Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 139

Three days earlier, because Wang Ba had reported the Qinglong Hall Master’s actions to the old gang leader, the Qinglong Hall Master immediately moved to seal off the Canal Gang, trying to seize power. 

The old gang leader, furious beyond bearing, died on the spot. The entire Canal Gang was thrown into chaos. The Heiwutang Hall Master also held considerable forces, and for the moment the two sides were evenly matched, unable to overpower each other. The position of gang leader remained undecided.

The Qinglong Hall Master hated Wang Ba for exposing the matter to the old gang leader, forcing him to tear off all pretense. Even if he managed to seize the leadership, his name would forever be tainted. In his rage, he captured Wang Ba and held him prisoner.

After hearing this, Ying Su grew suspicious. Since the Heiwutang Hall Master already had enough strength to rival the Qinglong Hall Master, how had Wang Ba ended up in the latter’s hands?

Wang Yuan admitted the news he received was incomplete. All he knew was that Wang Ba was detained by the Qinglong Hall Master. Everything else could only be clarified at the Canal Gang headquarters.

“My father told me before he left, if something changed, I should come to you for advice.” Wang Yuan, forcing down his anxiety, looked steadily at Ying Su, his face serious. “I want to go to Tongzhou to rescue my father. Whether fortune or disaster awaits, I don’t know. I’ll trouble you to watch over Shili Town for the time being. If misfortune befalls my father and me, then don’t get involved with Shili Town’s affairs anymore. The farther you distance yourself from us, the better.”

“Do you have a short blade sharp enough to slice iron like mud?” Ying Su asked, lifting her face to him.

Wang Yuan froze. He didn’t know what she wanted the blade for, but he nodded. “I do!”

“Good!” Ying Su stood up, looking straight at him. “Go back right now and gather your men. One hour later, we’ll meet at the Fengyang County docks. You don’t need many, just five or six trustworthy brothers will be enough.”

Wang Yuan quickly realized she meant to go with him to Tongzhou. Excitement rose on his face. His father truly judged people far better than he could. He nodded hard. “I’ll go prepare immediately. See you in an hour.”

An hour was enough to accomplish much. After her encounter in the forest with that black-haired, black-robed man of unfathomable martial skill, Ying Su had crafted some self-defense weapons. First, she went to the blacksmith to retrieve custom-made iron wires, which she concealed in her hair.

In her previous life as an assassin, every part of her body had hidden lethal tools, blades beneath her toes, even razors in her mouth.

Since she knew nothing about Tongzhou, she had to be doubly cautious.

The Canal Gang had managed to stand firm in Jiangbei for years. Naturally, its members were capable. Ying Su never underestimated the ancients’ abilities or wisdom just because she was a transmigrator. Whatever she did, she gave her all, preparing thoroughly.

She strapped on the wrist-mounted sleeve arrows she had made. Huzi watched curiously, his childish voice piping, “Mommy, what is that thing?”

Ying Su smiled, tying one of the sleeve arrows onto his small arm. “This is a deadly weapon. Its range isn’t very far, but its accuracy is excellent.” Narrowing her eyes, she lifted Huzi’s arm, aimed, and triggered the mechanism. The tiny arrow shot straight into the door.

Huzi jumped in shock, then bounded over, staring wide-eyed at the arrow that had pierced a fly clean through and pinned it to the wood. His face lit with excitement. “Wow! Mommy, you’re amazing!”

“When I take you hunting in the mountains someday, I’ll teach you to use these sleeve arrows.” Ying Su squatted down, meeting his gaze seriously. “Mommy has to go far away this time. You’ll stay at Grandma’s house. When I come back, I’ll take you to your maternal grandmother’s.”

Hearing she was leaving, Huzi’s face fell with reluctance. He lowered his head, his big black-and-white eyes staring at the floor. After a while, he whispered, “Mommy, can’t you take me with you?”

Ying Su’s own heart softened. She stroked his head gently. “Mommy will be back very soon. While I’m gone, don’t neglect your studies. I know you dislike the dull Records of the Historian. But if, when I return, you can recite a passage from The Great Qing Ode to Rivers and Mountains, I’ll give you a reward.”

Hearing “reward,” the little bun’s eyes lit up, but soon dimmed again. Shuffling forward, he suddenly hugged her leg tightly, his childish voice sticky with reluctance. “Then Mommy must come back quickly!”

Ying Su’s heart nearly melted. She bent down and kissed his cheek. “Very soon.”

The little bun had already grown half a head taller since she first arrived. She had been feeding him nutritious meals, and the once sallow, thin face was now fair and plump, like a perfectly steamed white bun. 

Though he was still a bit cool and reserved, less lively than other children, his gloominess had lessened greatly.

Ying Su had no experience raising children. She had grown up under constant training, never knowing a normal childhood, so her discipline over him was lax. But she never placed high expectations on him. She only wanted him to live happily.

She placed ten taels of broken silver in his palm. “While I’m away, you can use this money as you see fit, for emergencies.”

At the sight of silver, his love of money immediately shone through. He broke into a broad grin, delighted. These days, he no longer nagged her about frugality and saving, only because he was afraid of annoying her.

With Ying Su’s steady earnings, and her more relaxed attitude toward money, the little bun was not as stingy as before, though at heart, he still dearly loved silver.

She knew he kept a private stash, where he had already saved up a decent sum. The pocket money she gave him went straight into it.

He had even earned a small profit at school by selling the Rubik’s Cube toys she made him. After noticing his classmates’ keen interest, he had come home to learn how to make them himself. Sitting alone before a pile of wood with carving tools, he tinkered until he produced decent cubes.

He then secretly sold them to a few classmates. Such enterprising behavior deserved encouragement and praise, even if Ying Su’s parenting was largely hands-off.

After sending the little bun to Madam Li’s care, Ying Su went to Fengyang County dock. The fastest way to Tongzhou was by boat, the Canal Gang headquarters was located in Tongzhou City.

When she arrived at the dock, Wang Yuan was already waiting, holding a short blade black as ink, radiating a chilling aura.