The Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Heroine in the Old Abusive Article - Chapter 34

The handsome young man saw Qin Yang descend and handed her a bag of silver, smiling. “I didn’t expect you to be so skilled. As promised, this is yours—six hundred and twenty taels in total. Please count it.”

He then gave her an additional thirty taels. “This is for your friend.”

Although he had distributed over six hundred taels, he had still made a substantial profit himself, far more than he had earned before.

Qin Yang nodded, unable to suppress her excitement. She hadn’t imagined earning so much silver on this trip. Now she wouldn’t have to worry about the journey to the Capital, and she even had enough to buy a carriage.

Without counting the silver, Qin Yang tucked it into her robes and said to Wen Jin’an, “Jin’an, let’s head back now.”

It was unwise to flaunt wealth; carrying so much silver in public was simply too dangerous.

Wen Jin’an gazed at Qin Yang, suppressing her complex emotions, and nodded.

Qin Yang handed Qin Zhao his thirty taels.

Qin Zhao said nothing, but nodded with relief. His sister had indeed found a true master. He accepted the silver.

Holding six hundred taels of silver felt a bit ostentatious, so Qin Yang decided to exchange it for silver notes.

She led the group to a nearby money exchange and converted the silver into six notes, each worth one hundred taels, keeping only some loose silver for immediate needs.

Back at the inn, Qin Yang took Wen Jin’an’s hand. “Now that we have money, I plan to buy a carriage. Once we sell the wild boar, we’ll head to the Capital. A carriage will make the journey much easier.”

She tucked three notes into her inner pocket and handed the rest to Wen Jin’an.

“I’ll keep three hundred taels for now. You take the rest.”

Does she really trust me this much?

Wen Jin’an lowered her gaze, staring at the silver notes in her hand, her lips pressed into a tight line.

“I’m so tired,” Qin Yang yawned, rising to pick up the wooden basin from the washstand. “I’m going to fetch water to wash up. I didn’t sleep at all last night, so I’m going to get a good rest tonight.”

She left with the basin.

Wen Jin’an remained lost in thought for a long time, her mind in turmoil.

A moment later, Qin Yang returned with the water, placing the basin on the washstand. “What are you standing there for? Come wash up.”

She fetched more water for herself.

Wen Jin’an curled her fingers, then rose to wash up. Qin Yang didn’t bother changing the water; she simply splashed her face with the used water and lay down fully clothed, her soft breathing audible almost immediately.

Wen Jin’an pressed her lips together and lay down beside her, but sleep eluded her.

How could such a bizarre thing happen?

Who exactly is this person?

Would she really be kind to me for no reason?

And how long will I remain in this body? Will the original Qin Yang ever return?

Wen Jin’an turned to gaze at Qin Yang. In the moonlight, her sleeping face looked docile and delicate, her features flawless even up close, like polished jade—truly more delicate than a Kunze.

How could someone with such a beautiful face possess such a ruthless heart?

Wen Jin’an closed her eyes, suppressing the bitterness in her heart.

Though she hadn’t expected to fall asleep, she drifted off into a hazy slumber.

The next morning, Qin Yang was awakened by a rooster’s crow just as dawn broke. Still groggy, she sensed something amiss—her arm felt heavy. After a moment, she opened her eyes and saw the person in her arms. Her composure shattered.

Wen Jin’an’s head rested on Qin Yang’s arm, her cheek pressed against Qin Yang’s chest. Strands of hair fell across half her face, revealing only the tip of her pale, delicate nose. Qin Yang’s other hand, oblivious to the danger, was draped across the Female Lead’s waist, while her leg lay entwined with the Female Lead’s.

The two were pressed together, inseparable.

Am I tired of living? Qin Yang thought desperately.

She had finally managed to gain some of the Female Lead’s favor. If the Female Lead were to find out about this…

Qin Yang wanted to cry but had no tears left.

She gently moved her hand and leg away. As for the arm beneath the Female Lead’s head, silently withdrawing it seemed impossible.

“Mmm~” Wen Jin’an murmured softly.

Damn! She’s about to wake up.

Qin Yang froze, quickly closing her eyes.

After all, the Female Lead was the one who fell asleep using me as a pillow. I’ll just pretend I know nothing. If I stick to my story and deny everything, the Female Lead has no proof, right?

Qin Yang made up her mind.

After a moment, Wen Jin’an rose and left.

Qin Yang cautiously opened her eyes and glanced over. Wen Jin’an had walked to the round table and poured herself a cup of tea, her expression perfectly normal.

Qin Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

She pretended to have just woken up, sat up, and stretched lazily. “Why are you up so early?” she asked, secretly observing Wen Jin’an out of the corner of her eye.

“I’m used to it,” Wen Jin’an replied.

“Oh.” Qin Yang realized she’d asked a pointless question. The novel had explained that Wen Jin’an was an orphaned Kunze, delicate and soft, who had to wake up early every day to do odd jobs to make a living. After marrying the Original Host, she had to wake up even earlier to cook for the entire family.

Qin Yang rubbed her nose, the atmosphere growing awkward. But the Female Lead didn’t bring up what had just happened.

Qin Yang felt uncertain. Was this a good thing?

For now, she decided to focus on serving the Female Lead well. Perhaps if Wen Jin’an was in a good mood, she might genuinely let it go. Qin Yang certainly didn’t want to earn the Female Lead’s resentment and end up living a life on the run.

Qin Yang cleared her throat, trying to ease the tension. “Um… the innkeeper said breakfast is free. I’ll go check it out…”

With that, she quickly got up, opened the door, and fled downstairs as if escaping.

The dining hall was sparsely populated. Two tables had been pushed together near the kitchen, laid out with congee and steamed buns. A stack of bowls sat nearby for self-service.

Qin Yang asked the innkeeper for a tray, filled two bowls with congee for herself and Wen Jin’an, and grabbed six steamed buns.

As Qin Yang climbed the stairs, she ran into Qin Zhao and Miao Zhiru coming down for breakfast.

“You’re up early too!” Qin Yang greeted them with a smile.

Qin Zhao glanced at the tray in her hand and nodded.

“Alright, I’ll head up now. Jin’an’s waiting.” With that, Qin Yang scurried up to the second floor.

Miao Zhiru turned to Qin Zhao, her face filled with envy. “Sister Qin Yang really dotes on Sister Jin’an.”

Qin Zhao pursed his lips, silent. What’s there to envy? He shot Miao Zhiru a sidelong glance and strode into the main hall without a word.

Qin Yang set the tray on the table and glanced at the wooden basin. “I’ll fetch water for you to wash up.”

Huh?

Before Wen Jin’an could react, Qin Yang had already grabbed the basin and hurried out the door.

Wen Jin’an stared after her, speechless.

She’s certainly quick on her feet.

This only deepened Wen Jin’an’s suspicions. Qin Yang had always been attentive, but today her attentiveness felt almost excessive.

Wen Jin’an frowned slightly, gazing at the steaming congee and buns on the table.

The door swung open again, and Qin Yang returned with the wooden basin. “Come wash up quickly before the food gets cold.”

Wen Jin’an stared blankly.

“What are you waiting for?” Qin Yang said, dipping a towel in the water, wringing it out, and handing it to her. Her face was radiant with a sweet, innocent smile.

Wen Jin’an took the towel, her gaze fixed on Qin Yang. That smile held a deeper meaning. If she had only suspected before, she was now certain.

After washing up, Wen Jin’an was helped to sit down by Qin Yang.

“The temperature is just right. Try it quickly,” Qin Yang said, placing the congee in front of Wen Jin’an with a beaming smile.

Wen Jin’an stared at Qin Yang’s childlike demeanor, pressing her lips together. What exactly is she trying to do?

Wen Jin’an lowered her head and drank the congee, then ate a steamed bun under Qin Yang’s watchful gaze. This was already her limit; Kunze naturally had small appetites. She resisted the urge to touch her stomach.

Seeing that Wen Jin’an had finished, Qin Yang finally picked up her own bowl and began to eat, finishing off all the remaining steamed buns.

This was the most satisfying meal she’d had since arriving in this world. Unlike the Qin Family’s watery congee with only a few grains of rice, this was thick and rich, and she could eat as many steamed buns as she wanted.

It seems staying at an inn has its advantages after all.

After finishing her meal, Qin Yang tidied up. Today, she and Qin Zhao were going to sell the remaining wild boar. She stood up, patted her stomach contentedly, and said, “I’m going to sell the other wild boar with Qin Zhao today. You stay here at the inn. I’ll be back soon.”

“Alright,” Wen Jin’an replied.

“Then I’ll be off now.” Qin Yang nodded, opened the door, and was about to leave when she suddenly paused, turned back, and said sternly, “Whatever it is, wait until I get back. Don’t go out on your own.”

The memory of Li Feng’s gaze toward Wen Jin’an last night pricked Qin Yang’s heart like a thorn—painful even after it was removed, leaving a lingering discomfort.

Wen Jin’an’s chest tightened. She bit her lip, then softly replied, “Wife-Husband, don’t worry. Jin’an won’t wander off.”

Has she seen through me?

Why else would she say that?

Wen Jin’an clenched her jaw, watching Qin Yang open the door and leave, her heart still pounding wildly.

This was the perfect time to head to the morning market. Qin Yang had already asked the innkeeper’s assistant about it yesterday. There was a market near the East Bridge where many people went early to buy fresh produce.

Qin Yang had been to the East Bridge once before, so she wasn’t unfamiliar with the area. Leaving her room, she knocked on the door next door. Qin Zhao opened it, showing no surprise at seeing her—they had already made arrangements the previous day.

Qin Zhao turned back to give Miao Zhiru a few instructions, and the two of them left the inn together for the morning market.

The market was located next to the one they had visited before. At this early hour, farmers were bringing in fresh meat and produce, drawing a large crowd.

Before entering the market, Qin Yang retrieved the wild boar from her Space. She and Qin Zhao carried it together to find a stall. Qin Zhao skillfully butchered the meat and skinned the boar.

Wild boar was a rare delicacy, seldom enjoyed by ordinary people, and a crowd quickly gathered around their stall.

Sales were even faster than before. Soon, only the wild boar skin remained on the stall.

Qin Yang quietly returned the skin to her Space.

In this era, people didn’t eat wild boar skin. Hunters typically used it to make fur coats for warmth during winter hunts.

Qin Yang had no need for such a coat and decided to keep the skin for now, planning to sell it the next time she encountered a fur trader.

“Move aside! Don’t block the way! Are you courting death? Can’t you see Young Master Li is coming? Clear the path!”

A sudden commotion erupted nearby.

Qin Yang straightened up and looked toward the commotion, spotting several servants escorting two men toward her.

She frowned. The newcomers were none other than Li Feng, her opponent from the previous night’s poetry contest, and a burly man beside him. Liu Dian stood behind them.

The confrontational posture suggested they were here to cause trouble.

Qin Zhao tugged at Qin Yang’s sleeve. “Fourth Sister, try not to make a scene. That man doesn’t look like someone to be trifled with.”

Qin Yang offered a reassuring smile. She had never allowed herself to be bullied, especially not by Li Feng, who had once set his sights on Wen Jin’an.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Qin Yang,” Li Feng snapped, closing his folding fan and slapping it against his palm, his tone menacing. “Where did you steal that poem from last night? You only won by luck. Dare to compete again?”

He had heard from Liu Dian that she was a former street hustler. How could someone like that possibly write poetry? If she hadn’t cheated, how could he have lost face and become a laughingstock?

After making inquiries that morning, he learned she was here and specifically brought Wei Yang to back him up.