Chapter 7
The mountain wind at night was indeed quite chilly. Yuan Liuniang shivered and looked expectantly at the black-bearded man.
She thought that if he really said he would give her all the quilts, she would be polite and only take three, leaving one for Wang Yao.
"this......."
Lin Qiang hesitated. To be honest, he didn't want to give it.
The various struggles of his past life had worn away Lin Qiang's sense of right and wrong, leaving him with no moral compass. Compassion and love were simply laughable. In his mind, people in the world were divided into only three categories: his own people, his enemies, and insignificant passersby.
Yuan Liuniang wasn't an enemy, much less one of his own; at best, she was just an insignificant passerby. If he didn't still need her, he'd want to stay as far away from her as possible. Maintaining distance from characters in the story is the only way to survive in the long run; otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble might arise?
Besides, although Yuan Liu Niang looks only thirteen years old, she is an adult who has lived two lives. Apart from her arm being inconvenient, she is perfectly fine. She is incomparable to Wang Yao, who is seriously injured and unconscious.
So he said, "Miss Yuan, Yao used to be a daughter of an official, but she was frail and seriously injured, so..."
Lin Qiang, who had already considered the little girl one of his own, was extremely biased. But after thinking about it, he realized he couldn't afford to offend her, so he said, "Then I'll give you a bed, that's all I can give you."
"Just one bed?" Yuan Liuniang didn't expect the big bearded man to say such a thing, and blurted out, "Wang Yao is an official's daughter, but am I not? You said you liked me before, are you suddenly doing this to get back at me?"
A retaliation?
Whom should we report back to?
Yuan Liu Niang?
It took Lin Qiang a while to realize the meaning behind her words, and he was speechless.
He said decisively, "All that happened before was indeed my fault, and I apologize to Miss Yuan again. I, Black Beard, swear on my life that I will never have any improper thoughts towards you again, or else I will be torn apart by five horses and die a horrible death!"
As she spoke, she bent down and went into Yuan Qiong's side room with a quilt in her arms, then took out a quilt and handed it to Yuan Liu Niang: "Miss Yuan, please rest early."
After saying that, he turned around and went into the left-hand side room without looking back.
"......."
The black-bearded man's decisive attitude was like a resounding slap to Yuan Liu Niang's face, making her feel a burning pain on her cheek.
He was the one who provoked her first, so why does it seem like she's the one who's deluding herself?
If it weren't for this bandit leader, would she be unable to go home?
Yuan Liu Niang returned to her room, and the more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. She hugged her quilt and burst into tears.
Lin Qiang, with his sharp ears and eyes, heard it, but didn't feel much. In his view, people should learn to be content. If he hadn't transmigrated, Yuan Liu Niang's situation would be a hundred times more miserable than it is now; she wouldn't have had time to be sentimental.
After carefully making the bed, Lin Qiang took off Yuan Qiong's coat and shoes, and put her in the soft, warm quilt and covered her with the blanket.
After that, she took the medicine that Granny Tian had given her to the kitchen to brew. She ignored the intermittent crying coming from the right side room.
After preparing the medicine, he fed it to Yuan Qiong spoonful by spoonful before closing the door and leaving the medicine hut.
The next morning, Yuan Qiong woke up to the chirping of birds as usual. Still half-asleep, she snuggled closer to the blankets; they were so soft. Snuggling closer, she whispered in a nasal voice, "Azhi, serve me."
After a while, not hearing a response from her personal maid, she opened her eyes in dissatisfaction: "A-Zhi..."
The simple thatched hut brought back her memories.
This is a bandit's den!
The events of last night flooded her mind, and she sat up abruptly, seeing the thick layers of blankets on her stone bed. Turning her head, she saw her coat on a stool not far away. Looking down, she realized she was only wearing an undershirt and a long skirt.
At that moment, Yuan Qiong just wanted to scream. "Ah..." Before she could finish the sentence, she swallowed it back.
Calm down, you must calm down. Nothing happened yesterday, and I was alone in bed!
She rolled out of bed, quickly put on her coat and shoes, clutched her chest, frowned, and took several deep breaths. Only after regaining her composure did she nervously open the wooden door to the room.
"Little girl, you're awake?"
A woman in her forties smiled brightly at her.
Yuan Qiong stepped forward and asked, feigning composure, "Did you arrange for me to retire for the night last night?"
"It wasn't me. It was the head of the family~" Granny Tian smiled knowingly: "The head of the family even personally brewed medicine for you in the middle of the night, how considerate of him."
"Snap!" Yuan Liu Niang, who was picking vegetables nearby, broke off a cucumber.
Yuan Qiong wanted nothing more than to stab that bearded man dozens of holes in him with a knife! Shameless! This bandit is utterly shameless! He actually took advantage of someone in distress!
This must not be known to anyone else!
These people! These people! Yuan Qiong's gaze swept over Granny Tian, Yuan Liu Niang, and Tan Xiao Que, filled with murderous intent. All of these people must die! They all must die!
"Miss Yao?" Granny Tian sensed a hint of danger and turned to look at her. Yuan Qiong immediately withdrew her gaze, suppressing her murderous intent.
She asked coldly, "Where's the big, bearded man?"
"Oh, you've been missing me terribly for just one night?"
Granny Tian chuckled, and Yuan Qiong's face darkened even more.
"A day apart feels like three autumns, and that one night apart... what was it called again?"
"Shut up!" Yun Qiong finally couldn't hold back any longer, glaring fiercely at her: "If you say another word, I'll cut out your tongue!"
Granny Tian was speechless, startled, and it took her a long time to realize that she had been intimidated by a little girl!
Just as she was about to say something to save face, she saw Yuan Qiong return to her side room and slam the door shut. She wanted to follow her, but thinking of the little girl's fox-like eyes filled with murderous intent, for some reason, she couldn't take her step.
"Hmph! You're not that old, but you've got quite the temper!"
Granny Tian clenched her sleeves, but ultimately decided not to knock on the door.
"That little brat isn't allowed to eat today! I refuse to believe I can't teach her a lesson!"
"Hahaha, who is Granny Tian trying to teach a lesson to?"
She had barely finished speaking when she heard the voice of the burly man with the black beard. Turning around, she saw Lin Qiang leading his fourth and sixth brothers and several strong men standing at the gate of the courtyard.
Granny Tian immediately changed her tune with a smile, saying, "Heal...heal the wounds! I meant heal Miss Wang Yao's wounds..."
The fourth brother chuckled upon hearing this: "That's right! Granny Tian, you absolutely must heal my future sister-in-law's injuries as soon as possible! My eldest brother is still waiting for his wedding night!"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Lin Qiang slapped him on the head: "Watch your mouth!"
"Hehehe, okay, okay, I know, sister-in-law is shy!"
The sixth brother's eyes lit up when he saw Yuan Liu Niang, and he squatted down in front of her: "Let me help you pick them."
"No need!" Yuan Liu Niang turned around angrily with the vegetable basket in her hand. Lin Qiang walked up to her and said, "Miss Yuan, we'll have to trouble you to come with us to the valley today."
Upon seeing Lin Qiang, Yuan Liu Niang became even angrier and resolved not to cooperate.
"I'm not going."
The fourth brother was displeased when he saw her like this, and snatched her vegetable basket away: "Miss Yuan, you promised yesterday, how can you go back on your word?"
Yuan Liu Niang didn't answer, but stared at Lin Qiang, waiting for him to apologize and beg her.
She cried for so long yesterday, and this bandit didn't even try to comfort her, yet he was busy taking care of that little girl, brewing medicine until so late. What is it about her that Wang Yao doesn't have?
Lin Qiang understood Yuan Liu Niang's meaning, but he had no intention of indulging her.
Doesn't she know who's at the mercy of the situation? This woman still hasn't grasped the bigger picture. So stupid, no wonder she got ripped off by that scumbag later!
He winked at the fourth brother: "I'll go check on Yao. You two discuss it with Miss Yuan."
Trying to throw a tantrum at bandits? Have you lost your mind?
"Hehe, I understand." The fourth brother grinned lewdly, cracking his knuckles as he clenched his fists. "I will definitely discuss this with Miss Yuan properly."
"What...what are you going to do? Do...uh..."
Just as the fourth brother was about to cover Yuan Liu Niang's mouth and drag her out of the courtyard, the sixth brother stopped him.
"Fourth Brother, let go, I'll talk to her," the sixth brother said nervously, fearing that he might hurt Yuan Liu Niang.
"You're coming?"
The fourth brother squinted at him, then suddenly realized something, slapped his forehead, and let go of his hand.
"Alright, you come here. Hehe, I'm leaving it to you, Sixth Brother. Don't let your elder brother down."
Yuan Liuniang, who had been released, was still in shock, as if she had been transported back to the day she was kidnapped and taken up the mountain, filled with fear.
Tan Xiaoque sat on the stone mill with a grin, watching it, the bells on her feet jingling, and began to sing:
"La la la la la... fiery red flowers bloom at the foot of the cliff... la la la la... fiery red flowers... la la la la... blooming at the foot of the cliff..."
The singing was both eerie and carried a strange, bewitching quality.
As Yuan Qiong listened, her mind became a jumbled mess.
This is a bandit's den, and she is a severely wounded woman. Even Yuan Liu Niang, who was still useful to these bandits, has fallen to this state; what about this utterly useless woman?
If these bandits were to attack, how could she resist? Even if she managed to struggle, she probably wouldn't live to see the day her grandfather sent someone to help her.
At this moment, Lin Qiang walked to the left-hand side room and gently knocked on the door: "Girl, are you there?"
Yuan Qiong was startled and hid the sharp stone in her hand.
A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan; when you're under someone else's roof, it's best to keep your head down and save your life.
Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the [nutrient solution]:
Even the guy in the bunk above who's terrible at naming things managed to name 50 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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