Becoming the Cannon Fodder Wife of Crazy and Powerful Official - Chapter 9

“What are you looking at?” Huo Qi walked over from a distance. Xin Yueying was startled and quickly pulled the burly Huo Qi down to crouch beside her, “Quiet! They’re disciplining their daughter. Why are you here?”

“You didn’t come back for a long time, so the Second Master sent me to find you.” Huo Qi glanced into the distance and saw Meng Ruxin spitting blood. His expression darkened in shock, “How could they hit her so hard? No, I have to stop this!”

“Come back, come back!” Xin Yueying held Huo Qi down, refusing to let him leave. Meng Ruxin had finally gotten the beating she deserved—of course, she wanted to delay things a little longer. Smiling, she asked Huo Qi, “Second Master sent you to find me? Was he worried about my safety?”

Huo Qi glared at her, “Don’t flatter yourself. He just didn’t want you running away.”

Xin Yueying grinned and turned her attention back to Meng Ruxin.

“No! If this keeps up, someone’s going to die!” Huo Qi stood up and strode toward the Meng family’s courtyard.

Huo Qi tried to intervene, and Song Shi, likely exhausted from the beating, saw his arrival as a chance to have him haul away the unidentified man.

Meng’s father also ordered the man out, then returned inside with Song Shi. Huo Qi helped the nearly unconscious Meng Ruxin back to her room before hoisting the man onto his shoulder and walking away.

Xin Yueying followed, narrowing her eyes as she studied the man on Huo Qi’s back, “We’ll take him with us,” she said in a low voice. “We’ll ask Second Master whether he wants to keep him.”

Huo Qi hesitated, “But—”

“What if he’s seen the Meng family? What if he reports us to the authorities?” Xin Yueying’s tone was firm, “We can’t leave loose ends.”

Huo Qi seemed to think she had a point. He nodded, and the two of them returned to the Shen residence with the man in tow.

Of course, Xin Yueying wasn’t actually worried about loose ends.

She simply didn’t want to give Meng Ruxin what she wanted—she knew the girl would sneak out at night to find this man again.

Moreover, if Meng Ruxin grew close to this man, it would only provoke Shen Qingqi into another fit of madness.

She didn’t want Shen Qingqi to lose control. She needed him to remain a stable, rational person—after all, her own life depended on it.

With a thud, the man was dumped onto the ground. Huo Qi rubbed his shoulder and recounted the events to Shen Qingqi, who sat on the kang.

To Xin Yueying’s surprise, when Huo Qi mentioned that this was the man Meng Ruxin had secretly rescued, Shen Qingqi’s sharp features remained completely indifferent. He didn’t even bother to glance at the man’s face.

“Xin Siniang was worried this man might have seen the Meng family.” Huo Qi explained, “She thought it is best not to leave any risks, so I brought him back for you to decide his fate.”

Only then did Shen Qingqi lift his gaze, his icy eyes settling on Xin Yueying.

“You want to save him?” he asked.

Xin Yueying shrugged, “It’s not about wanting to save him.” She stepped forward, looking down at the man, “Do you recognize him? Could he be an assassin or something?”

Feigning concern, she tilted the man’s face up so Shen Qingqi could get a better look.

Shen Qingqi cast a cold glance at the man, then looked away—only to pause and stare back intently, as if searching for something.

A faint, mocking smile curled his lips, “Isn’t there a saying? ‘Saving a life is greater than building a seven-story pagoda.’”

There was no warmth in his words—if anything, they sounded like a taunt. His gaze lingered on the man with something akin to satisfaction before shifting back to Xin Yueying.

“You did well.”

“Heh.” Xin Yueying chuckled awkwardly, scratching her head. “It was nothing.”

She forced a laugh, but no one joined in.

The silence unnerved her, so she quietly slipped out of the room.

The man was placed on the kang by Huo Qi, who then made a makeshift bed on the floor of the inner chamber.

The next morning, after washing up, Xin Yueying went to check on the unconscious man. Seeing no signs of him waking, she turned to Shen Qingqi, “Should we call a doctor?”

“Isn’t Meng Ruxin here for that?” Shen Qingqi replied, eyes still closed.

Given how badly Miss Meng had been beaten the night before, it was unlikely she’d be coming today.

Xin Yueying didn’t press the issue—she had plenty to do, “I’m heading out to buy food and supplies. Do you need anything?”

She walked to the cabinet to fetch some silver, surprised when Shen Qingqi actually responded, “Get me some wine.”

She glanced back at him and nodded, “I’ll pick out a good one for you.”

With the money in hand, she left.

Her first stop was Carpenter Yang’s workshop.

Yang greeted her warmly, “That wheelchair you made is fantastic! A wealthy patron took a liking to it yesterday. Can you explain how you crafted it? I tried figuring it out myself but got stuck on a few details.”

Xin Yueying noticed the half-finished dressing table Yang had been working on the day before was now set aside—instead, bamboo pieces for wheelchairs were scattered everywhere. Clearly, he’d made a tidy profit.

She patiently walked him through the process. Old Yang, being a seasoned carpenter, grasped the technique quickly after just a few pointers.

“Do you have another wheelchair ready? If so, I’ll take it—still at thirty taels.” Yang said eagerly.

She did have one—Shen Qingqi’s. Though he’d never used it, she wasn’t about to sell his.

Crouching beside Yang, she asked, “How much did you sell the last one for?”

Yang grinned sheepishly, “Sixty taels.”

He pocketed thirty taels in pure profit.

Scratching his head, he added, “I Got lucky—a rich man bought it on the spot as a longevity gift for his mother.”

“Alright.” Xin Yueying agreed, “I’ll make another and bring it tomorrow.”

After giving Yang a few more tips, she checked the sun’s position and prepared to leave for the market. But Yang stopped her, “Wait a moment.”

He disappeared into the backyard and soon reappeared at the front gate, leading a small gray donkey hitched to a wooden cart.

“Take this donkey, Miss Xin,” he said, “When you deliver the wheelchair, cover it with cloth—I don’t want others stealing the design.”

The donkey, with its big, double-lidded eyes, was a decent mode of transport. Xin Yueying accepted it, promising to return the next day with the wheelchair, and set off for the market.

At the market, she stocked up on daily necessities, bought meat and vegetables, splurged on a jug of fine wine, and—spotting some lively fish—purchased four. She also grabbed two bolts of floral and indigo fabric, along with quilting cotton, before heading home.

But first, she made a detour to the Meng residence.

Only Aunt Song was in the yard, sorting vegetables. The doors and windows of Meng Ruxin’s room were tightly shut—likely under house arrest.

Xin Yueying waved from a distance. Song’s face lit up, and she hurried over, “Dear girl, thank heavens you were here yesterday! That wretched girl nearly caused a disaster.”

Grinning, Xin Yueying handed her two fish, “Don’t mention it, Auntie. I brought you something.”

Song waved her hands, “Oh no, you already gave us silver yesterday—now fish too?”

“Not just fish,” Xin Yueying said, placing the bundles on the ground, “I also bought some floral fabric for Ziming and Zijing. Spring’s here—bright clothes cheer everyone up, right?”

She’d deliberately bought extra supplies for Song. Casually, she added, “I meant to ask Ruxin to deliver these yesterday. I even reminded her to come early. But after last night… well, I doubt she’ll be visiting.”

“Hmph. She’s reflecting on her mistakes.” Song snapped, glaring at the closed door.

Then, reassuringly, “But don’t worry—it won’t delay your husband’s treatment. Ruxin has a little friend she taught some medicine to. She’s sending the girl to handle the acupuncture.”

Xin Yueying’s gaze flicked to the house.

A little friend?

Who’s this new player?