Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 85

As the two walked farther, Wang Si lowered his voice, “Big Brother, how did Liu Huang end up falling to a mere woman? I heard Liu Huang even begged the Qinglong Hall Master to get Wu Huang out.”

Lu Da shook his head.

“I doubt it’ll work this time. Word is, besides the county magistrate, another man joined the raid on Beishan, Second Young Master Bai. Wu Huang’s men messed up, they actually abducted Bai Chuyu’s daughter. I don’t think Wu Huang will make it out alive.”

He glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before whispering, “If Second Young Master Bai finds out the Canal Gang was involved, he won’t let this go.”

In the shadows, Ying Su furrowed her brows.

So the human traffickers wiped out that day really had ties to the Canal Gang. She hadn’t gotten much from the “Know-It-All,” but it was enough to guess the Canal Gang’s network was tangled and dangerous. For them to hold the top position in Jiangbei, they couldn’t be underestimated.

But now they bore a grudge against her. Hiding had never been Ying Su’s way.

Lu Da and Wang Si stayed at the docks all afternoon. When dusk fell, they headed back to town, parting ways at a crossroad.

Humming a tune, Lu Da strolled leisurely home. Everything had gone smoothly lately, Wang Ba valued him, nothing had gone wrong at the docks, and he’d even earned silver helping Liu Huang vent his anger. Life couldn’t be more comfortable.

Reaching a narrow alley, he suddenly felt the urge to relieve himself. Since it was dark and empty, he loosened his belt and began to urinate, whistling all the while.

Just as he finished and was about to pull up his trousers, a hand tapped his shoulder. A cold blade pressed against his neck. Lu Da shuddered violently, nearly dropping his pants.

A woman’s chilling voice spoke from behind, “Pull up your trousers. I’ll ask, you’ll answer.”

Swallowing hard, Lu Da stammered, “Hero, please, no need for rashness. Whatever you want to know, just ask.”

He longed to turn his head, but the icy blade against his throat warned him otherwise.

“Were you the one who smashed the Weixuan Textile Shop?” Ying Su’s voice was cold.

Lu Da instinctively shook his head. “N-no, not me…” But inside, he had a guess. Could this be the same woman Liu Huang claimed had ruined them? So fierce, no wonder…

The blade pressed deeper into his flesh, sharp pain jolting him to his senses. This woman was serious. He blurted, “Y-yes! It was me!”

“What about Wu Huang and Liu Huang, who are they?”

“They’re the subordinates of the Qinglong hall’s master,” Lu Da confessed quickly. “Wu Huang and Liu Huang are brothers.”

“And?” Ying Su’s tone was sharp.

“Liu Huang is favored by the master. He often does the dirty jobs. Wu Huang’s been thrown into prison…”

“What’s Liu Huang’s plan for me?”

“I-I don’t know! Two nights ago, Beishan was raided, Wu Huang got caught. Liu Huang went to Wang Ba, asked him to smash your shop to vent his anger. Wang Ba didn’t want to agree, but Liu Huang invoked the master’s name, so Wang Ba had to. Liu Huang has already returned to Jiangzhou, he’s seeking the master’s help to free Wu Huang…” Lu Da babbled.

“Is that so?” Ying Su asked coldly.

“It’s true! Right now Liu Huang only cares about saving his brother, he has no time to trouble you!” Lu Da said desperately.

Ying Su gave a faint, chilling smile. “No time now doesn’t mean no time later. He doesn’t dare touch Bai Chuyu, so he’ll surely turn his vengeance on me…”

Lu Da’s face twisted in misery. The woman behind him was too sharp, he couldn’t fool her. He could only tell the truth, “Of course Liu Huang won’t dare go after Bai Chuyu. If Bai Chuyu knew his daughter had been abducted by the Canal Gang, he’d overturn the entire gang!”

“Does Bai Chuyu really have that much power?” Ying Su asked.

Sensing her murderous aura had eased, Lu Da quickly nodded. “Immensely! The Bai family isn’t just wealthy, they’re influential. They keep a force of secret guards. Years ago, when the Canal Gang seized one of Bai Chuyu’s grain ships, he personally led men to storm their base. In the end, even the Gang Leader had to compromise, promising that no Bai ships would ever again be taxed in Jiangbei waters. If it were anyone else, they’d have been thrown in the river to feed the fish!”

“That was only because his secret guards were skilled,” Ying Su replied, unimpressed.

“No, no! It’s not the same!” Lu Da insisted, clearly admiring Bai Chuyu.

“In earlier years, the Canal Gang also seized Bai family ships. Back then, Young Master Bai (the elder son) went himself, but he was humiliated, forced to pay fifty thousand taels just to get his ships back. Compare that to Bai Chuyu, and you’ll see, he’s different!”

Ying Su’s lips curved into a faint smile. “So by your account, the Canal Gang avoids conflict with Bai Chuyu?”

“Everyone in the underworld says so!” Lu Da nodded vigorously.

Her brows arched slightly. If everyone said so, it meant two things, either the Canal Gang deliberately spread the rumor, or they truly feared clashing with Bai Chuyu.

“Arrange a meal with Liu Huang,” Ying Su said, withdrawing her blade.

Lu Da blinked in surprise. He had expected some hellcat, but when he turned, he saw a petite young woman. Such a small girl, how could she possibly be his match? The thought of how he’d just been cowed by her stung his pride.

“Such arrogance from a little lass!” He spat, and lunged at her, fists aimed at her face.

But Ying Su moved with deadly grace. One arm blocked his blow, the other struck his chest. Her claw-like fingers clamped mercilessly around his throat.

Lu Da was strong but relied only on brute force. Against Ying Su’s lethal skill, designed to kill swiftly, he was no match. His face flushed red as he struggled to breathe. The suffocating pain forced him into frantic submission.

She loosened her grip briefly, letting him gasp, then tightened again, her lips curling in a mocking, icy smile. “Overestimating yourself.” With that, she released him and turned to leave.

From the dark alley, her voice drifted faintly, “Arrange a meal with Liu Huang. Once the time and place are set, inform me at Weixuan Textiles.”