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墨書 Inktalez
"Ha, what I’m after is your money!"
Xia Muxin stood in her yard, hands on her hips, exuding a bold demeanor. A sarcastic smile danced in her eyes, while a chilling aura surrounded her. Although they were outnumbered by the Wang family, they could not lose their momentum. Besides, she had already anticipated that the Wang family would come to reclaim their money; she just didn’t expect Wang Shoucai to be so shameless, demanding four hundred taels.
It seemed she would have to teach him a lesson about her rules of the game.
Wang Shoucai was nearly spitting blood from Xia Muxin's arrogant attitude and words. It appeared that if he didn’t give her a taste of fear today, she truly wouldn’t know how to read the word "fear."
Meanwhile, Liu Mazi and the others looked at Xia Muxin with expressions as if they had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
Who was Wang Shoucai? He was the sky and earth of Daimiao Mountain. Anyone who dared to oppose him would find various ways for their fields to yield nothing, leaving them unqualified even to beg. After all, hadn’t anyone been this brazen before?
In the end, weren’t they all obediently handing over their grain and calling for him to do as he pleased?
In an instant, Wang Shoucai waved his chubby hand and shot a fierce glare at Xia Muxin, a malicious grin spreading across his face as he barked:
"Bring down a few of her Thatched Cottages and take this Girl back with me. I’ll deal with her slowly."
As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Mazi was the first to kick forward, knocking down the fence at the entrance of the yard. Unsatisfied, he stomped on it viciously.
Xia Muxin remained unfazed. Seeing that her father and the others had taken up tools to prepare for battle, she advised them against it.
"Father, take Mother and the others inside. The more they stomp around now, the more they'll cry later. Stay inside and wait; there will be a surprise."
Summer Forest and the others were initially worried sick but relaxed upon seeing Xia Muxin so calm and indifferent. Still, they were reluctant to leave; after all, Wang Shoucai’s family was notoriously stingy. Muxin had scraped two hundred taels from him, which undoubtedly was like digging up a dragon’s lair. With the Royal Family’s ruthless methods, it was possible that they might kill Muxin.
"Old man, just go inside. The master is afraid you can’t stand this violent and bloody scene. These little brats aren’t even enough for me to practice on," Ming Peng said humbly upon noticing Summer Forest and the others hesitating.
Xia Muxin shot him an annoyed glance. Did he really think she was suited to witness such bloody scenes?
However, Ming Peng was much smoother than Ming Yi; just a few casual words from him could win people's favor. It was unclear why Shen Muhan didn't keep him by his side.
Of course, only their Brothers knew the reason: Shen Muhan found him too talkative.
Ming Peng was left behind by Shen Muhan, and everyone in Summer Forest knew that. But facing the large group from the Wang family, even if he had three heads and six arms, he couldn't stand against dozens of them.
In the end, it was Xia Muxin who pushed them into the house. Despite Summer Forest's countless hesitations, they were all silenced by Xia Muxin's words:
"When you’re not here, he has to deal with troublesome idiots like Shuangbei without a breather. But if we’re all here, he can’t protect this and that at the same time. You see, isn’t that just pushing him back?”
Having successfully dissuaded her family, Xia Muxin walked over to Ming Peng. Looking at the yard that had been nearly destroyed, she stretched her limbs and glanced at the newly purchased land with a sly smile before speaking to Ming Peng:
“Who was it that broke a fence post? Break one of their fingers—two fingers, if necessary. If there aren’t enough fingers to break, then break some toes. If that’s still not enough, then we’ll go for cramps and skinning.”
She deliberately raised her voice. In an ordinary family, a girl saying such things would terrify anyone who heard them. Yet Xia Muxin spoke as if it were just everyday conversation.
Her words effectively stopped those who were busy working. After a moment, one person suddenly threw his head back and laughed until tears streamed down his face; it was probably the funniest joke he had ever heard.
That person was none other than the one who had mentioned Aunt Xia that day.
He had previously been imprisoned for theft and deception. Later on, he didn’t know what means Wang Shoucai used to bring this group over. They looked fierce and imposing, and they were ruthless in action—this was one of the main reasons the villagers feared the Wang family.
The Zhou family's door was left slightly ajar, with several heads peeking through the gap, eagerly watching the commotion.
“Grandma, do you think the Wang family will let Xia Muxin go?”
Zhou Cailian glanced toward the Xia Family direction and blinked her innocent eyes at the Wu Family.
A vision of that man in black flashed through her mind, causing her cheeks to flush with embarrassment. At the same time, worry crept into her heart—would he really not come back?
“The Wang family has always been stingy as a miser. This time, this person is digging their own grave. Remember Old Liang Family's short-lived ghost? Didn’t they just disappear after offending the Wang family? I suspect people like that are disposed of and thrown into desolate mountains where even their corpses can’t be found. If Old Liang Family wanted to complain, they wouldn’t know where to go!”
Hearing Wu Family’s words sent shivers down several spines; thankfully, they hadn’t crossed paths with the Wang family.
"Today is the day Old Immortal returns home. You all better be sharp; if anything happens to the Xia Family, make sure to put on a show. We need to rely on his connections to get some money from Muxin."
As soon as the mention of money was made, a green light flickered in the eyes of several people, eagerly wishing for Summer Old Man to return at that moment.
Suddenly, a fierce wind swept through, slamming the door of the Zhou family shut with a bang. Those caught off guard leaned forward, crashing into the door panel and tumbling into a heap, blood streaming from their noses. They were so frightened by the situation that they lost their wits, screaming and huddling together, too scared to look up for a long time.
The wind howled again, dark clouds gathering ominously overhead. The gale whipped up sand and stones, striking Wang Shoucai and the others hard enough that they could barely open their eyes.
Then, a scream pierced through the chaos. In their line of sight, they saw a flash of crimson, and on the ground lay a bloody severed finger.
As the wind died down and the dust settled, everyone was still in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened or who was responsible. The sight of that red stain was enough to terrify them, while the severed finger made them tremble uncontrollably.
"Lord Wang, let me make this clear: I don’t expect you to compensate for my courtyard, but... that piece of land must be paved within a month. Otherwise, next time it won't just be a severed finger; it could mean your family's extinction."
Watching the panicked expressions of those around him, Xia Muxin stepped forward, casting a cold glance at the severed finger on the ground. Her eyes glinted with an icy menace as she directed her gaze toward the owner of the finger, pointing at the newly purchased piece of land with an air of authority.
Yes, this was an order; there was no hint of humility or negotiation on her face. When she mentioned extinction, Cold Eyes opened wide, and even a hint of hostility made Wang Shoucai take several steps back.
Wang Shoucai trembled with fear, his face quivering so much he could barely produce any sound.
Liu Mazi and others were equally terrified into silence. They looked at Xia Muxin with growing fear before they turned and fled as if they had seen a ghost.
Once they were gone, Xia Muxin scrutinized Ming Peng for a while before finally giving him a thumbs up.
Ming Peng was momentarily dazed but eventually covered his racing heart. The woman favored by their boss was indeed different; she remained calm and collected while giving him a thumbs up. He realized he needed to ingratiate himself quickly; otherwise, if their boss messed up later and had to kneel in punishment, he certainly didn’t want to join in—what an embarrassment that would be...
When the Zhou Family, after wailing in despair, finally opened the door again, the Royal Family had vanished. Although the doors of the Xia Family were open, their courtyard was in disarray as if it had been ransacked. Looking toward their house revealed no signs of life, leaving Wu Family and others bewildered.
Could it be that they silenced the Wang family?
They craned their necks for quite some time—so long that they nearly stiffened—until they finally spotted Songzi, cheerfully carrying a Bamboo Net and wooden bucket as he ran toward the riverbank.
Instantly, their spirits sank. They exchanged glances for a while before Wu Family opened the door and stepped outside.
"Forest, I heard your family bought some land?"
Seeing Summer Forest come out with a hoe, Wu Family hurriedly approached and asked warmly.
Summer Forest was taken aback by Wu Family's question. When had they ever spoken to him in such a gentle tone with soft words?
After a moment of hesitation, he replied, "It was Muxin who co-purchased it with someone."
Co-purchased???
Wu Family momentarily didn't grasp the situation. If Muxin co-purchased the land with someone else, it meant that the money for buying the land wasn't even hers; it was provided by someone else.
"Oh, I see. That's good news. At least Muxin is doing well for herself. You go ahead and keep busy; I’ll head home to cook."
Wu Family's few words made Summer Forest feel a bit uneasy. Just as he had dealt with the Wang family, now the Zhou family had come around. Given the previous encounters, he was on guard. Moreover, Muxin had said that if anyone asked in the future, just say that the money was an investment from someone else and that she merely signed her name on the agreement.
Once Wu Family left after a few exchanges, Summer Forest finally relaxed his tense heart and bent down to tidy up some vegetables that had been trampled.
The next day, Songzi had just taken his tools to Net Fish when he returned home covered in mud less than two incense sticks later.
Xia Muxin had washed the peppers she bought and was currently spreading them out on wooden boards in the yard to dry. Seeing Songzi rush back with an angry expression and covered in mud, she thought he must have fallen but didn’t stop her work. "What happened, Songzi? Why are you all muddy?"
However, Songzi ignored her and dashed into the house to grab a stick before rushing back outside. Realizing something was wrong, Xia Muxin quickly set down the Bamboo Basket and followed him out.
"I won't let you ruin my sister's reputation! I'll make you pay!"
Songzi had been training with Ming Yi these days, so his running speed had improved significantly along with his strength. Xia Muxin had just followed him out when she saw him attacking a few kids around his age with the stick he had grabbed from home.
His words seemed to be directed at her, and without thinking twice, Xia Muxin rushed forward and snatched the stick from Songzi's hand.
"Songzi!" Seeing his eyes bloodshot and filled with cold fury, she called out softly. The moment he heard her voice, his anger dissipated instantly. Upon seeing his sister, he felt wronged and began to cry in her arms.
"Woo woo woo... My sister is the most capable, gentle, and wonderful sister in this world, not what they call a loose woman."
Crying and speaking incoherently, Songzi struggled to express himself.
Xia Muxin listened and finally understood what was happening. This matter had been circulating in the village for some time, and she had merely observed it coldly. After all, those who are clear will remain clear, and those who are murky will remain murky. If someone wants to slander you, would you cry and wail every day?
She wondered who had spread these rumors, probably someone who thought they wouldn’t affect her and incited the children to disturb her family.
This crossed her bottom line. Initially, she had planned not to pursue the matter, but since it had harmed Songzi, it had to be addressed thoroughly.
“Alright, Songzi, can we really silence others? You’re a man; you can’t just cry at every little thing. Didn’t Brother Shen and Brother Ming Yi teach you anything? Besides, however others bully us, we’ll return the favor in kind. Relying on brute force won’t solve anything. Come on, let’s go home first. We can’t let people think we lack proper upbringing and become a laughingstock for future generations.”
Listening to his sister’s words, Songzi nodded in a somewhat confused manner. He then turned to grab the tools for net fishing while Xia Muxin cast a calm glance at the children nearby. A smirk appeared on her lips; wasn’t the ringleader Liu Mazi’s child?
When the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be warped—this was indeed true in his family.
The two siblings returned home as if nothing had happened. Songzi helped Muxin select chili peppers and spread them out on a wooden board to dry.
“Sister, why are you drying so many chili peppers?”
Moreover, these were red chili peppers that looked quite old and were too cheap to buy fresh ones. He initially thought she bought them to save money but didn’t expect her to dry them.
He had eaten dried chili before when their mother went to town to sell bamboo baskets and found some discarded shriveled ones on the ground. She picked them up, cleaned them, and dried them, saying that these chilies were spicy and would help keep warm when added to wild vegetables in winter.
However, they were hard to eat and not as tasty as wild vegetables.
“I want to make some local specialties that aren’t available here. You’ll understand in a few days,” Xia Muxin said with a smile.
“Are the specialties something edible?”
Talking about food excited Songzi; he completely forgot his earlier displeasure. His pure eyes widened as he stared eagerly at Muxin and asked happily.
“Seeing how greedy you are, it’s obvious you love food. Yes, they’re edible—very delicious.”
Upon hearing this, Songzi joyfully exclaimed.
After breakfast, Xia Muxin asked her father, "Dad, is there anyone in our village who can build houses?"
Summer Forest furrowed his brows and thought for a moment before replying, "Er Dan can. He used to make a living doing that, but he is too filial. When his parents fell ill, he stayed by their bedside. Later, the Royal Family took over the construction work, and he hasn't built anything since."
Hearing this, Xia Muxin's eyes brightened. She put down her bowl and ran outside.
She saw Liu Mazi approaching with a group of people, carrying hoes on their shoulders.
Ming Peng was still savoring the breakfast Xia Muxin had made. When he saw her throw down her bowl and run off, he followed her. The boss had instructed him not to let her lose a single hair; otherwise, he would face military discipline.
The Royal Family wouldn't dare to come openly after yesterday's incident, but secretly they might still try. He couldn't be careless; if something happened to the master's master, he wouldn't be able to follow the boss anymore.
Xia Muxin ran straight to Er Dan's house and found him eating Corn Cake. He held a bowl that seemed to contain rice soup, but when Xia Muxin glanced at it, she noticed there were no rice grains inside. Her heart sank further, confirming her thoughts.
Er Dan was surprised to see her. After returning home yesterday, he had heard about the events that transpired. Thankfully, everything turned out fine. Villagers said there had been a fierce storm with dark clouds overhead; the wind whipped up sand and stones so fiercely that it was impossible to open one's eyes. Even if they wanted to go outside, they couldn't. But in less than a moment, the wind and sand disappeared, and the Royal Family left in disgrace. Everyone was puzzled about what had happened but felt relieved knowing that the Xia family was safe.
At the same time, they realized that Muxin was no ordinary person; she had fought against the royal family for so long and had not come out worse for wear.
"Muxin, have you eaten?" Er Dan asked. "There’s not much food here; how about..."
"Er Dan, I've eaten already. You finish up first; I need to discuss something with you."
Er Dan glanced around his bare home with some embarrassment and gestured toward the few Corn Cakes on the rickety table. He hesitated to speak up, but Muxin quickly interrupted him as she sensed what he wanted to say and patiently stood by waiting.
Hearing that she needed to talk about something important made Er Dan anxious; he feared something might have happened at home. Knowing Muxin's character, she wouldn’t ask for help unless absolutely necessary. He hurriedly finished eating his Corn Cake and drank the rice soup from his bowl before wiping his mouth with his sleeve and asking urgently:
"I’m done eating, Muxin. What’s wrong? Is Uncle and everyone else okay?"
Seeing his worried expression touched Xia Muxin's heart, and she smiled as she replied, "No, I came to talk to you about building a house."
Upon hearing this, Er Dan's eyes reddened as he stared at his hands. It had been so long since he last held bricks.
“Er Dan Ge, let’s talk as we walk.”
Xia Muxin estimated the time and urged Er Dan to follow her.
Er Dan responded and closed the door, walking alongside her.
“Er Dan Ge, I don’t want to use the local mud bricks for building. I want to fire some bricks instead. I’m not sure if you understand this, but I’d like you to find a group of young and strong men. It’s hot out, and firing bricks is hard labor that takes time. I’ll pay an extra ten copper coins on top of the daily wage for workers, and I’ll provide lunch.”
As Xia Muxin spoke while walking, she noted how poor the mud bricks looked. After a rain, the soil would dissolve little by little, and even with thatched grass on top, it wouldn’t help. Moreover, the houses built with those bricks were unattractive and couldn’t be made tall.
Firing bricks would be different; those would be modern bricks. It required skill and was very time-consuming. First, they needed to make molds for the bricks, then teach them how to operate, and finally hope for good weather so that the bricks could dry quickly before firing.
“Firing... bricks?”
Er Dan listened in confusion; he had never heard of firing bricks before. Wasn’t this how everyone built houses?
What was wrong with this girl?
Wasn’t fired brick still brick?
“Don’t worry about that for now. I’m hiring you at forty wen a day; are you willing?”
After walking a bit further, Xia Muxin spotted Liu Mazi and others approaching with hoes in hand. She turned to Er Dan and asked.
At this point, there was no way to explain clearly, especially since they still needed to clear that new plot of land.
Er Dan was taken aback. Looking into Xia Muxin’s determined eyes and hearing her clear voice made him pinch his arm hard in disbelief at what he had just heard. After a long moment, tears welled up in his eyes as he nodded eagerly, “Yes, of course!”
He was past the age of marrying and was the only child in his family. As long as it was a legitimate way to earn money, he had to take it. Once he saved enough, he would find someone to marry—even if she were a widow or disabled—he couldn’t let his family line die out or leave his parents without descendants...
“Great! It’s settled then, Er Dan Ge! Come with me now!”
Hearing this, Xia Muxin smiled brightly, her steps becoming lighter with joy.
When Liu Mazi and the others saw Xia Muxin, it was as if they had encountered a ghost. A little girl con artist, the rumors about her using her charm to buy land had spread like wildfire in the village. Tiger even went home claiming that Xia Xiaosong had hit him with a stick over his sister's matter, and that his sister had come afterward to take him back home.
But at this moment, she hardly resembled a victim. With her brows dancing, she gestured animatedly to Er Dan while pointing at the new piece of land and saying something.
Upon seeing them arrive, she remained calm and composed, her clear voice carrying from afar:
"You all are here, let’s get to work. Er Dan Ge will supervise you."
After saying this, she smiled at Er Dan and exchanged a few words before heading into the house.
Before long, Summer Forest brought out a cart, followed by Xia Muxin and Xia Xiaosong. Xia Xiaosong was holding something to eat that they had never seen before; it looked quite fresh. Liu Mazi had been scolded by Wang Shoucai the night before, and with his monthly wages docked, there was no rice left to cook at home. The Wang family hadn’t provided meals for days either. He had already drunk two bowls of cold water that morning under Tang Sanwan's incessant complaints before trudging over with a hoe.
The scene from yesterday had been terrifying—more frightening than encountering a ghost. They couldn’t fathom what kind of people this cunning girl had befriended; she seemed to have the ability to summon storms.
Little did they know that a tornado had struck the neighboring village yesterday just as they were causing trouble for the Xia family. Since it wasn't far from their village, they were affected by it. Ming Peng, who had spent time in the desert, was well aware of this and had used the tornado to create a scare, leaving the Royal Family terrified.
Now, seeing Er Dan supervising them—someone they usually bullied—made them feel uneasy, but they dared not resist. Wang Da’s finger was completely broken, and when he returned home, Lord Wang wouldn’t even let anyone bandage it up. He had lost a lot of blood and looked pale as a ghost that morning, groaning continuously.
Just thinking about this made everyone shiver.
They obediently picked up their hoes and got to work.
Xia Muxin and her group went up the mountain to gather firewood, still working together in their assigned roles. She met with Golden Python, stepped on some mushrooms and Goji Berries, and eventually brought back several seedlings along with some game meat.
When they returned, it was still early; the hour had just passed. Since there was quite a bit of game meat today, Xia Muxin asked Ming Peng to take her father to town to sell it. However, Ming Peng didn’t want to leave him behind and called for someone else instead.
Xia Muxin then took a large wooden barrel and brought Songzi along to collect apple snails. When she prepared to wade into the water, Ming Peng immediately stripped off his outer shirt and jumped in first. Just as he landed in the water, Xia Muxin followed right after.
"Hey, could it be that he feels guilty and is jumping into the river to commit suicide?"
Liu Mazi and the others were exhausted and panting heavily when they saw Xia Muxin jump into the river with a man following closely behind her; their hearts leaped with joy as they speculated.
Er Dan also noticed this and panicked. Ignoring Liu Mazi and the others, he rolled up his pants legs and ran toward the riverbank.
Aunt Liu and several women were washing clothes not far away when they were startled by the commotion. They quickly dropped what they were doing and stumbled over.
"Jin Girl, please don't do anything foolish! What obstacle can't you overcome? People can say whatever they want; it's their mouth, not yours. You're still young, a good child, and you have a long life ahead of you. Don't let others lead you astray!"
The river was relatively deep, reaching Xia Muxin's chest, so to reach the Apple Snail, she had to hold her breath and dive down.
When Aunt Liu realized Xia Muxin was missing, tears streamed down her face as she shouted loudly from the shore, trying to persuade her.
Er Dan was also anxious. Not knowing how to swim, he didn't think twice before stripping off his clothes and jumping into the water when he saw Muxin had disappeared.
This commotion attracted many villagers who rushed to help. Even Liu Mazi and the Zhou Family came to see what was happening, creating quite a scene on the shore.
Xia Muxin held her breath and swam to the riverbed. Upon seeing the situation below, her eyes sparkled with excitement. Not only were there Apple Snails, but also lobsters. She noticed that unlike other rivers with sandy bottoms, this riverbed was pure mud, a thick slurry of mud with small holes scattered throughout. The holes showed signs of lobster activity, and she spotted a particularly large and plump lobster. She wanted to catch it but feared getting pinched.
So she quickly grabbed two handfuls of Apple Snails and swam back up to the surface. Just as she exhaled a mouthful of water, she saw a crowd gathered on the shore, including the village chief Yang Dadong. Everyone looked anxious, talking over each other in confusion.
As Xia Muxin approached the shore, she tossed the Apple Snails into a wooden barrel and only then realized everyone was staring at her in shock. "Village Chief, Aunt Liu, what's going on? Why is everyone here?"
"Muxin Girl, please don’t think about it too much!" Aunt Liu cried uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. Before she could finish speaking, Ming Peng suddenly emerged from the water shouting.
"Ah... it hurts! What is this thing? It bites!"
Everyone turned to look and saw that his finger was caught by a red creature with pincers. It was biting fiercely enough to draw blood.
"Ming Peng, don’t shake it! The more you shake it, the tighter it bites! Come over here!"
Seeing that big lobster, Xia Muxin couldn't help but smile widely. But with so many curious eyes on her from the shore, she managed to suppress her laughter as she watched Ming Peng scream in distress from being bullied by a lobster. She waved him over.
Ming Peng shot her an aggrieved glance but obediently walked over. Xia Muxin grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the shore before skillfully removing the lobster from his hand and quickly tossing it into the wooden barrel.
After throwing it in, she suddenly remembered Aunt Liu's earlier words and found herself at a loss for whether to laugh or cry.
"Aunt Liu, I'm not trying to commit suicide; I'm just feeling this thing."
In the end, she could only point to the bucket containing the Apple Snails and explain to them.
The water was deep for Xia Muxin, but for Ming Peng and Er Dan, it was only waist-deep. So when Er Dan jumped into the water, he was momentarily stunned. At that moment, seeing Muxin emerge from the water and say she wasn't trying to commit suicide, he really didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Muxin, what are you doing with these? They're not good for anything."
Upon seeing the Apple Snails in the bucket, Aunt Liu's face flashed with a hint of fear as she spoke.
"Aunt Liu, don't worry. Anything bad that comes into my hands becomes something good. Just wait for the miracle!"
Xia Muxin appreciated Aunt Liu's sincere concern. Sister Swallow had it tough too. Once her house was built, she could hire her to help out at home—taking care of the kids while ensuring they were well-fed. It would be a win-win situation. As she thought about this, she turned to Ming Peng and said, "Brother Ming Peng, when you see one of these, grab it from behind, then turn it belly-up and quickly place it in the bucket. Catch as many as you can."
She was now quite eager to get her house built and dig a fish pond. Since there were lobster seeds available, she had a way to cultivate them.
With that thought in mind, she pinched her nose while everyone stared in disbelief. Ming Peng, looking somewhat aggrieved, submerged again and resurfaced with a handful of Apple Snails. After several dives, he noticed that everyone was still standing on the shore watching her.
Muxin felt a bit confused and asked, "What's wrong with you all?"
"Muxin... I remember you were afraid of water; how come you're so comfortable now?"
This question came from the village chief, Yang Dadong. It was well-known that Xia Muxin was afraid of water; seeing her so joyful in it today was indeed puzzling.
Hearing this, Xia Muxin smiled lightly and replied, "It's precisely because I was scared that I learned how to swim! Songzi can vouch for me; I've been practicing here under the midday sun for quite some time."
Everyone else had gone for their afternoon nap, so naturally no one noticed her. Besides, she really had come to feel the Apple Snails; Songzi could confirm that.
Upon hearing this, everyone relaxed and after reminding her to be careful, they began to disperse with casual chatter.
After about half an hour, Songzi returned from home with a large wooden bucket. Muxin was tired and being in the water for too long wasn't good for her health either. She climbed ashore and helped Songzi pick up the Apple Snails scattered on the ground. When she saw Ming Peng surface from the water again, she urged him to come ashore as well to avoid any adverse effects from being soaked for too long.
Ming Peng obediently climbed out of the water holding a large lobster in one hand. Xia Muxin counted and found they had caught over twenty lobsters—what a feast they were going to have!
Ming Peng carried a wooden bucket in each hand back to Muxin's house, while Muxin chatted and laughed with Songzi as they washed their hands, preparing to head home.
"Xia Muxin, you're nothing but a loose woman. I'm the only one willing to marry you, so why are you pretending to be so high and mighty?"
Just as he turned around, he saw Feng Liulang approaching with a basket, which this time contained a hen and a rooster.
Xia Muxin shot him an annoyed glance, wondering what had gotten into him lately that he felt the need to provoke her.
"My reputation is my own business; it has nothing to do with you."
The more she thought about Feng Liulang, the more repulsive he became. She didn't even want to look at him, and her words were as sharp as her disdain.
Seeing her attempt to walk away, Feng Liulang quickly stepped in front of her, his bloodshot eyes fixed on her intently.
Today was the day of the small exam, and yet he had performed worse than ever before. On his way home, he had consulted a fortune teller who told him that this was a calamity he must overcome by marrying that girl; otherwise, he would miss his chance at passing the high school entrance exam.
Thinking of his useless father and the villagers who would never escape the mountains, he felt a tightening in his chest that made it hard to breathe. So on his way home, he resolved that no matter what it took, he would marry Xia Muxin.
However, before he even reached home, he heard all sorts of rumors about her—saying she was shameless and traded her body for money, that she was fighting over land with the Wang family. They claimed that the man who had been with her grew tired of her and paid her off to keep quiet. And within a day, other men were already showing up at her door. The gossip was as vile as it could get, and it made him furious.
Here he was, a future Top Scholar, reduced to relying on a loose woman to escape the calamity of failing high school—it was utterly ridiculous. But after years of hard work, how could he just give up? So he gritted his teeth and brought his things along.
"What do you mean it has nothing to do with me? Your reputation is already in tatters. I'm the only one willing to marry you; your parents must be eager to get rid of you. I'm going to propose right now."
Seeing Xia Muxin being so ungrateful, he shot her a glare but held back from saying anything further. He turned to head toward Muxin's house.
Xia Muxin took a deep breath and cursed under her breath, "You son of a bear! Do you really think I'm some sick cat? If it weren't for my family, I would have kicked your mother away long ago."
With that, a cold glint flashed in her eyes. She grabbed Feng Liulang and yanked him toward the basket before tossing it into Donghe. Then she delivered a swift kick right between his legs.
Splash...
A loud splash echoed as Feng Liulang bent over in pain, clutching himself while glaring at Xia Muxin.
The lips moved slightly, but were ultimately replaced by a gasp.
Xia Muxin's brows furrowed as she pointed at him, her tone unapologetic.
"Feng, if I see you again, I swear I'll kick you every time until your family is cut off from having children."
However, Feng Liulang paid her no mind. Instead, he stood in the river, wailing loudly, his face contorted in agony as if he were enduring the most excruciating torture.
Xia Muxin glanced at her feet and swallowed hard, her expression turning grim. Could it be that her kick had truly rendered him incapable of having children?
The commotion attracted some villagers, who looked at Muxin with confusion. Eventually, someone reached out to Feng Liulang.
Feng Liulang's face twitched in pain; seeing someone willing to help him, he quickly extended his hand.
But as soon as he got to the shore, the crowd burst into laughter.
The reason? A large lobster was clamped firmly between his legs, waving its tail triumphantly...
- End of Chapter -
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