Chapter 4

Chapter 4

[No Harm] Su Daqiang’s house in the village was very conspicuous. Blue brick and big tile roofs, red lacquer gates, and even two stone lions standing at the entrance. During the day, the gate was tightly closed without a lock, indicating that someone was home. Su Liang didn’t bother with Ning Jing behind her, and gently pushed the door open only to have someone almost bump into her. She took two steps back and saw a plump young lady, dressed in a bright silk dress with heavy makeup, staring at her wide-eyed before screaming, “Ghost!” and running back inside… With that figure and attire, she must be living the good life. Seeing Su Liang as if she had seen a ghost, it showed that she knew Su Liang had already died when she left Su Daqiang’s house yesterday… The murderer of the original master is right here. Su Liang stood at the door, listening to the voices coming from inside. “What are you yelling about? That slut isn’t breathing anymore, she can’t possibly come back!” “That Ning fellow didn’t come to make trouble last night, maybe he’s too sick for the bridal chamber and hasn’t found out. Let’s wait until they send the little bitch back, and then we’ll demand an explanation!” “He’s a refugee from another place, he definitely won’t make a big fuss! At that time, he’ll have to compensate us, no matter how much money he has, or we’ll go to the authorities! Say he killed our daughter!” “If he dies of illness, that would be even better. The property would be ours!” “We have to send someone to watch him closely, and not let that Ning fellow run away!” “Right, right, right! Xiaoming, where’s your brother?” “How would I know? He’s always going to town!” “Then you go! Keep an eye on the Ning family!” “Really… she’s really outside… it’s her…” “Sis, you’re blind, there’s nobody outside…” A chubby boy ran into the courtyard and saw Su Liang standing at the door, smiling at him. His face turned pale, and he sat down on the ground, “Ghost… Ghost!” A few people rushed out from the main hall. No matter the age, every single one of them was plump in stature, out of place in this impoverished village but perfectly in line with Bai Xiaohu’s description: being pampered and supported by Su Liang’s grandfather, not working, and enjoying a lavish lifestyle. No need for interrogation now. A family of ungrateful white-eyed wolves! The good life was given by Su Liang’s grandfather, but Su Liang came to seek refuge, only to find herself trapped in a fire pit! Locked up and forced to work, making her embroider to earn money. Selling her off for ten silver taels was just a facade! Their true plan was to kill Su Liang, stuff her into the bridal sedan, and once she was carried to the Ning family’s home, use her death to further extort Ning Jing! It’s sinister and shameless; it makes one’s blood boil! In her previous life, Su Liang had seen so-called blood relatives fight and bleed for money and wealth, like sworn enemies under the same roof. Her “accidental” death in a car accident was most likely instigated by one of her brothers to eliminate competition for inheritance. That’s why Su Liang harbored no lingering attachment to her past life. Her relatives gave her no warmth, only lessons. For the original master, be it living or dead, she was always a cash cow to Su Daqiang’s family. “Liang Girl, why did you come back today? Did Young Master Ning bully you? Tell Grandpa, Grandpa will support you!” The short and fat old man had regained his composure and looked affectionately at Su Liang. A plump middle-aged woman rushed over, twisting her body, “Oh! My poor daughter! You insisted on marrying Young Master Ning, and we couldn’t stop you. Tell Auntie, what wrongs have you suffered!” Su Liang’s slender arm was grabbed by a large hand, and with a hard yank, she was pulled inside the door. The door was quickly closed and bolted by Su Xiaoming. The next moment, Su Liang was treated to a top-notch Sichuan opera face-changing performance… Su Daqiang looked at her with a slanted gaze and snorted coldly, “Isn’t he the one you wanted to marry? Why are you back?” Mrs. Xun let go of her, the fat on her face trembling, “Don’t look at us like that! You stole the money from our home yesterday, and Xiaodie tried to take it back. She accidentally choked you for a moment, but it’s all right now, isn’t it?” “That’s right! You stole the money! That’s our money!” Su Xiaodie suddenly raised her voice. Stealing money? Su Liang thought that the original master must have been counting on the dowry she believed she could take with her. That was probably what this family had promised to give her, in order to coax her into doing the embroidery work to make money for them. But now they must have gone back on their word. Su Xiaoming picked up a sharpening stone and threw it at Su Liang. At such a young age, his eyes were already full of resentment. “Little bitch! Thief! Go to hell!” Su Liang caught the stone and threw it back! She didn’t have a rule about not hitting children. Some so-called children were nothing but demons. A pig-killing scream echoed in the courtyard as Su Xiaoming clutched his thigh and rolled on the ground. “You ungrateful wretch! You’re rebelling!” Mrs. Xun’s eyebrows shot up, and she rolled up her sleeves, her thick palm slapping towards Su Liang. Su Liang grabbed Mrs. Xun’s wrist and twisted it hard! “Ah!” Mrs. Xun screamed repeatedly. Su Xiaodie yelled, “Murder! Su Liang is going to kill someone!” Su Daqiang and his son Su Dafu charged at Su Liang, but she unbuckled the bundle on her back, threw off the tablecloth, and gripped the axe horizontally across her chest, sneering, “You say I’m going to kill someone? Then I’ll fulfill your wish.” “You! Have you gone mad?” Su Daqiang’s neck shrank, “Put down the axe quickly!” Without hearing the sound of the door bolt sliding, the door suddenly opened. The tense atmosphere in the courtyard was interrupted. Su Liang turned her head and saw Ning Jing standing at the door, a look of bewilderment flashing in her beautiful eyes. Seizing the opportunity, Su Dafu lunged to snatch the axe from Su Liang’s hand, but she dodged nimbly. She swung the back of the axe forcefully on his back, sending him crashing to the ground face first! Ning Jing turned around, locked the door bolt from the inside, and then called Su Liang’s name. “You want to stop me?” Su Liang scoffed. Not long ago, Ning Jing had been close behind her. She must have heard what Su Daqiang’s family said, but Su Liang had no time to worry about whether Ning Jing had discovered her secret. With an indifferent expression, Ning Jing said, “Qian Country’s criminal law states that those who kill five or more people will be executed by dismemberment.” At this moment, there were exactly five people in Su Daqiang’s family, and Ning Jing didn’t exclude ten-year-old Su Xiaoming. Su Liang blinked, “So, should I come back at night?” “That’ll do.” Ning Jing nodded slightly. Su Liang had guessed correctly. Ning Jing was only reminding her that killing people in broad daylight would lead to legal trouble. It would be more fitting to kill on a dark and stormy night… Su Daqiang’s family completely broke down! They never expected that the previously subdued Su Liang would suddenly become a completely different person, so ruthless! “I’ll spare you for now.” Su Liang said, but then she stepped forward and held the axe to Su Daqiang’s neck, “Where’s the money?” Su Daqiang shrank back, “No… No money…” Su Liang nodded, “Very well. First, I’ll cut your grandson, then give you some inspiration. If that doesn’t work, I’ll send a few more cuts. Take your time to think it over.” Seeing Su Liang swinging the axe, Su Xiaoming was terrified and wet himself! Su Daqiang shouted, “Stop! I’ll give you the money!” “All of it, not a penny less. That was originally mine.” Su Liang said coldly. Seeing that there was no room for negotiation and Ning Jing was blocking the door, escape wasn’t an option. Su Daqiang reluctantly went back to his room and brought out an iron box. “It’s all in here, not much left,” Su Daqiang handed the iron box to Su Liang. Su Dafu tried to crawl up, but Ning Jing silently picked up a stone slab from inside the door and placed it on his back… Su Liang opened the iron box and saw only a string of copper coins. Her face darkened, “Are you playing me?” Su Daqiang stared, “The silver was in there last night! How come it’s gone now?” Cornered, Su Xiaodie blurted out, “My eldest brother went into grandfather’s room early in the morning. He must have stolen it again and gambled it away in town!” Speak of the devil, and the devil arrives. Hearing someone knocking at the door, Ning Jing unlocked it. A brawny young man with a strong smell of alcohol stumbled in cursing, “It would have been better to sell that damn girl to Liu Yuanwai’s son as a concubine and get ten more silver taels. Then I could have made up for my losses today! Wretched woman! An ill-fated, unlucky star!” This must be Su Daqiang’s eldest grandson, Su Daming. Only when the drunken Su Daming belatedly realized that something had happened at home did he stop fearing the axe in Su Liang’s hand. He strode towards her, “You rebellious girl! I should have sold you to the brothel a long time ago!” There was a significant height and size difference between Su Daming and Su Liang, and he managed to snatch the axe from her, changing the situation… Ning Jing watched as Su Liang was surrounded by Su Daqiang’s family, a cold gleam peeking from her sleeve. Su Liang remained calm. As Su Daming brought the axe down on her, she kicked it away, then lifted her leg and trapped Su Daming’s neck between her feet, slamming him to the ground! Moments later, an orderly row of whimpering, chubby figures lay on the ground. Now, their eyes on Su Liang were as if they’d seen a ghost. “I’ll ask one more time, where’s the money?” Su Liang wiped the sweat from her brow. Her body was weak; she needed to recuperate. “Daming lost it all!” Su Daqiang’s face was livid, whether from fear of Su Liang or anger at his eldest grandson was unclear. Su Liang didn’t believe him and went to search for the money herself. Seeing her enter the room, Ning Jing placed a stone slab on each of the Su family members’ bodies. “Master Ning…” Su Xiaodie looked at Ning Jing with her multicolored face, “You see, Su Liang is a vicious and fierce woman. Don’t be deceived by her!” Ning Jing shook his head slightly, “It’s alright; I have no money.”