"Such a beautiful new bride, does she know how to make sugar cakes?"

Several men surrounded Gu Mang's house, smiling maliciously at Jiang Can.

There were quite a few people watching, but these thugs were notorious local bullies, and no one wanted to get involved.

People watched the spectacle with indifference.

The only thing to blame is that Jiang Can is too beautiful, and Gu Mang is careless for leaving such a beautiful woman alone at home. Isn't that just giving someone an opportunity to take advantage of her?

Jiang Can's heart was pounding, and her face was pale, but she tried her best to remain calm.

"I heard this bride is from a wealthy family?"

"No wonder, this rich young lady never cooks, she wouldn't know how to make sugar cakes!"

"Bride, you probably don't know our customs, do you?"

The thug's eyes were practically glued to Jiang Can.

“In our area, a woman who marries into a family is expected to make sugar cakes by hand and deliver them to every household! You’ve been married here for so many days, but we haven’t had any yet…”

"I'm sorry, I didn't know there was such a rule." Jiang Can tried her best to keep her voice from trembling. "I will definitely deliver it to everyone after it's done. My husband will be back soon, so please..."

Just as Jiang Can was about to close the courtyard gate, a man suddenly stuck his knee into the door, and two other men joined in the jeering. Jiang Can panicked, her hand trembled, and they shoved the door open, the three thugs barging into the courtyard, their eyes filled with greedy lust as they looked at Jiang Can.

"I never expected that brat Gu Mang would have such good fortune with women!"

Several men were drooling.

Jiang Can felt disgusted from the bottom of her heart, and instinctively crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking at the group of people warily.

"This is my home, you'd better leave now!" she deliberately raised her voice. "My husband will be back soon! You know what kind of person he is!"

The men exchanged glances and let out a sinister laugh.

"Of course I know! He's a coward who gets the urge to pee as soon as a fight starts!"

"Little beauty, you don't know this, do you? Gu Mang used to be such a coward. Every time we got into a fight, he was the one who ended up in jail taking the blame!"

"We guys really shouldn't have missed your wedding! We didn't get to tease you on your wedding night back then, how about we make up for it today?"

Several men surrounded her, and some of them started to grope her. Jiang Can felt nauseous and scared, but the image of Gu Mang hitting the sandbag in the yard flashed through her mind.

She had never fought before, but she had seen it done. In that instant, she didn't know where she got the courage, but she imitated Gu Mang and treated these thugs like punching bags, throwing her fists hard at them!

The men were taken aback, but Jiang Can's resistance only fueled their filthy thoughts.

"Oh, she's quite the strong-willed woman?"

Jiang Can picked up a stick from the yard, looking quite imposing.

"Get out! Get out!"

"Little beauty, you're not going to get anywhere like this!" the man grinned wickedly. "You'll hurt yourself if you don't use this stick properly. Let the older brothers teach you how to use it!"

Jiang Can's tears were about to fall. Fear, dread, helplessness—all the negative emotions were tied up in her heart, making her feel suffocated.

The thugs became even more brazen, and two of them even dragged her into the house...

However, at that moment, the courtyard gate slammed shut with a loud bang!

Before they could react, they were struck twice hard on the head. Jiang Can stood there dumbfounded, watching as the once arrogant and domineering men fell to the ground, clutching their heads and groaning in pain.

Gu Mang's tall figure stood against the light from the doorway, his face cold and aloof, his eyes sharp, exuding an aura of authority without anger.

Jiang Can had been holding back her tears for a long time, but she couldn't hold them back any longer when she saw Gu Mang.

She threw herself into his arms, and he gently stroked her hair.

"It's alright, I'm here."

Gu Mang told her to go inside and close the door.

Jiang Can obediently followed, but Gu Mang did not come in. Inside the house, she heard several muffled thuds outside, followed by the agonizing screams of the men.

She looked out the window and saw the thugs being beaten by Gu Mang, their faces bruised and swollen, kneeling on the ground begging for mercy.

Bloodstains were visible on the muddy ground in the yard.

Gu Mang, still seemingly unsatisfied, picked up the stick she had just taken and struck one of the men hard on the leg...

"If you dare to cause trouble for my wife again, next time it won't just be this leg that's broken!" Gu Mang's voice was deep, and every word was ruthless.

The group of thugs ran away in a panic.

Jiang Can hid inside the door, desperately trying to calm her wildly beating heart, her breathing becoming rapid.

At this moment, Gu Mang walked in. She saw the dried bloodstains on his body, moved her lips, but didn't say a word.

"Did I scare you just now?" Gu Mang stepped forward and gently placed his large hand on her shoulder.

Jiang Can shook her head, took the initiative to reach out and hug him, resting her small face against his chest.

Her petite and dependent demeanor softened Gu Mang's heart.

“You’re stronger than I thought,” he chuckled. “When those guys were causing you trouble, you even chased them away with a stick.”

"What else can I do?" She looked up, her face delicate and pretty. "There's no one around to help me, and you're not home, so this is the only way I can give myself courage..."

"Yes, it's my fault. I should have stayed home with you," Gu Mang said in a low voice. "But I think those people won't dare to come again."

Jiang Can buried her face in his chest and chuckled softly.

Her small hand inadvertently touched his brick-like pectoral muscles, and the man's taut and muscular body made her heart beat faster for a moment.

Unexpectedly, he was quite skilled in fighting; he took care of those people in just a few punches and kicks.

But why do they say he used to be a coward?

"Go wash up and change your clothes first," Jiang Can said, glancing at him. "I'll go prepare dinner."

Gu Mang nodded and squinted at her.

Jiang Can was taken aback. "Is there something on my face?"

“No.” He smiled. “It’s just that…you’re different from how they described you.”

"What?"

"Before we got married, everyone said that Miss Jiang was spoiled, had a bad temper, and couldn't do anything. But now you keep the house in perfect order, cook delicious meals, and know how to handle things calmly..."

Gu Mang approached her with a half-smile, "I'm starting to doubt whether you're really Jiang Yao."

Jiang Can's face paled, and she stared blankly at him, her lips twitching twice as she managed a forced and awkward smile.

"I...of course I'm Jiang Yao." She avoided eye contact, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Rumors are never the truth. Don't listen to their nonsense. I am the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. You didn't marry the wrong person!"

Gu Mang laughed from the bottom of his heart this time.

It's okay, he can wait.

Until the day she's willing to admit it.

Jiang Can quickly turned around and went into the kitchen, but just then a series of urgent knocks sounded on the door.

"Gu Mang, are you home?"