Chapter Forty-Three: Auntie Miao Cuihua

“What kind of skill is it to hit a woman?!” With a cold shout, Ding Li, who had just come to his senses, wasted no time. He sprang forward, taking two swift steps, and landed a punch on the side of the blue-robed man's face. Though he tried to restrain his strength, the blow still sent the man staggering several steps before he tumbled to the ground.

Stunned by the sudden assault, the man lifted his head from the dirt, seeing stars before his eyes. He shook his head vigorously to clear his vision, finally focusing on the fierce Ding Li before him. But his reaction only bewildered the onlookers further; he abruptly turned and glared viciously at the woman, pointing at Ding Li and venting his rage upon her: “Speak! Who is he? Is he your man from outside? So this is it! You shameless creature, sneaking around behind my back! Now you dare to bring him here to beat me!”

He struggled to his feet, limbs flailing, intent on settling scores with the woman, knowing full well he was no match for the burly Ding Li.

Seeing this, Ding Li, resolute in his decision to intervene, would not let the man act out under his nose. As the man wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and coughed harshly, he felt something in his mouth. He caught it—a half-broken molar. Enraged, he turned to curse at Ding Li.

But before he could utter a word, Ding Li met his gaze and kicked him so hard that he flew four or five meters, landing in a heap, his chest heaving violently. After two rasping coughs, his body convulsed, his head lolled, and he instinctively rolled over, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the ground.

“Well done!”

Suddenly, someone in the crowd cheered, and more voices joined in, applauding Ding Li. Their eyes toward the man held not an ounce of sympathy, only disgust and contempt. Toward Ding Li, however, they looked with admiration, some even giving him a thumbs-up and praising him for his decisive action.

“Scum! Do you think hitting a woman makes you a man? Humiliating your own wife in public? Filth like you shouldn’t even exist!” Ding Li cursed at the man, advancing with raised fists.

“B-brother, no, Master, Master, I was wrong, I admit it, please—don’t hit me anymore! If you keep hitting, you’ll kill me!” The man scrambled backward desperately, begging for mercy, terror plain on his face.

“Killing you would dirty my hands!” Seeing the man cowed, Ding Li, though furious, dared not press further. He’d held back his strength before; had he continued, even restrained, a few more blows might have ended the man’s life.

Yet Ding Li didn’t let him off so easily. He glared coldly, his voice icy and full of doubt: “Scum! Are our Great Tang women not good enough for you? Why seek those from Dashi? Do you think Dashi women are superior to ours? Traitor!”

“Well said! Our Tang women are the best!”

“Yes! Our Tang women are the most beautiful!”

Voices echoed from the crowd. Several young men, faces flushed with excitement, strode to the front, fists raised, glaring at the disgraced man on the ground, ready to resort to violence if he dared disagree.

But among the crowd were also people from Dashi. Hearing Ding Li’s words, they cast hateful glances at him. Ding Li paid them no mind, as the Tang townsfolk answered with even fiercer looks, and some hot-blooded youths banded together, prepared for any confrontation.

The Dashi men weighed the balance of power, and though reluctant, finally retreated from the crowd, glaring at Ding Li as they left.

With victory assured, the Tang youths surged forward, standing united, their fierce demeanor like wild beasts ready to tear the blue-robed man apart.

“What kind of scum are you? Are we not good enough, not as attractive as those Dashi vixens?”

“Traitor! Born and raised in Tang, with Tang women bearing your children, and now you claim Dashi women are better?”

A few older women squeezed into the crowd, and everyone immediately understood the blue-robed man’s disgraceful deeds. Sympathy for the young woman on the ground blossomed, and fueled by Ding Li’s words, the crowd grew even angrier, eager to see the man punished.

“No, no! That’s not what I meant!” The blue-robed man grew more fearful, the situation spiraling out of control, especially as the women berated him. He waved his hands desperately, pleading with Ding Li: “Master, please! I didn’t mean it that way! But matters between men and women—sometimes I can’t control myself!”

“Bah! You’re a foul-mouthed scoundrel!” Amidst the jostling crowd, a matron dressed in finery, clearly of some standing, spat at the man, then, ignoring her own dignity, rushed forward, ready to teach him a lesson: “How dare you deceive our Tang women! I’ll make sure you learn today—Tang women aren’t easy prey!”

“Hey, madam, please don’t! Don’t make things worse!” Ding Li hurried to intercept her, speaking respectfully and explaining with a wry smile, “Madam, words are enough, don’t resort to violence—it’ll only make things worse!”

“What? Weren’t you the one who hit him first? Why can’t I have my turn now? Are you siding with this scum?” The matron, unable to distinguish right from wrong, rolled up her sleeves and confronted Ding Li.

“No, absolutely not!” Ding Li smiled helplessly, shaking his head, “Madam, I swear I mean no such thing! But here in Fuxu Town, there are rules. I’ve already struck him—please don’t, or you might get dragged into trouble.”

Hearing this, the matron calmed down, glared at the blue-robed man, then sized up Ding Li before nodding and stepping back. She spat at the man again and then, approvingly, grunted at Ding Li, “Hmm, you might have a point.”

“‘Matters between men and women cannot be controlled?’ Hmph! With your character, you dare speak of such things?” After calming the matron, Ding Li finally addressed the blue-robed man’s excuse, expanding the issue: “If you can betray and abandon your own wife, then should Tang face hardship, you’d be the first to betray the nation! If you cannot love your own wife, someday you’ll surely fail your country as well.”

“No, never! I would never!” The blue-robed man was stunned, realizing the heavy accusation placed upon him. He shook his head and denied it, but only earned countless sneers and disdainful looks from the crowd.

“Get out! Go back to Dashi! There you’ll find plenty of Dashi women!” Ding Li, unwilling to look at the man any longer, spat out his words with contempt.

“Yes! Get out! Go back to Dashi!”

“There are plenty of Dashi women—princesses and noble ladies! Do you think any would want you?”

“Leave, you traitor! If you can betray your own country, go to Dashi!”

The crowd took up Ding Li’s cry, escalating the issue from infidelity to national betrayal. The women who had rushed forward earlier mimicked the matron, cursing the blue-robed man and spitting on him.

Though he’d aroused everyone’s fury, the blue-robed man, relieved by Ding Li’s words, ignored his pain and scrambled to his feet. Not bothering to steady himself, he turned and fled, casting a venomous glance at the weeping, despairing woman as he left. He escaped in disgrace, chased by curses and spit.

“Young man! Upright and brave! A true son of Tang!” The matron, her anger spent, turned and punched Ding Li lightly, her face full of admiration.

“Madam, you flatter me!” Ding Li, embarrassed by the praise from a stranger, stepped back respectfully, bowing and commending her, “Madam, you’re the real heroine—worthy of respect!”

“Haha! Cheeky boy! No need for flattery, that’s not like you!” The matron laughed heartily, patting Ding Li on the shoulder. Just then, her maid called softly, “Sister Cuihua, it’s time to go home, it’s getting late!”

“Oh? Well, time to head home!” Aunt Cuihua pretended to be surprised, glanced at the sky, then nodded. Before leaving, she swung around and playfully punched Ding Li again, then with a warm smile, she said, “Boy, you stopped me earlier, probably worried about trouble. Because you called me ‘madam,’ let me tell you—here in Fuxu Town, mention my name and you’ll be fine!”

“No matter what happens, just say you’re the brother of Miao Cuihua!” With that, Aunt Miao Cuihua walked away, waving back at Ding Li and repeating, “Boy, remember—Miao Cuihua!”

“Miao Cuihua?” Ding Li froze, staring at her retreating figure, frowning and muttering under his breath, “If you’re Miao Cuihua, then doesn’t that mean your son is Fang Shiyu?”