A Cannon Fodder Who Became The Future Queen - Chapter 8

They hadn’t finished eating yet when they heard a ruckus from outside the gate. Ji Ping’an and Shen Zhiyu came out of the kitchen and saw three people standing in front of their fence.

A man in a blue robe, who looked to be about her age, was the first to speak. His tone was familiar. “Ji Da, open the gate for us! It’s been days since we’ve seen you!”

“That’s right. A new tavern just opened in the county. We came all the way here to get you so we could go check it out together,” said a woman in a brown robe.

The last person, a man in a silk robe, seemed to be the most important among them. He didn’t say anything but nodded, showing he agreed with the two.

Ji Ping’an recognized all of them. They were the original host’s “friends.” The original host called them by their seniority in their families. The man in the blue robe was Wang Er, and the woman in the brown robe was Hao Da. They were both Alphas from a neighboring village, just like the original host, and notorious troublemakers. The man in the silk robe was Gong Rong, whom the original host had met in the county because he had a relative who was a government official.

Nothing good ever came from these people. Ji Ping’an immediately refused. “I have something to do today. I’m not going drinking.”

Gong Rong frowned at this. Wang Er, seeing his expression, was quick to smooth things over. “You didn’t show up for our drinking session yesterday as you promised. Gong Rong was worried that something had happened to you, so he came all the way to the village today to find you. Why are you refusing us now?”

Hao Da tried to mediate. “Ji Da, just open the gate for us. At least let us in for a cup of tea, right?”

Their shouting from outside the gate and woke up the sleeping Suisui. She came out of the house and saw the three people outside the fence. Her entire body tensed up, and she immediately looked at Ji Ping’an.

Ji Ping’an was still thinking of a way to refuse them when she felt a tug on her clothes. She looked down and saw Suisui by her leg. “What is it, Suisui?”

“Big sister…”

She had seen these people before. Every time big sister went out with them, she came back drunk. If big sister goes with them today, will she turn back into the big sister who hits people? Suisui didn’t want big sister to talk to the people outside, but she was afraid of making her angry by saying it out loud. So, in the end, she could only call out a weak “Big sister.”

Ji Ping’an, however, thought Suisui was afraid of the three people, and it made her even less willing to deal with them. She walked toward the gate. “I told you, I have something to do today. I’m not going drinking anymore. You should go back now.”

This statement was basically a declaration of cutting ties. The three people’s expressions immediately changed. Gong Rong, who hadn’t said a word, now had a smile on his face. “What? Did you get yourself an Omega, so now you can’t even go drinking anymore?”

At his words, the other two couldn’t help but laugh. Wang Er said, “I didn’t know our Ji Da was afraid of her Omega!”

Hao Da shook her head, intentionally drawing out her words. “You don’t get it, do you? Look at Ji Da’s Omega. She’s so much prettier than any of the ones we’ve seen in the county. With a delicate beauty like that at home, it’s no wonder Ji Da doesn’t want to hang out with us anymore.”

Although the words were directed at Ji Ping’an, Gong Rong’s eyes never left Shen Zhiyu. There was a look of undeniable astonishment in his gaze. He had no idea such a beauty could come from a poor, backwater village like Big Willow.

Before, Ji Ping’an would have just cut ties with them. But now, after hearing Gong Rong’s words, she wasn’t going to let it go so easily. Not to mention her favorability and life were tied to Shen Zhiyu. But even if they weren’t, she couldn’t stand the way scoundrels like Gong Rong casually disrespected people.

Ji Ping’an walked straight up to them and opened the gate. “Watch your mouths! If you say something like that again, don’t blame me for being rude!” As she said this, she mentally lit a candle for the three of them. She didn’t even need to look to know how cold Shen Zhiyu’s eyes were right now. Of course, the Omega would also remember their faces perfectly for when she sought revenge later.

Gong Rong heard her threat and finally took his eyes away from Shen Zhiyu. He laughed disdainfully. “And how are you going to be ‘rude’ to me?” Among them, all three came from wealthy families, especially Gong Rong. Ji Ping’an’s family, however, was in a much worse situation. They had only accepted the original host because she was an Alpha and could be their gofer. Now, hearing Ji Ping’an threaten them, they found it hilarious. No one believed her.

“Yeah, Hao Da and I are so scared! What, are you going to fight all three of us?” Wang Er said.

“Our Ji Da is getting all high and mighty. I thought it was some big official from the county! What do you think?” Hao Da held her stomach and laughed.

The three of them laughed loudly. Ji Ping’an waited for them to quiet down before asking, “Are you done laughing?” She rubbed her wrist and tilted her head slightly. Her tone was calm, but there was an invisible pressure to it. For a moment, Gong Rong was intimidated, but he remembered her usual weak demeanor and relaxed.

He scoffed. “If you don’t want to hang out with us, that’s fine. Just pay back the five silver coins you owe us. We’ll forget about it.”

“If you don’t have the money,” Gong Rong paused and pointed at the person behind Ji Ping’an, “you can offer your Omega to us as an apology. Then we’ll pretend none of this ever happened.”

Ji Ping’an slapped Gong Rong’s hand away with a loud “pop.” The crisp sound was loud enough for Shen Zhiyu, who was several feet away, to hear clearly.

“If I recall correctly, I paid for the last time at Yaoyun Tavern, the time before that at Jiang’s Tavern, and the time before that at Wanxiang Tavern, right? If we’re going to count, I think you three owe me five silver coins! When do you plan on paying me back?” The original host had always fought to pay for drinks to fit in with them. She would then go home and sell her family’s belongings to make up for the money. And now Gong Rong was twisting the story and claiming she owed them money.

“And who do you think you are, to casually talk about my Omega?”

With that, Ji Ping’an kicked Gong Rong, sending him tumbling to the ground. The shocked Hao Da and Wang Er didn’t even have time to react. While they stood there stunned, Ji Ping’an kicked him several more times. She was truly angry and kicked him with all her might. Gong Rong covered his stomach, then his legs, and finally closed his eyes, howling in pain on the ground.

The howling brought Hao Da and Wang Er back to reality. Gong Rong was actually being beaten! They were only his lackeys, and if they didn’t help, they’d have to face his wrath later. So, they immediately threw their fists at her. Ji Ping’an saw them coming out of the corner of her eye, bent down to dodge, and then grabbed both of them by the neck with her arms, spinning them around in the air before throwing them to the ground.

“Ouch!” The sounds of them hitting the ground made the dogs in the neighboring yards bark.

When Gong Rong started his vulgar talk, Shen Zhiyu had covered Suisui’s eyes and ears. But the howls of the three men still reached Suisui’s ears. She couldn’t see what was happening and asked anxiously, “Ah Jiu, what about big sister?”

Shen Zhiyu looked at the courtyard gate. The three men had all been knocked to the ground, and Ji Ping’an was standing there, calm and steady. “Your big sister… she’s fine.”

Ji Ping’an, on the other hand, felt a sense of satisfaction. She watched as they slowly got up and rubbed her wrist. “Do you still want me to apologize?”

The three men shook their heads frantically. “No, no!”

“And are you still thinking about my Omega?”

The three of them didn’t even dare to look up, their voices trembling. “Never again! Absolutely never again!”

“Then apologize to her.” Ji Ping’an looked down at them, her tone oddly intimidating.

“We’re sorry, we’re sorry! We were wrong! We’ll never say those things again!”

Ji Ping’an kicked them. “Louder!”

The three of them didn’t dare to disobey and yelled their apology again.

In the courtyard, Shen Zhiyu didn’t respond. She just watched Ji Ping’an with a complex look in her eyes.