Jiang Wan's words made Gu Chenzhou stumble.
What did she mean he kissed her?
He was saving her life! That was saving someone!
Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi were also stunned by Jiang Wan's words, and the villagers who had rushed over with them heard the entire sentence clearly.
Chen Yuezhi reacted quickly, stepping forward to take her from Gu Chenzhou's back. "Wanwan, don't talk nonsense. Your Brother Chenzhou was saving your life!"
Jiang Wan blinked her innocent big eyes and said, "But he still kissed me! Men and women should not touch each other. Brother Chenzhou kissed my mouth, so don't I have to be Brother Chenzhou's bride in the future?"
Jiang Pan's face darkened. "Wanwan, you are still young. It's just a kiss, it doesn't matter."
Chen Yuezhi also said, "That's right, you are both still children."
How could Jiang Wan let them gloss over this matter? So she said loudly, "Boys and girls of seven years old should not sit together. I am seven years old today! Brother Chenzhou is almost thirteen, he is not young anymore!"
Chen Yuezhi quickly went to cover Jiang Wan's mouth.
This silly child, why did she say everything out loud?
Jiang Wan did not resist. Anyway, she had said what she needed to say, and quite a few people had heard it. Those gossiping women in the village, how could they let go of such a juicy topic?
Just wait, in a few days, there would be rumors flying all over the village, and her parents would have a headache.
Jiang Wan shivered with glee, deliberately making a shiver. Her parents immediately became very nervous.
"Her father, quickly take off a piece of clothing to wrap Wanwan, don't let her catch a cold."
Jiang Pan obediently took off his outer garment and wrapped it around Jiang Wan. "Let's go, let's hurry home, boil some ginger soup for her to drink. Chenzhou, you come and have some too, be careful not to catch a cold."
Although Jiang Wan had talked nonsense, neither of them had any bad thoughts about Gu Chenzhou. He had just saved their daughter's life! And he had saved her before. They were twice indebted to him and had no time to express their gratitude.
The family, holding Jiang Wan, hurried home. Chen Yuezhi took Jiang Wan to bathe and change clothes. After cleaning her up, Chen Yuezhi brought Jiang Wan a large bowl of ginger soup.
Jiang Wan's face instantly turned bitter. "Mother, can I not drink it? I am strong, and with the old immortal here, he won't let me get sick."
These words reminded Chen Yuezhi. "With the old immortal here, how could you fall into the river?"
Jiang Wan's heart sank, and she quickly made up a lie. "It's the Mid-Autumn Festival today, and the gods in the sky are also celebrating. The old immortal was invited by the Queen Mother to watch the moon, and the boy he sent has also returned to the heavenly palace."
"Mother, let me tell you, there seem to be water ghosts in the Yao River. Brother Chenzhou and I were both bewitched by the water ghosts. That water ghost wanted to harm me. If I hadn't been strong, Brother Chenzhou would not have had time to save me."
Afraid that Chen Yuezhi wouldn't believe her, Jiang Wan quickly exposed her ankle. "Mother, look, a ghost's handprint!"
Chen Yuezhi looked down and indeed, a handprint was clearly imprinted on Jiang Wan's ankle. The handprint was not very clear, but upon closer inspection, it could still be seen.
Instantly, Chen Yuezhi's face turned pale with fright.
Jiang Wan seized the opportunity and said, "If Brother Chenzhou hadn't saved me, I would have been in great danger today."
Chen Yuezhi, frightened, quickly chanted "Amitabha" repeatedly.
After Jiang Wan fell asleep, Chen Yuezhi pulled Jiang Pan, and called Da Lang and San Lang. The family went to the river, burning paper and lighting incense, and fussed for a long time, hoping that the "water ghost" would not pester her daughter for the sake of these offerings.
The Jiang family did not take Jiang Wan's words to heart. In their opinion, it was an act of saving a life in a critical situation, and they were just two children.
But the villagers did not think so.
Within two days, the gossip spread and became distorted, just as Jiang Wan had predicted.
The most outrageous rumor said that Jiang Wan, at such a young age, was not behaving well and had gone to the river with a half-grown boy, and had rolled into the water. Someone had seen them, so she pretended to have fallen into the water to cover up the scandal.
When Jiang Wan heard this, she laughed so hard her stomach hurt.
I must say, these gossips were really good at making things up! If this kind of talk were directed at a shy girl, it would drive her to death.
But for her, this gossip was just right.
As soon as her parents heard this gossip, they were so angry that they trembled.
"How can they make up such stories! Don't they know what kind of child Wanwan is? They are all from the same village, they have been through so much together, Wanwan has even saved their lives, how dare they make up such baseless rumors!"
Jiang Pan was even more furious. He directly took his knife and ran into the village, shouting that he would kill those who spread gossip.
The villagers immediately dared not say anything more.
Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi thought they had silenced the gossips, but they did not expect that after two days of quiet, new rumors would spread.
'See? Someone was right. Otherwise, why would the Jiang family be like this? They are clearly angry and ashamed.'
'Exactly. They are afraid that the rumors will spread and affect their daughter's reputation, so they are deliberately covering it up. The more they do this, the more it confirms that their daughter is involved with that boy from another village.'
'With a daughter like this, will anyone be willing to marry her in the future?'
'That's not a problem. After all, the Jiang family is no longer ordinary farmers. Jiang Pan is a county magistrate, his wife is the closed-door disciple of a divine doctor, the eldest son runs a restaurant, the second son is in the army, and the third son is studying. This family has great prospects in the future. No matter how bad the daughter's reputation is, there will be plenty of people willing to marry her for the sake of the family. Of course, those promising young men will look down on her, but those scoundrels and loafers will definitely be happy to marry her, considering the conditions of the in-laws.'
When these words reached Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi, their mouths were covered in blisters from anxiety.
But if they went out to argue with people again, the gossip would only become more unpleasant.
But if they sat back and did nothing, wouldn't that be allowing others to make up stories about their daughter? Once a girl's reputation is ruined, it will affect her for life.
The thought of their daughter potentially having to choose a husband from among only those who were unsuccessful and had poor character made the couple's teeth ache with worry.
Doctor Jin, seeing Chen Yuezhi's swollen face, said appropriately, "Since the rumors outside have become so unpleasant, why not just match Wanwan and Chenzhou? That child Chenzhou, both in character and appearance, is top-notch. He is quite suitable for Wanwan."
Chen Yuezhi refused without thinking. "No, that child Chenzhou is indeed excellent in every way, but Wanwan absolutely cannot be engaged to him!"