Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Ming Shu stood up and walked to the woodshedâs door. An old lock hung there, with a large gap in the middle, and she could reach out for it.
Perhaps because the butler didnât think she would run, he didnât lock the door. Ming Shu took the lock off easily.
Leaving the woodshed, Ming Shu stretched a little and found the kitchen according to her memory.
No one was in the kitchen and Ming Shu swaggered in. She searched everywhere but didnât find any drumsticks, only several steamed buns.
Steamed buns are okay.
I donât hold anything against steamed buns.
Ming Shu left the kitchen with the steamed buns and went to her room.
The Liu family was the richest in the village, and their houses were grand, no worse than those of the ministry councillorsâ. It was said that the Liu familyâs ancestors generations ago were officials in the imperial court. Because they were tired of the court, they went back to their hometown Yunli Village.
The house was also left by the ancestor who held an official position at that time.
âI told you not to come again...â
The low voice came from behind the next rockery. Ming Shu slightly raised her eyebrows, the steamed buns in hand, and gingerly approached the rockery.
âYou havenât seen me in so many days. What do you mean? Didnât we make a deal before? You donât come to me, so I can only come to you.â The manâs voice was a little loud.
Ming Shu craned her neck and looked over. A man was standing with the woman in the yellow dress that Ming Shu had seen before.
It was Liu Xinyue.
Liu Xinyue was startled by the manâs voice and scolded him. âKeep it low. Do you want to be heard by my father?â
âJust let him know.â The man didnât seem to care.
âYou want to be killed by my father?â Liu Xinyue stared at him with displeasure.
Hearing this, the man behaved himself a little bit.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Honestly, the man... was not very good-looking. He looked ordinary, and his temperament wasnât good, either, much like a rogueâs.
Liu Xinyue didnât know why the former Liu Xinyue would hang out with such a stupid guy. She was a flower of the village!
Her vision was so poor.
âWhereâs the money I gave you last time?â Liu Xinyue asked the man. âHave you spent it all?â
âItâs not enough. Iâm running a business now, Xinyue, I need more.â The man came forward, smiling, and pressed Liu Xinyue against the rockery. âWhen I become rich, your father will hurry to marry you to me.â
Liu Xinyueâs eyes were full of disgust, but she had to deal with the man. âDonât get so close, someone will see us.â
âAt this time, who will come here? Iâm very familiar with your Liu family.â The man began to touch Liu Xinyue all over.
Ming Shu nibbled the steamed bun against the rockery. There came Liu Xinyueâs discontented voice, followed by the manâs painful hum. It seemed Liu Xinyue had run.
Ming Shu bent over to take a look, and sure enough, she only saw Liu Xinyueâs disappearing shadow. The man stood in place with a sullen face.
âHey!â Ming Shu suddenly said.
The man was startled. But after recognizing who it was, he relaxed. âLittle girl, what did you see?â
âI saw everything.â
The man was not scared. âIf you dare speak it, Iâll kill you.â
âWow, Iâm so scared.â Ming Shu patted her chest exaggeratedly, eyes smiling, and didnât show any sign of being scared. âBrother, do you want to marry Liu Xinyue?â
âYou donât stammer now?â the man suddenly asked.
âYou stammer,â Ming Shu said, âIâm asking you.â
The man examined Ming Shu with suspicion. âWhat does it matter to you whether I want to marry her or not?â
Before this little girl lowered her head the whole time, and she didnât speak clearly, but today... She looked as beautiful as new peonies. If she didnât wear poor clothes, she would have looked more beautiful than Liu Xinyue.
Her eyes were clear and bright, smiling like the sun in March.
âIf you want to marry her, I can tell you a way of making that happen.â Ming Shu ignored the manâs suddenly lustful eyes. âWhat do you think?â
Liu Xinyue was the Liu familyâs First Young Lady, the beloved daughter of Father Liu, and she would inherit the entire Liu family in the future.
The man quickly thought it through. âWhat idea do you have?â
âWhat has been done cannot be undone. As long as the rumors spread, in order to save her reputation, Liu Xinyue will have to marry you.â
The manâs eyes lit up.
Once a woman lost her reputation, who would marry her?
âLittle girl, youâre smart.â
âIâm flattered.â
âIf it works, rest assured, I wonât treat you badly.â The manâs lustful eyes swept over Ming Shuâs face and he was a little excited.
âDonât count on me.â Ming Shu came out from behind the rockery. She smiled at the man. âOtherwise youâll know the meaning of âto live is no better than to die.ââ
Meeting with Ming Shuâs eyes, the man felt a little chilly for no apparent reason.
â
Ming Shu left the rockery. Before she arrived at her own room, she saw Liu Xinyue and a servant girl come over in a hurry.
The Liu family had servant girls and butlers, from which you could tell they were really rich.
Liu Xinyue saw Ming Shu standing in the corridor with half a steamed bun in her hand, and she was very surprised.
âQingqing.â Liu Xinyue went up to her. âWhat are you doing here? Didnât Father make you... you sneak out?â
Liu Xinyue covered her mouth and said caringly, âYouâll be doomed if Father finds it out. Go back quickly, and I wonât tell him.â
âDo I need to thank you?â Ming Shu raised her eyebrows slightly.
âQingqing?â Liu Xinyue seemed doubtful and her eyes kept examining Ming Shu. âYou really have no problem speaking now?â
How did this stammerer suddenly speak well?
Ming Shu upturned her lips. âArenât you happy that I can speak?â
âHow can it be...â
âThatâs right.â Ming Shu interrupted Liu Xinyue. âYouâre not happy, so Iâll be happy.â
âQingqing?â Liu Xinyue frowned. Whatâs wrong with this Liu Qing?
Ming Shu looked at the servant girl. There was no one else around, and she finished the steamed bun quickly, then pulled at Liu Xinyue.
âQingqing, what are you doing?â
âAh!â
âAh!â
Two screams. One was from the servant girl, the other from Liu Xinyue.
Ming Shu gave an overarm throw to Liu Xinyue and the latter fell to the ground. The servant girl screamed, covering her mouth, eyes filled with shock.
âHush!â Ming Shu wiggled her fingers at the servant girl with a smile. âDonât scream, and I wonât beat you.â
The servant girl stopped screaming.
âLiu Qing, what are you doing? Let go of me.â Liu Xinyue struggled around on the ground, but was pressed down tightly by Ming Shu.
âIâll let you go in a minute.â Let me beat you up first and gain some Hatred Points.
âYou...â
Liu Xinyue couldnât finish her sentence and was beaten up by Ming Shu. The servant girl shivered beside them.
After the beating, Ming Shu stood up slowly and tidied up her shabby clothes.
Liu Qing felt dizzy and pained all over her body.
âLiu... Qing...â
âIâm here.â Ming Shu responded in a brisk voice. She bent down and looked at Liu Xinyue. âAre you very angry?â
Liu Xinyue was confused. Liu Qing suddenly could speak fluently, and she suddenly beat her up... How could she not be angry.
Ming Shu stood up. âThatâs right. Youâll be angrier in the future.â
Under Liu Xinyueâs shocked gaze, Ming Shu left while humming a tune.