The Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Heroine in the Old Abusive Article - Chapter 17

She should express her loyalty appropriately.

Since she couldn’t leave for now and couldn’t resist, she might as well stay and see what tricks Qin Yang was up to.

The worst that could happen is death.

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back,” Qin Yang said.

“Alright,” Wen Jin’an replied with a frown, her voice flat.

What is she planning now?

Qin Yang smiled mysteriously, turned, and left the room. Wen Jin’an’s tense shoulders had barely relaxed when the woman returned.

Wen Jin’an pressed her fingertips together, her gaze fixed on Qin Yang.

“Hungry? Look what I brought you!” Qin Yang said, pulling a rabbit leg from her robes and waving it triumphantly.

The rabbit leg smelled irresistibly savory.

Did she hunt this herself?

Wen Jin’an frowned. She had assumed Qin Yang was just making idle threats, but it seemed she had actually gone hunting in the mountains. But hasn’t she always looked down on such things? How could she possibly go hunting?

“Why are you just standing there? Try it! We caught this ourselves, and it’s roasted to perfection,” Qin Yang interrupted Wen Jin’an’s thoughts, urging her impatiently.

“If you like it, we can have it often. Just tell me when you want some,” Qin Yang continued.

Qin Zhao’s cave full of cured rabbit meat—he wouldn’t mind if she ate some, right?

Forget it. If Wen Jin’an wants some, she can just pay for it herself.

But Wen Jin’an didn’t seem to have much money. If she asks for credit, Qin Zhao would probably agree, right?

“Oh, and this too.” She pulled out two steamed buns from her bosom. “I’m going out again today. Just stay hidden in the house and ignore anyone who calls for you. If they insist, tell them to find me.”

Although she’d managed to get rid of Liu Yue’e, the Qin Family was like a ticking time bomb. Just in case, she needed to make sure Wen Jin’an understood the instructions clearly.

I don’t want the Female Lead to soften up and let the Qin Family cause more trouble.

Actually, her trip today wasn’t for hunting. After careful consideration, she’d decided she needed to leave the Qin Family as soon as possible, and Qin Zhao was the key to that.

She planned to test Qin Zhao’s intentions one more time. If he agreed, great. If not, she’d have to quickly come up with another plan.

After these two incidents, Qin Yang couldn’t relax for a single day as long as she remained with the Qin Family.

“I understand,” Wen Jin’an said, suppressing her emotions as she accepted the items Qin Yang handed her. “Wife-Husband, please be careful out there too.”

She had no reason to make things difficult for herself.

“Then I’ll head out now,” Qin Yang said, having settled Wen Jin’an. She left the room.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Qin Cheng and Qin Luo standing at the kitchen door, peering inside. Hearing her approach, they turned to look at her, their faces smudged with soot and ash, looking rather disheveled.

“Fourth Sister…” Qin Luo glanced nervously at Qin Yang before looking back at the kitchen.

Qin Yang gave them a dismissive glance. “What is it?”

“The… the pot… burned…” Qin Luo stammered anxiously.

So what if the pot burned? Qin Yang thought. They’ve been spoiled by Liu Yue’e and can’t even cook rice. If I don’t sell you two, who else would buy you?

“What’s the big deal? Just add some water,” Qin Yang said, a sardonic smile tugging at her lips as she approached.

“No, it’s not that…” Qin Luo and Qin Cheng glanced at the kitchen before lowering their heads guiltily. “The fish soup from last night burned. Father…” Before they could finish, both boys burst into tears.

Huh?

Qin Yang froze, still processing what they’d said, when she heard the door behind her open. Wen Jin’an emerged from the room.

Qin Yang hurried over to support her, her voice laced with concern. “What are you doing out here? I told you to stay in bed and rest!”

“I’m fine,” Wen Jin’an said. “It was just getting stuffy staying in the room all day.”

Her gaze flickered to the Qin Cheng and Qin Luo brothers. Qin Luo was still young and less cunning than Qin Cheng. Many of the schemes Liu Yue’e had used to scold and beat Wen Jin’an had originated with Qin Cheng.

Earlier, Wen Jin’an had overheard some commotion outside while she was in the room.

“Did something happen?” she asked Qin Yang, her eyes searching for answers.

What happened?

Qin Yang realized it was nothing more than Qin Cheng and Qin Luo burning the fish soup dry while reheating it.

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have mattered. But the Qin Family rarely had fish. Two palm-sized fish had been simmered into a whole pot of soup, enough for a day. The leftovers were meant for today, but the brothers had burned it all away.

How could they not be terrified?

Qin Youcai had already been planning to marry them off for dowries. This incident would only deepen his resentment.

“Fourth Sister, can you tell Father that you made the soup today?” Qin Cheng asked, pointing at Wen Jin’an.

What?!

Qin Yang’s lips twitched. Make the Female Lead take the blame for him?!

The audacity!

Even I wouldn’t dare…

Pah!

He wouldn’t dare wrong the Female Lead himself, yet he has the gall to do this!

Qin Yang was speechless. No matter how she reasoned or warned him, it was useless. Her face turned cold as she snapped, “So you think I’m being too lenient? I haven’t even had a sip of the fish soup, and you’ve already burned it! What exactly are you up to? And if you ever try to scheme against Jin’an again, I’ll beat you to death myself.” With that, Qin Yang rolled up her sleeves, striking a pose as if ready for a fight.

“Don’t hit me, Fourth Sister! I know I messed up…” Qin Cheng begged, clutching his head.

“Try pulling this stunt again, and you’ll regret it,” Qin Yang threatened.

“I’ll never do it again! Fourth Sister, please don’t hit me!” Qin Cheng wailed, crouching on the ground with his head in his hands.

Fish soup?

Wen Jin’an frowned. Had she not only hunted rabbits but also caught fish?

Her gaze shifted to Qin Yang, and she pressed her lips together.

This woman seemed genuinely different from before. If this had happened before, Wen Jin’an wouldn’t have even considered going hunting in the mountains, let alone catching fish.

Qin Cheng’s wails quickly drew Liu Yue’e’s attention.

“Fourth Elder, what are you doing bullying Third and Fifth Elders?” Liu Yue’e rushed forward, shielding Qin Cheng and Qin Luo behind her. She helped Qin Cheng up, turning him this way and that, anxiously checking for injuries, terrified her precious darling had been hurt by Qin Yang.

Here she goes again, protecting them?

Good thing I anticipated this.

Qin Yang tugged Wen Jin’an behind her and pointed at the sniveling Qin Cheng, her voice dripping with fury. “I’m bullying him? These two brats ruined our whole pot of fish soup!”

She knew Liu Yue’e couldn’t remain calm when food was involved.

Sure enough, Liu Yue’e’s expression froze. Without even asking what happened, she darted toward the kitchen, followed by a sharp “Ah!”

Her frail figure burst out, and she slapped Qin Cheng’s head. “You cursed wretch! You ruined a perfectly good pot of fish soup! Crying? You have the nerve to cry after this?” Another slap landed.

Qin Cheng clutched his head, wailing in pain. “Ah, Mother! I didn’t mean to! Please don’t hit me anymore! I’ll never do it again!”

Qin Yang snorted coldly and made a show of rolling up her sleeves.

“I know I was wrong! Please don’t hit me! Don’t hit me!” Qin Cheng cried, his eyes wide with terror as he stared at Qin Yang.

This is terrible! he thought. I’m just a frail Kunze. How could I possibly withstand the brutal treatment of Qin Yang’s crude Qianyuan strength?

She’ll beat me to death!

In his panic, Qin Cheng grabbed Qin Luo, who was trembling beside him, and the two huddled together, weeping.

Qin Yang suppressed a laugh and let out a cold snort. “Jin’an, you’re still recovering. Let me help you back to your room. Qin Cheng can handle things here.” She deliberately emphasized Qin Cheng’s name, making it clear this was a warning.

Surely he wouldn’t dare cause trouble after this, she thought.

Wen Jin’an nodded silently.

He had been plotting to pit the Qin Family against this man, hoping for another round of infighting. But now, seeing her defend him again, he felt a sudden, inexplicable softening in his heart.

“Are you sure you don’t need help?” Wen Jin’an asked, glancing at the kitchen. His peripheral vision remained fixed on Qin Yang’s seemingly innocent peach blossom eyes, still trying to gauge her true reaction.

“Of course! I trust Qin Cheng and Qin Luo will do a fine job,” Qin Yang assured him immediately.