Chapter 52

Seeing the courtyard gate open, Father Li thought Shen Qing was coming to his rescue and tried to hide behind him.

But in the next instant, he felt a sharp tug on the back of his neck, his world spun, and he landed flat on the ground.

Shen Qing grabbed Li Yao and flung him over, nearly knocking out Father Li again. His chest tightened from the blow, making it hard to breathe, and another crash had him nearly coughing up blood.

Shen Qing raised his leg and kicked the three members of the Li family down the slope. They rolled all the way down the mountain path, then climbed up covered in dirt, limping as they fled into the distance.

Father Li cursed, “How did Wan’er end up marrying such a brute?!”

“He’s scarier than the King of Hell himself!”

Madam Li trembled like a leaf, realizing they didn’t have a single wen to their name. “Why don’t you two try finding some work?”

They ended up at Chen Gui’s teahouse.

Father Li asked, “Are you hiring? My son’s young and able.”

Chen Gui looked skeptical. “Are you really Madam Xiao’s parents? Do you have her recipe?”

Father Li shook his head. “We know how to roast tea. Want that?” He was desperate enough now to sell even that.

Chen Gui waved them off. “Scram!” and slammed the door.

The market was over, and people returned home.

The Li family exchanged looks, and Father Li began yelling, “Li Wan’er won’t even recognize her own flesh and blood parents!”

Someone passing by turned and pointed toward the village. “The village head’s over there. Don’t just shout nonsense!”

Villagers from Xianhe Village were lining up to rent stalls. The village head waved off the Li family. “Wait for your turn.”

After tending to business, he finally listened to their complaints and looked them over.

“The Madam Xiao you’re talking about? Her identity was officially verified by the authorities. Don’t you go spreading lies.”

His son, seeing his father getting worked up, patted his back and chimed in, “Do you have any proof?”

Father Li was stunned. After Wan’er was sold, his household registration was cancelled and his indenture was in the hands of the buyer. The eldest and second daughters didn’t acknowledge him anymore, and this third one, the most successful of all, he had to cling to no matter what.

So they returned to Shen Qing’s house. Father Li gritted his teeth. “For the sake of appearances, she has to take us in!”

Xiao Wanling walked out. “If you don’t leave, I’ll report you to the authorities tomorrow.”

Father Li dropped to the ground. “Go ahead! You’re my daughter, you owe me support!”

Xiao Wanling turned and returned with a basin of water. Shen Qing took it from her. “Allow me.”

He strode toward the gate, kicked it open, and knocked the Li family flat with a single kick and dumping the freezing cold water on them.

It was a bitter winter day in the mountains. Father Li felt like he’d been dunked in an ice pit. Teeth chattering, he fled before Shen Qing could raise his hand again. Madam Li and Li Yao screamed and followed.

Shen Qing ordered Grey Wolf, “Guard the gate.”

Grey Wolf understood and lay down in a dry patch, alertly watching the road.

Xiao Wanling said, “Thank you.”

She turned and went back inside. Shen Qing followed her into the room.

“I’ve got a headache from all that noise,” Xiao Wanling said. “You should get some rest.”

Shen Qing took her hand. “No matter who you are, it’s you that I want.”

She walked to the door and said quietly, “I know.”

Once Shen Qing left and the door closed, Xiao Wanling began noting down the day’s events. She planned to report the Li family to the authorities tomorrow when she suddenly saw a shadow at the window.

Shen Qing’s voice came, “Can I come in?”

“Come in,” she replied.

He stood at her bedside, holding his bedding. He didn’t want to sleep separately anymore.

Xiao Wanling sat down, sighing, “Then go bring the braziers in from the greenhouse.”

Shen Qing took off her shoes and tucked her into bed. He brought in the braziers, helped her out of her outer robe, and hung it on the screen. His own clothes were folded nearby.

He lay behind her and embraced her, breathing in her delicate scent. He couldn’t help but kiss her—

But Xiao Wanling, already feeling queasy, suddenly turned over and dry heaved off the bed.

Shen Qing jumped up, panic-stricken. “Do I disgust you that much?!”

Her stomach churned violently. Both annoyed and amused, she said, “Just get me some water!”

Realizing his mistake, Shen Qing scrambled to pour water but fumbled the cup in his haste. He finally handed it to her and got a basin ready.

After rinsing her mouth, Xiao Wanling lay by the bed, exhausted. “Go back to your own room. I’m not feeling well.”

Shen Qing gently wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, then wrapped her in the blanket and picked her up.

“I’m taking you to a doctor!”

A blast of cold air hit her, and she cried out, “I’m cold!”

Shen Qing turned right back around, placed her gently on the bed, and carefully tucked her in.

“I’ll go fetch a doctor.”

Xiao Wanling grabbed his sleeve. “I’m pregnant. A little over a month.”

Shen Qing froze. “Pregnant?”

He repeated the words, stunned. He couldn’t quite process it.

Xiao Wanling slapped his arm lightly. “You’re going to be a father!”

“I’m… going to be a father?” Shen Qing finally grasped it—and was overjoyed.

He squatted beside the bed, grinning like a fool. Then the smile faded. “Is this why you’re letting me stay? Because of the baby?”

Tears welled up in Xiao Wanling’s eyes, and the face in front of her became blurred.

Flustered, Shen Qing turned around and fumbled for a clean handkerchief, wiping her tears before quickly dabbing at his own.

He tidied up the room and knelt by the bed, gently hugging her. “I’m sorry.”

After crying, Xiao Wanling felt a bit better. “They really are my parents. They sold me for a few wens. I escaped with your former fiancée. She died after falling, but before she passed, she gave me a token and told me to find you.”

“She was our matchmaker then. We were fated to be together.” Shen Qing’s heart ached. Her own parents didn’t treat her well; how dare they come causing trouble now?

He thought back to when he first met Wanling; those men had tried to defile her. His fists clenched in fury. Her parents had sold her to such a place?

His knuckles bulged with tension. Then he let go. “Sleep. If you feel unwell, call me.”

Xiao Wanling asked, “And what is your decision?”

Shen Qing kissed her on the forehead. “I choose you.”

He walked out and closed the door behind him. Spotting the three lingering near Qishan Village, a murderous intent welled up in him.

With a single punch, he knocked Father Li out. Before Li Yao could speak, he punched him unconscious. Madam Li fainted from fright.

Xue Zhengyang had come to apologize on Xue Cui’s behalf and happened to see Shen Qing looking like he was about to commit murder. “Stop!”

But Shen Qing didn’t stop. He smashed out Father Li’s teeth, then turned to chase Madam Li. Xue Zhengyang blocked him. “If you kill them, others will say Madam Xiao told you to!”

Shen Qing took off Li Yao’s headscarf and tied all three of them up. “Go get the patrol team.”

Stunned, Xue Zhengyang nodded and ran off to summon help.

The patrol team arrived and saw Father Li’s broken teeth. They felt a toothache in their own jaws.

Shen Qing explained, “They were skulking around outside my house.”

The patrolmen hauled off the half-dead trio.

Finally, Xue Zhengyang found a moment to speak. “Xue Cui was out of line. I came to apologize to Madam Xiao.”

Shen Qing replied coldly, “Is an apology enough? Xue Cui has been unable to distinguish between good and bad since she was a child. It turns out that she learned this from you.”

Xue Zhengyang was stunned. He returned home dejected. No one at home noticed his somber mood.

Xue Cui, meanwhile, was giddily bragging, “Madam Xiao is actually Madam Li! Her parents and brother came looking for her!”

Old Lady Liu gasped. “So the real Madam Xiao must have been killed? That’s how she got the recipes!”

Cheng Qiao’er couldn’t bear it. “If you’re so good at passing judgment, why don’t you become a magistrate?”

Gu Yaofang also scolded her. “Madam Xiao is the Director of Agriculture. Is her original identity important? As long as her birth charts match, that’s enough.”

Han Hui added, “Mother, she even bought your grass seeds. Why can’t you acknowledge her goodness?”

Old Lady Liu was scolded by her three daughters-in-law, her face stretched long with displeasure. “Heavens above, look at this! A mother-in-law says one word, and the three daughters-in-law have to say three in return. And the eldest, second, and third sons—none of you have the backbone to rein in your women!”

Xue Zhengyang said sternly, “Old Lady Liu, go inside.”

All the sons and daughters-in-law were eavesdropping outside.

Xue Zhengyang asked, “So, is Xue Cui still planning to get divorced?”

Relieved, Old Lady Liu called out, “Yes! Cui’er can earn money and support us in our old age!”

“What about her husband?” he asked.

Old Lady Liu rolled her eyes. “He’s never home! If Cui’er doesn’t have children, what will she do in old age?”

After a long silence, Xue Zhengyang nodded. “Fine.”

Xue Cui was overjoyed to finally get her father’s consent. She hurried to pack her dowry that very night.

But in the dark, she was suddenly beaten and fell to the ground, covering her face. “Who’s there?!”

“It’s me,” said Shen Qing. “I told you not to provoke her.”

“I did it for you!” Xue Cui protested tearfully.

“You did it for yourself. You’re jealous,” Shen Qing replied. He punched the wall beside her head. “You brought this on yourself.”

Terrified, Xue Cui left everything behind and fled.

The next day, she appeared with a bandaged face, leaving only her eyes visible.

Chen Gui frowned. “Are you trying to scare away customers?”

“Mind your business!” she snapped. But when she turned to call out for sales, she saw Xiao Wanling had hung up the rice cake sign again.

Customers instantly swarmed away. Chen Gui chuckled. “Selling buns now!”

After finishing mung bean cakes, Xiao Wanling brought out eggs and flour.

Shen Qing arrived and picked her up, placing her gently on a chair. Jiang Ting quietly left.

Shen Qing said, “Let me do it.”

“Crack the eggs into the flour and knead it into a dough,” she instructed.

He followed her steps precisely, rolled the yellow dough flat, cut it into thin noodles, and dusted them with flour, ready for frying.

Xiao Wanling searched the cabinet for the syrup she’d boiled last time and found a letter from Madam Ji.

She opened it—Madam Ji wanted to learn how to make red bean buns.

Xiao Wanling wrote the recipe and tucked it into the envelope, placing it back in its spot.

Shen Qing had snuck up behind her and pointed to a jar of caramel. “Is it this one?”

“Yes. Put it next to the stove—I’m making sachima.”

It was the first time Shen Qing had heard the name of that treat. He moved the table closer to the stove and placed the jar on it. He poured water and sugar into the pot.

When bubbles began to form and the color deepened, Xiao Wanling turned to him. “Bring the roasted walnuts and some sesame and peanuts too.”

After several seconds with no movement, she looked back only to find Shen Qing munching on the roasted walnuts. He’d eaten more than half of her carefully prepared ingredients.

“Stop eating! If you really want some, I’ll make them for you later.”

Shen Qing grinned. “I want to eat amber walnuts next.”

Xiao Wanling wasn’t sure if he was doing it on purpose. Always demanding snacks—if he really wanted some, the shop had plenty!