Chapter 38: The Tyrant

  "My name is Xue Lengyu. Ah... the 'Leng' in Lengqing, and the 'Yu' in Cuizhu." Xue Lengyu was shocked for a moment, and involuntarily felt a bit embarrassed, with a conditioned reflex to extend his hand for a handshake, but immediately remembered that this courtesy was not suitable for this dynasty, awkwardly leaving it suspended in mid-air.

  "Zhan Feng Song was puzzled: 'This is...'"

  "This is a courtesy, which means it's great to meet you." Xue Lengyu forced a smile, her face slightly red. Losing face in front of the handsome guy didn't feel too good.

  Zhan Feng Cong was actually quite honest, noticing Xue Leng Yu's embarrassment. He wiped his hand on his clothes and stretched it out to her for a light handshake before quickly pulling it back to place by his side.

  Zhang Feng's hands are different from those of others, yet they also have some similarities.

  Zhan Fengsong and Shu Li's hands were both very large, capable of wrapping around Xue Lengyu's hand in the palm. However, Shu Li's fingers were slightly more slender, unlike Zhan Fengsong, whose palms had a thin layer of calluses, seemingly the result of years of hard work.

  Zhang Feng's palm was also warm, a very healthy and gentle warmth. This warmth was different from Shu Li's, whose hand was also hot, but carried a faint chill that seemed to emanate from the heart, a chill that unintentionally created distance.

  Xue Lengyu turned her head and looked at Shu Li again, who was sitting at the table in the room, still cold and distant.

  Nor did she know why, but after seeing this man who had just met for the first time and comparing him to Shu Li, Xue Lengyu's face actually turned a few shades redder. Was it because she hadn't seen many men recently, so she was a bit infatuated? Or were all the men she had seen recently too handsome, making her unable to resist?

  Xue Lengyu couldn't help but comfort herself. Yes, in the 21st century, beautiful women and handsome men were everywhere, and after seeing so many, one would become numb to it. Now, she rarely saw a few men in a day, so being excited about seeing a handsome guy was normal.

  Xue's mother saw her daughter blush in front of Zhang Feng, and she couldn't help but smile: "Leng Yu, Xiao Zhang is a good young man. You don't know, during the days you were away from home, your father was busy with work outside, chopping firewood and carrying water, all of which Xiao Zhang helped with."

  He's really a kind-hearted young man. Xue Lengyu felt warmth in his heart and smiled at Zhan Fengcong: "Brother Zhan, thank you."

  Zhan Feng Song, is the person she has met here for so long, except for Xue Father and Xue Mother, who is the kindest to her. He looks handsome too, using an inappropriate word, he is truly elegant in appearance and wise at heart, how can she not have a good impression of him.

  Xue Lengyu's smile swept across Zhan Fengsong's heart like a spring breeze, so beautiful that it made her dare not look straight at him.

  All along, he helped Xue's father and mother, but it was just that the two old people had no one to rely on and were pitiful. Anyway, he himself had a lot of energy, so doing more wouldn't hurt.

  Just now, Xue Lengyu rushed into the house in a hurry. Zhan Fengsong only felt that she was still very concerned about Xue's father and mother, which completely did not match what everyone said. Originally, with sympathy for Xue's father and mother, there was also a good impression of Xue Lengyu, and the smile was even more gentle.

  "This doesn't count..." A faint blush rose on Zhan Feng Song's handsome face.

  Xue's mother couldn't help but smile, her eyes narrowing with pleasure. What a good and handsome young man! Although Leng Yu had been married before, she still looked lovely now that her temperament had improved. The Zhang family was also poor, so they probably wouldn't mind too much. If Leng Yu could marry Zhang Fengsong, it would be considered a suitable match, and Xue's mother wasn't worried that Leng Yu would have a bad life.

  Xue Lengyu didn't think that much, who would talk about marriage just after meeting. She just thought Xian Fengsong was a good person and felt comfortable in her heart, so she was more gentle and polite. When she saw his face turn red, she dared not smile anymore, knowing that this simple young man of this era might not be able to withstand her teasing.

  For a moment, it was a bit awkward. Mrs. Xue understood that this big girl and little boy had just met, how could they be so embarrassed to talk more? She was about to say something when a loud noise came from afar. Mrs. Xue's face suddenly changed.

  Lian Zhanfeng's face also changed slightly.

  Xue Lengyu caught sight of Xue Mu and Zhan Fengsong's unusual expressions, and hastily stretched her head to look in the direction where the sound came from.

  Only then did a group of people emerge from the corner of the village, five or six in number, holding long and short clubs in their hands. They all had a fierce and sinister look on their faces, walking straight towards them.

  Xue Leng's expression changed on his face, and he said in a low voice: "Mother, are they coming to us? Who are they?"

  Xue Mu's expression was tense and fearful. Xue Lengyu grabbed her hand, and she trembled, unable to speak.

  "It's the village tyrant, Cheng Gang." Zhang Feng said. Although he furrowed his brow, he wasn't afraid. Instead, there was a kind of inexplicable disgust in his eyes: "He relies on having four sons, all of whom are tall and sturdy, so he bullies everyone in the village."

  "What's going on between my dad and him?"

  Zhan Feng sighed and furrowed his brow, unsure of how to respond.

  Xue Lengyu looked at Xue Mu again, and Xue Mu let out a long sigh without making a sound.

  Xue Lengyu was anxious: "What is it, you tell me? What thing can't I know?"

  As they spoke, the group of people had already approached, and Xue Lengyu couldn't wait to ask Xue Mu what had happened. Suddenly, the gate was kicked open, and a fierce-looking man in his fifties strode into the courtyard. Behind him followed four young men of different ages, each holding a club, their faces filled with cruel intentions.

  Wu Chenggang kicked open the wooden door of Xue's house with a fierce momentum, just about to speak, when he saw Xue Lengyu standing beside Mrs. Xue, his eyes lit up: "Ah, Old Lady Xue, this is your daughter Xue Lengyu."

  Xue Mu, still trembling uncontrollably, somehow found the courage to pull Xue Lengyu behind her and gritted her teeth: "Wu Chenggang, don't be too presumptuous. Don't spout nonsense in front of my daughter!"

  Wu Chenggang's originally fierce face changed upon seeing Xue Lengyu: "Xue old lady, I didn't say anything wrong. Actually, I was thinking of coming to discuss my wife's medical expenses with you. But since your daughter is back, I've changed my mind."

  Xue Lengyu wanted to stand up, but was pulled back by Xue Mu: "Wu Chenggang, what are you trying to do?"

  Wu Chenggang smiled and looked at a man with a rugged face behind him: "I knew your daughter was beautiful, but I didn't expect her to be so beautiful. How about this? You let your daughter marry my third son. We'll be in-laws then, haha, I won't say anything else or do anything else. The past will be forgotten. What do you think?"

  Xue Lengyu looked at Wu Chenggang, that crooked and ugly son of his. He felt a bit tense as he glanced at Mrs. Xue, just waiting for her to nod slightly and say something. If she did, he would immediately cut ties with her, change back to his original name, and leave without any lingering attachments to return to the Marquis Wu's residence.

  From then on, she would be a servant in the Marquis of Wu's household, working as hard as an ox or a horse, and would never return to the Xue family again.