Chapter 32 The Beautiful Bride Early the next morning…
It drizzled early the next morning. That night, apart from the perpetrator himself, A-Meng and Bai-Fu didn't sleep well at all.
Fortunately, things calmed down in the latter half of the night, allowing me to get a good night's sleep.
After Chen Yuetao got up, she saw that neither of them had gotten up yet, so she cooked breakfast for herself. After eating, she put on a raincoat and went to the field to plant vegetables.
Chen Gengnian got up after only a short sleep, and when he saw A Meng at the door, he looked away uncomfortably.
Seeing the refreshed man, Ah Meng, who had been disturbed all night, was not about to let him off so easily. He immediately flapped his wings and went over. Just as he was about to say something sarcastic, Chen Gengnian quickly pinched his mouth as if he had expected it.
Ameng frantically flapped its wings in an attempt to struggle, but to no avail.
Upon hearing this, Baifu, who was catching up on sleep nearby, quickly got up and went over. However, when he saw that it was Chen Gengnian, he tucked his tail between his legs and dared not approach. He could only peek at Chen Gengnian from the side with a pitiful expression.
"Let's find a way to isolate this thought! It'll affect you if this continues, right?" Chen Gengnian leaned closer to A Meng and said in a deep voice, "Right? Senior brother?"
A-Meng: It seems like I'm being threatened, but I can't beat the other party. What should I do?
Chen Gengnian finally released A Meng and went into the house triumphantly to prepare breakfast for Lin Qing'an.
When Lin Qing'an woke up, it was already noon. He missed breakfast but ended up having lunch.
He sat on the stool, his buttocks aching terribly, and his back aching as if it were about to break.
He knew Chen Gengnian would be very strong, but he didn't expect him to be this strong!
If he hadn't cried out in pain, I don't know if I would still be able to see the sun today.
Although there was no sun today, it was indeed not just Chen Gengnian's problem.
But it's all his fault!
He glared at Chen Gengnian over and over again, while A Meng smugly spun around beside him.
Looking at the young couple, Chen Yuetao was overjoyed. When she saw the marks on Lin Qing'an's neck that hadn't been properly concealed, she was already imagining the scene of holding her grandson.
When they had almost finished eating, a sound of gongs and drums came from inside the room. The people inside looked at each other in surprise and got up to go out and see what was going on.
Lin Qing'an walked behind and asked A Meng telepathically.
Ameng said, "An old man brought back a beautiful young woman."
An old man? Lin Qing'an was extremely puzzled. Ah Meng must have never seen this person before, which was why he called him an old man. So this old man must be...
Stepping out of the courtyard gate, the question was answered.
A large crowd gradually gathered in front of Lin Jing's house.
Lin Qing'an learned that the old man A Meng mentioned was Lin Jing's father, Lin Li.
"Oh dear, what happened at Jing's house? Why are so many people gathered around?" Chen Yuetao asked anxiously as she ran downstairs.
As for Lin Qing'an, Chen Gengnian squatted down in front of him before he had taken two steps.
Seeing this, Lin Qingan did not refuse and nimbly climbed onto his back.
When the group arrived at Lin Jing's house, they saw Lin Jing leaning against the gate of the courtyard, holding a huge wooden stick, looking ready for battle as he watched Lin Li, who was surrounded by the crowd.
Lin Li, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, stood out conspicuously in the center of the crowd. He led a skinny donkey, on which sat a woman dressed in the same bright red wedding robe as Lin Li.
The woman had a veil covering her head, and her jet-black hair hung down, so no one could see her face clearly.
However, the crying sounded incredibly gentle and clear.
Seeing that more and more people were gathering, Lin Li clasped his hands and said, "Fellow villagers, today is my joyous day, but this rebellious woman won't let me into her house. You all, please judge this. Why can't I enter my own house?"
After Lin Li finished speaking, he struck the gong in his hand twice more. The jarring sound irritated most of the people present.
As soon as he said that, someone asked a question.
"You said you're getting married, so where is your wife from? How much is the dowry?"
When the man asked this question, Lin Li became excited, puffed out his chest, and looked smug.
"Where are you from?" Lin Li suddenly pulled the woman off the donkey. The woman was so frightened that she cried out and then began to sob.
"A gift?" Lin Li's voice suddenly rose. "I didn't ask for a gift; I won it back myself."
Lin Li turned the woman around and said smugly, "This is a young lady from a wealthy family in the county. She's a young lady who has never lifted a finger since she was a child."
The villagers who had been watching immediately began to discuss the matter, and some voiced their doubts.
"Could it be that you've been kidnapped by those bandits and robbers?"
"Exactly, what wealthy family would offer their daughter to an old man like you as payment for a debt? Have they lost their mind?"
"That's right, that's right! Otherwise, we should just report it to the authorities!"
Upon hearing the word "report to the authorities," Lin Li angrily banged on the gong. After everyone quieted down, he spoke up, "If you don't believe me, ask her if her father gave her to me as a wife. I have a written agreement in my hand, clearly written in black and white and stamped with my fingerprint. Even if the King of Heaven himself comes, she will still be my wife!"
Someone actually asked the question.
“Girl, tell me honestly, is what he said true? If not, we will report it to the authorities and have your parents come and take you home.”
The girl didn't answer and stopped sobbing.
Lin Li suddenly pushed the girl, and she almost fell over because she lost her balance.
Lin Li threatened, "Speak! If you don't, I'll kill you tonight!"
Only after Lin Li said this did the girl speak, her voice trembling.
"He's telling the truth."
Her voice, though choked with sobs, couldn't hide her gentle and beautiful tone; with just one sentence, she left everyone present utterly helpless.
Even the kindest person can't help, since they have a written agreement in hand.
The villagers sighed helplessly, "What a tragedy!"
Unable to bear watching any longer, many soft-hearted people turned and left.
This official Lin is a desperate gambler; once you get involved, he's a persistent pest, impossible to shake off and impossible to offend.
Most of the onlookers left, leaving only a few who were simply enjoying the spectacle.
Lin Li grabbed the girl and tried to rush into the house, but Lin Jing swung a stick and smashed it against the doorpost with a thud.
He pointed at the forest official and threatened, "If you dare to come in, I'll break your legs!"
Lin Li was not afraid at all. He bared his teeth and was about to step forward to force his way in, but the next second he was blocked by a tall figure.
Lin Li looked up, and his smug expression instantly vanished.
He looked at Chen Gengnian with a helpless expression and said, "Hey Chen kid, what have I done to offend you?"
Chen Gengnian ignored him and said angrily, "Release the girl."
Lin Li refused to give up and immediately resorted to his old tricks, acting like a rogue: "I won't let her go. Her father gave her to me, so she's mine. I have everything, why should I let her go?"
Lin Li became more and more imposing as he spoke, and he began to show no fear of Chen Gengnian.
Seeing his shameless face, Chen Gengnian's anger flared up.
Unfortunately, the clerk seemed to be blind, pulling out the receipt from his pocket and waving it in front of Chen Gengnian.
"Look! It's written clearly in black and white! What right do you have to interfere... ah—"
Chen Gengnian reached out and instantly twisted him into a ball, stepping on him under his foot. The smug Lin Li just moments before instantly screamed in pain.
Chen Gengnian gave Lin Jing and Lin Qing'an a wink, and the two hurriedly stepped forward to untie the girl.
As Lin Jing untied the rope, she said, "Go! There's only one road leading out of Linjia Village. Go back the way you came. Don't worry about this person; he won't come looking for you again."
The rope was untied, and everyone thought the girl would turn and run away, but she stood still.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you running?" Lin Jing was extremely anxious.
Lin Qingan was also puzzled, thinking that she was scared, so he asked, "Where do you live? We'll take you home."
The girl remained silent and motionless, almost standing there, her veil trembling as she sobbed.
Chen Yuetao, who was standing nearby, was also anxious and was about to come over to persuade them.
The girl cried even louder, and in her panic, she grabbed Lin Jing's hand and cried, "I have no home anymore. If I go back, my father will beat me to death."
He was about to kneel down before Lin Jing, but Lin Jing caught him as soon as his body went limp.
"Speak properly, don't kneel down!"
The girl gripped Lin Jing's hand tightly, pleading, "Please, just let me stay here! I'll even stay with him, just don't make me go back. If they don't kill me, they'll sell me to Xingchun Brothel. I don't want to go to that kind of place, and my mother is still in his hands, please..."
Hearing her pitiful pleas, Lin Jing felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. As if possessed, she raised her hand and lifted the glaringly red veil covering her face.
The moment the lid was lifted, the girl's pitiful face was revealed to everyone.
Everyone present, including Lin Jing, had never seen such a fair-skinned and beautiful girl before, and they were all stunned for a moment.
"Hey, you brat, do you think you can lift that veil?" Lin Li was furious and kept writhing and trying to break free from Chen Gengnian, cursing Lin Jing while crying out in pain.
As soon as the veil was lifted, large tears rolled down the girl's face, her tear-filled eyes almost pleading.
The girl's tearful appearance was heartbreaking, and Lin Jing looked at Lin Qing'an, not knowing what to do.
The official was both anxious and angry, and he shouted at Chen Gengnian.
"Chen boy, let me go! You saw it yourself, it's not that I won't let her go, it's that she won't leave. If you continue to treat me like this, I'll report you to the authorities and say you're trying to murder me for money!"
Lin Li seized the opportunity to start talking nonsense, not caring where he was going or what.
The current situation is indeed quite perplexing, leaving many unsure of what to do.
Just when everyone was confused, the girl spoke up again.
"I'm willing to stay. I'll do anything, as long as I'm spared."
Thinking of her mother, who was still trapped in the Liu family's house, the girl looked at Lin Jing with pleading eyes and whispered again, "Please, let me stay!"
Seeing her tearful face made Lin Jing feel even worse. Due to her family background, she hadn't had much contact with women, let alone such a beautiful one.
"Are you really willing to stay?"
Just as Lin Jing was about to speak, Lin Qing'an asked a question.
The girl nodded repeatedly, "I'm willing to stay."
Even if I die, I'll die here; that way, I can atone for my debt.
Since the other party had said so, Lin Qingan and Chen Gengnian had no other choice. After exchanging a glance, Chen Gengnian and Lin Qingan instantly understood each other's feelings.
Chen Gengnian ground his toe into Lin Li's back, and Lin Li cried out in pain. Then Chen Gengnian's cold and deep voice rang out.
How much money does this girl owe you?
Upon hearing this, Lin Li suddenly stopped speaking. The seasoned man instantly turned his cunning eyes on Chen Gengnian's words, and in a flash, he understood the meaning behind them.
He started reciting numbers as soon as he opened his mouth.
Five hundred taels.
"What?" Chen Gengnian looked at Lin Qing'an for a moment, and Lin Qing'an, who had originally planned something, suddenly began to hesitate.
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