The Vicious Empress's Scum Wife (GL) - Chapter 010
As she spoke, she clenched her fists, striking a pose that clearly conveyed: money, yes, but entering my home to humiliate my wife, absolutely not.
The original owner had rescued Qin Mingyue in the mountains during a heavy winter snowfall. Upon seeing her, she was instantly captivated by her beauty, consumed by lust. She secretly brought her home and forced a marriage, leveraging her “kindness.” At that time, Qin Mingyue was injured and suffering from temporary amnesia, so she was forced to agree. Who knew the original owner was a scumbag with a human face but a beast’s heart? The moment their marking failed to establish, she immediately revealed her true colors, humiliating and violently beating her. However, she also knew that such a peerless beauty like Qin Mingyue, if exposed, would definitely not be her to keep. So, out of this selfish motive, she kept Qin Mingyue locked at home, forbidding her to go out. This was why, surprisingly, no one in the entire Fenghuang Town except Liu Zhenzhen had ever seen Qin Mingyue.
Wu Yuan naturally hadn’t seen her, nor had Zhang Zhen and the others. They had only heard that Lin Yanran frequently beat and cursed her wife, which must mean she wasn’t to her liking. How much could a Kunze who didn’t please a Qianyuan be worth?
Therefore, these thugs from the gambling house initially didn’t harbor any ulterior motives concerning Qin Mingyue.
Wu Yuan understood Lin Yanran’s meaning and had no intention of denying the debt. His sole purpose on this trip was to threaten and entice, wishing to continue exploiting Lin Yanran, his cash cow. Naturally, he didn’t want to offend her completely. Now that he knew Lin Yanran had money, if she wanted to delay repayment, why would the gambling house object?
The longer the delay, the more the interest would accrue!
Wu Yuan immediately said, “Yanran, don’t get angry. My words and actions were improper. But I must warn you, there are only ten days left until the repayment date. You must hurry, otherwise—”
He chuckled dryly twice, his intention self-evident: if she couldn’t repay the debt on time, there would certainly be severe consequences.
Lin Yanran scoffed, “Ten days is enough. Yanran will personally deliver the money to your doorstep then, so you won’t need to trouble yourself, Boss Wu, by mobilizing your men.”
“Hahahaha, Yanran, you are indeed straightforward!”
Wu Yuan cupped his fists, then left with his two henchmen, swaggering away.
Lin Yanran stood in place for a while. After seeing their three figures disappear into the distance, she suddenly called out to Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua: “You two go inside and guard the main door for me. Absolutely do not open it unless I return.”
Lin Cuicui nervously nodded. Lin Yanran watched them go in and bolt the door, then she followed Wu Yuan.
Chen Xiaohua peered through the door crack, watching Lin Yanran disappear from sight, then turned her head and said, “Cuicui, they used to say Sister Yanran was idle and useless, but why do I feel Sister Yanran is so amazing?”
Lin Cuicui also looked confused, saying uncertainly, “I don’t know why they said that, but Sister Yanran today drove away three men, and one of them was a Qianyuan! Even my dad isn’t that formidable.”
Chen Xiaohua immediately nodded: “Exactly! And she’s so rich! Just to fix the kitchen and latrine, she actually hired eight people at once, thirty large coins each. That’s too generous!”
Lin Cuicui hummed, feeling a pang of sadness at the thought of her own wages being embezzled by her biological father.
“If only Sister Yanran would hire me again…”
Chen Xiaohua echoed: “Yeah, I hope Sister Yanran hires us for work next time.” After thinking for a moment, she added, “Preferably without your dad knowing.”
Lin Cuicui’s face couldn’t help but show a look of longing.
Lin Yanran kept following the three men, Wu Yuan included, until she saw them mount their horses and head east along the official road out of Fenghuang Town, in the direction of Shimen County.
Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief. Distraught, she arrived at Sifang Inn. The innkeeper, Liu Fu, beamed when he saw her: “Yanran, you’re here! Do you still have that stir-fry secret? Today, I won’t charge you; you can go into the back kitchen. If you teach the chef well, I’ll give you a meal for free.”
Lin Yanran was preoccupied with her thoughts and didn’t respond.
Liu Fu thought she was dissatisfied and offered apologetically, “Just now, Boss Wu from Yuanbao Gambling House in Shimen County came to the inn for drinks. I heard him talk about you, and I even showed Boss Wu the way.”
Lin Yanran’s eyes narrowed. So, this dog-like person was the one who showed him the way! She wondered why Wu Yuan found her house so easily.
Liu Fu was startled by her angry glare and quickly compensated, “Yanran, are you perhaps not satisfied with one free meal? You know I run a small business. How about this: I’ll give you three days of free meals if you teach the chef your two dishes, how about that?”
Lin Yanran saw his short-sightedness and almost laughed in anger. Her recipes were enough to open a grand restaurant in the capital city!
Initially, she had indeed considered using the recipes to entice this fat-headed Liu Fu to seek her out for a partnership. But he only offered her a few free meals?
How could such a person be worthy of a partnership? It would only bring her trouble!
She forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes: “No problem, no problem. I’ll come when I have time.”
Too lazy to even order food, she turned and left. Liu Fu, anxious, followed and clung to her. Lin Yanran directly grabbed his collar, gave him a hard shove, and pushed him to the ground.
Her lips curved slightly, appearing to smile, but her eyes were filled with coldness.
“Do you not know who Lin Yanran is? How dare you try to bully me!”
She clenched her fist, feigning a punch. Liu Fu immediately covered his head: “Don’t, don’t hit me!”
“Be careful, or I’ll call Zhang Zhen, Li Qing, and Zhu Shiyu to block your inn’s door! Get lost!”
Only then did Liu Fu remember Lin Yanran’s notorious reputation as Fenghuang Town’s foremost rogue. He scurried away, clutching his head in fear.
“Yanran, don’t be angry, I’m going, I’m going right now.”
As soon as he left, Lin Yanran’s face immediately darkened. Liu Fu was nothing to fear, but she had to guard against those thugs from Yuanbao Gambling House.
She bought a young chicken, some eggs, tofu, and green vegetables, and carried them home.
Lin Cuicui heard her voice and quickly opened the door. The young woman looked up at Lin Yanran’s icy cold eyes, feeling as if pricked by needles. She immediately lowered her head again, her voice a mosquito’s hum: “Sister Yanran, you’re back?”
Lin Yanran hummed in acknowledgment, scanned the house from left to right, then said, “It’s getting late. You two should pack up quickly and go home.”
Her voice softened then, carrying a hint of concern. Lin Cuicui mustered her courage to glance at her: “I understand, Sister Yanran.”
Chen Xiaohua was also secretly looking at her, her eyes inexplicably tinged with admiration.
The two had already packed the glutinous rice mortar. They picked up their baskets and headed out. Lin Yanran bolted the door, carried the vegetables into the kitchen, and then patted her clothes before entering the main room. Outside the curtain, she softly said, “Mingyue, the eatery was busy today, so I bought ingredients and will cook myself. Please wait a moment.”
There was no response, but she could hear Qin Mingyue turning book pages.
She then turned back to the kitchen to light the fire and cook. The kitchen was damp but barely usable.
The red clay stove from earlier came in handy. There were still some dried mushrooms at home, perfect for chicken stew with mushrooms, along with tender stir-fried greens and tofu, a refreshing and appetizing sweet and sour lotus root, and an egg drop and vegetable leaf soup. Perfect!
She rushed back and forth, bringing the dishes into the main hall, setting them on the table facing the main door, and then went into the room.
Qin Mingyue was still reading the medical book.
She wondered if Qin Mingyue had heard the conversation with Wu Yuan.
Lin Yanran observed her expression, which was quiet and indifferent.
She hoped she hadn’t heard, but she thought it unlikely. Wu Yuan had a loud voice, and she herself had deliberately raised her voice to scare him off.
She must have heard.
She spoke: “Mingyue, the room is small, and I’m afraid the smell of the food will disturb your rest. Shall we eat in the main hall today?”
Qin Mingyue nodded, put down her book, and supported herself on the table, attempting to stand. Lin Yanran quickly walked closer: “Don’t move, I’ll carry you out.”
Qin Mingyue was calm this time, showing no signs of disgust or rejection, which was abnormally quiet. Lin Yanran’s heart suddenly sank.
She carried her out of the room, gently placed her on a chair, and then sat down beside her. She picked up a bowl, served her some soup, and a small portion of rice.
“Eat.”
Qin Mingyue’s expression was unreadable, and she ate silently.
She had naturally heard Lin Yanran’s conversation with Wu Yuan. These developments were exactly the same as in her previous life. The only difference was that this time, Lin Yanran had changed and was protecting her.
But it was also Lin Yanran who sold her to the gambling house to repay a debt.
Her heart had already turned to ice. These humiliations had already occurred and been experienced, so their recurrence naturally caused no ripple.
What if Lin Yanran changed? Her abuse and sale of Qin Mingyue were undeniable facts. In Qin Mingyue’s eyes, Lin Yanran had already been condemned to death.
Allowing this lowly servant to attend to her now was a favor!
She took a few bites, then looked up to see the moon high in the sky outside the open main door.
It happened to be a full moon.
This immediately stirred a flood of emotions. She thought of her mother suffering in the cold palace, of the injustices and humiliations she and her mother had endured, and of how those wretched people and their children who had tormented her mother and her were now enjoying unrivaled prestige and nightly revelries…
All that dignity and glory should have belonged to her, yet she had been cruelly harmed by this lowly person, confined here like a dog!
Boundless pain, like the moonlight filling the sky, enveloped her heart, tearing her already ravaged heart to pieces.
Lin Yanran noticed her gaze, followed it, and saw the full moon directly opposite the main door, as if it had risen just for them.
She knew Qin Mingyue must be homesick, but she dared not mention her family affairs.
The meal was very oppressive. After finishing, she stood up and said, “The moon is full tonight. I’ll brew you a pot of tea. You can enjoy it a bit longer.”
Qin Mingyue remained silent.
Lin Yanran brought the red clay stove, brewed the tea, filled her cup, and then went to clear the dishes.
When she returned from the kitchen, she saw Qin Mingyue still seated at the table, quietly gazing at the bright moon, as if in a trance. The tea beside her had already grown cold.
“The spring night is cold. Why don’t you go to bed early?” she said, with a hint of tenderness.
Qin Mingyue’s hand, resting on her knee, moved slightly.
In ten days, the thugs from the gambling house would break in, abduct her, force aphrodisiacs on her, and sell her into a brothel… Recalling those past scenes, she was consumed by furious hatred!
If she hadn’t gouged out her glands and desperately escaped in her previous life, she would have become a prostitute, tormented by others… How could she endure such humiliation again after being reborn?!
The dagger was in her sleeve. She only needed to kill this vile commoner to avoid subsequent humiliation!
She suddenly gripped the hilt of the dagger!
Lin Yanran, standing beside her, suddenly felt a chill. She turned and walked to her room, retrieved an outer garment, and gently draped it over Qin Mingyue’s shoulders.
“You’re frail; don’t sit for too long.”
Qin Mingyue’s hand was tensed to the extreme, poised for a fatal strike!
Lin Yanran suddenly said, “I know you heard the conversation, and you must hate me terribly…” She paused, then said in a low voice, “I don’t know what I can do to make you believe me, but I already have a plan. I will absolutely not let anyone bully you.”
“Three days, give me three days,” she vowed.
Qin Mingyue’s accumulated killing intent waned again and again, then finally dissipated. The hand gripping the dagger handle relaxed.
Lin Yanran was completely unaware that she had narrowly escaped death. She turned to fetch washing water and placed it in front of her, also preparing a saltwater rinse for her to clean her mouth.
After Qin Mingyue went to bed, she entered her own room and began rummaging through boxes and cabinets. Finally, she found the contract from Yuanbao Gambling House at the bottom of a chest. Upon reading the terms, she immediately felt a suffocating anger.
Every clause was a predatory one, designed entirely to exploit the original owner to death. Yet, the original owner was illiterate and had been deceived into signing.
Looking at the date, the repayment deadline was in ten days, and after twenty days of borrowing, the silver, with compounded interest, had ballooned to two hundred and fifty taels!
Damn it!
Lin Yanran punched the bedding in frustration.
After being “diligently taught” by Lin Dahai, she finally understood the cost of living in this world. Two hundred and fifty taels was enough to buy a three-compound house in the capital city with money left over! Even the combined savings of all the residents of Fenghuang Town wouldn’t amount to that much!
She pulled out all her possessions. Yesterday, renovating the house, buying bricks and lime, hiring help, ordering a bathtub and porcelain lid, buying food, etc., had cost her five taels and two qian. Now, she had only two taels and one qian left in her pocket.
How was she going to get two hundred and fifty taels in ten days?