“Shi Buping, you’re like a toad trying to eat swan meat. Don’t think that just because you have a brother-in-law who’s a prefect, you can do whatever you want in Qi County. The villagers are all watching. My Zhou family won’t listen to your nonsense.”
Zhou Ruxue hid behind the servants and angrily cursed them.
That's shameless! He has a bunch of wives and concubines at home, yet he still dares to dream of taking her as a concubine. Doesn't he even know how shameless he is?
Shi Buping laughed and took a few steps forward with a grin. "Beautiful Ruxue, since you know my brother-in-law is the prefect, you still dare to refuse me. The Zhou family has no male heirs. What use is your Zhou family's vast wealth? You might as well bring the Zhou family's money and marry me, so that the family property won't fall into the hands of outsiders."
"fart."
Zhou Ruxue was so angry that she trembled all over. She pointed her finger at Shi Buping and said, "How dare you think you can think of me? Don't you even know who you are? You're trying to gain favor by marrying me. Bah! You're a good-for-nothing. Anyone who marries you is really unlucky."
Her words caused the onlookers to burst into laughter, and everyone looked at him with disdain.
Shi Buping had a terrible reputation in Qi County. He used to be a dog-skin plaster seller. Because of his repeated dog-skin plaster business, his sister caught the eye of the prefect, who was then the county magistrate, and the prefect married her regardless of her social status.
When one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs rise to prominence. Shi Buping also benefited from this rise and became a local tyrant in Qi County.
With her brother-in-law, the prefect, backing her up, this woman spent her days running around like a roaming chicken coop, bullying her neighbors. The local people looked down on her, dared not offend her, and hated her at the same time.
Shi Buping's lackeys were itching for a fight. "Boss, should we teach this foul-mouthed bitch a lesson?"
"No need." He pushed aside the henchmen beside him and cursed at Zhou Ruxue, "You shameless wretch, you don't know what's good for you. Believe me or not, I'll have my brother-in-law punish you." Shi Buping was furious and embarrassed.
He usually resented people mentioning his status. Why did these people look down on him? As the saying goes, "Are kings and generals born with a special destiny?" He was no longer a quack selling quack medicine on the street.
“Punishment? My Zhou family has always been law-abiding. What right does the prefect have to punish my family? Could it be that the prefect is trying to frame innocent people? On the contrary, you are the one who bullies the market, forcibly abducts women, and the prefect should punish you.”
This Shi Buping was a wicked man who committed all sorts of evil deeds, yet the prefect repeatedly protected him. Every local person hated him to the core, but unfortunately, no one could bring him to justice.
"Well said. His crimes should be known. The prefect is muddleheaded and incompetent, protecting his brother-in-law's evil deeds. He's a worthless official. Someone should come and take care of his whole family."
Many of the passersby disapproved of Shi Buping, and suddenly someone roared in support.
"Yes, they should be dealt with. Why doesn't the Emperor come here for his inspection tour? Otherwise, we could sue him."
"Even if the Emperor doesn't come, we can still go to the capital to file a complaint with him."
"Sue my ass! Officials protect each other. You might get your throat slit halfway there." As soon as a passerby finished speaking, everyone fell silent, their faces filled with both anger and fear.
Upon seeing this, Shi Buping and his lackeys laughed loudly, becoming even more arrogant, "You know it yourselves, but let me tell you, I've taken a liking to Zhou Ruxue and I'm going to take her into my household as one of my ten concubines. What are you going to do about it?"
"You scoundrel! Even if I die, I will never marry a lowly rogue like you!" Zhou Ruxue was both angry and anxious, her fair face turning pale and then red.
"I am a rogue, and you will be the rogue's wife from now on. If you obey me now, I will choose an auspicious day to prepare a bridal sedan chair and bring you into the manor in a proper manner. If you refuse to listen to my advice, you will have to drink the penalty wine. Don't blame me for taking you in right now and sleeping with you. You will have to marry me whether you like it or not, hahaha."
Shi Buping walked up to Zhou Ruxue and reached out to make advances. No one dared to utter a sound; they were all afraid of Shi Buping.
Several lackeys pinned down the Zhou family servants, dragged them aside, and punched and kicked them. Zhou Ruxue was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she turned around to run away.
"Where are you going, beauty? Ah—who dares to touch me?"
Having witnessed the entire spectacle, Nan Yi intervened at the opportune moment. She gripped Shi Buping's hand and sneered, "As a villain, instead of keeping a low profile, you dare to forcibly abduct a woman. Are you just a figurehead, this supposedly wise and benevolent emperor? Don't you understand that even if the emperor can't intervene for the time being, evildoers will eventually face divine retribution? Hmm~"
"Hey~ Where did you come from, you wild brat? Mind your own business, or I'll throw you in jail." Shi Buping's hands were twisted behind his back by Nan Yi, who gave him a threatening warning.
Nan Yi raised his leg and kicked him hard in the buttocks. "Come find me if you dare. We'll see who has the toughest bones. Get lost."
Shi Buping fell flat on his face and suffered a great loss. His lackeys quickly released the Zhou family servants who had been beaten black and blue, and instead began to besiege Nan Yi.
They were all just amateurs with their limited skills. Nan Yi easily defeated them with a few punches and kicks. This was the first time Shi Buping had encountered a master like Nan Yi. He didn't even utter a harsh word before running away faster than a rabbit.
Seeing that someone had helped her chase away the bully, Zhou Ruxue's expression hadn't recovered yet. She walked over to thank him, "Thank you, young master..." Suddenly, she felt her body go limp and almost fell.
Nan Yi helped her up and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
"I... my legs are weak. It was too dangerous just now. Thank you." Zhou Ruxue leaned against Nan Yi and pleaded softly, "Young master, could you please take me back to the manor? I'm afraid that Shi Buping will come looking for trouble again. Young master, you have done me a great favor. My father will definitely repay you handsomely."
"It's alright, they won't come again. The servants are with them," Nan Yi reminded him.
Zhou Ruxue cursed, "Weakling, useless."
Nan Yi, “…” Shouldn’t that be her own words? She didn’t understand why the Zhou family mansion, which was so large and had no shortage of money, didn’t hire a few capable guards.
This was their second meeting, and Zhou Ruxue greatly admired Nan Yi, expressing her gratitude at length.
Zhou Ruxue immediately handed over the thousand taels of silver notes for the horse, and as for the horse, she would have a servant fetch it back.
Nan Yi didn't stand on ceremony. She felt that in this time and space, perhaps only money could soothe the disappointment she felt from her time travel.
Upon returning to the Zhou residence, Master Zhou was terrified to hear of his beloved daughter's accident, and Madam Zhou was so angry that she burst into tears.
The Zhou family, a wealthy couple, earnestly invited her to their residence, saying they wanted to hold a banquet to thank her for her help.
Nan Yi could not refuse and had no choice but to enter the Zhou residence.
At the banquet, Master Zhou was by his side, but his face was full of worry. Nan Yi couldn't bear it and advised him, "Since ancient times, the common people have never fought against the officials. Master Zhou needs to make plans as soon as possible."
"Alas, how could Zhou not know? Since Prefect Liu took office, he has been insatiably greedy and has an enormous appetite. Unlike other officials who plunder the people's wealth, he likes to create false pretenses to entertain wealthy merchants."
Today, he asks everyone to contribute to building a bridge; tomorrow, he asks the rich to contribute to building a road, or to help the poor, or to build an academy. If he is truly doing good deeds, we have nothing to say.
In reality, all the money went into his pocket. Some of my friends who had some wealth moved away or left, and they tried to persuade me to stay, but Mr. Zhou didn't want to leave his hometown. Now that his daughter has caught the eye of that scoundrel, he has no choice but to leave.
Upon hearing this, Nan Yi thought to himself, "This Prefect Liu is quite adept at finding loopholes. He doesn't target the poor, but focuses on the wallets of the rich. He doesn't seem so despicable."
Deep down, she probably harbored some resentment towards the rich; otherwise, why would she always try to rob Yinzhen, who was a very wealthy man?
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