Chapter 18 is good; the debt has been repaid, and there's no longer any connection. ...

His words struck her like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving her stunned.

"How dare you get involved with someone else's husband when you look like that? Don't you feel ashamed?"

"Ugly people always cause trouble! You think you're worthy?"

Her lips moved, but she couldn't think of anything to say in rebuttal.

"Someone like you, even if you die, no one will want to collect your body!"

"It's incredibly unlucky that Tang Peiqian is the one you like! He must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes!"

"If I looked like you, I'd rather just kill myself!"

Fang Linchun felt as if the wind was howling in her ears, and the resentment and hatred that had been building up in her heart for many years was about to overwhelm her.

The jars of wine she had painstakingly brewed were taken away, and her carefully decorated, cozy little home was ransacked.

She couldn't take it anymore!

What did she do wrong?

Is this how she wanted to grow up?

If she could, she would never want that fire to start, as it would not only destroy her body, appearance, and dignity, but also take away her loving parents.

Was she wrong?

No, she did nothing wrong. If she was wrong, it was because she was repeatedly humiliated by them but dared not fight back.

Hatred was like a wildfire, threatening to consume her reason.

"Bang!"

Fang Linchun often carried a wine vat that could hold three people by herself. When she gathered her strength, she threw Gu Feng, who was restraining her, off and slammed him to the ground.

"..."

Those who had humiliated her to her face were stunned and dumbfounded. They couldn't believe that she could shake off Gu Feng, and they couldn't believe that she dared to resist.

Fang Linchun was furious. He picked up a wine bottle next to him and smashed it on them.

The rich, aromatic wine awakened them.

"What are you all standing there for! If I don't beat her to death today, I'll change my name!"

The group was undecided for a moment. They were afraid of her recklessly smashing the bottle at them, and they were also afraid of her sudden burst of strength. They had no confidence in the possibility of someone who had been oppressed for a long time suddenly rising up in resistance.

Fang Linchun grabbed the hand that was swinging its fist, gathered its strength, shook the man violently, and then suddenly let go, throwing him away heavily.

She then picked up the wooden bar used to bolt the door and began to beat them relentlessly, filling the air with cries of agony.

How could a few young masters, drained by wine and women, possibly stand up to a man who regularly did manual labor? Before long, cries of pain filled the air as they begged for mercy.

Fang Linchun stopped and glared at them coldly.

"I have no grudge against you, nor have I ever seduced the cousin-in-law you mentioned, yet you have repeatedly slandered me and even tried to steal my winemaking secret. You deserve to be beaten!"

"If you promise not to bother me again, I'll let you go and not beat you to death. Otherwise, I'll take you down with me even if it costs me my life!"

"We agree, we agree!" Wei Lai, who was most afraid of pain, immediately agreed.

Fang Linchun was pleased with his resistance, but still felt lingering fear; his hand gripping the wooden bolt on the door was trembling.

"Get out of here right now!"

Fang Linchun turned around and went back into the wine shop. He had just put it down when he carelessly exposed his back to them, allowing them to launch a sneak attack.

Two fists can't fight four hands. Fang Linchun was grabbed and forced to sit in the wine.

"How is it? Is the wine you brewed yourself good?" Gu Feng asked with a smile, though his muscles and bones ached slightly, and he was even more annoyed by her resistance.

Fang Linchun pushed the wine jar with his hand and breathed in the air again.

"Quickly hold her hands and feet down!"

"Gurgle..."

The strong liquor choked her throat, and a burning sensation almost drowned her.

"stop!"

Another clap of thunder.

Gu Feng got a headache just hearing that sound.

Turning around, it really was her soon-to-be cousin-in-law.

He clicked his tongue, annoyed that he was a busybody.

"Tang Peiqian, stop meddling in other people's business! Even if you're my cousin's husband, I'm not immune to giving you a beating!"

"Aren't you worried that I'll tell Miss He about the bad things you've done?" Tang Peiqian looked at him without fear.

"Tang Peiqian, whose side are you on?" Gou Ting said sternly. "Are you still the son-in-law of the He family? If you still know you're a member of the He family, then turn a blind eye and stop trying to act tough here!"

Tang Peiqian said calmly, "I only help those in the right. If you are truly in the right, I will naturally help you."

"Hey, you're so stubborn!"

Chen Quanhai grabbed the furious Gou Ting, then suddenly realized and asked with a laugh, "Tang Peiqian, you don't actually like this ugly woman, do you?"

"..." Tang Peiqian blushed upon hearing this, pursed his lips, glanced at Fang Linchun who was being held captive by Gu Feng and breathing heavily, and sternly rebuked him, "My relationship with Miss Fang is completely innocent, don't use your filthy thoughts to imagine others!"

"..." Fang Linchun's eyelashes fluttered.

"Oh."

"Gu Feng, release her immediately, or I'll go tell Miss He right now!"

"..." Gu Feng cursed inwardly, glaring coldly at him, "Fine! You're very good!"

After saying that, he forcefully threw the semi-conscious Fang Linchun to the ground.

He sneered, "I'll give you face this last time. If I hear any rumors from Hui'er, I'll be the first to make you pay!"

The group stretched their aching limbs and glared fiercely at Tang Peiqian, who had been meddling in their affairs.

"Miss Fang, are you alright?"

Tang Peiqian helped her up and, seeing her eyelashes trembling and her breathing gradually slowing, said, "Miss Fang, I'll go and fetch a doctor to take a look at you!"

"No, don't go..." Fang Linchun grabbed his hand tightly. Perhaps she hadn't used up all her courage from before, because for the first time she looked at him carefully and steadily.

He was fair-skinned and handsome, with thick, dark eyebrows that swept into his temples. His phoenix eyes shone like jewels, his nose was high and straight, and his lips were not the thin, indifferent lips that people described, but rather lips of moderate thickness, naturally red without any makeup. At this moment, his eyes showed concern for her.

Fang Linchun mustered his courage and asked him, "Young Master Tang, is what they're saying true?"

"..." Tang Peiqian knew what she was asking and couldn't lie, so he nodded, "Yes."

"..."

Fang Linchun moved his lips, but never had the right to ask why.

When did this happen?

Tang Peiqian pursed his lips for a long while before saying, "Early next month."

“…Congratulations.” It took Fang Linchun a long time to muster the strength to force a genuine smile.

Thank you.

Tang Peiqian helped her into the now-ruined wine shop, and they finally managed to clear out a clean spot for her to sit down.

"Are you sure you don't need me to call a doctor?"

"It's alright, Young Master Tang, if you have other matters to attend to, please take your leave."

Fang Linchun suppressed his pent-up emotions and gave him the order to leave.

"..." Tang Peiqian glanced around and said softly, "Your place is so messy, and you're injured. Let me clean it up for you."

"Need not……"

Before Fang Linchun could finish speaking, Tang Peiqian picked up a broom and walked outside, seemingly oblivious to whether he had heard her.

"..."

She couldn't just watch him do it alone, so she stood up and picked up the overturned wine jar. Perhaps she had struggled too much just now, because the straps of her mask came loose. With a "clang," she dropped the wine jar, and the wine spilled all over the floor.

"What's wrong, Miss Fang?" Tang Peiqian came over upon hearing the noise and asked worriedly.

"Don't come any closer!"

Fang Linchun was anxious, but he couldn't bring himself to bend down and pick up the mask.

A clean, well-defined hand picked it up and handed it to him.

"..." Fang Linchun was on the verge of collapse, his sanity hanging by a thread. "Don't look at me!"

"You are very beautiful."

"..." Fang Linchun stared blankly at his hand holding her mask, and couldn't help but chuckle, unable to tell whether he was comforting her or mocking her.

"Linchun, the beauty of your soul is far more beautiful than the beauty of your flesh."

Tang Peiqian gripped the mask's strap tightly, reached around to the back of her head, and a faint scent of ink wafted over, filling her entire being.

"Linchun, look up at me."

"..." Fang Linchun didn't understand why he was doing this, and just listened blankly.

"You are far more beautiful than you imagine, don't pay attention to what others say."

"What do you mean by this?" Fang Linchun stared at him expectantly.

Perhaps his words fueled her already dwindling courage, burning through the rope of reason, and she grabbed his hand that was resting on her cheek.

"Miss Fang?"

"..."

His words burned her like a red-hot iron, forcing her to retreat.

"fine……"

She seemed to wake from a dream, let go of his hand, and forced a smile.

Not knowing when he left, Fang Linchun sat in the wine shop all night in silence.

He held the pen for a long time, until the ink had smeared the entire sheet of paper.

Fang Linchun put down his pen, changed into clean clothes, and went to find the peony.

What are you doing here?

When Qingyuan heard someone looking for her, she saw her, frowned, and felt annoyed. If it weren't for helping her introduce business, Mudan wouldn't have offended Master He, and she still hadn't managed to coax Mudan back.

“I want to find peonies…” Fang Linchun murmured.

Although Qingyuan disliked and hated her, she still brought her in through the back door where no one was around, and took her to Peony's room.

"You wait here, I'll go and fetch my wife."

Thank you.

Qingyuan didn't say anything, and turned to leave.

After a long while, footsteps came from outside the door, accompanied by Peony's charming voice and a man's lewd teasing.

"Master He, it's been so long since you've visited me!"

"I've come to see you, haven't I? What else do you want, you little hussy?" Master He was tall and strong, and he pinched Peony's waist tightly. She endured the pain and said coquettishly, "You're not coming to take care of me anymore, and Mother is very angry with me."

"Ha, you have the nerve to say that?"

Fang Linchun avoided the noise and hid in a corner.

The man's deep voice made Fang Linchun feel extremely uncomfortable, yet each word seemed to resonate deep within her ears.

"You've been so devoted to having your mistresses take care of that ugly woman's business, causing my family's winery to lose so much business?"

W-what?

Fang Linchun covered her mouth, almost letting out a cry of surprise.

She leaned closer to listen.

"Oh dear, Mr. He, your family is so wealthy and powerful, why bother with her little wine shop? No matter what, she can't compare to you!"

"...Heh, you little rascal." Old Master He pinched her mouth, narrowing his eyes as he said, "What's your relationship with that ugly woman? Why are you so concerned about her?"

"..." Peony didn't want to talk about Linchun with him, so she took the initiative to kiss him and lied vaguely, "He was just someone who had done me a favor. Now that I've repaid the favor, we have no relationship anymore."

"Oh……"

The two of them collapsed onto the couch.

Fang Linchun didn't know how she ran away, nor when she got home, or when she found the white silk ribbon in her hand.

My heart felt empty and devoid of any real feeling; there was no desperate shouting, nor any heart-wrenching pain.

Touching the soft, smooth white silk, she thought she needed to change into a nicer outfit to leave in a more dignified manner.

She specially wore the bright red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) that Mudan had given her, as she had said she looked very good in red.

She applied a delicate makeup look to match her outfit.

The white silk ribbon passed through the beam, and the low table fell to the ground with a "bang".

What is she thinking?

She wondered if dying here would scare away people who wanted to buy alcohol? Would it affect the business of the tofu seller next door? Would people be disgusted by the smell of her body?

She was thinking, "I should have found a quiet, secluded place."

A note from the author:

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