Chapter Thirty-Nine Secrets

  Xue Mu tightly grasped Xue Leng Yu's hand, hiding the unease in her heart, but said: "Wu Cheng, you can give up on this idea. Even if my Leng Yu doesn't get married for a lifetime, she will never marry your son. Your son is a wastrel who indulges in food, drink, whoring and gambling. Any girl who marries into your family will be ruined for life."

  Wu Chenggang sneered: "Xue old woman, others might say such things, but you... humph! If it weren't for the fact that your daughter has grown up to be somewhat presentable, who would want a woman like you?"

  Xue Lengyu, behind her mother's back, listened to Wu Chenggang's words and secretly pondered in her heart. Wu Chenggang had clearly shown that he looked down on her, which should be the reason why she was divorced and sent back home. However, her mother's words warmed Xue Lengyu's heart. A daughter who had lost face like this, yet was still being protected by her mother.

  Xue Mu was not as calm as Xue Leng Yu, in her opinion, a woman's ugly affair being exposed in public was a very shameful thing.

  Xue Lengyu felt Xue Mu's hand was icy, and with a bit of force, she pulled Xue Mu behind her. She looked up at Wu Chenggang and said: "Wu Chenggang, don't be too excessive. If you have something to discuss with my father, speak up and we can resolve it together. We're all neighbors, after all; if things get awkward, no one will benefit."

  Xue Lengyu said this without any fear, not because she was bold, but because she knew that Shu Li was sitting in the house. Since Li Mu had sent him to follow her, if anything happened to her, he would definitely not stand idly by.

  As soon as something goes wrong, these people will all slink away with their tails between their legs.

  "Your daughter is quite bold." Wu Chenggang was also surprised, staring at Xue Lengyu with wide eyes. The next moment, he smiled coldly and said, "Indeed a woman who has seen the world."

  "This has nothing to do with being worldly." Xue Lengyu said, "You're a grown man, don't be so nagging. If you have something to say, just say it, no need for sarcasm. What kind of person I am has nothing to do with any of you."

  Xue Lengyu said one sentence that made Wu Chenggang feel like he wasn't even as straightforward as a woman, so he said: "Alright, since you're being frank, I'll be direct too. My wife is ill, and the doctor's fee and medicine cost three taels of silver in total. Add compensation to that, and you owe me ten taels of silver. We'll leave immediately."

  "This is strange," said Xue Lengyu: "Your wife fell ill and came to our house for medical expenses, what kind of reason is this?"

  Wu Chenggang seemed to have something difficult to say, and looked at Xue Mu: "Xue Old Lady: 'This money, are you giving it or not?'"

  Ten taels of silver. The Xue family's annual expenses may not even be worth ten taels of silver.

  Zhan Feng Cong couldn't bear to watch, stood up and blocked Wu Cheng Gang in front of Xue Leng Yu: "Wu Cheng Gang, just because no one in Shi Mo village dares to provoke you, it doesn't mean everyone is afraid of you. The Xue family works hard all year round but can only earn about ten taels of silver, you're being too cruel. Besides, your wife's illness has nothing to do with Miss Xue, how can you believe the words of a wandering Taoist?"

  Xue Lengyu was even more bewildered, having no idea what they were talking about.

  Wu Chenggang looked at Zhan Fengsong, who suddenly stood out. That sturdy muscle, like a mountain in front of him, was half a head taller than himself, and he couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. But thinking that there were five people on his side, he straightened his chest: "Are you the vegetable vendor from the market? What are you doing here, meddling in other people's business?"

  Just as Zhang Feng was about to speak, Wu Cheng's younger brother behind him sneered: "Old Three, I think you'd better forget about this woman. Who knows, maybe before you even marry her, you'll be wearing a green hat."

  Xue's mother trembled with rage: "Don't talk nonsense, my daughter... isn't that kind of person."

  "It's not what kind of person." Wu Chenggang said behind him, "If it weren't for having a leg, would there be any man willing to take the lead for her?"

  Zhan Fengsong was originally standing upright in front of Xue Lengyu, he wasn't afraid of Wu Chenggang and the others, even if there were five of them. But as soon as he said this, his face turned red, and he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet.

  Yes, I don't have any relationship with Xue Lengyu anyway, why am I defending her like this.

  "Don't talk nonsense." Zhan Feng Song's face turned slightly red, and it was unclear whether he was angry or embarrassed: "I'm a man, you can say whatever you want. But Cold Jade is a young lady, how can you ruin her reputation?"

  "Ruined reputation?" Wu Chenggang seemed to have heard a huge joke, pointing at Xue Lengyu and laughing wildly: "She also has a reputation? A repaired concubine, what reputation can be said. I don't know how many people she's made wear green hats."

  How embarrassing it would be for a woman in this situation.

  Xue Mu's whole body trembled, her lips turned blue, and she couldn't speak. Only Xue Leng Yu, who had not experienced such a thing before, did not feel such intense shame, knew that against this group of rascals, Xuan Feng Song was helpless.

  Xue Lengyu calmly said from behind, "My father is injured, and I'm in charge of the Xue family now. If your wife's illness is indeed caused by me, no matter how much money it takes, I won't shirk my responsibility. But if you're trying to extort or blackmail me, don't think about getting a single penny from me. If you're just here to chat idly, feel free to go home and continue the conversation."

  In the room, Shu Li was still sitting quietly, everything that happened in the yard was clear and distinct, not a single detail escaped his eyes and ears.

  When Wu Chenggang said that Xue Lengyu was a divorced woman, he suddenly felt a surge of anger in his heart, and his hand holding the cup unconsciously tightened. Later, when Xue Lengyu treated him calmly, his calm eyes flashed with a sharp light.

  A poor village girl, how could she have such composure?

  Wu Chenggang was also taken aback by Xue Lengyu's coldness, but he turned to Xue Mu: "Xue old woman, don't blame me for forcing you, are you going to give this money or not? If you don't..."

  Xue's pale lips trembled like dry leaves in the wind, and after a long while, she finally said: "Give... I'll give..."

  Xue Mu, how could you have any leverage in Ou Chenggang's hands? Xue Lengyu's heart moved, and he said in a low voice: "Mother, we can't give it."

  Xue's mother grasped Xue Lengyu tightly, almost choking with sobs: "Lengyu, we can't afford to offend them. We still have some silver at home, let's just give it to them and ensure our family's safety."

  "No way." Xue Lengyu's face turned cold: "Mother, do you have something in their hands? This is a group of rascals, they can blackmail once and twice. For this kind of person, we must not be soft."

  How could Xue's father and mother, being such honest people, possibly do something so treacherous? In all likelihood, Wu Chenggang must have threatened and intimidated them.

  It didn't matter if it had nothing to do with him, he wasn't the kind of person who liked to meddle in other people's business. But now that it involved someone from his generation who was closest to him, Xue Lengyu wouldn't just stand by and watch.

  "Learn from the old lady, since your daughter is so arrogant, I'll say it. Seeing Xue Lengyu being so tough, Wu Chenggang also got angry: "Xue Lengyu, don't think you're their daughter, you don't know if you were picked up from somewhere as a wild child. Since you arrived in our village, our village has had a big plague. Huang Daxian said it, my wife's illness is due to evil energy entering her body, and now that you've come back, who else could be the one to blame?"

  Finally, Cold Jade found out, and Mrs. Xue's eyes turned black, almost fainting.