Chapter 3 (Revised)
Madam, what are you shouting for in the middle of the night?
Upon seeing the man approach, the servants said, "We are from the Hao family. Our young mistress went missing last night. Have you seen her?"
The man sized up the group: "The Hao family, right?"
"yes."
Lu Qin listened from under the cabinet, her heart pounding in her chest, terrified that the man would sell her.
However, the man didn't, and instead slammed the door shut without any politeness: "Never seen it before."
Lu Qin breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could even pull the curtain halfway down, the servants surrounded the doorway and said, "Brother, please wait."
“We are here on the orders of our master. If you refuse to help us, we will have trouble explaining ourselves when we return. Here’s what we’ll do: one silver ingot, and you can let us in for a bit.”
Lu Qin inhaled the air she had just breathed back.
The man sized up the newcomer, remained silent for a while, and then scoffed, "Get lost."
He pushed the door open again, indicating that nothing was up for discussion.
"Brother, we didn't mean to make things difficult for you." Hearing this, the servants lost their patience. "You must know the power of the Hao family, right? Even if you had eight lives, you wouldn't dare to offend them! Since you won't listen to our polite offer... then we'll have to offend you!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a group of people rushed in like bandits, squeezing the tables, chairs, and benches around, making a creaking noise.
"Brothers, smash his shop!"
"yes!"
The already small shop descended into chaos. Servants grabbed chairs and banged on doors, creating a cacophony of clanging and banging. Lu Qin, crouching under the counter, peered anxiously through the cracks in the floor.
Five or six pairs of feet were wearing identical shoes; one of their feet was worth two of the quack doctor's.
Oh no, we haven't heard the quack doctor say a word all this time. Could it be that the servant knocked him unconscious when he came in?
"I saw her run in with my own eyes. Search her thoroughly, leave no corner unchecked!"
Another loud bang.
Lu Qin huddled in the corner, feeling extremely uneasy. Aunt Zhao was going to kill her. These servants were definitely not to be trifled with. The quack doctor looked like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy. How could he possibly be a match for five or six tall and strong servants?
If this continues, not only will she be discovered, but the quack doctor will also be implicated. It would be better to lure these people away and try another method.
Thinking it over, Lu Qin closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and crawled out from under the counter: "Stop, I'll go back with you..."
A loud bang interrupted her, making her jump. When she looked up, she found that the scene before her was completely different from what she had expected.
Two servants lay on the ground foaming at the mouth, while the quack doctor stood menacingly in front of the door, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins bulged.
Then he slowly raised his head, looked at the stunned servants, and his eyes blazed with fierce ghostly fire.
"You dare to smash my shop? Don't you know who I am? You're all tired of living."
The sound was like the earth's crust violently churning. Lu Qin froze on the spot for a second, and the servants had already rushed over from all directions, pouncing on her like hungry wolves.
Lu Qin reacted, letting out a sharp screech: "Hey, what are you all standing there for! Let's go—"
She jumped up and grabbed the man's arm in a panic, but the man suddenly raised his hand and shoved her backward, pushing her to safety. He then kicked another group of people who rushed at him, knocking them down.
Several loud thuds were heard. One person was kicked onto the counter, clutching his stomach in pain, while another was punched into the wall, his eyes turning cross-eyed.
In an instant, the servants who had just been shouting arrogantly were piled up and thrown to the doorway. They clutched their buttocks or chests, spitting blood and groaning in pain.
"Wow..." Lu Qin was stunned and couldn't help but exclaim.
"Why did you have to mess with me?" The man cracked his knuckles, his body seemingly emanating black smoke, more eerie than a ghost. "I've been annoyed these past few days."
"You!" Several defiant men still got up, wanting to fight him to the death, but the man grabbed a table and chairs and quickly beat them so badly their buttocks were bruised and battered.
The servants lay scattered about, pointing at him with trembling fingers, muttering incomplete words that sounded like curses.
"You dare impersonate a servant of the Hao family to commit evil? You're tired of living!" The man sneered, pulled the sword from the counter with one hand, pointed it at the crowd, and stepped forward. "Why don't you get lost?"
"Don't come any closer..." The servants moved backwards, their buttocks aching, so they changed to crawling on their backs.
Using both hands and feet, the group quickly disappeared without a trace.
Lu Qin stared wide-eyed. This quack doctor... could he be a martial arts champion?
"Hey." Before she could recover from the shock, she saw the man put down his sword, slowly pull a stool out of the mess, and sit down. "Stop looking."
"Hahahaha." Lu Qin twitched her lips and ran to his side with a fawning smile, "My benefactor has such good skills. I will remember your life-saving grace today and will definitely repay you in the future."
"No need for repayment, I've always been a chivalrous person." The man picked up the book on the table again and started reading. "Tell me, what do they want with you?"
Looking at his calm and composed demeanor, Lu Qin couldn't help but admire him. If her shop had been vandalized like that, she would have definitely taken the matter to the authorities to demand an explanation.
"My benefactor, please don't misunderstand. I'm really not a bad person. I was forced into this situation." As Lu Qin spoke, she covered her cheeks with her hands, pretending to sob. "My mother died early, and my father's concubine pretended to be kind by marrying me off, but in reality, she wanted to kill me... I barely escaped and arrived at my husband's family, but my husband refused to marry me and didn't come home all night... He must have found someone else outside. I'm so pitiful, I've become a laughingstock..."
Upon hearing this, the man's gaze, which had been scanning the pages of the book, paused for a moment.
"Those servants were probably sent by my father's concubine. My benefactor, if it weren't for your kindness, I would have been thrown into the wilderness to be eaten by wolves today!"
"..."
As Lu Qin spoke, she became more and more emotional, even sobbing uncontrollably. Unexpectedly, when she peeked through her fingers, she saw that the quack doctor was completely indifferent, expressionless, and didn't say a word.
What, is what she said a lie?
Lu Qin looked suspicious, wiped away another tear, and said sincerely, "My benefactor, I am not ungrateful. If you ever need anything in the future, just come to me, and I will definitely help you."
"Oh, is the young lady sincerely repaying a debt of gratitude?" Unexpectedly, the man finally put down his book, placed his hands on his knees, and asked in return, "You won't even give your name. How will I find you if I need your help later?"
Lu Qin was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "It was my oversight. My name is Lu Qin. If you need anything, my benefactor, you can come to the Hao residence to find me."
After a long while, the wind rustled through the leaves, and the man curled his lips into a cryptic chuckle.
"Then thank you very much, Miss Lu."
...
Lu Qin felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. However, she didn't dwell on it and took her leave.
She strolled around the market, looked at the cosmetics and powders, and also checked out the latest fashion styles in the clothing shops. She bought some patterns from the shopkeeper and quickly put the man out of her mind.
After returning home, she buried herself in studying the patterns, and before she knew it, it was dark.
Most clothes in this era were made to order, with layers of inner and outer garments. There was no such thing as a "one-size-fits-all" clothing, which resulted in slow production.
If she uses elastic fabric to make a "one-size-fits-all" size that fits most people, she can save time, mass-produce, and meet more needs.
However, the garment manufacturing can be put on hold for now; the immediate priority is to resolve the issue of renting a shop.
She has found a shop that is about to be sublet. It is located in the center of the market with a lot of foot traffic, but the rent is quite high.
Besides the rent, there was also a significant investment required for initial marketing, and the dowry the Hao family gave her was far from enough.
She couldn't directly ask the Hao family for money again, so she had to find a way to save up some funds.
How about... we buy some cosmetics first, then set up a stall and use her silver tongue to sell them for a bit?
"Miss."
As Lu Qin pondered, Zhi Lan came in to help her wash up. Seeing that she was still working on her desk by lamplight, she couldn't help but worry about her health: "Take a rest, it's getting late, you can look at it again tomorrow."
Lu Qin looked up at the sound, saw that the night was already deep outside, put down her pen and stretched: "Alright then."
After all, the original owner's body was too weak to endure the illness.
She stood up, first removing the hairpins from her hair in the dressing mirror outside, then washing up with the help of Zhilan, before returning to the inner room.
Just as she was about to change into her nightgown, she caught a glimpse of someone sitting on the couch, leaning against a low table, resting their face on their hands, and taking a nap with their eyes closed.
Who is this? She just walked into her room looking so fresh and clean?
Upon closer inspection, Lu Qin was startled—wasn't this... that quack doctor from earlier in the day?
"You...you...you...you..." Her lips trembled, and she could barely speak. "What are you doing here?"
The man was awakened by her noise. He opened his eyes, frowned, and said matter-of-factly, "I'm here to treat your illness. Besides, didn't you say I could come to you whenever I needed anything?"
Lu Qin stared in disbelief: "You, me, how did you get in? You didn't climb over the wall, did you?"
Man: "Hmm."
You're insane!
Lu Qin suppressed her anger and lowered her voice: "Brother, don't you have any manners? Breaking into someone's house in the middle of the night? Besides, I'm a married woman! Aren't you just making people misunderstand?"
“You’re quite sensible.” The man extended a long, slender finger, tapped his chin, and said through gritted teeth, “Unlike your husband, who has a lover outside.”
"...Get out!" Lu Qin pointed to the door. "If you don't leave, I'm calling for help!"
The man remained silent and got off the bed. Just as Lu Qin thought he was being sensible and was about to leave, he turned around, lay back down on the bed, and even crossed his legs, as if deliberately teasing her.
Seeing the quack doctor acting like a rogue, Lu Qin was both angry and helpless. If this were discovered, she would have no way to defend herself.
She retreated to the doorway and feigned panic, shouting, "Help! A thief has broken into the house!"
This shout startled Zhilan outside, who rushed out in a panic, yelling "Stop thief!" and summoning many servants.
The servants were quick and agile, and they all grabbed their weapons and came over to catch the thief.
After hearing a noise, the man slowly got out of bed, stood with his arms crossed at the head of the bed, and said indifferently, "I heard that the lady married a scoundrel and suffered a tragic fate. I feel very sorry for her."
"you……"
Wait a minute, madam?
Lu Qin's hand, which was about to grab her weapon, froze. She thought she was hallucinating, but the other party quickly said in a sarcastic tone, "Madam, please cry as much as you want. I have nothing to do tonight, so I'll keep you company."
After truly hearing the second "Madam," Lu Qin blinked and stood frozen in place.
Is this quack doctor her husband?
That stubborn, donkey-like young master, Hao Jingshi?
"Young Madam!" Before Lu Qin could react, the servants rushed over like a swarm of bees. "Young Madam, where are the thieves? Are they injured?"
They followed Lu Qin's blank gaze and saw the "thief" walking to the door, looking up at them.
"Young...Young Master?" The servants were confused. "When did you return? Master and Madam have been looking for you everywhere!"
Upon hearing the word "Young Master," Lu Qin felt as if struck by lightning, and her neck, which she had turned around, seemed to have rusted.
Is he really her husband?
Hao Jingshi had already anticipated this scene. He took a few more steps with a sullen face, leaned against the door frame, and crossed his arms in front of his chest: "Everyone, step back and don't disturb my wife and me from resting."
The servants looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and then quickly retreated to report to Master Hao.
As the crowd dispersed, Lu Qin stood there, suddenly feeling that even in the middle of summer, it was quite cold.
Seeing Hao Jingshi's gaze slowly falling on her, Lu Qin felt a chill run down her spine and forced a dry laugh: "Um, it seems my cat is about to have kittens..."
Before she finished speaking, she had already quietly moved her small feet, ready to slip away at any moment.
"stop."
Hao Jingshi stepped forward and blocked her path. Lu Qin's escape attempt failed. She chuckled and slowly retreated, creating distance between herself and him.
"that……"
"I haven't gone anywhere these past few days, I've just been sleeping at the clinic." Hao Jingshi raised his hand to block the door, paused, and deliberately emphasized his tone, "And I haven't had any... dog-shit... lovers."
"..."
As Lu Qin gripped the ground with her toes, Hao Jingshi began to enunciate the words very heavily, lifting his eyelids to stare at her, and making a slashing motion in front of his neck with his hand.
"If you dare to spout nonsense again, I'll stop you. You can just wait to die from the poison."
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