Chapter 3

Chapter 3

[Cunning] “How can you leave without your dowry?” Ning Jing’s question made Su Liang realize that things were not as she had imagined. She was supposed to have a dowry? But apart from the shabby wedding clothes she was wearing, she had nothing else, not even a change of clothes. Was she really leaving? She just got married yesterday, where could she go? “I’m hungry, let’s talk after eating.” Su Liang changed the topic, taking out the steaming buns from the basket. Madam Bai’s voice came, “Miss Su Liang?” Su Liang turned and went out, smiling slightly when she reached the door, “My Lady, I just got married, it’s too much trouble for you to bring food. They’ll gossip about me.” “You don’t know how to cook!” blurted Madam Bai. Su Liang narrowed her eyes. She had only come here yesterday, and the neighbor already knew she couldn’t cook? It seemed her mother’s house wasn’t far away, probably in the Su Village, and she had a poor reputation. “I have to learn somehow, can’t always trouble Madam Bai. Your guidance will be much appreciated,” Su Liang sighed. Madam Bai’s face showed disappointment, and her enthusiasm disappeared. She exchanged a few perfunctory words and left. Su Liang turned around and saw a young figure entering the room. When she saw Ning Jing again, he had already washed up, his face clean and fair, eating a steamed bun leisurely. There wasn’t much meat in the bun, but it tasted decent. There were five buns in total, Ning Jing had two, and Su Liang had two. Seeing Ning Jing wiping his hands with a handkerchief and showing no intention of eating more, Su Liang grabbed the last bun and went outside. Although Ning Jing was as quiet as a Buddha, whenever his eyes looked at her, Su Liang felt uneasy, as if she was being seen through. She couldn’t continue like this. Su Liang stood at the door, holding the meat bun. Not far away was a winding stream, and dense vegetation covered the mountain behind the house. The house faced south, backed by the mountain and near the water. The village was divided into two sides by the stream, and a wooden bridge connected them at a distance to allow people to cross. There were more houses on the other side, and many farmers were going to work, carrying hoes, leading oxen, or pulling carts. She took a deep breath, feeling the refreshing and moist air. Just as Su Liang was wondering which way to go to ask for information, a small figure ran up to her. A seven or eight-year-old boy, wearing coarse clothes, his toes about to burst through the fabric of his shoes, eagerly ran up to Su Liang, staring at the white bun in her hand, and swallowed. “Who are you looking for?” Su Liang asked. “My grandma asked me to come and see if you want to buy vegetables from us,” the boy looked up and asked. Madam Bai’s grandson? Su Liang needed vegetables, but she didn’t have any money. “What’s your name?” Su Liang asked. “Bai Xiaohu!” The boy gazed at the bun, licking his lips. “Do you recognize me?” Su Liang smiled. Bai Xiaohu nodded, “Su Liang! My grandma and mom always talk about you! You’re Su Daqiang’s niece! I know!” Su Daqiang… Su Liang coughed lightly, “What have your grandma and mom said about me? Tell me, and I’ll give you the bun.” Bai Xiaohu’s eyes brightened, nodding vigorously, “You can’t go back on your word!” “Your grandfather is Su Daqiang’s cousin, named Su Yuanzhou! He’s a powerful doctor who treats nobles in the capital city!” “My grandma said that the big house of Su Daqiang was built with money from your grandfather, who sent money and gifts to them every year. Their family didn’t have to work and enjoyed good food and drinks!” “My mom said your grandfather offended a noble and his whole family was gone, leaving only you. You came to seek refuge with Su Daqiang last year!” “My grandma said she only saw you once when you arrived and never saw you go out. Su Xiaoming’s mother went around saying that you were spoiled and lazy, disrespectful to elders, and bullied your siblings! Their family served you like an ancestor, feeding you well, emptying their savings!” “But my mom said, that woman was just talking nonsense! You brought a lot of money with you, which they took away. They locked you up and made you do embroidery work without giving you food. Su Xiaoming’s mother went to the town to sell your embroidered products at the fair, making a lot of money. Neither she nor her daughter knew how to do it!” “Ning provided ten taels of betrothal gifts for marrying someone to ward off his bad luck, and Su Daqiang sold you! At first, it was settled on Su Xiaodie, but then they said you met Ning and insisted on marrying him, so Su Xiaodie had to give in to you!” “My mom even said that last month, there was a rich family’s young master in town who wanted to take a concubine, and he heard about your beauty, so he sent a matchmaker to see you. The betrothal gifts he offered were even higher, but Su Daqiang didn’t agree because he was afraid that you would be hard to control once you spread your wings!” “Su Xiaoming’s mother is bragging everywhere that she gave you twenty taels of dowry, but my mom said it’s just her dog fart! If she gives you a son, it would take the sun rising in the west!” The more Su Liang listened, the colder her heart became. So-called relatives were just a group of wolves who would eat a person without leaving bones. She hadn’t forgotten the bruises on her neck. “I haven’t been out, and I don’t know why Master Ning has come to our village. Who is he?” Su Liang knew nothing about Ning Jing, other than his good looks. Bai Xiaohu furrowed his eyebrows, “My grandpa heard that Ning Jing is the son of a wealthy family who made a mistake and had to flee. He was afraid of being found, so he came here to hide. No one knows where he came from, but we know that he is very wealthy!” In fact, he didn’t even have a single tael… Su Liang couldn’t help but comment. After Bai Xiaohu showed Su Liang the location of Su Daqiang’s house, he ran off nibbling on his Steamed Bun, forgetting that he was here to sell vegetables. Su Liang closed the yard gate and thought that she had to go to Su Daqiang’s house to get her “dowry.” Otherwise, it would be difficult to have food and clothing. She turned around and saw a figure in blue standing under the eaves. Su Liang walked straight over. “Are you a rebel?” Su Liang asked bluntly. Ning Jing’s expression was indifferent, “No.” Su Liang asked again, “Why did you marry me, then?” Ning Jing looked at Su Liang, his lips opening slightly, “You begged me to save you, and I just happened to need a marriage.” Su Liang fell silent. To avoid arousing Ning Jing’s suspicion, she asked vaguely. She had thought Ning Jing had other intentions when he married her, but she didn’t expect that the Original Master and Ning Jing had conspired together? To use each other? Considering Ning Jing said that she was originally supposed to leave after getting married. Su Liang guessed that this was probably the way the Original Master planned to escape from the wolves of Su Daqiang’s family, and the dowry Ning Jing asked for might have been intended as her travel expenses. Unfortunately, without a dowry, she even lost her life. Since Nian Jincheng didn’t capture Ning Jing, whether he was a rebel or not didn’t matter for now. Su Liang didn’t need to struggle with this matter. Having a fake marriage, without a ceremony and honeymoon, she would still be a free person. Not bad. “You’ve…changed.” Ning Jing spoke again. Su Liang’s heart beat faster. Could it be that Ning Jing knew the Original Master very well? “Your eyes.” Ning Jing uttered two more words. Su Liang’s heart relaxed a little. She pulled on her collar, revealing purplish bruises on her neck, “I’ve already died once.” She vowed to avenge the Original Master by her own hands! Ning Jing glanced over Su Liang’s neck and finally rested his gaze between her eyebrows. His eyes narrowed slightly before returning to normal. Su Liang felt as if he had seen something… “That jade hairpin was given to me by General Nian.” Su Liang suddenly remembered. If she sold it, she should get a lot of money for it. “Yes.” Ning Jing did not deny it, although the jade hairpin originally belonged to his mother, “Give me the jade hairpin, and I’ll save your life.” Su Liang was puzzled, “You will save my life?” It sounded like a future event. Was someone going to kill her? How did Ning Jing know? “You have a darkened forehead, and there will be a bloody disaster in the near future.” Ning Jing spoke and then turned around to walk back into the room. Su Liang: …The beautiful man suddenly turned into a psychic! What a psychopath! After drinking a cup of cold water, Su Liang moved her limbs. She was too weak. But there was no time for exercise; they had already run out of food, and she didn’t even have clothes that could be exchanged for something else. She had to deal with those wolves in her family. Without a kitchen knife, she found an ax for chopping wood and sharpened it until it shone brilliantly. Su Liang lifted the tablecloth, wrapped the ax in it, tied it to her back, and walked out the door with a spring in her step. After only a few steps, she looked back and saw a figure in blue following behind her. “Why are you following me?” Su Liang didn’t understand. Ning Jing’s expression was indifferent, “I’m not doing anything.” Su Liang: …I’m tired. Whatever. So, that day, many people in Su Family village saw the newlywed Su Liang in her wedding dress walking ahead with Ning Jing following behind at a distance as they went to Su Daqiang’s house…