Chapter 49: Not Associating with the Wicked

Chapter 49: Not Associating with the Wicked

"You should be more careful. The wealthy in the city play all sorts of games."

The second young master of the Sun family, his mind racing with schemes, was stunned.

He did have an interest in Xie Yan, but not in that way!

What he lacked was a cash cow to help him stand firm, not a plaything for amusement.

The second young master of the Sun family glared at Lu Lei angrily, "You're sullying my good name."

But the Lu family really did have striking good looks. Even he felt a stirring in his heart.

It's a shame they're stuck in Changxi Village.

The Lu family watched as Xie Yan and Lu Mingchao led Lu Xin away. The second young master of the Sun family followed closely behind, clingy as a leech, his face wearing a fawning smile, his sleazy demeanor becoming more pronounced.

A Xing shouted, "Young master, don't leave me behind!"

...

"Brother Xie, Brother Xie."

The second young master of the Sun family shamelessly tried to squeeze through the door.

"Sister-in-law, please help me plead for mercy. I was blinded by greed and failed to recognize your greatness when I offended you."

"I admit my mistake and will make amends."

"I have a lucrative business deal I want to discuss with both of you."

"Once we make money, Brother Xie won't have to risk his life hunting in the mountains anymore. You can even take Sister-in-law to the county town to buy property, live in luxury, decked out in gold and feasting on the best."

Lu Xin snorted, "Bad guy!"

Outside the village chief's house, he had heard everything.

This bad guy in front of him wanted to bully his sister.

Lu Mingchao gently pinched Lu Xin's cheek, then raised her head, speaking in a voice as cold as the howling north wind, each word like a shard of ice, sending a chilling sensation.

"I've heard that the second young master of the Sun family is tyrannical in Changhe County, bullying men and women alike."

"I protected my own purity and reputation, but what about the other decent women harassed by the second young master?"

"Since childhood, I've studied the teachings of the sages. Associating with the wicked goes against their teachings. I hope the second young master will not force me into a difficult position."

The second young master of the Sun family's fawning smile froze on his face, a cold glint faintly visible in the depths of his eyes.

"Sister-in-law, they all agreed. It's not bullying, but a mutual consent."

"After a fleeting romance, I never mistreated them."

Lu Mingchao covered Lu Xin's ears, not letting these frivolous and vulgar words taint his pure mind.

"Of course, who would dare refuse?"

"The second young master of the Sun family holds immense sway. With a single word, he can cut off people's access to even the basics like rice and flour. Truly impressive."

"A Yan and I are cautious and avoid conflict, and we do not share the same path as the second young master of the Sun family."

Lu Mingchao didn't want to waste any more words on the second young master of the Sun family and turned directly towards the room.

The second young master of the Sun family, still unwilling to give up, clung to the courtyard gate with his fingers, "Brother Xie, Brother Xie, women are short-sighted and soft-hearted, only good for staying home and taking care of their families."

"Business is a man's world."

"Let's not mince words, I greatly admire Brother Xie's courage and wisdom. As long as Brother Xie is willing to lend me a hand, I will not treat him unfairly."

Xie Yan gave the second young master of the Sun family a cold, dead-eyed stare, then slammed the door shut with a bang.

The second young master's piercing scream sent the birds on the withered branches scattering.

The birds flapped their wings, and clumps of bird droppings fell onto the second young master's shoulders and hair.

Seeing his swollen fingers, the second young master was seething with anger and wanted to kick the courtyard gate several times, but the thought of the gleaming kitchen knife made his legs go weak.

"You give them an inch, and they take a mile!"

"Turning down a friendly offer but accepting a fight!"

The second young master of the Sun family gnashed his teeth and cursed under his breath.

Perhaps reason still prevailed, as he at least knew to control his voice.

A Xing, who had quickly untied the ropes and rushed over: ...

The second young master, having been snubbed, was in a towering rage.

"Second young master..."

The second young master of the Sun family roared, "What second young master! Tie up Qi Rui, hitch the carriage, and return to the city!"

A Xing, fearing the wrath would fall on him, did not dare to delay and quickly complied.

Sitting in the carriage on the way back, the second young master of the Sun family grew angrier the more he thought about it, and the burning pain in his fingers challenged his already limited patience.

"If I don't get revenge, I swear I'll never live it down!"

Never in his life had he been so humiliated.

In Changhe County, who wouldn't give the Sun family some face!

"Qi Rui!"

The second young master of the Sun family turned his anger towards Qi Rui, who was cowering in the corner, trembling and silently sobbing.

Qi Rui shivered suddenly, her long lashes fluttering, hiding the resentment in her eyes, "Young master."

The second young master of the Sun family blamed her for scheming, but how could she not hate him for being a coward!

A few words had scared him out of his wits, and he had dumped all the blame on her like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

Hmph, if the second young master of the Sun family hadn't had those lustful intentions, would he have happily followed her back to Changxi Village?

Xie Yan and Lu Mingchao were also bullies, only daring to bite her and her grandmother like a cornered mad dog.

The second young master of the Sun family gently blew on his fingers, his tone violent, "Just who the hell is Xie Yan?"

"If you hide anything again, I will sell you to the lowest brothel and have those bandits visit you every day, making your life unbearable."

"Don't think just because you signed an indentured contract that I can't do anything to you."

Qi Rui kept kowtowing, "Please have mercy, young master."

"This servant only knows that Xie Yan fled to Changhe County from the famine in Yuzhou three years ago, with no one to rely on."

"At first, he lived in extreme poverty, relying on his hunting skills to fight against wild beasts in the deep mountains to stabilize his footing and save some money."

"In the past three years, this servant has never seen any outsiders come looking for Xie Yan, so it's likely that his relatives all died on the escape route."

The second young master of the Sun family frowned, half-believing, and kicked her, "You dare to deceive me?"

"Do you think I can't see the air Xie Yan carries?"

Qi Rui winced in pain, her nails digging deeply into her palms, "This servant wouldn't dare to deceive you."

"This servant has heard that the famine years were perilous, with bandits and civil unrest rampant. Perhaps Xie Yan's ancestors were once wealthy, which is why he has such an extraordinary demeanor."

The second young master of the Sun family thought for a moment and found some logic in it.

The more famine years there were, the more people turned to banditry, and the number of mountain bandits naturally multiplied.

Dying at the hands of bandits was not strange.

If that was the case, then Xie Yan wouldn't be hard to deal with.

No matter how extraordinary his demeanor or how outstanding his intelligence, it couldn't hide the fact that he was now just a hunter.

The second young master of the Sun family's mood softened a bit, "Tell me more about the real and fake daughters of the Marquis's household."

The Marquis's household!

For small merchants like them, it was an unreachable existence.

"Yes," Qi Rui said obediently.

Compared to Lu Mingchao, Qi Rui was more familiar with Lu Miao.

Qi Rui selectively recounted how Lu Miao searched for her relatives.

This was well-known in Changxi Village.

Finally, Qi Rui added, "Young master, this servant is close with the real daughter of the Marquis's household, Lu Miao. She once gave me a pair of earrings."

"Really?" The second young master of the Sun family became somewhat interested and sat up straight to ask.

Qi Rui nodded, "Really."

"Many people in the village know about it, this servant wouldn't dare to lie."

"Let's sell grain too."