Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

“Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and come downstairs with me to check.” Xue Sanbiao hurriedly called out to four or five thugs beside him, and the group quickly walked downstairs.

From a distance, Xue Sanbiao saw twenty or thirty uniformly dressed guards appearing in the first-floor hall, and in front of those guards, a luxuriously dressed female Qianyuan sat calmly on a chair.

The female Qianyuan looked indifferent and composed, as if she cared little about their gambling house.

Xue Sanbiao, having mingled in the business world for so many years, had long mastered the art of speaking flattery to people and nonsense to ghosts. Seeing this scene, he immediately bowed to Wei Lan with cupped hands and fawned, “May I ask which family’s boss you are? Our gambling house runs a small business. If we offended you, I, Xue Sanbiao, apologize here first. Please don’t hold it against small fries like us.”

Wei Lan didn’t look at him throughout. Only after he finished speaking did she glance at him faintly and say, “I heard you wanted to see me. If you don’t see me, you won’t release the person?”

The smile on Xue Sanbiao’s face faltered and cracked instantly. He looked at Wei Lan, and after a long pause, stammered, “You, you are Wei Lan?”

Wei Lan nodded calmly and said, “Tell me, what do you want with me?”

“How is that possible? Aren’t you the son-in-law of the Lu Mansion? How could you mobilize so many guards?” Xue Sanbiao’s face showed disbelief. Gossip about the Lu Mansion abounded, and since ancient people had little leisure or entertainment, the streets thrived on tales of prominent families.

The gossip of these grand households was exactly what common folk loved to discuss most.

A guard beside Wei Lan immediately scolded, “How dare you! Is our master someone you can insult?”

Xue Sanbiao jumped, startled by the guard. But remembering he still held Wei Wenyuan’s life in his hands, he puffed up again and said, “Wei Lan, don’t get cocky. Don’t forget your father owes our gambling house money. He’s still locked up by us. Don’t you want to save your father?”

As Xue Sanbiao spoke, Zhao Xinlan burst in from outside. She cried to Xue Sanbiao, “Boss Xue, I brought Wei Lan as you asked. Please have someone bring Wenyuan out so we can see him.”

Xue Sanbiao ignored Zhao Xinlan, but seeing her groveling manner, he felt Wei Lan’s current calm was an act, which eased his worries a bit more.

Thinking he’d bring out Wei Wenyuan to intimidate Wei Lan, he bluntly ordered a thug nearby, “Go bring Wei Wenyuan over. Let the madam of the Lu Mansion take a good look at her father.”

Wei Lan’s expression didn’t change, but Zhao Xinlan sobbed excitedly, “Yes, yes, release Wenyuan first, then talk. Thank you, Boss Xue.”

“I didn’t say I’d release him. You haven’t paid back that one thousand taels of silver yet. Of course, I could waive the silver, but only if your daughter agrees to a small condition.” Xue Sanbiao smiled, relieved that Wei Lan showed up, as everything would be manageable now.

“Wei Lan, you don’t need the one thousand taels anymore. Help your father. I’m begging you,” Zhao Xinlan pleaded, kneeling before Wei Lan. Wei Lan remained unmoved.

She pointed at Zhao Xinlan, and a guard instantly understood, pulling Zhao Xinlan up from the ground.

Wei Lan didn’t look at Zhao Xinlan but coldly stared at Xue Sanbiao, her lips curling into a slight smile. She came this time to find out who was behind him and what their purpose was. She said, “Tell me, what’s the condition?”

Hearing Wei Lan respond, Xue Sanbiao gained some confidence. He knew using Wei Wenyuan would surely control Wei Lan.

Just as Xue Sanbiao prepared to speak, Wei Wenyuan was pushed out from a corridor on the first floor by four burly men.

“Move faster. Why are you dawdling?”

“Yeah, you old fool, hurry up.”

One burly man kicked Wei Wenyuan, who nearly lost balance and almost fell to the ground.

Xue Sanbiao sneered at Wei Lan and said, “Be careful. Don’t hurt the madam of the Lu Mansion’s dear father.”

“Yes,” the burly man snickered, paying little heed. He paused briefly upon seeing Wei Lan’s thirty guards but, noticing they didn’t act, assumed they were paper tigers and stopped worrying.

The four men directly forced Wei Wenyuan to kneel on the ground.

Seeing Wei Wenyuan’s face bruised and battered, Zhao Xinlan cried uncontrollably, “Release him. Please, release him quickly. Wei Lan, save your father!”

“Wei Lan, you finally came. Save Father. Father will never gamble again or do any business,” Wei Wenyuan knelt, crying with snot and tears.

Wei Lan’s expression remained calm. She didn’t even glance at Wei Wenyuan but looked at Xue Sanbiao and said, “Tell me, what’s the condition?”

“You’re a straightforward person. The condition is simple. Hasn’t the Lu Mansion become the imperial merchant? Just give me half the cloth share, and I’ll release your father immediately. Not only that, he’ll be our honored guest here, free to play as he likes. Isn’t that a great deal?” Xue Sanbiao said with a smile, thinking Wei Lan’s question meant she wanted to save her father, which meant she was hooked.

Wei Lan smiled at him coldly and said, “Impossible. Don’t even dream of the imperial merchant’s share. Besides, a street rat like you couldn’t come up with such a meticulous trap. Tell me, who’s behind you?”

Xue Sanbiao’s heart chilled. He didn’t expect Wei Lan to guess someone was directing him. He panicked briefly but, recalling Chen Zhou’s words, denied it immediately, “Don’t talk nonsense. I don’t understand what you’re saying. So, do you agree or not?”

“I don’t agree,” Wei Lan said faintly.

Wei Wenyuan didn’t expect Wei Lan’s response and cried out, “Wei Lan, I know I wronged you, but I’m still your father. You won’t abandon me, right? It’s just one thousand taels. That’s nothing to you. Please, please help me pay them. I swear I won’t dare again. Trust me one more time.”

Wei Lan sneered, “Someone like you will only behave when your portrait hangs on the wall.”

Then Wei Lan looked at Xue Sanbiao and said, “I won’t pay a single coin of his debt. As for him, do whatever you want with him.”

Wei Lan’s words shocked not only the opponents but also the Lu Mansion guards she brought.

The guards couldn’t help but respect Wei Lan more. They knew their young lady cared for the madam, and the madam was ruthless, ignoring even her own father’s fate. They vowed never to offend the madam in the future.

Xue Sanbiao thought he misheard and asked again, “Your own father, and you don’t care?”

Wei Lan calmly said, “I don’t care. He’s responsible for his own actions.”

Wei Lan spoke frankly, but Xue Sanbiao felt like something stuck in his throat, unable to swallow or spit it out. He never imagined Wei Lan would react this way.

“Your own father! If you don’t care, I’ll have someone chop off his hand,” Xue Sanbiao threatened, still unbelieving.

“Go ahead,” Wei Lan replied calmly, as if Wei Wenyuan truly meant nothing to her.

Now Wei Wenyuan panicked, crying and begging Wei Lan, “Wei Lan, Father wronged you. Forgive me one more time. Save me, save me. I don’t want my hand chopped off. Save me.”

Zhao Xinlan cried beside him, pushing away two guards and throwing herself before Wei Wenyuan, “Wenyuan, don’t be afraid. If Wei Lan won’t save you, I’ll die with you here.”

The curve of Wei Lan’s lips deepened, but her expression remained eerily calm. She looked at Zhao Xinlan and Wei Wenyuan and said, “Don’t think you can threaten me with death. Your lives are your own. They mean nothing to me.”

Then Wei Lan glanced at Xue Sanbiao, smiled, and said, “If someone really dies in your shop, I’ll report it to the officials immediately. With so many witnesses here, they can all prove you killed someone.”

“I, I didn’t. Don’t slander me,” Xue Sanbiao stammered, unprepared for Wei Lan’s unyielding stance. She didn’t care about her parents and even tried to frame him for murder.

Having achieved her goal, Wei Lan grew tired of wasting words. She stood up coldly and said, “Tell the person behind you, if they dare target the Lu family again, I’ll ruin them until they’re bankrupt.”

As Wei Lan prepared to leave, Zhao Xinlan cried and lunged at her, “Wei Lan, you can’t abandon your father. You clearly have the power to save him. You unfilial daughter, you heartless wretch.”

Wei Lan looked at Zhao Xinlan clutching her skirt and coldly glanced at her guards. “What are you standing there for? Pull her off.”

Scolded by Wei Lan, a guard immediately stepped forward and pulled Zhao Xinlan away.

Wei Lan scanned the gambling house, smiled at Xue Sanbiao, and said, “I forgot one thing. Come, smash this place. The Lu Household has been too kind this year, so even beasts dare to scheme against us. Today, I’ll show you who rules Panyang City. Let’s see if the cowardly turtle behind you dares to come out and save you.”

“Yes, madam,” the guards responded. They promptly left ten guards to surround Wei Lan protectively while the remaining twenty swarmed the gambling house.

Xue Sanbiao’s pupils shrank sharply. He shouted, “Boss Wei, it’s a misunderstanding. It’s all a misunderstanding. I’ll release your father now. Please, take your men and leave.”

However, the gambling house’s thugs were already clashing with the Lu Mansion’s guards—or rather, the thugs were being crushed one-sidedly. The Lu family, Panyang City’s wealthiest, hired young, skilled fighters, so the thugs quickly fell, battered and bruised.

But that wasn’t all. The lead guard grabbed a chair with both arms and smashed it onto a table. Other guards followed, destroying not just furniture but wine jugs and barrels too.

Xue Sanbiao’s mind buzzed, nearly on top of him fainting from the shock. He tried to approach the Wern, begging her madam to leave. He’d waive the one thousand taels, release her father. But before he reached her, two guards blocked him. With two punches, Xue Sanbiao sported panda eyes, collapsing to the floor, where the guards beat him further.

Wei Lan was very pleased. Her madam had been busy with business this year, neglecting these petty clowns who forgot the Lu Mansion’s might. They dared to plot against them. This was a perfect chance to make an example.

Soon, the hall was trashed by the guards. They then rushed upstairs, continuing the destruction.

Wei Lan sat quietly, watching, as if she’d done nothing done nothing remarkable.

After a while, street patrol officers, hearing the noise, rushed in. Seeing the “Lu” embroidered on the guards’ waistbands, their expressions softened.

The lead officer asked, “What’s going on here?”

“Oh, our madam’s father was kidnapped by the boss of this black shop. He tried to extort money and threatened to cut off our madam’s father’s arm,” one guard replied.

“Are you from the Lu Family?” the officer asked.

“Yes. Please, kindly assist us.”

The officers exchanged glances, knowing they couldn’t afford to provoke these people. But trouble on their street was their responsibility.

The lead officer bowed to Wei Xiang and said, “Boss, madam, we patrol this street. Xue Sanbiao has always been a pest and deserves a lesson. But please, don’t let anyone die, or we can’t bear the consequences.”

Wei Xiang stood, smiled at the officers, and said, “Officers, rest assured. I won’t make things hard for you. I was just furious that Xue Sanbiao threatened my father’s life with, so I had someone teach him a lesson. Here’s a small gift. Please, accept it.”

Wei Lan pulled out two silver ingots, exactly twenty taels, from her sleeve and slipped them into the officer’s hand.

Patrol officers earned little monthly. Seeing twenty taels, their eyes gleamed, though they demurred, “How can we accept this? Helping you is our duty.”

“You officers work hard. Take this as my treat for drinks. Please, keep it,” Wei Lan laughed.

“Then we’ll thank you. We’ll stay here and clean up afterward,” the lead officer said, his attitude warmer.

Soon, the upstairs guards returned.

“Madam, we’ve handled everything upstairs,” a guard reported to Wei Lan.

Wei Lan nodded and said, “Good. It’s about time we left. Let’s not hinder the officers’ work. By the way, Wei Wenyuan does owe Xue Sanbiao money. Officers, don’t bother with him. I have no such father.”

“No trouble, no trouble,” the officer said with a smile, though surprised by Wei Lan’s words. She disowned her father?

Before leaving, Wei Lan approached Xue Sanbiao, now bruised, bleeding from the mouth, clearly beaten badly.

Wei Lan looked at him and said faintly, “This is what you get for scheming against the Lu Mansion. Oh, and tell the person behind you, I won’t let them off easily.”

With that, Wei Lan headed out. The guards escorted her out of Dacheng Gambling House. Wei Lan boarded a carriage, and the group headed back to the Lu Mansion, ignoring Wei Wenyuan and Zhao Xinlan from start to finish.

Zhao Xinlan sat dazed, nearly scared witless by the scene. She never imagined Wei Lan would dare order the shop smashed, and the officers did nothing.

But she snapped back, stumbling to untie Wei Wenyuan, “Wenyuan, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he said, though he’d suffered plenty these past days, beaten by thugs, with minor injuries all over.

Wei Wenyuan stood and said, “Let’s go. We’ll talk back home.”

Zhao Xinlan supported him as they fled Dacheng Gambling House. The officers didn’t stop them, and Xue Sanbiao, dizzy and battered, couldn’t care less about Wei Wenyuan.

Xue Sanbiao regretted everything. Had he known Wei Lan held real power in the Lu Mansion, he’d never have dared kidnap her father. Now his gambling house was wrecked, even the wooden stairs to the second floor destroyed. Renovating would cost a fortune. He’d only taken ten thousand taels from Chen Zhou, and now he and his men were beaten, with medical bills piling up. The shop, smashed, couldn’t open for at least half a month, all losses.

He’d truly lost both his wife and his army. He swore never to provoke a ruthless person like Wei Lan, who didn’t care about her parents’ lives. He blamed Chen Zhou for pushing him to his doom.

The officers, seeing everyone gone, made a brief record and left.

Both they and Xue Sanbiao knew that even if Xue Sanbiao reported to the city lord, he’d be the one in trouble. The city lord wouldn’t offend Panyang City’s richest family for a nobody. Everyone weighs their own interests first—it’s human nature.

Wei Lan, having smashed the shop with her guards, returned feeling refreshed. Her soft rice was quite valuable, and her madam treated her so well, making Wei Lan smile just thinking about it.

Back at the mansion, the guards escorted Wei Lan to Fuqu Pavilion before leaving.

Wei Qing, anxiously waiting in the courtyard, ran to Wei Lan when she saw her.

“Sister, how did it go?”

“No big deal. I took people and smashed Dacheng Gambling House,” Wei Lan explained calmly.

“What about Father and Mother?” Wei Qing asked quietly.

“Don’t know. Probably ran off. What? Don’t you want to stay here?” Wei Lan looked at Wei Qing and asked.

Wei Lan knew if Wei Qing returned home, she’d have no good days ahead. Gambling and drinking addictions were hard to quit. Wei Wenyuan would surely gamble again. This time, he’d lost all his money, and Wei Lan guessed the household had little left.

Without money, what would Wei Wenyuan do? As usual, he’d sell his daughters. He’d already sold Wei Lan, so Wei Qing was next.

Considering the young girl’s inexperience, Wei Lan reminded her, “The family probably has no money left. You know what kind of person Wei Wenyuan is. I was sold to the Lu Mansion and got this good life by luck, but you might not be so fortunate. If Wei Wenyuan needs money and sells you as a concubine to a forty- or fifty-year-old Qianyuan, would you be willing?”

Hearing this, Wei Qing’s eyes teared up, her body trembling, “No, I don’t want that, Sister.”

Wei Lan looked at her, still calm, and said, “If you don’t want that, stay here peacefully. Don’t think about going back. You see them as parents, but they only think of themselves. When they’re truly desperate, they’ll abandon you first.”

With that, Wei Lan walked to the study. Wei Qing, moved by her words, cried.

Her sister spoke the truth. Marrying a forty-something man as a concubine was unthinkable. But this was the Lu family. She couldn’t stay forever. After all, her sister was a son-in-law here. Staying long might upset Miss Lu.

Feeling homeless, Wei Qing shed tears of sadness.

These days, when idle, she embroidered pouches. At home, she’d sell them in shops. Wei Qing planned to embroider more to sell, giving the money to her sister to avoid putting her in a tough spot.

Wei Lan, unaware of this, returned to her room and called maids to prepare a bath. After half a day out, she was sweaty, but thankfully, the matter was resolved.

Soaking in the tub, Wei Lan thought of Lu Zijin. She missed her. They’d just met at noon, but now she wanted to hug her again.

~~

Meanwhile, Su Er rushed to report to Chen Zhou.

“Young Master, bad news, bad news.”

Chen Zhou frowned and asked, “What’s wrong? Why such a fuss?”

“Young Master, Dacheng you’s was smashed to bits by Wei Lan’s people,” Su Er said hurriedly.

Chen Zhou’s face darkened, his refined expression gone, “What happened? Wasn’t Wei Lan’s useless waste that father in Xue Sanbao’s hands? How did she dare smash it with warehouse guards?”

“Oh, young master, I heard Wei Lanbiao didn’t care at all about her parents’ lives. Xue Sanbiao threatened to cut off Wei Wenyuan’s hand, and she acted like nothing. She wasn’t threatened by him at all,” Su Er explained quickly.

Chen Zhou’s face grew grimmer. He muttered, “I underestimated that useless waste. She doesn’t even care about her parents’ lives. Good, very good.”

Su Er, bending low, hesitated but said, “Wei Lan also guessed someone was behind Xue Sanbiao. She told him to give you a message.”

“What words?” Chen Zhou asked, gritting his teeth.

“Nothing,” Wei Lan said nothing. “Wei Lannn called you a cowardly turtle back and said you’d ruin you until you’re you’re bankrupt if you dared mess with the family again.” Su Er knelt after speaking, fearing their young master, who seemed noble but was vengeful, might implicate him.

“Good, very good,” Chen Zhou said. “That trash Wei Lanbiao, I’ll ruin her eventually.” He smashed a teapot in the room, then, still furious, grabbed a large glass vase and shattered it on the floor.

He never imagined he’d lose this round to a useless waste son-in-law. Chen Zhou was fuming.