Volume 1, Chapter 18 – Good Heavens, What Beautiful Hands!

Huang Qi had just stepped outside when he saw his grandfather pacing anxiously by the door, leaning on his cane and muttering under his breath.

“Granddaughter-in-law! That Zhang Lao’er is slandering you, claiming you’re a man! Your mother-in-law is arguing with him right now!”

The moment he spotted Huang Qi, Huang Xinghu rushed over to explain the situation.

“What?!”

Already guilty over his deception, Huang Qi’s legs nearly gave out beneath him at these words.

“You… what’s wrong?”

Old Man Huang asked curiously.

Seeing his grandfather’s kind face and remembering why he was cross-dressing in the first place, Huang Qi mustered his courage. Steadying himself, he replied, “I’m fine.”

“Good, good! Go help your mother-in-law shut those bastards up!”

Relieved, the old man exhaled.

Huang Qi approached cautiously, hiding in the shadows to assess the situation first. He needed to understand what was happening before intervening.

‘Did I slip up somewhere? Did that guy really see through my disguise?’

He observed while speculating. If the accuser had solid evidence, charging in blindly might only make things worse.

Not far away, about twenty villagers were gathered, whispering and pointing.

“Zhang Lao’er, let me remind you—my daughter-in-law comes from a prominent family. If you keep slandering her like this and bring trouble upon yourself, don’t expect me to help you!”

Li Fen issued a warning.

“Stop bluffing! Just bring her out to prove her gender, then we’ll talk!”

Zhang Lao’er sneered, tilting his chin arrogantly. He was scrawny, the kind of man who’d clearly grown up half-starved.

“Who are you to demand proof from my daughter-in-law? Look at yourself—you can’t even guarantee your next meal, yet here you are meddling in others’ business!”

Li Fen shot back coldly.

“Oh? Feeling guilty?”

Unrelenting, Zhang Lao’er turned to incite the crowd. “Everyone saw it during Old Man Huang’s birthday! That so-called ‘daughter-in-law’ of theirs—her hands weren’t womanly at all! Covered head to toe, refusing to speak—clearly hiding something!”

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The villagers fell into thought. Now that he mentioned it, the Huang family’s daughter-in-law had behaved strangely that day.

“My husband Huang Kairong already explained—her face was swollen, so she couldn’t speak or show herself!”

Li Fen patiently reiterated.

“You think I don’t know? You all planned this in advance!”

Zhang Lao’er declared as if delivering a verdict.

“Planned? Planned what?”

Li Fen was baffled.

“That ‘daughter-in-law’ is just an actor you hired! To avoid mockery, you got a man to play the part and save face!”

He concluded smugly.

“Are you out of your mind? If he were just an actor, why would he spend so much silver on your family?”

Li Fen nearly laughed at the absurdity.

The surrounding villagers nodded—that part didn’t add up.

“You gave him the money, of course!”

Zhang Lao’er retorted without hesitation, clearly having prepared his “arguments.”

“You overestimate our family. We’d never waste that much silver just for pride.”

Li Fen smiled dismissively.

“He’s right, Zhang Lao’er! Who’d throw away money like that? With that much, you could buy dozens of sacks of rice!”

“Exactly! Everyone knows the Huang family’s situation. Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t afford it!”

“Zhang Lao’er, are you just jealous they found a daughter-in-law? If you’ve got any sense, apologize now and kowtow! Maybe their rich daughter-in-law will introduce you to some divorced woman later!”

“Yeah, she’s from a wealthy family—she must know plenty of girls!”

The crowd began siding with Li Fen.

“Listen, everyone! Of course they wouldn’t spend that much just for pride—but what if it’s to save Huang Qi’s life? Don’t forget, he’s almost thirty! If he doesn’t find a partner, he’ll be conscripted. And with the Western Radiance Dynasty at war, what are his chances of returning alive? But now, with a ‘partner,’ he’s exempt!”

Zhang Lao’er delivered his trump card calmly.

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The villagers fell silent, murmuring amongst themselves.

“He’s got a point… If it’s to save Huang Qi, the cost would be worth it.”

“But deceiving the court is a capital offense!”

“Huang Qi is Huang Kairong’s only son. If he dies, their lineage ends. Wouldn’t you take the risk in their place?”

Convinced by this reasoning, the crowd shifted back to Zhang Lao’er’s side.

Li Fen was speechless. She hadn’t expected him to come so prepared, with arguments layered upon arguments.

Hidden nearby, Huang Qi marveled. What vendetta does this guy have against them to go to such lengths?

“Honestly, if my daughter-in-law weren’t a woman, even I’d believe you.”

Li Fen admitted warily.

“Stop lying through your teeth! Call out that ‘daughter-in-law’ of yours—let her speak! After so many days, her teeth must’ve healed by now!”

Zhang Lao’er demanded outright.

“Her teeth are fine, and she’s spoken to us at home. But I ask again—who are you to demand proof of her gender?”

Li Fen retorted disdainfully.

“If she won’t come out, it proves she’s guilty!”

He resorted to provocation.

“Everyone, think! What man lacks an Adam’s apple like my daughter-in-law? What man has breasts as large as hers? You’ve all seen her!”

Li Fen raised her voice.

“Hah! Plenty of men have subtle Adam’s apples—mine’s barely visible!”

Zhang Lao’er tilted his head, showing off his own neck. The crowd peered closely—true enough.

“As for breasts—give me a few steamed buns to stuff in my shirt, and I’ll outsize her!”

The villagers nodded again—these traits alone couldn’t confirm gender.

“I won’t waste breath on a scoundrel like you.”

Li Fen, out of arguments, turned to leave.

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“Oh? Running away? Deceiving the court warrants execution! I’ll report your family’s scheme to the magistrates!”

Zhang Lao’er shouted after her, as if they shared some blood feud.

“Don’t push your luck!”

Li Fen halted, trembling with rage.

“Fear is good. Admit your fraud now, repent, and you might keep your heads.”

He feigned magnanimity.

“So he’s just guessing I’m a man based on superficial traits? I thought he actually had evidence. If he’s just bluffing, I’ve got nothing to fear.”

Having assessed the situation, Huang Qi could no longer stand by while his mother was cornered. He stepped forward and called out clearly:

“You wanted to hear my voice?”

The countryside was quiet, and Huang Qi’s current girlish tone rang out crisply, like pearls scattering onto a jade plate—lingering beautifully in the air.

The villagers turned as one, their faces lighting up with delight. It had been so long since they’d heard a young woman’s voice in these parts.

“Well? Nothing to say now?”

Li Fen regained her confidence, confronting Zhang Lao’er triumphantly.

The man gaped, his face flushing red. He was at a loss for words.

“Zhang Lao’er, how do you explain this?!”

“Apologize now! If she gets angry, not even the heavens can save you!”

“Serves you right! Stirring up trouble for nothing—what a disgrace!”

The crowd turned on him immediately.

“Cat got your tongue? Weren’t you so eloquent earlier? Did all that filth in your belly clog your throat?”

Huang Qi advanced step by step.

Zhang Lao’er’s face cycled through shades of green and white, but he still grasped at straws:

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“A girl’s voice means nothing! Any actor can mimic one! The theaters in town are full of men like you! But voices can be faked—body features can’t. Like your hands!”

“I’ve already said—my hands are rough from housework.”

Huang Qi stuck to his story.

“You think I’m a child? I’m talking about bone structure, not calluses! Take off those gloves—let everyone see! What woman has such thick knuckles?”

Zhang Lao’er pressed logically.

Li Fen hesitated. She had to admit voices could be faked. Setting that aside, her daughter-in-law’s gender was still questionable—those hands truly didn’t seem feminine.

Remembering Huang Qi’s secretive behavior these past days, doubt crept into her expression.

“Who do you think you are? Why should I show you anything?”

Huang Qi scoffed.

“Refusing proves you’re hiding something!”

Zhang Lao’er clung stubbornly to his claim.

Huang Qi glanced at his mother, then at his watching grandfather. He realized this scoundrel had backed him into a corner.

“Fine. I’ll remove my gloves—but you turn around first.”

He took a deep breath.

“Why?”

“I said—you don’t deserve to look.”

Zhang Lao’er pondered, then shrugged. His goal was exposure—it wasn’t like he wanted to see those “disgusting man-hands” anyway.

“Everyone, keep your eyes sharp! Don’t let this half-man, half-woman creature fool you!”

He turned away dramatically.

Huang Qi peeled off his gloves.

A pair of slender, jade-like hands emerged—skin so fair it seemed to glow, fingers delicate as spring onions, pink nails exuding feminine charm. They looked like exquisite works of art.

“Good heavens… what beautiful hands!”

Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd.