The Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Heroine in the Old Abusive Article - Chapter 32

Late July, with the autumn equinox approaching, a cool night breeze rustled through the air. Dim lanterns lined the streets, and strings of red lanterns stretched from the second floor of Huibin Tower to the wooden posts flanking the arena.

Six chairs were arranged before the raised platform, each separated by a small tea table laden with refreshments and tea.

The County Magistrate, accompanied by the heads of the three academies and two prominent local gentry members, took their seats.

The crowd below teemed with onlookers—academy students and local residents eager for entertainment.

“I didn’t expect so many people,” Qin Yang said, shielding Wen Jin’an as they squeezed through the crowd, inching forward.

“Maybe we should just watch from here,” Wen Jin’an suggested, frowning.

“Absolutely not! It’s too crowded here,” Qin Yang insisted.

What a joke! How could I let the Female Lead get jostled around in this mob?

Wen Jin’an turned to Qin Yang, meeting her earnest gaze. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded.

Fine, I’ll listen to her. Being jostled, especially with the mixed pheromone scents around, makes me terribly uncomfortable.

“Let’s go over there,” Qin Yang said, shielding Wen Jin’an and turning to Qin Zhao and the others. “It’s a bit out of the way, but at least it won’t be so crowded.”

Qin Yang pushed through the crowd and found a spot in the southeast corner. The angle was a bit awkward, but thankfully it was much less congested.

“Any more bets?” a shout suddenly rang out.

Following the voice, Qin Yang saw a handsome young man squatting nearby, surrounded by a group of people who appeared to be students from the Academy. The young man noticed her and called out, “Interested, miss? Ten-to-one odds—a guaranteed bargain!”

Qin Yang stared blankly.

Ten-to-one odds?

Her eyes lit up instantly.

Then she shook her head.

She knew nothing about the competition; blindly placing a bet would be foolish.

Unless she had absolute certainty of winning, what difference would there be between her and the Original Host?

The handsome young man, unfazed by her lack of interest, continued soliciting bets from the people around him.

Qin Yang noticed the young man’s attire, guessing he was a student from one of the Academies rather than a casino employee, which meant the risk was relatively lower.

The competition began.

The first event was poetry composition, with each of the three Academies sending a student to write a poem on the theme of the autumn moon.

The three students quickly wrote their poems on paper. Three other students then hung the poems on the stage for public appreciation.

As a modern person, Qin Yang wasn’t well-versed in classical poetry. She listened carefully to the surrounding people’s evaluations of the three poems and gathered that the highest praise was reserved for the student from Tianze Academy.

“The first round goes to Tianze Academy!” the County Magistrate announced.

A wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.

The handsome young man was immediately surrounded by people, some shaking their heads in disappointment, others beaming with delight.

Qin Yang turned her gaze away.

“Well, well, isn’t this Qin Yang?” a male voice suddenly called out.

Qin Yang froze.

How could anyone in the County Town recognize the Original Host?

She turned to see a leering Male Qianyuan approaching her.

Who is this guy? Qin Yang frowned.

The Male Qianyuan drew closer. “Qin Yang, you were a troublemaker in the village. Aren’t you embarrassed enough? Now you’re embarrassing yourself in the County Town too. And Qin Zhao, why are you hanging around with her?”

His words dripped with malice.

Qin Yang couldn’t help but frown. She frantically searched her memory for this character, but before she could find him, Qin Zhao interjected, “Liu Dian, watch your mouth. My second sister’s affairs are none of your concern.”

Liu Dian?

Qin Cheng’s little friend!

Qin Yang’s lips twitched slightly. No wonder he and Qin Cheng got along so well—their mouths were equally foul.

“Qin Zhao, I’m only warning you for Qin Cheng’s sake,” Liu Dian sneered, glancing dismissively at Qin Yang. “You should stay far away from people like her. All she’s good for is gambling and harassing Kunze.”

Hey!

So Liu Dian had a grudge against the Original Host? He started insulting her the moment they met. Qin Yang didn’t care how the Original Host would have reacted; she certainly wasn’t going to tolerate his rudeness.

She tilted her head, studying Liu Dian. He looked exactly as described in the novel: sallow-faced, with prominent cheekbones and a gaunt frame—clearly someone who had been drained dry.

“Liu Dian, did you eat sh1t for breakfast?” Qin Yang demanded, her voice low and menacing. “Your mouth stinks so bad, you have no right to speak about me.”

“You… you’re utterly vulgar! A country bumpkin like you trying to fit in here? You should crawl back to your village where you belong and stop embarrassing yourself,” Liu Dian retorted, puffing out his chest. He might have been intimidated by Qin Yang in the village, but here in the County Town, this was his territory, and he wasn’t afraid.

Besides, he had Li Feng and Wei Yang backing him up. How could he possibly fear some wild girl from the countryside?

With that thought, Qin Yang’s confidence surged.

“Liu Dian, if I remember correctly, you’re from the same village as me, aren’t you?” Qin Yang said with a light laugh. “I’m just a country bumpkin. What are you? A country bumpkin’s lapdog?”

The surrounding crowd erupted in laughter.

“Liu Dian, is this person really from your village?”

“No wonder you’re always trailing after Li Feng and Wei Yang, letting them treat you to meals. I never believed it before, but your fellow villager’s words…”

Another wave of uproarious laughter followed.

Liu Dian’s face flushed crimson, then paled, his heart burning with hatred for Qin Yang.

The carefully cultivated image he had built at the Academy had been shattered by her words.

“Liu Dian, what’s going on here? Why are you causing a scene?” A richly dressed young man emerged from the crowd, a folding fan in hand, his face pinched with impatience from being jostled.

The moment Liu Dian saw him, he blurted out, “Young Master Li, I overheard this woman disparaging our Academy. I couldn’t stand it, so I confronted her, but she refused to admit her mistake and even insulted me!”

What a brazen distortion of the truth!

Qin Yang seethed with anger. No wonder he and Qin Cheng were a match made in heaven—both were green tea types, the kind who were so low-level they were just infuriating.

“Liu Dian, with so many people watching, how dare you claim I’ve slandered the Academy? Do you think everyone here is blind?” Qin Yang asked, her expression a mix of amusement and disdain.

With this statement, she had effectively rallied the entire crowd to her side.

“You…” Liu Dian stammered, his gaze darting away as he glanced at his classmates, who were watching the spectacle with keen interest.

The surrounding students, intimidated by Li Feng’s family status, wanted to speak up but dared not.

Indeed, the newcomer was Li Feng, one of the targets of Liu Dian’s sycophancy. Though handsome and self-proclaimed to be a ladies’ man, Li Feng was in reality narrow-minded, treacherous, and utterly ruthless.

Li Feng opened his folding fan, dismissing Liu Dian’s petty squabble with a wave. His gaze swept over Qin Yang before suddenly locking onto Wen Jin’an standing beside her. His eyes widened, transfixed.

Could such a stunning Kunze truly exist in this world?

Compared to her, the Kunze at Welcome Spring Courtyard were like mere mortals compared to a celestial being—no, even that comparison fell short. Those common beauties couldn’t hold a candle to the woman before him.

A predatory glint flashed in his eyes.

Seeing this, Qin Yang’s expression darkened instantly. She pulled Wen Jin’an behind her, shielding her from Li Feng’s gaze.

Annoyed by the obstruction, Li Feng glared at Qin Yang. “So, you’re the one slandering the Academy?”

Observing his demeanor, Qin Yang knew this matter couldn’t be resolved peacefully—and she had no intention of seeking a peaceful resolution anyway.

“It’s Li Feng. I bet this Female Qianyuan is in for a rough time.”

“Who would argue with that? Of all people to provoke, why Liu Dian?”

Qin Yang overheard the students’ hushed discussion.

A smirk tugged at her lips as she glanced at Li Feng.

Seeing her utter lack of fear, a venomous glint flashed in his eyes.

“Listen, if you know what’s good for you, apologize now. Maybe I’ll spare your life,” Li Feng sneered.

“You want an apology? Let’s see if you have the guts to earn it,” Qin Yang retorted with a cold laugh.

“You—!” Li Feng pointed his folding fan at her, then leaned in close, his voice dripping with malice. “Very well. You’re not bad-looking yourself. My brother has a thing for Qianyuan like you. And I’ve got my eye on the Kunze behind you…”

Qin Yang’s expression turned icy as she seized his fan.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Li Feng yanked his fan back, but she held firm. “Do you even know who I am? You dare defy me?”

Qin Yang scoffed. He was just another second-generation wastrel, flaunting his family’s wealth and acting with impunity. The novel had made it clear: the two men Liu Dian fawned over were the sons of prominent silk and tea merchants, both influential families in the region.

But she held them in utter contempt, especially now that Li Feng had dared to set his sights on Wen Jin’an. This was unforgivable.

“What’s all this commotion? What’s the ruckus down there?” A deep, authoritative voice suddenly boomed.

Qin Yang released her grip and turned toward the arena.

A man stood on the platform, his face composed, back straight, and clad in a dark blue robe. His gaze was sharp and piercing.

The speaker was none other than the County Magistrate himself.

“What’s causing such a disturbance? Speak truthfully,” the Magistrate commanded, his steady voice radiating authority.

Qin Yang studied him—his sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, and righteous demeanor. The novel hadn’t provided any details about this character, so she couldn’t yet determine his true nature.

“Reporting to Your Honor, this person has been slandering our Academy,” Liu Dian quickly stepped forward to declare.

“Oh? Is this true?” The Magistrate turned to Qin Yang.

Even if she denied it now, the surrounding students were too afraid of Li Feng to testify on her behalf. Qin Yang glanced around, then followed Liu Dian’s lead. “This humble citizen indeed finds the poetry recited on the platform lacking.”

She refused to believe that a modern person like herself—though not a poet—hadn’t learned enough classical poetry to recognize that even a casual verse by masters like Li Bai or Du Fu could easily surpass anything the present company could produce.

“You can compose poetry?” The Magistrate’s expression softened slightly.

“Reporting to Your Honor, I cannot, but my master can,” Qin Yang replied.

“Who is your master? Why isn’t he here?” the Magistrate pressed.

“My master has long since retired from the world,” Qin Yang replied. “Just now, this humble citizen saw these two men lavish excessive praise on the poem on the stage, which I felt was undeserved, so I spoke out of turn.”

Her demeanor was neither servile nor arrogant. The County Magistrate couldn’t help but scrutinize Qin Yang, a hint of admiration flickering in his eyes. He chuckled, “Anyone can talk big, but true talent is what truly matters.”

This was exactly the response Qin Yang had been waiting for. She curled her lips into a smile and pointed at Liu Dian and Li Feng. “This humble citizen proposes a contest with these two gentlemen. What do you say?”

Li Feng’s heart jolted with alarm. He instinctively glanced at Liu Dian, knowing he had spent his days at the academy idling away, never truly studying. How could this woman dare challenge him to a poetry contest?

Liu Dian nodded reassuringly and leaned closer, whispering, “Young Master Li, rest assured. Qin Yang is just a street urchin who’s never even seen a book.”

Hearing this, Li Feng’s confidence surged. “A contest, you say? This young master will make you eat your words!”

“Please proceed,” Qin Yang said with a smirk.

Her true motive for challenging them was to make Liu Dian suffer. When Li Feng inevitably lost face, he would undoubtedly resent Liu Dian and make him pay.

Does she actually know poetry?

Wen Jin’an gripped her sleeve tightly, her brow furrowing slightly. From the moment Qin Yang proposed the contest, her gaze had remained fixed on the woman. Qin Yang’s composure was unwavering, as if everything were perfectly under her control.