My Wife Is The Female Lead In A Scum Alpha Novel - Chapter 29

29

Several people had been swept away by the floodwaters, struggling desperately in the water.

“Everyone, lend me your belts!” Gu Qingci shouted loudly, already undoing her own belt first.

Ancient clothing was complex in structure—even after removing the outer belt, the inner layers remained secured by various fastenings, so it wasn’t as if everything would immediately fall apart.

The few people slumped on the pavilion roof understood Gu Qingci’s intention and quickly unfastened their belts. Working together, they tied the belts into a long rope. Gu Qingci fashioned it into a lasso and threw it out, looping it around the nearest person in the water.

With everyone pulling together, they hauled the person toward the pavilion. After rescuing one, they looped the lasso around the next.

“The pavilion can’t hold much weight. Keep a few raincoats to block the rain together—take off the rest and throw them down.” Gu Qingci said, worried that the crowd might collapse the structure. She pulled someone up while addressing the group.

At this point, Gu Qingci had become their backbone. As soon as she spoke, they acted immediately.

Earlier, when she had pulled them one by one from the water, the image of the top martial scholar candidate had solidified in their minds.

Once they confirmed no one else was left in the water, they counted heads—everyone had been rescued, no more, no less.

They untied the knotted belts, fastened them back around their waists, and adjusted their clothing.

“Scholar Gu, your great kindness is something we will never forget!” several merchants said gratefully.

“You’re too kind—it was only right. Before my father-in-law left, he reminded me that everyone here was his friend, his old companion, and urged me to help if anything happened.” Gu Qingci replied modestly, bringing up Ruan Maolin to ease the moment.

The merchants expressed their thanks but were in no mood for conversation. Though relieved to have survived, the pavilion’s instability kept them anxious and fearful.

In the distance, the river surged relentlessly toward them, carrying all sorts of debris in its muddy, churning waters. Beneath the pavilion, the flood continued to rise, with no end in sight.

It felt as though they could be swept away at any moment.

The nearest safe ground was in the direction of the county office.

Over there, the high walls provided some barrier, and the terrain was slightly higher, so the water rose more slowly. However, since no protective measures had been taken to block the gates, the rising water had begun seeping into the buildings.

Earlier, Deputy General Zheng Qianjiang and some yamen runners had been forced to retreat into the county office. Guo Tongyi emerged from the inner chambers and, seeing the floodwaters rising, finally panicked.

Gu Qingci noticed Guo Tongyi clutching an oilcloth-wrapped wooden box, refusing to let anyone else carry it—likely something of great value.

As the water inside continued to rise, the yamen staff donned raincoats, found ladders, and climbed onto the roof.

The two groups stared at each other across the flood, their expressions indiscernible but clearly hostile.

“The dam has really burst this time! That damned official Guo Tongyi—I hope he drowns!”

“The dam already had cracks before. A few rains passed without issue, so he thought it would hold. Now look what’s happened.”

“Staying here isn’t a solution. What if the water rises over the pavilion?”

“And where else can we go? The current’s too strong—stepping into it now would be suicide.”

The people on the pavilion muttered among themselves. Gu Qingci remained silent, observing the county office.

With the floodwaters still surging from the breached dam, the current was at its strongest. There was nowhere safe to go.

Anxiously, they waited—for the waters to calm, for rescue boats to arrive.

After half an hour, the flow gradually slowed. Over at the county office, two of Zheng Qianjiang’s subordinates swam away. Soon, they returned with a small boat. Magistrate Guo and his advisor scrambled aboard first.

Zheng Qianjiang didn’t fight for a spot, letting his men row the boat away with the officials.

Though the county office’s structures were sturdy, there was no clean food, and staying on the roof meant enduring the rain. Fearing the flood might worsen and submerge the building entirely, they seized the chance to flee to higher ground while the current weakened.

Watching the others escape by boat, the merchants on the pavilion couldn’t help but feel envious.

“What do we do? We can’t stay on this pavilion forever. It won’t hold all of us much longer—soaked like this, it’ll collapse soon. And there’s no food up here. It’ll be dark soon—we need a way out.” someone fretted.

“Hold on a little longer.” Gu Qingci said. “I can swim. The current seems manageable now—I’ll go see if I can find a boat.” She glanced at Xia Lingyan.

Xia Lingyan wouldn’t admit to any tacit understanding between them, but at Gu Qingci’s look, she immediately recalled the earlier mention of silver. Gu Qingci wasn’t the type to work for free.

Though disgusted by the filthy water, Gu Qingci saw an opportunity. After a quick word to the group, she stripped off her oilcloth raincoat and hat, steeled herself, and plunged into the flood, swimming forward.

Once Gu Qingci left, Xia Lingyan spoke up.

“Gentlemen, Scholar Gu’s heroism today saved our lives. Without her, we’d have been swept away and drowned when the flood hit. I think you all see clearly now—what kind of man Uncle Ruan is, and what his merchant association stands for. No need for me to elaborate, right?” She seized the moment to promote the association.

“Exactly! We merchants ought to unite as one. Count me in—once we get back, I’ll sign up with Brother Ruan.” one responded, and others quickly echoed the sentiment.

“The association is one thing.” Xia Lingyan continued. “But in business, we believe in repaying debts and returning favors. Scholar Gu shouldn’t labor for nothing. I’m willing to give her a thousand taels as thanks. Just because someone acts selflessly doesn’t mean we take it for granted. What do you all think?”

“Of course! My business is small, but I’ll contribute five hundred taels.”

“I’ll give a thousand too—Scholar Gu pulled me from the water herself.”

“Good. Once Scholar Gu returns, we’ll tell her.” In no time, they had gathered plenty of verbal pledges.

Now, all they had to do was wait for Gu Qingci to come back.

Gu Qingci swam away from the crowd’s line of sight, diving deep and heading straight for the small boat carrying Guo Tongyi and his men.

The boat was tiny, holding only three people—one rowing, the magistrate, and his advisor.

Gu Qingci reached the underside of the boat and forcefully pushed up against one side. The small vessel immediately capsized, tossing all three into the water.

Holding her breath underwater, Gu Qingci barely managed to open her eyes in the murky chaos. She spotted one of the sinking figures clutching a wooden box and swiftly snatched it before diving deeper and fleeing the scene.

She had no idea what was inside the box—she’d just taken it on impulse while sabotaging Guo Tongyi.

When she surfaced for air near an alleyway, she heard commotion from the direction of the boat. Peering over, she saw the rower had already righted the small vessel. Relieved that the soldier—one of Zheng Qianjiang’s men—was unharmed, Gu Qingci ducked back into hiding.

She wanted Guo Tongyi to suffer, but she didn’t want to drag innocent people down with him.

Guo Tongyi, drenched and flailing in the muddy water, had been hauled back onto the boat—but the advisor was nowhere in sight.

“My things are gone! The magistrate’s seal is in there! Get back in and find it!” Guo Tongyi, utterly unhinged, slapped at the water in a frenzy.

“Magistrate Guo, we’ve drifted from the original spot. The water’s too murky—we haven’t even found your advisor yet, let alone a box. I should get you to safety first. General Zheng is still waiting for me to fetch him.”

“No! You find it first! It must have been stolen—that damned thief!” Guo Tongyi’s rage stripped him of all dignity, but the soldier ignored him and kept rowing. Cursing helplessly, Guo Tongyi could do nothing—the soldier wasn’t under his jurisdiction.

Hiding in the alley, Gu Qingci unwrapped the oilcloth and cracked open the heavy wooden box.

“Holy—”

It was packed full. Not just the magistrate’s seal, but several high-quality jade pieces, two dragon-eye-sized pearls, over a dozen small gold bars, and what looked like account books at the bottom.

Securing the box tightly again, Gu Qingci swam toward Pinxian Pavilion—the restaurant Ruan Zhi had mentioned earlier.

Besides food, the place had also prepared a small boat.

Gu Qingci swam over and knocked on a second-floor window. The elderly caretaker and his young assistant recognized her and hurriedly let her in.

After catching her breath, she wasted no time. With the old man’s help, she launched the boat and rowed back to rescue the stranded merchants, deliberately avoiding Guo Tongyi’s area to avoid being conscripted.

…

Meanwhile, at Linglan Temple, Ruan Zhi stepped out of the prayer hall to ask for updates.

“The current was too strong earlier—no one dared go toward the county town. Now that it’s slowed, people are finally heading down. But after they got there…” The messenger hesitated.

“After what?” Ruan Zhi pressed.

“Our boat was commandeered by Magistrate Guo’s men. They said he lost something important and forced the swimmers to help search.”

Ruan Zhi’s fingers clenched inside her sleeves, her knuckles whitening.

“So Gu Qingci still hasn’t been found? What a shame. A scholar like that, gone just like that—how tragic.”

A familiar, mocking voice cut in. Guo Renshu.

Ruan Zhi turned, her gaze venomous.

“If she doesn’t return, you’ll join her in the grave.”

Her icy tone made Guo Renshu flinch.

“You’re insane! Try it and see what happens!” Guo Renshu snapped back, though her bravado faltered.

Ruan Zhi returned to her room, lifting her veil. Nanny Qin gasped at her pallor.

“Ah Zhi, what’s wrong? You look terrible.”

“I’m fine. Call Nanny Yan for me.” Ruan Zhi rubbed her temples, forcing calm.

Nanny Yan, the mystic who served Xue Sanniang, had her own skills—useful in times like these.

When the old woman arrived, Ruan Zhi handed her a silver ingot and gave quiet instructions. Nanny Yan’s eyes widened, but she asked no questions and left to carry out the task.

Night fell, the rain unrelenting.

Updates trickled in—Magistrate Guo’s belongings were still missing, the search ongoing. Ruan Maolin had paid heavily to send men to the canal site, but it was deserted.

Ruan Zhi’s heart sank further, as if a gaping void had opened inside her, swallowing all feeling.

If that little rascal really died…

No. If she comes back, I’ll be kinder. No more talk of separation. I’ll tear up those contracts. She can have whatever she wants—

“Tap, tap.”

A sound at the window snapped her back to reality.

She approached slowly.

Another “tap, tap”—this time, a corner of a handkerchief poked through the gap.

Her handkerchief. The one she’d given Gu Qingci.

Ruan Zhi’s pulse quickened.

“Lian Rui, Nanny, go rest.”

“Ah Zhi, don’t stay up too late. The master will surely return safely.” Nanny Qin said gently.

Ruan Zhi nodded, ushering them out before returning to the window. She pushed it open.

A gust of cold, rain-laden wind rushed in, but she barely felt it—her focus locked on the drenched figure crouched outside.

As the window opened, the soggy intruder clambered in, dripping water everywhere, a large oilcloth bundle strapped to her back.

Drenched from head to toe, but her eyes were bright with mischief.

It was Gu Qingci.

Gu Qingci: “Wife, I’m back from scavenging!”