The Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Heroine in the Old Abusive Article - Chapter 15

The peach scent in the room last night during the comforting…

“Why are you getting out? There’s still a ways to go,” Qin Yang asked, surprised. Why had he suddenly stopped the car?

She hadn’t eaten all day and her legs were already weak from hunger. She had no energy to walk back.

“To get the fish,” Qin Zhao replied, turning off the main road onto a narrow path overgrown with bushes. It was easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention.

Beyond the thicket, the path led to a river.

Qin Yang followed behind as Qin Zhao skillfully retrieved a bamboo basket from the river, shook it, and poured out two fish.

Qin Yang watched him, increasingly unable to understand him. If he left the Qin Family, he could live a better life. Why didn’t he leave? Why stay and be treated like a beast of burden by the Qin Family?

If it were her, she would have left long ago.

Of course, this was just her personal opinion. After all, Qin Zhao had grown up in the Qin Family. No matter how cruel and harsh the Qin Family was, they were still his family. How could he not have any affection for them?

“It’s getting late. Just follow the river downstream, and we’ll reach the village entrance,” Qin Zhao said, hooking the bamboo basket onto his waist and starting down the riverbank.

Qin Yang pursed her lips, thoughtful as she followed behind. As they walked along the river, the village soon came into view. Just as they entered the village, a young boy ran up to them.

“Qin Yang, hurry, hurry!” the little boy gasped, out of breath. “Your Kunze collapsed while drying the grain!”

“What?” Qin Yang’s heart lurched. Why was she drying grain in the first place? Without a second thought, she sprinted toward the Qin Family’s house.

A crowd had gathered at the Qin Family’s gate. Seeing Qin Yang’s return, they parted to make way for her.

Qin Yang’s eyes immediately fell on Wen Jin’an lying motionless on the ground. Her heart turned to ice.

She never imagined that during her brief trip into the mountains, the Qin Family would torment the Female Lead to such an extent. Ignoring the murmurs around her, she swiftly scooped Wen Jin’an into her arms and raced inside.

“Second Sister, please go fetch the physician again!” Qin Yang shouted to Qin Zhao.

These Qin Family members are courting death with their carelessness. I’m desperately trying to survive, and they’re just…

“Wait a minute! She just fainted. A splash of water will wake her up. Why bother with a physician?” Liu Yue’e stepped forward to block Qin Zhao.

She was convinced her daughter had been bewitched. Calling the physician for that little fox spirit again? Holding a Kunze in public like this? Has she no sense of shame? What kind of Qianyuan acts like this?

Qin Yang paused, turning her head. “I won’t let this go.”

Qin Yang glanced at Qin Zhao, not wanting to make things difficult for her. She turned to the young boy who had delivered the message earlier and said, “Could you please run another errand for me?”

The boy blinked and looked at the woman beside him. She nodded, and he darted off.

Knowing the boy was fetching the physician, Qin Yang carried Wen Jin’an inside and gently laid her on the bed.

The unconscious Kunze’s brow furrowed slightly, as if in great discomfort.

Qin Yang brought in a basin of water and gently wiped Wen Jin’an’s forehead and palms. Though slender, Wen Jin’an was well-proportioned, as Qin Yang knew. Now, with the Kunze’s collar slightly askew, a glimpse of snow-white skin was revealed.

This…

Qin Yang quickly averted her gaze and straightened Wen Jin’an’s collar, finally letting out a relieved breath.

The physician arrived shortly after. Qin Yang rose to let him take Wen Jin’an’s pulse.

After a long moment, the physician withdrew his pulse pillow and shook his head. “Her body is severely depleted. Working during the Rainfall Period? It’s no wonder she fainted.”

She had long heard that the Qin Family was heartless.

She had warned them just yesterday, yet…

“Does she need medicine to recover?” Qin Yang asked anxiously.

The physician glanced at Qin Yang and sighed. “Rest is crucial. Don’t let her work for the next few days. Her body needs long-term care.”

Qin Yang nodded. “Understood,” she replied quietly, seeing the physician off.

The crowd that had gathered to watch the commotion hadn’t dispersed. When the physician emerged, Aunt Zhang, who lived next door and was the little boy’s grandmother, called out, “Qin Yang, is your wife alright now?”

Aunt Zhang had secretly slipped food to Wen Jin’an when she was in a pitiful state. Wen Jin’an hadn’t forgotten this kindness even after reclaiming her true identity.

Of course, that was a story for another time.

Qin Yang shook her head, her face dark as she glared at each member of the Qin Family. “So, your hands are broken, are they? If you make Jin’an dry the rice again, none of you will eat.”

Leveraging her strength, Qin Yang grabbed bundles of rice and hurled them across the yard, scattering the grain everywhere. Still seething, she snapped the rice-drying tools in half and flung them aside.

“Next time,” she warned, “I’ll throw you all in the river.”

“You cursed wretch!”

“Ungrateful daughter…”

Qin Yang ignored the curses hurled after her and retreated into the house.

“Husband…” Wen Jin’an murmured, her brow furrowing slightly.

“You’re awake. How do you feel?” Qin Yang knelt by the bed and took Wen Jin’an’s hand. “It’s alright now. Rest well these next few days. They won’t dare trouble you again for a while.”

Wen Jin’an tried to pull her hand away, but her strength had yet to return, leaving her no choice but to let Qin Yang hold it.

She had heard the commotion outside and found herself increasingly unable to understand what Qin Yang was planning.

Wen Jin’an remained silent, her eyes closed, her face pale.

The faint scent of Qianyuan’s pheromones inexplicably calmed her, and she gradually drifted off to sleep.

When she awoke the next morning, he was gone.

Wen Jin’an leaned against the bed frame, the lingering aroma of Peach Wine having dissipated. A flicker of irritation crossed her eyes.

Meanwhile, Qin Yang, who had stayed up all night with Wen Jin’an, felt her head buzzing and decided to stretch her legs.

But as soon as she stepped into the courtyard, Qin Cheng rushed over, grabbing her arm and whispering urgently, “Fourth Sister, I need to discuss something with you.”

Qin Yang’s expression darkened instantly. She hated being touched. She turned to Qin Cheng, her gaze icy. Startled, he instinctively released her arm.

“What is it?” Qin Yang demanded coldly.

Qin Cheng flinched at her frigid tone, but remembering Qin Youcai’s words, he gritted his teeth and grabbed her arm again. “Fourth Sister, remember when you said you wanted to sell Wen Jin’an? Widower Zhang from the village is offering five taels of silver.”

Qin Yang’s brow furrowed, her face darkening. Qin Cheng immediately released her arm and took a step back.

He feared Qin Yang more than anyone else in the family. He nervously wrung his hands, barely daring to breathe.

He actually knows about the Original Host wanting to sell the Female Lead!

Qin Yang stared at Qin Cheng in silence.

“Fourth Sister, don’t misunderstand! I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on your conversation with Chen San. I was just… just passing by, really!” Qin Cheng waved his hands frantically, his voice strained. He was terrified of Qin Yang; he wouldn’t have dared approach her if he hadn’t been desperate.

Chen San?

Wasn’t he one of the Original Host’s shady friends? Could he be involved in the Original Host’s plan to sell the Female Lead?

Qin Yang’s eyes darkened slightly. It seemed likely. Chen San’s family was even poorer than the Qins, consisting only of a lame father. They relied on Chen San’s scams and tricks to survive. He had preyed on the Original Host, frequently taking her to town to coax her into spending money.

I never imagined Chen San would be connected to the Original Host’s plan to sell the Female Lead.

It seems I’ll need to settle accounts with Chen San soon.

Seeing Qin Yang’s prolonged silence, Qin Cheng’s heart pounded. But remembering Qin Youcai’s words from the previous day, he mustered his courage and blurted out, “Fourth Sister, could you sell Wen Jin’an sooner rather than later?”

What?!

Qin Yang frowned. This Qin Cheng actually dared to plot against Wen Jin’an right at her doorstep! The only barrier between them was a flimsy door with torn, drafty paper windows. She had finally managed to ease the tension with Wen Jin’an. If these words reached Wen Jin’an’s ears, would she even survive?

Qin Cheng is trying to get me killed! Qin Yang thought, her anger rising. She nearly grabbed a stick to knock him unconscious.

“Fourth Sister, I had no choice,” Qin Cheng blurted out. “Father said if Liu Dian doesn’t come to propose soon, he’ll marry me off to Butcher Li. You know Butcher Li has already lost three wives—everyone says he beat them to death. I don’t want to die! Fourth Sister, please help me. You were going to sell Wen Jin’an anyway, so why not do it sooner? If Father gets the silver to repay Uncle’s grain debt, he’ll stop pressuring me to marry.” Qin Cheng finished in a rush, his fear replaced by desperate hope.

Ha! So that’s what this is about.

But what does his life or death have to do with me?

After how they treated the Female Lead yesterday, they dare ask me to sell her today? Do they think they’ve lived too long?

Qin Yang’s face darkened. “Qin Cheng,” she said coldly, “who told you I was going to sell Jin’an? She’s my wife—how could I sell her? Besides, what I said about selling her was just a joke with Chen San. I know I was wrong. If you ever try to lay a hand on my wife again, I’ll sell you myself, even if Qin Youcai doesn’t!”

She paused, as if that wasn’t enough. “What are you staring at? Get lost!”

Before Qin Cheng could react, Qin Yang pushed the door open and stormed inside.

Qin Yang wasn’t sure if Wen Jin’an had overheard her conversation with Qin Cheng, but dwelling on it now was pointless. She needed to focus on how to deal with the Female Lead first.

As soon as Qin Yang entered the room, she met Wen Jin’an’s clear, cold gaze. Her breath caught in her throat. Without needing to guess, she knew the Female Lead had overheard her conversation with Qin Cheng.

Qin Yang bit her lip, brainstorming frantically. After a moment, she walked to the bedside and pulled two steamed buns from her sleeve, cautiously glancing at Wen Jin’an.

Wen Jin’an’s brows arched like distant mountains, framing her clear, watery eyes. Even in coarse, patched clothing, her beauty remained undiminished.

Qin Yang knew all too well what lay beneath those rough fabrics.

“Are you feeling better? I brought you some steamed buns. Try them,” Qin Yang said, averting her gaze, her heart racing. Why does the Female Lead’s stare make me so uneasy?

Holding the buns in both hands, Qin Yang’s eyes were sincere, her demeanor docile and obedient—a stark contrast to her earlier ferocious self.

Beneath her sleeve, Wen Jin’an’s fingers curled slightly, then relaxed. She nearly fell for Qin Yang’s facade, almost forgetting how Qin Yang had treated her before, and the conversation she’d just had with Qin Cheng, despite Qin Yang’s vehement denials.

Wen Jin’an closed her eyes briefly. Leaning in too close, she caught a faint scent of Peach Wine on Qin Yang’s breath. Her body instantly tensed.