Chapter 177: The Human Heart is Unpredictable
"Mother! What are you doing?" Erlang was reluctantly dragged outside the door.
The old lady glanced warily at Yi Qingxue inside the room, lowered her voice, and said solemnly, "Son! This girl's background is unknown, and her demeanor suggests she is either rich or noble. She is definitely not someone our family can keep! We must find a way to send her away quickly!" Her tone was resolute.
Erlang got anxious upon hearing this: "Why? I still need her to be my wife! Mother! My elder brother is gone, don't you want your son to get married? Don't you want our family line to continue?" He questioned her with a stiff neck, his face turning red with anxiety.
Seeing her son like this, the old woman felt both heartache and helplessness: "Son! Her identity is unknown, but she looks like she's from a wealthy and noble family. She's not someone we can aspire to be with." She earnestly advised him.
Erlang raised his head and said, "I don't care! I picked her up! She has to be my wife!" He was breathing heavily through his nostrils, and his eyes were stubborn to the point of madness.
The old woman pleaded earnestly, "My son! Are you trying to drive your mother to her death? She's so delicate and frail. Even if she really marries you, can you protect her? ...I'm afraid...I'm afraid it will bring about her death!" Her tone was heavy, her eyes held a hint of despair, and her face was full of sorrow.
Erlang wasn't entirely irrational. His mother's words made him hesitate for a moment, but he then argued, "...Then...then I'll hide her at home and not let her go out! No one will know..." His tone was stubborn, and his face was full of resentment.
"Smack!" A sharp sound rang out! The old lady, unable to bear it any longer, raised her hand and slapped her son hard across the face. "You...you've lost your mind?!" The old lady trembled with anger, her voice rising uncontrollably, "Can you cover up the truth? If her family comes looking for you, what will you do?!" Her angry voice pierced through the thatched wall; in her agitation, she had forgotten that Yi Qingxue was still inside.
Erlang covered his burning cheek, his eyes suddenly turning fierce, and roared at his mother, "Mother! Don't worry about this! I'm determined to keep her! No matter what, she has to be my wife!" His tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
Yi Qingxue, inside the room, heard the argument outside clearly. She understood: this trouble was all caused by me, and I must not stay here any longer... She got up from the bed and slowly walked towards the door.
“Old folks, you don’t need to argue for me.” Yi Qingxue’s voice was still gentle and pleasant, but it carried an undeniable distance. “I will leave now. Thank you both for saving my life.”
The old lady had just managed a relieved smile when Erlang strode forward and rudely shouted, "Don't go! You have to stay and be my wife!"
The old lady hurriedly stepped forward and blocked Erlang with her body: "Child, if you're alright, leave quickly! Staying in our house will only make you suffer."
"Mother! Don't let her go! I won't allow it!" Erlang, consumed by rage, shoved the old woman forcefully! Caught off guard, the old woman stumbled a few steps. He angrily blocked Yi Qingxue's path, his face contorted with rage: "Go back to your room, go back to your room now!" He made as if to pull her away.
The old woman was heartbroken and grabbed Erlang's hempen clothes, crying out, "Erlang! Have you gone mad?! You even dare to push your mother?!"
Erlang's anger surged at this moment: "Don't get in my way!" He suddenly exerted force with his arm, pulling and pushing, and directly knocked the old lady to the ground.
Upon seeing this, Yi Qingxue's eyes flashed with anger: "She is your own mother! How could you do this?!" Although she was scolding, her voice was still gentle, but it carried a chill.
Erlang glanced at his mother, who was crying on the ground, and said fiercely, "Who told her to always try to kick you out! I won't let you leave! No one will!" His eyes were fierce and obsessive.
Yi Qingxue ignored him and gently helped the old woman up: "Grandma, are you alright?"
The old lady, tears streaming down her face, ignored Yi Qingxue and only cried and cursed at Erlang: "You unfilial wretch! How could I have given birth to such a thing! You even dare to hit your own mother!" She was so angry that her face turned ashen.
“Mother… I… please don’t worry about this. I’ll listen to you on everything else…” Erlang stepped forward, his tone softening, but still tinged with stubbornness and a sob.
"You...you..." The old lady was so angry that she was panting and couldn't speak.
Yi Qingxue's eyes flickered slightly. She gently patted the old lady's back and said softly, "Grandma, please don't get angry. I... will stay."
"Really?! That's great! Hehehe..." Upon hearing this, Erlang's anger instantly turned into joy, and he rubbed his hands together excitedly, grinning like an idiot.
Ignoring her son's ecstatic joy, the old lady looked at Yi Qingxue with surprise and suspicion. Yi Qingxue gave her a barely perceptible nod, offering a meaningful glance. The old lady's eyes flashed, and she immediately understood—she was waiting for Erlang to leave home before seizing the opportunity to escape. "Sigh... well... alright then, it's just that I'm sorry to trouble you, young lady," the old lady sighed helplessly, accepting the offer.
Erlang, however, remained uneasy, standing guard like a door god, clearly determined to see Yi Qingxue return to her room before he would be satisfied. Yi Qingxue understood, and without going against his wishes, turned and silently walked back into her room.
The old woman watched her son's retreating figure, shook her head helplessly, and murmured, "What a tragedy..." She staggered back to the washing stone and absentmindedly began to pound it.
Only then did Yi Qingxue have time to examine the humble room: the furnishings were extremely simple, with only two small straw stools and two old wooden benches, and no other place to sit. As she bent down slightly, her bright pink shawl trailed on the muddy ground. This crude thatched hut was completely out of place with her overall demeanor.
She had no choice but to sit down on the hard wooden edge of the bed. Looking up, she saw Erlang had followed her in closely, his gaze fixed intently on her. She looked up and calmly asked, "Are you planning to just stay here with me all the time? And do nothing else?" His clear eyes were bright and intelligent, his face expressionless, his tone indifferent—completely unlike the demeanor of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.
Erlang's eyes flashed with an odd light: "I want to share a room with you! Once you give birth to my child, I'll naturally let you be free." At this moment, his naivety had vanished, leaving only naked possessiveness and a chilling ruthlessness in his eyes.
Yi Qingxue's heart sank suddenly. In a flash, she calmly said, "Since there have been no betrothal ceremony or wedding ceremony, the marriage is not proper. If you force this union, you will surely be punished by heaven! Do you want to end up dead without a burial place?!" Her voice was soft, but every word was like an ice bead falling.
Upon hearing this, Erlang sneered, "Hmph! Don't try to fool me with your nonsense! Do you think I'm a three-year-old? Tonight I'm going to share a bed with you! I'll give you all my savings of thirty years..." His gaze swept over Yi Qingxue's mouth, then over her legs.
Yi Qingxue's mind raced: Provoking him now would be unwise. Judging from my attire, my family must be quite wealthy. If they discover I'm missing, they'll search for me with all their might. For now, the only option is to feign compliance and stall for time.
Thinking of this, her face regained its calm, even carrying a hint of resigned weariness: "Fine, do whatever you want." After saying this, she didn't look at Erlang again, and went straight to lie back on the hard wooden bed, closing her eyes and pretending to sleep. Her posture seemed docile, but her back was straight.
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