Chapter 27 I Can't Stand It Anymore: You're Good at Being Scolded!
Although it's cold in winter, it's not like no one goes out.
On the contrary, on days when there is a market, there are quite a few people on the streets. After all, the busy farming season is over, and it is not yet the cold winter months of December. Going out to join in the fun is a good way to pass the long winter days.
At times like these, traffic jams are inevitable. Throughout history, wherever there is a capital city, there are almost always traffic jams. But the traffic jams in Bianjing (Kaifeng) were more interesting than in later times; not only were there traffic jams, but also jams for horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, and camels.
The sounds and smells of various livestock mingled together on the street, along with shouts and curses from people arguing: "Get out of the way! Your horse is butting my horse's rear end!" That's a rear-end collision; "Try sticking your donkey face over there again?" That's someone cutting in line; "My goodness! Stop chasing that female donkey! Come back! Come back!" That's the "navigation system" going into heat and replanning its route.
The snow on the road had long been trampled into black mud.
Although it didn't snow again today, the weather was still in a bad mood. In Aunt Yu's words, the sky was even more gloomy than her daughter and mother-in-law's faces.
Today, Uncle Cong learned his lesson and only hired a carriage, not a driver. It's better to rely on yourself than on others. He put on the fingerless cotton gloves that Yao Ruyi had given him from the shop, held the reins himself, straddled the carriage shaft, and slowly sighed, quickly bringing the carriage to a stop.
The road ahead is blocked again.
The mule cart swayed violently. Yao Ruyi heard Uncle Cong exclaim "Eh?" and curiously peeked out. It turned out that someone was riding a large black pig on the street. There was no one around him, and no one dared to approach. After all, the reason why pigs have not been developed into mounts is not because they are too delicious, but because when they go crazy, they charge around and are very strong, which can easily throw people into pieces, and in the end, they may not be able to put them back together.
This man is indeed very bold.
Uncle Cong also became wary and turned to her, saying, "We'd rather go slower than get too close. You can't reason with pigs."
Yao Ruyi agreed wholeheartedly, nodded, and pulled her head back.
Uncle Cong hired a spacious cart with two people sitting on each side and a narrow small table in the middle, on which were placed "exposed filling" cakes baked by Yao Ruyi early in the morning, and a pot of osmanthus wine dumplings.
She wanted to get up early because she needed to go out, but getting up early didn't help.
Before leaving, Registrar Liu and Chancellor Feng personally delivered Grandpa Yao's salary for the three months of sick leave. They also gave Yao Ruyi an extra thick red envelope, saying that they had been so busy with official duties and trivial matters these past few months that they hadn't known Dr. Yao had been so seriously ill, and it was a real oversight. They felt bad seeing him yesterday, and this was a token of their sympathy for Dr. Yao on behalf of all the doctors and lecturers of the Imperial Academy.
Feng, the chief priest, was as tall as a bamboo pole, while Liu, the registrar, was as short as a tree stump. The two laughed naturally and amiably, and spoke sincerely with a hint of guilt, as if they had been too busy to notice Grandpa Yao.
Just as the two of them finished their performance of singing, reciting, acting, and fighting, Lin Wen'an and Cong Bo came over from the side gate. The two men's eyes lit up immediately, and they went up to him to inquire about his well-being and tried to find out what official position Lin Wen'an would be appointed to upon his return.
Lin Wen'an gave a few perfunctory words, then made an excuse to go out, raising his hand to rudely send the two away.
Yao Ruyi, who had been holding her breath and watching coldly from the side, quickly stepped forward and stuffed the red envelope back into Liu the Registrar's hands: "Thank you both for your kindness, but please take it back. My grandfather never accepts money from dubious sources."
She was unfamiliar with the rules of officialdom, and had never asked them for favors even when her family was in dire straits. Now that she was self-reliant, she had even less to ask for, so she spoke her mind directly. Although such was human nature, and that Chief Minister Feng and Registrar Liu were merely shrewd and opportunistic, she didn't want to bother trying to curry favor with them.
These blunt words indeed caused the two men's kind and amiable faces to freeze instantly.
This also made Lin Wen'an's lips curl into a smile.
Liu, the registrar, couldn't contain his anger. Upon hearing this, a hint of anger immediately surfaced on his face. This little girl dared to mock them for embezzling, accepting bribes, and dealing in money of dubious origin!
Just as he was about to lash out, Feng, the Imperial Clerk, was more composed. Although his smile froze slightly, his expression remained unchanged. He gave Liu, the Registrar, a look to stop him, and said with a smile that since it was unfortunate, he would visit again next time before taking his leave.
Because of their delay, Yao Ruyi didn't even have time to eat breakfast. She had no choice but to load the prepared "pizza" and sweet fermented rice balls into the car, intending to eat them on the road.
Taking advantage of the less bumpy traffic, Yao Ruyi poured a cup of sweet fermented rice balls for everyone, then cut the "pizza" into several pieces, placed them on oil paper, and handed them to Grandpa Yao and Lin Wen'an. She also made another one, lifted the curtain, and handed it to Uncle Cong: "It's all jammed outside, Uncle Cong, you should drink and eat something hot to get rid of the cold."
Uncle Cong took it, and laughed as soon as he saw the pancake. He held it in his hands and looked at it from left to right with great curiosity: "Oh my, this is the first time I've ever seen a pancake where the filling is all on the outside!"
He took a bite of pizza, his beard smeared with apricot cheese, and chatted with Yao Ruyi: "I didn't expect this stuffed sesame seed cake to taste so good. It's my first time eating it! Bianjing has so many fresh things, but you have to be careful when you eat it, or the filling will fall out easily."
After eating, I got thirsty and was then greeted by the aroma of the still-hot sweet fermented rice balls. I couldn't wait to take a big gulp and exclaimed, "So warm! This is the perfect food for this weather!"
“Right! This is the most comforting time to eat!” Yao Ruyi felt that Uncle Cong was her soulmate. She also felt that on a snowy winter day, she just wanted to eat a bowl of hot and warm fermented rice balls!
She simply stayed outside the car and ate with Uncle Cong.
She was very satisfied with her breakfast today.
The "pizza" was made with leftover steamed buns, while the sweet fermented rice balls were something I learned from Cheng Niangzi a few days ago, and the method is very simple. Winter is the best time to simmer sweet fermented rice balls. Gradually mix glutinous rice flour with warm water, knead it into a dough, sprinkle some fine flour on the work surface, pinch off small pieces the size of a fingernail, and then roll them into balls in your palm.
The fermented rice wine should be sweet, with a clear broth and soft lees. Just a couple of spoonfuls, and the sweet aroma will gently fill the room. Boil water in a small pot on the stove, then add the rice balls and poach them until they float. At this point, pour in the fermented rice wine, then thicken it with half a spoonful of lotus root starch, giving the soup a thick, glossy consistency.
Sprinkle with osmanthus flowers and rock sugar, then it's ready to serve.
Poured into a large earthenware jar, the glutinous rice balls, soaking in the sugar water, are glistening and appealing. Biting into them reveals the unique chewy and soft texture of glutinous rice. The aroma of wine is sweet and refreshing, infused with the fragrance of osmanthus, and drinking it warms the whole body.
The soup with the cooked glutinous rice balls was also delicious. It was thick but not cloying, and because it was thickened with lotus root starch, it didn't cool down easily. It slid smoothly down the throat, and the warmth spread to every part of the body. After drinking it, I felt warm in my hands and feet.
On a snowy winter day, eating a bowl of this in the morning is both filling and warming, making even the cold wind leaking in from outside the car curtains feel less biting.
Just as they finished eating, the group started moving again.
Yao Ruyi hurriedly put away the jar, but as soon as she did, it got blocked again.
She sighed and went back to the car, where she caught a glimpse of Lin Wen'an collecting the cups and plates that Grandpa Yao had just used after eating, and carefully wiping his beard and face with a handkerchief.
Grandpa's memory seemed to have stopped sometime in the past, and he advised him, "Mingzhi, don't always be studying. Go out and play for a while. Don't become a bookworm by staying cooped up in the room all day studying."
Lin Wen'an smiled and responded softly with an "okay".
Yao Ruyi was speechless. Previously, when her grandfather advised Meng Chenglin and the other two, he had passionately urged them to study diligently, day and night, without ever slacking off. He even said that given their abilities, they shouldn't study at all; they could simply return to the countryside to farm and wouldn't starve.
Upon reaching Lin Wen'an, he immediately became kind and gentle: "Go and play for a while."
Favoritism! Being smart is nothing special!
She subconsciously categorized herself as a "bad student," muttering to herself as she secretly glanced at Lin Wen'an.
After eating a few bites of something warm, his complexion improved significantly.
Lin Wen'an had been leaning against the corner of the mule cart, resting with his eyes closed, without uttering a sound. Outside, the sky was dark, and inside the cart, it felt as if it were submerged in water. It was always like this when the snow was melting—damp and gloomy, even colder than when it was snowing. The chill was so intense that even the thickest clothes felt insufficient; it seeped into your bones.
He wasn't wearing his amulet today, clearly revealing his features. While resting, he tilted his chin slightly, his jawline aligning perfectly with the shimmering light, making the lines of his features appear sharp and distinct. However, he wore a sky-blue robe today, his arms crossed, his shoulders slightly hunched inwards, which softened the coldness emanating from him.
He seemed a little off when he arrived this morning; his face was paler than yesterday, he walked very slowly, and his knees seemed unable to bend fully, as if he was dragging his legs as he walked.
Yao Ruyi lowered the curtain and shrank back outside the carriage, whispering to Uncle Cong, "Uncle Cong, is Second Uncle's leg still not fully healed? It looks quite uncomfortable. Why don't you and Grandpa go back with him to rest? I can go by myself."
Seeing her so thoughtful and considerate, Uncle Cong gently comforted her as he drove the carriage, "Don't worry, it's an old ailment. It's a lingering problem from his time being tortured in the Zhaoyu prison. With weather like this every day, his legs can't get any rest. Besides, it's not just his legs that are bothering him; his eyes are also affected. If the light outside is too bright, it dazzles him and he can't see clearly, so he has to wear blindfolds..."
"Back then, those evil people tortured him by shining kerosene lamps into his eyes day and night, forbidding him to close his eyes and sleep. Later, they broke both of Erlang's legs, but he still refused to submit and cursed the Prince of Jin as a traitor with blood in his mouth... Later, when the Prince of Jin was executed, Erlang was carried out of the prison on a straw mat. He was covered in whip marks and looked like a blood gourd. He was barely alive."
Why didn't Lord Feng and Lord Liu come earlier this morning? But they suddenly appeared to try and get close to Erlang as soon as he returned? Because none of them expected that Erlang could return to the capital. In their eyes, even if Erlang survived, he was still a bedridden cripple and no one needed to worry about him.
But thank God, Erlang is not only alive, but he looks quite good, doesn't he? Seven years have passed, and although I always hoped that Erlang would get better and no longer have to endure these pains, he can now walk and still see. I'm afraid I'm being too greedy, so I often dare not make too many wishes to the gods and Buddhas, and dare not hope for anything more.
As Cong Bo spoke, he gradually choked up.
Yao Ruyi listened in silence, then stepped forward and gently patted Uncle Cong on the shoulder.
Lin Wen'an's seven years of battling injuries and illnesses are something others may not be able to truly understand, and it's hard to imagine how much suffering she endured. But she knows the kind of pain that cannot be spoken of.
For eight years, she followed her grandmother across the country seeking medical treatment, hoping for a glimmer of hope.
Fortunately, Lin Wen'an survived what she couldn't ask for.
Later, when she bent down and crawled into the carport, watching Lin Wen'an with his eyelashes lowered, slowly eating the steamed bun pizza she had made, she suddenly felt that she was no longer afraid of him.
The Lin Wen'an she saw was calm, quiet, and somewhat frail. She thought to herself, "This person who looks so cold and aloof on the outside actually has a passionate heart. He truly deserves to be called the student Grandpa Yao raised by him; he's a tough guy who would rather die than submit, just like Grandpa."
Lin Wen'an noticed that she was looking at him, but he didn't look up. He continued to eat slowly, clean up the cups and plates, and tucked Mr. Yao's coat in because he was sleepy after eating.
After he finished his work, the girl who had been secretly observing him suddenly reached out her hand to him, a small lion-shaped candy lying in her palm: "Second Uncle, here's a candy for you."
Lin Wen'an looked up at her for no apparent reason.
Yao Ruyi smiled, her eyes crinkling – not the half-hearted, strange smile from yesterday, but a genuine, uninhibited smile with deep dimples. He was stunned, truly confused by her. Wasn't she avoiding him like the plague yesterday? Why was she suddenly so willing to be close to him today?
The lion-shaped candy was shoved into his hand without a word, and the girl's warm fingertips brushed against his palm. He glanced down at it, confused, but ultimately put it in his mouth and ate it. The aroma of roasted peanuts mingled with the rich candy flavor, making it both fragrant and sweet.
Although I don't particularly like sweets, this candy isn't cloying; it's just the right amount of sweet.
But he still shook his head inwardly.
Just like Yueyue, girls' thoughts are really hard to guess.
The mule cart crawled along through the crowds of people and vehicles, like an old tortoise climbing a hill, taking a break every few steps, and finally arrived at Xingguo Temple. Yao Ruyi's bottom was numb from sitting so long, and she thought to herself that even if she got off the cart and walked, she would probably have arrived much sooner.
The area in front of Xingguo Temple was already filled with carriages and horses of all kinds. Cong Bo told Yao Ruyi and the others to get out of the carriage first and go for a stroll, without waiting for him. The carriage he had hired was too big, so he had to pull a mule cart to a distant place to see if there was a space to squeeze the carriage in.
Not long after Uncle Cong left, as soon as he entered the temple, Grandpa Yao blushed and said in a low, shy voice that he needed to go to the outhouse.
Having not tasted alcohol for a long time, he couldn't resist and drank two large cups of fermented rice balls in one go, filling his stomach with water, and now he needed to urinate.
Fortunately, Lin Wen'an came along, so Yao Ruyi stayed near the mountain gate to wait while Lin Wen'an helped Grandpa Yao to borrow a toilet from the monks in the temple.
While waiting for someone, Yao Ruyi didn't rest. She looked around, looking for any novel little items that she could put in her shop to sell. She's become a bit obsessed with running her shop. Whenever she sees something outside, her first thought is always: If this item were put in my shop, I wonder if it would sell?
The stalls under the two corridors were crowded together. On the east side, there was an old woman selling silk fabrics and woolen threads. She had a basket on her lap and was winding red and green silk threads into small balls. Next to her stood a bamboo frame with several strings of rice pearl silver ornaments hanging on it. Many young women gathered there to pick out headdresses and clothing materials.
There were also stalls selling vegetarian cakes and tea soup, and around the south corner, there was a row of stalls selling porcelain.
Yao Ruyi dared not go far, only watching from nearby. She was surprised that people were already selling New Year's goods so early; it was only the beginning of winter! Peach wood charms, images of the Kitchen God, and door gods were spread out on low tables, the air filled with the fragrance of ink. An old scholar writing the charms held a wolf-hair brush, writing "Safe Travels" and "May the New Year Bring Blessings" as he wrote. Beside the stall were piles of sesame stalks, neatly bundled, a bundle costing a few coins. These were laid on the ground during the New Year, making a crackling sound when stepped on, symbolizing "rising step by step" for good fortune.
Seeing that many people were buying them, Yao Ruyi slyly thought that in the future, she could ask her grandfather to write some peach charms and paint some pictures of the Kitchen God to sell. Wouldn't she only need to pay for the paper and ink, and make a profit without any risk? Hehe.
Turning around, the fake blind fortune teller strode by, tapping his clappers, while an old man selling candied hawthorns wandered through the crowd with his straw target on his back. The bright red hawthorns, coated in glistening sugar, attracted a group of children who followed him, sniffling.
There was also a tabby cat in the temple, which was dozing under the large incense burner. Its face was scalded black and its whiskers were curled. The monk angrily dragged it out by its tail, but it still refused to leave.
The cold wind was still howling, but with so many people huddled together, it didn't seem so cold anymore. Yao Ruyi returned to her original spot and sat down next to a tea stall, basking in the warmth of the stove. She rested her chin on her hand, smiling as she watched the lively bargaining and the joyful picking and choosing around her. She felt enveloped in the warm atmosphere of the people, and it was very comfortable.
Just as I was enjoying the sights and sounds of life, several pairs of feet suddenly stopped in front of me. I looked up and saw a young man in the middle, dressed in fine clothes, a bit chubby, surrounded by several wealthy servants, none of whom I recognized.
"Oh, isn't this Miss Yao? What are you doing here all alone? I heard that Miss Yao has taken up the business of selling soup and roasted meat. Did you come to Xingguo Temple today to set up a stall and sell soup? Tsk tsk, how many copper coins can you earn in a day? It's really pitiful! Now that you've become a merchant's daughter and have broken off your engagement, I'm afraid no official family will be willing to marry you in the future?"
The man launched into a sarcastic remark, then sneered, "Where has your family's arrogance gone from beating up my brother in the street back then? Considering we almost became relatives, how about we give you a few coins? Oh, by the way, I heard your old man's gone mad? That's karma! Haha!"
At first, he mocked the idea of setting up a small stall, but Yao Ruyi did not respond immediately. However, her usually pretty and charming eyes were unusually cold at this moment.
She was calmly calculating the pros and cons in her mind. The original owner of this body lived a secluded life and naturally had no memory of this person. She had never even met her fiancé, Deng Sheng, let alone this person who addressed her as "brother." But judging from the tone of his voice, this person must be Deng Sheng's younger brother, though she didn't know if he was a biological brother or a distant relative.
After this person appeared, she rationally assessed the background of the Deng family.
The reason why the Deng family and the Yao family were engaged was because the two families were considered to be well-matched. The Deng family was relatively wealthy, but their official position was low. Deng's father was an eighth-rank "supervisor official," a minor official in charge of supervising the canal transport and coordinating supplies. He was low in rank but had a lot of lucrative opportunities and extensive connections. It was said that the Deng family had attached themselves to the Minister of Finance, Geng Zhongming, because of this.
Deng Sheng wasn't a proper Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) back then. Instead, he passed the medical specialty examination of the Mingjing (a type of classical Chinese medical examination) and the "Imperial Medical Bureau Examination," and was selected as a physician of the ninth rank.
At that time, Grandpa Yao was still serving as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. When the matchmaker came to recommend this marriage, he deliberately made an excuse to visit the Imperial Medical Bureau several times to be cautious. He saw that Deng Shengsheng was fair-skinned and refined, and would politely thank the young eunuchs who served him tea. Although he was in his twenties and a bit old, he heard that he had been studying diligently and had not taken any concubines. He didn't even have a maid in his house and was very chaste, so he was somewhat to his liking.
Most importantly, Deng Sheng's mother passed away two years ago, leaving only Deng's father's two elderly concubines who were half-servants and half-masters in the family. This meant that his granddaughter wouldn't have to serve her mother-in-law after marrying into the family. Grandpa Yao thought that his granddaughter was gentle and that this would save him the trouble of conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, so he made the decision even more likely.
Deng Sheng had never given himself away, and the Deng family had conducted the six rites of marriage very properly. During festivals, they would always send people to deliver new fabrics, hairpins, and rouge. At the time, everyone said it was a good marriage. Who would have thought that only half a year after the engagement, Grandpa Yao heard from his colleagues that someone had seen Deng Sheng patronizing a male prostitute and warned him to be careful.
The old man didn't believe it at first, so he secretly went to Lianzi Lane to wait. Now he saw it with his own eyes. It was truly... red waves rippled in the bridal chamber, and when the quilt was lifted, two ducks appeared.
Grandpa Yao never tolerated a shrew, let alone this one who was being treated like a fool! He immediately raised his fist, as big as a sand bowl, rushed forward, dragged the drunken Deng Sheng out from under him, and pulled him naked into the street to start beating him.
This fight left Deng Sheng with two missing front teeth and ruined his reputation, making it impossible for him to remain an official. The Deng family lost face and thus forged a deep-seated feud with the Yao family. It is said that after the incident, Deng Sheng was immediately sent south by his family, presumably having changed his name and sought a new path.
However, the Yao family still could not escape the slander and insults from the Deng family.
All of the above were bits and pieces that Aunt Yu and other aunts and sisters-in-law had mentioned in gossip. Ever since she opened her small shop and set up a few stools and tables, the neighbors stopped gossiping and doing chores in front of Sister Cheng's house. Instead, they all carried their sewing baskets and other odds and ends and gathered at Yao Ruyi's house every day.
As a result, Yao Ruyi listened to a lot of gossip, her eyes shining and her interest evident every day.
Of course, there was also gossip about her family. Once, they talked about a man named Deng Changxing who might be promoted to the sixth rank of "Grain and Feed Supervisor". Aunt Yu glanced at her as she spoke. Yao Ruyi didn't react at first, but when she heard the aunts immediately cursing the Deng family for her, she realized who it was.
Deng Changxing is Deng Sheng's uncle.
It seemed someone in the Deng family must have really been promoted, otherwise why would this man be so arrogant, acting so glamorous and domineering in front of her? And he even recognized her face, so it seemed it wasn't just a promotion. Yao Ruyi carefully examined him and suddenly noticed that he had the "D" badge of an Imperial Academy student hanging on his waist.
She realized what was going on and blurted out, "You're Deng Feng, the one who's been with three different families?"
No wonder he's so arrogant, and no wonder he knows her and knows she owns a shop! It turns out this man is the new son of the Geng family, the one who made Geng Hao furious. Everyone outside says he's a "three-surname son" because before his family latched onto the Geng family, they first latched onto the Transport Commissioner, recognizing him as their godfather. No one says it openly, but behind his back everyone laughs at his family's rise in rank, saying it's either through nepotism or women. That makes sense. Since Deng Sheng's mother is deceased, it's impossible for him to marry Geng Xiang.
This person must be Deng Sheng's cousin!
The phrase "a family with three surnames" was a deadly blow, and Deng Feng almost couldn't catch his breath.
His loyal servants also poured out insults and filth, their voices growing louder and louder, instantly attracting a crowd of onlookers.
Yao Ruyi originally intended to swallow this filth and think it over later, but these people not only insulted her but also insulted Grandpa Yao, spewing out all sorts of insults like "old codger," "hypocrite," and "serves him right for being stupid."
It's one thing to insult her, but to insult an old woman like that!
She couldn't stand it anymore. She was so unlucky today because she hadn't checked the almanac before going out. She should have brought Big Yellow with her!
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the tea stall owner slinking away with his money jar, clearly afraid of getting into trouble. She turned to the stall owner and called out, "Excuse me, could I borrow this?"
Before the stall owner and Deng Feng and the others could react, Yao Ruyi had already grabbed a red-hot pair of tongs from under the stove, coldly raising her eyes and asking, "Have you said enough?"
Sparks flew from the pliers, the scalding hot pliers nearly poking his nose. Deng Feng was stunned. He never expected that Yao Xiaoniangzi, who was rumored to be weak and incompetent and had been scolded by his family for years without daring to leave the house, would actually dare to point the pliers at him! She's really grown some guts!
The servant beside the man immediately rushed forward to seize the weapon, but Yao Ruyi reacted quickly, slapping the man's hand with the fire tongs, burning a blister, and said sternly, "Try touching me!"
She was no longer the frail little girl she had been when she first transmigrated. These days, she exercised with Grandpa Yao every morning, and also took care of household chores and business. She ate two bowls of rice at every meal, and now her face had gained weight, and her once thin arms had become strong.
Even if someone bullies you, can Yao Ruyi still tolerate it?
So what if they have power and influence? So what if they have a stepfather who is the prime minister? I've already swallowed my anger for so many years. This is the last straw! A person shouldn't let anger suffocate them!
The tongs were scalding hot, and the servant cried out in pain and jumped up.
Her gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Deng Feng's round, sweat-drenched face: "What a strange thing! Your cousin broke off his engagement because he's gay, so why are you jumping around like that? Are you gay too, just like him? I don't understand, how dare you come here barking like a dog? Even if you're straightforward, you can't spew filth from your mouth, can you? You're a scholar, so what have you learned but to accuse others first? If you're really so bored and have nothing better to do, why don't you go lick all the chamber pots in the temple? Maybe when you die, the King of Hell will remember your good deed and fry you a little less! Get lost! I'm afraid I'll get a sty if I look at you even once!"
Deng Feng was stunned by the insults, and the onlookers were also stunned.
Most scholars value their reputation and image, and had never heard such outspoken and blunt words in their lives. The onlookers were also taken aback; seeing how young the girl was, they thought she would be frightened and cry, but she was surprisingly formidable!
"Pfft!" Someone in the crowd burst out laughing first, followed by a roar of laughter. Some, enjoying the spectacle, cheered for Yao Ruyi: "Good job, girl!" "Well done!" "That was a satisfying scolding! I'll learn from her; I'll definitely need it when I argue with people in the future!"
Little did Yao Ruyi know that her scolding had struck a nerve with the Deng family.
In official families, who doesn't know that the Deng family has a homosexual? And that Dr. Yao dragged him naked into the street and beat him? Homosexuality is nothing unusual. As long as you don't deceive people about their daughters' marriages, you can keep your own marriage a secret. But the Deng family insisted on arranging a marriage, so naturally, families with daughters avoided the Deng family like the plague.
Although the Deng family has been hiring idle men to whitewash their own reputation and smear the Yao family all these years, they can only fool unsuspecting passersby. Officials with connections naturally know the truth, but they just keep quiet about it and don't mention it in public. Behind their backs, they have long been despised.
A string snapped in Deng Feng's mind. He was so angry that the flesh on his cheeks trembled. For so many years, his cousin had ruined his reputation and future because of homosexuality, but he had also been implicated. People always seemed to ignore it. It was clearly his cousin who was homosexual, but now that he had run away, they came to mock him, thinking that they were a family lineage. If one was homosexual, then everyone must be homosexual.
And all of this is the Yao family's fault! Even if they wanted to annul the engagement, why couldn't they have discussed it calmly? Why did they have to let it escalate to this point?
You've caused him so much suffering!
His face turned purple and swollen, his features contorted, and he gritted his teeth, looking as sinister as a venomous snake. Pointing at Yao Ruyi, he ordered his servants word by word, "Strip her clothes off."
The servants rolled up their sleeves and were about to pounce on him.
"Is this person crazy?!" Yao Ruyi hurriedly tried to run away, but as soon as she turned around, a figure seemed to flash before her eyes. A sky-blue robe with a bitter medicinal smell swept across her forehead and instantly shielded her behind it.
Before she could even see what was happening, Lin Wen'an had already grabbed the outstretched hand of the first slave with one hand, and twisted the man's entire arm backward with a force of her wrist. Before the slave could even scream, he was pushed forward by the force of the impact, and his fat body crashed hard into his companions who were rushing towards him from behind, and the several of them immediately fell into a pile.
Deng Feng was also taken aback. In his daze, he didn't even see how the person got close. He only felt a flash of cold light, and a small sword from his sleeve, its sharp, cold tip already pressed against his Adam's apple.
His pupils contracted sharply, and the sword tip trembled, just a hair's breadth away from piercing his neck, leaving it dripping with blood.
Yao Ruyi stared incredulously at Lin Wen'an, whose face was grim and cold as a blade.
Isn't he a scholar...?
Could it be... that I passed the military examination back then?
————————
Ruyi: Close the door and unleash the dogs, Big Yellow! Go!
Lin Wen'an: ...?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com