Lily!" As she reached the riverbank, Cynthia Wu hurried over, looking a bit uneasy.
Cynthia Wu was the daughter of Dr. Wu, and she’d never really talked to Lily before. Lily gave her a curious look.
Cynthia lowered her voice. "Lily, do you know what the villagers are saying about you behind your back?"
Lily thought about it—recent gossip was mostly about her marriage to Lucky, but that had been cleared up. She and Lucky were a proper couple now, so what else could there be? Lily asked curiously, "What are they saying about me?"
"Oh, stop pretending! Like you don’t know what you did! Think about all the shameless things you’ve done. Your husband’s a fool, but don’t think the whole village is! You seduced another man and act all innocent—pah!" Mrs. Thompson walked over with her washbasin, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
The other women washing clothes nearby pointed at Lily, whispering, "She’s just like her mother—never content!"
"Just married and already cheating? Poor Lucky—he’s wearing a green hat and doesn’t even know it!"
Seeing this, Lily immediately knew Mrs. Thompson was stirring up trouble. If she didn’t clear things up now, people would think she was guilty—and that would be as good as admitting to the affair!
Lily snatched the washbasin from Mrs. Thompson and tossed it to the ground. "Mrs. Thompson, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want! I’m fine—so why are you accusing me of cheating? Who exactly did I cheat with!?"
Mrs. Thompson looked smug and shouted, "Who else but Mark Hunter from the east end! Yesterday he went hunting and brought back wild rabbit and pheasant—expensive stuff—and just happened to deliver it to your house! Tsk tsk, open your legs and you get meat to eat. Lily, you’re set for a lifetime of luxury!"
"You’re lying!" Lucky stepped forward, glaring at Mrs. Thompson. "Say one more bad thing about my wife and I’ll hit you!"
Mrs. Thompson was startled by Lucky’s outburst and shrank back, but still tried to provoke him: "Idiot, your wife sleeps with other men for meat, and everyone in the village calls you a cuckold. Why are you still defending that shameless woman?"