There's an old saying, "A kind word warms three winter months, a harsh word chills six summer days," and nothing could be truer than the gossip and rumors swirling around us now.
Upon hearing those slanderous rumors, Madam Zhou and the others felt chilled to the bone. If they were accused of grave crimes, that would be one thing, but they were just weak women and children who had always behaved themselves.
"Mother, don't cry. There are plenty of people who can't stand to see others do well, taking advantage of the situation to benefit themselves. It's just human nature, nothing to cry about," Wufu said, comforting Madam Zhou as she continued to wipe away her tears.
"You don't understand; a woman's reputation is important." To be spoken about in such a way, and in such indecent terms at that, how could this be tolerated? How would they ever marry off?