Chapter 9 Words Should Not Be Spoken Carelessly
Song Jin is the little tyrant of Linxi Town
No one can deny this.
She broke the leg of the previous town tyrant when she was eight years old, and then took over as the new tyrant. She roamed the town and the mountains every day, and if anyone looked at her too long or muttered a few words during the day, their house would suffer at night.
Year after year, everyone avoided her like the plague; they would turn and run away at the mere sight of her.
However, to be fair, Song Jin's fault-finding was always justified, even if the cause was minor.
Just like now, Mei Hua and Lin Jiaojiao, who were so confident and demanding of Niu Tielan yesterday, immediately tried to hide when they saw Song Jin.
Song Jin jumped off the mule, watching with interest the guilty looks on the mother and daughter's faces. She crossed her arms and walked towards them, her phoenix eyes slightly raised.
"Hey, why are you running away? Didn't you tell my mother I needed to come and apologize? Here I am."
As she spoke, as if remembering something, she turned back and picked out a large cow bone from the basket carried by Xiao Hei. It was as thick as a human leg, with fresh flesh and blood still sticking out of it. At first glance, it looked exactly like a human leg.
Mei Hua pulled Lin Jiaojiao back a step, her voice trembling slightly: "What, what are you going to do?"
"What could I possibly understand? Of course, it's to apologize," Song Jin said innocently, then looked at the big bone and suddenly realized, "Uncle Lin isn't home, and Aunt Meihua and you can't easily clean up the bone on your own, so I'll take care of it for you."
As she spoke, Song Jin placed the bone beside the steps, looked at them with a bright smile, gathered her inner energy, and stomped down hard.
Click
The cow bones shattered, and fragments of bone and marrow scattered everywhere, landing on the ground.
"ah"
Mei Hua screamed and retreated in terror: "What are you going to do? I, I'm telling you, I'm not afraid of you. Be careful, or I'll report you to the authorities. My older brother is in the inspection office, my father, my father is an old scholar, my husband is in the county government. Be careful, or you'll be arrested!"
After listening to her rambling on for a while, Song Jin smiled and picked up the bone: "Auntie, what you're saying makes people think robbers have come knocking. It'll be bad if word gets out. As the saying goes, you can eat anything, but you can't say anything. You should be more careful with your words."
"Right, Jiaojiao?"
Faced with Song Jin's gaze, Lin Jiaojiao's face turned pale instantly, and she stammered, "Yes, yes, I... I'll be more careful with my words next time."
Lin Jiaojiao looks like her father, tall and thin, a bit dark-skinned, but she's a hardworking girl from a well-off family and very popular. Her only flaw is...
Mouth a little broken
Yesterday, she was chatting with someone about Niu Tielan, exchanging a few words, when unexpectedly she bumped into Song Jin, who was going up the mountain. Startled, Song Jin lost her footing and tumbled down the slope. When she got back, she couldn't help but complain to her mother.
Relying on the town mayor's backing and Song Jin's arrival in the mountains, the mother and daughter finally approached Niu Tielan, thinking she could easily take advantage of her. As for the little tyrant Song Jin, Niu Tielan would keep an eye on her.
Who knew it would make someone so angry they'd vomit blood?
Now look what happened! Not only did they not get any advantage, but they also got a severe scolding from Mayor Lin, and now they're being chased down again.
Seeing the broken bones at Song Jin's feet, Mei Hua and Lin Jiaojiao realized that the person in front of them was not just an unreasonable bully, but a genuine individual who had single-handedly killed a hungry wolf and shot down robbers.
Seeing the fear on their faces, Song Jin withdrew her foot, her smile unusually bright: "That's more like it. I'm thick-skinned and don't care about anything, but my mother is frail, so you'll have to be more understanding, Auntie."
Mei Hua's usual brashness vanished; she looked at Song Jin as if she were a monster, stammering, "I...I understand."
Song Jin smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Auntie. Here, these bones are top-quality beef bones. Remember to stew them well when you get back, to help Jiaojiao grow stronger. She needs to gain some weight to look good before she gets married."
Plum Blossom's smile was forced.
Song Jin then let the two go, clapped her hands, turned around and walked to Xiao Hei's side, patting its head.
"Puff puff puff"
A strange, foul odor spread.
Song Jin mounted the mule without changing her expression. Little Black grunted twice and started running off.
Once the man and mule had run far away, Mayor Lin, who had been notified, rushed over. Seeing the broken bones at the doorway and his terrified sister-in-law and niece, he breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at them with exasperation.
"How many times have I told you not to mess with Tie Lan? Don't mess with Tie Lan! You just wouldn't listen. Now you know what's good for you? Do you really think that a widow and her orphan have to put up with your attitude? Song Jin is someone the county magistrate protects. You'd better behave yourselves. If you really offend her, I won't be able to protect you."
Outsiders may not know the inside story, but doesn't Mayor Lin know it?
Song Jin, the person she shot and captured wasn't just a robber, she wiped out an entire mountain! She's not someone you can easily mess with. Not to mention the people she knows in the county; even Dr. Liu from Huichuntang is someone Mayor Lin can't afford to offend.
Otherwise, why would a town mayor like him be so tolerant of these widows and orphans all these years? He wouldn't dare say a word even if he fancied someone, and he only complained behind their backs when their house was demolished—it's all because he couldn't afford to offend them.
Thinking of the 'grievances' he had suffered over the years, Mayor Lin couldn't help but curse again: "You long hair, short brains!"
Meihua retorted, feeling wronged and indignant: "So what if I know the county magistrate? Even the county magistrate can't be unreasonable!"
Mayor Lin laughed angrily: "Don't even mention the county magistrate, even if I were unreasonable, no one would dare say anything. Go back and reflect on your actions. If you cause trouble again, go back to your mother's house. Our Lin family is too small to support a big shot like you."
This was the first time in all these years that Mayor Lin had said such harsh words, which frightened Meihua so much that she dared not talk back to him anymore.
If she were really sent back to her parents' home, neither she nor her parents would be able to bear the shame.
Seeing that she had calmed down a bit, Mayor Lin finally calmed down.
It's fortunate that Niu Tielan didn't get into trouble this time. If he had really angered someone to death, would this idiot have thought he could save his own life?
If someone killed to avenge their mother, even the county magistrate would say she deserved to die.
...
Mayor Lin guessed correctly.
Even if Niu Tielan had actually died of anger, Song Jin would have torn the Mei Hua family apart and nearly killed her if she had actually vomited blood yesterday.
She, who came from the apocalypse, is not a law-abiding person.
She was truly ruthless; she killed someone and caused trouble, then simply disappeared into the mountains, changed her identity, and started anew in another place. In this day and age, it couldn't be simpler.
However, that would only be in dire circumstances. At least for now, Song Jin still wants to live a happy life with her mother.
After warning the person, Song Jin rode Little Black home excitedly, her voice trembling with joy.
"Mother, I'm back! Look what I brought you!"
Niu Tielan liked to appear weak, but her health was indeed poor. In addition, she was exceptionally beautiful. When she had nothing to do, she would stay at home, reading, painting, playing the piano, flying kites, planting flowers, playing cards, etc.
It was also quite delicious
When Song Jin returned, Niu Tielan was playing cards with Xiao Mei and Xiao Er. Hearing the familiar, excited voice, she accidentally played a good card with a tremor in her hand, and couldn't help but rub her forehead and mutter a soft sigh.
"Ouch, I have a headache. I'm going back to my room first. Xiaomei and Jinjin, I'll tell you I won't be eating dinner tonight."
Xiao Mei smiled, pursing her lips: "Madam spoke a little too late."
Over there, Song Jin had already found her way over with practiced ease. She poked her head out from the doorway, her small face revealing a bright smile with white teeth and her phoenix eyes crinkling. She grinned at Niu Tielan, a smug look on her face.
"Mother, I've bought some top-quality beef bones; they'd be perfect for stewing dates and angelica root."
Niu Tielan felt nauseous just listening to it, and threw her cards on the ground in a fit of pique: "Soup, soup, soup, it's all soup at every meal, you might as well just stew me too!"
Song Jin ran over, hugged Niu Tielan, and squeezed into a chair with her: "Mother, you must be good, your health is the most important thing."
Niu Tielan: "My health is the most important thing, so I can't drink soup with every meal. I'm not made of water."
Song Jin hugged her mother and rubbed against her as usual.
Niu Tielan appears slender, but she actually has all the right curves. Her skin is as smooth as cream, and her whole body is soft and supple; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she's made of water.
Seeing that the mother and daughter were each sticking to their own opinions and were about to sulk again, Xiao Mei smiled and suggested, "These beef bones need to be stewed for a long time to extract the marrow. Why don't we stir-fry some pickled cabbage and preserved eggplant with beef tonight and have it with venison soup? We can stew the beef bones tomorrow."
Niu Tielan immediately responded: "Whoever cooks decides, so listen to Xiaomei."
Seeing her resistance, Song Jin looked at her like she was a child who didn't understand, and after a long while, she reluctantly nodded: "Alright then."
Niu Tielan breathed a sigh of relief.
Her daughter is usually like a mischievous monkey, needing a scolding before she'll listen, but when it comes to her body, their roles reverse.
Niu Tielan, fearing she might change her mind, quickly changed the subject: "Did you give everything to Qi Sheng? What did he say?"
Song Jin pouted: "What can I say? She's so confident, she even plans to use that worn-out pen for reference. She doesn't need you to worry, Mother."
Niu Tielan smiled: "Xiao Sheng has been sensible and ambitious since he was little, so I really don't need to worry about him, unlike you."
Song Jin retorted, "What did I do wrong?"
Niu Tielan chuckled: "You went to Meihua's house when you got back, right?"
Song Jin immediately fell silent, resting her head on her mother's shoulder, pouting, and muttering, "I didn't do anything to her. They have foul mouths, so what? You spoil them, Mom."
Niu Tielan poked her head: "Why are you arguing with them?"
Linxi Town is an ordinary, affluent town. The local Lin family doesn't have the airs of wealthy gentry, and Mayor Lin rarely abuses his power. Although there are occasional minor conflicts and a few difficult people, the town is generally peaceful and harmonious.
The mother and daughter have lived in Linxi Town for over ten years, and will likely continue to do so. They'll be willing to go where necessary, and in other places, they'll have to be tolerant.
One domineering and unreasonable person in the family is enough; you always have to give others a chance to speak.
Although it sounds complicated, that's how life is. Without overwhelming power, you can only carefully scheme and plot.
But that was Niu Tielan's problem as a mother. As for Song Jin, she only ever had one request.
"Mom doesn't want you to do anything else, I just want you to be healthy and safe..."
Although Niu Tielan often scolded Song Jin for being a little rascal and expressed her disdain for her bullying behavior, she never allowed her to conform to societal expectations of a young lady.
Life is already difficult enough for a woman; as a mother, all I want is for her to be happy and joyful. At the same time, I also need to pay attention to her safety.
Niu Tielan held Song Jin's hand
Song Jin was considerably taller than most girls, with long arms and legs, and a much more sturdy frame. However, she didn't have much flesh on her bones; it was all hard muscle. Combined with her overly bright face, she exuded an aura of someone not to be trifled with.
Her hands, especially the backs of her hands, were covered in tiny scars. Even if she used scar removal cream, which wouldn't leave permanent marks, new ones would appear as soon as the old ones were gone. Her palms were like a layer of leather, so thick that even a blade couldn't easily cut through them.
This is the price she paid for years of martial arts training and climbing the mountain.
Niu Tielan felt a pang of heartache as she touched the skin, but mostly she was relieved. In this world, it was much safer for a woman to be strong than weak. However, being too strong wasn't necessarily a good thing either.
She whispered to me, "Things aren't very stable in the county right now, so try not to go out into the mountains or outside. Once things settle down, I won't care how much you go."
Song Jin, who had been leaning against her, straightened up abruptly upon hearing this, staring in shock at her seemingly frail yet young and beautiful mother.
Things have been unsettled in the mountains lately, and she, who goes there every day, naturally knows this, as does her mother.
Something's not right.
Song Jin blinked and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, so that's why you let me into the city so readily today! You were waiting for me here!"
Niu Tielan glared at her: "You brat, it's not like you'd stay home if I told you not to."
Song Jin leaned back and chuckled, "Please go on, I'm listening."
Niu Tielan was annoyed by her unreliable behavior, so she reached out and pinched her ear, saying irritably, "You have to do what you hear!"
Song Jin cried out in pain, "Okay, okay, I know, I know!"
Niu Tielan: "Not only do we know, but we also do."
Song Jin: "Alright, alright, you're my mother, whatever you say goes."
...
Faced with her mother's wrath, Song Jin was incredibly obedient, doing whatever Niu Tielan said, until night fell and she, with her regular sleep schedule, fell into a deep sleep.
Song Jin, who was always obedient and rested early, rolled over, grabbed her gear, tiptoed out of the room, and dashed up the mountain.
Niu Tielan's words only made things worse, for Song Jin was now determined to find out what was going on.
Among that group of people in the mountains, it feels like some old acquaintance is still hidden away.
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