Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 126

Master Zhang was seething with anger. He glanced at Imperial Physician Wang, who was still admiring the orchid, and forced a smile, “Imperial Physician Wang, please sit for a while. I’ll be right back.”

Imperial Physician Wang nodded, still savoring the Jianyang Butterfly Orchid on the table, unwilling to put it down.

The moment Master Zhang stepped outside, his face darkened. He turned on the steward furiously, “What’s going on? It’s just those bumpkin Li family people. Couldn’t you just trick them a little and take the orchid?”

The steward could only swallow his grievance, speaking cautiously, “This time was different. They brought along a young woman. That woman has quite a sharp tongue, and the Li family listens to her. She seems to be the one making the decisions. I tried both kind words and harsh ones, but short of taking it by force, nothing worked.”

Master Zhang’s expression hardened. “Then take it by force!” After barking this order, he strode quickly toward the main gate. He wanted to see what kind of woman dared cause trouble at his doorstep!

At the gate, Feng Qiufang wore a troubled expression, sighing as she said to Ying Su, “Cuihua, I think that Jianyang Butterfly Orchid can’t be retrieved back. Let’s just return the ink orchid to the Zhang family and leave.”

Li Zhi thought the same. Returning the ink orchid would mean the matter had nothing to do with their son Li Yin anymore. As for that Butterfly Orchid, whether they got it back or not, it wasn’t theirs. Even if it were sold for money, it wouldn’t benefit them!

But the problem was, the ink orchid was in Ying Su’s arms, and she refused to hand it over. They couldn’t just snatch it from her by force.

“Didn’t Mother say the Zhang family already gave ten taels of silver? What kind of broken flower could be worth ten taels? Just return the ink orchid already, we need to go home! It’s nearly noon, and we haven’t even had lunch yet!” Li Yunyao chirped impatiently at the side.

Ying Su turned her head and gave her a cold, emotionless look. “If I can’t get my Jianyang Butterfly Orchid back, then you don’t need to think about keeping this ink orchid either.”

At her words, Feng Qiufang, Li Zhi, and Li Yunyao’s faces all changed. Only Li Yin stood there, staring thoughtfully at Ying Su.

“Cuihua, you can’t do this! This ink orchid is Yin’s future. Didn’t you promise me you’d help save him?” Feng Qiufang blurted anxiously.

Ying Su gave her a flat glance. “When did I ever say that?”

Feng Qiufang froze, thinking back. Indeed, from the beginning, Ying Su had never promised to use the ink orchid to save Li Yin. The only thing she had truly meant was when she had first taken out the Jianyang Butterfly Orchid to help pay their debts.

“You dare? Shen Cuihua, are you trying to ruin my brother? Give me that ink orchid!” Li Yunyao shouted, her voice shrill, and lunged to snatch it from Ying Su’s arms.

Li Zhi hurried to help. Though he pretended to pull Li Yunyao back, his real intent was to hold Ying Su down so Yunyao could grab the orchid.

Ying Su merely shifted lightly, slipping away so easily they couldn’t even touch the hem of her clothes. Cradling the orchid in one hand, she tapped her other hand on their backs.

Li Zhi and Li Yunyao instantly felt a numbness spread across their backs. Their limbs went weak, legs giving way as they collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

At that moment, Master Zhang walked out. He saw Li Zhi and Li Yunyao on the ground but hadn’t caught Ying Su’s movements. His thick brows knitted together, and he said with disdain, “The Cao family truly has no taste. What kind of people would they stoop to marrying into!”

The words were a resounding slap in the face to Feng Qiufang’s family. Li Yunyao’s marriage alliance with the Cao family had once been a point of pride, yet among the wealthy families of the town, it was only ever a laughingstock.

Feng Qiufang quickly rushed to pull Li Zhi and Li Yunyao up. Li Yunyao’s face was flushed scarlet from humiliation. She bit her lip and lowered her head, too ashamed to speak.

Master Zhang’s eyes shifted to the ink orchid in Ying Su’s hands, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face. The orchid was identical to the one that had been destroyed. He blurted, “Where did you find this orchid?”

“That’s none of your concern. Your ink orchid is here, return my Jianyang Butterfly Orchid,” Ying Su said coldly.

Master Zhang’s gaze slid from the orchid to Ying Su. His fleshy face filled with excitement as his beady eyes lit with lecherous desire.

Master Zhang had only one vice: lust. He already had five concubines, some were servant girls raised to that position, some from brothels, some widows remarried, and even innocent women kidnapped from their homes. 

His main wife, Madam Cheng, had once kept him in check, but when she discovered he had been hiding women outside, she was furious to find herself suddenly with many more “sons and daughters.” After that, she gave up interfering, leaving only one rule: no children with the concubines. 

Since Madam Cheng had already borne him a son and a daughter, ensuring the family line, Master Zhang readily agreed. From then on, he indulged himself recklessly. He fancied himself a romantic, but in truth, he was nothing but a lecher.

Now, the icy beauty before him, with her fair skin, striking looks, and captivating phoenix eyes, made his heart itch. Though she wore plain, shabby clothes, Master Zhang’s experienced eyes could see at once what kind of enchanting figure lay beneath them.

The more he thought about it, the harder it became to control himself. His plump face all but dripped with drool.

Ying Su pressed her rosy lips into a straight line, her expression growing colder.

“What would a young lady like you want with a Jianyang Butterfly Orchid? I’ve never seen such a thing,” Master Zhang said, trying to cover his greed. Though lusting after her, he wasn’t so foolish as to lose his head. Business came first. Since she had come with Feng’s family, it wouldn’t be hard to track her down later.

Turning back to Li Zhi and Feng Qiufang, he said sternly, “Today is the final deadline. If you can’t hand over the ink orchid, I’ll go to the magistrate!”

Li Zhi panicked. “No, no! Master Zhang, here’s the orchid, we’ll give it to you right away. Please don’t go to the authorities!”

He reached out to grab it from Ying Su. But she only shifted lightly aside, her face as cold and still as a frozen lake in March. Her dark eyes reflected nothing but icy clarity.

Seeing force was useless, Feng Qiufang tried pleading instead. “Cuihua, please give it to Master Zhang! This ink orchid was his to begin with. Yin-ge’er is like your younger brother, can you really stand by and watch his bright future be ruined?”

Li Yin pulled her back, speaking firmly, “Mother, don’t. Cuihua’s Jianyang Butterfly Orchid is worth far more than this ink orchid. And besides, this orchid only lived again because of her. Otherwise, it was already dead.”

By now, the noise of their quarrel had drawn curious onlookers. But fearing Master Zhang’s power, the townsfolk only watched from a distance, sneaking glances now and then.