3 - Little Peasant Wife

fxshu.cc "Pampered Farmer's Little Wife GL" Part 1 (3)_ Yi Chun [Completed]_Fu Xiao Shu 13–17 Minutes Jing Ao Xue was unconcerned about most things here, but what truly bothered her was the hundreds of silver taels the original owner of her body had squandered on Han Ju Ren. Thus, she flashed her first radiant smile since arriving in this strange world. Those familiar with her nature knew that this smile meant she was concocting a scheme, and someone was about to have a really hard time. She swung the little girl from her back to her front and said with a cheerful grin, "Let's go. We're going to the Han family to feast." Jing Liu Er didn't understand what "feast" meant in this context. She simply gazed blankly at Jing Ao Xue's brilliant smile, thinking that her mother's smile was truly beautiful, even more so than her own mother's. The expressions on the faces of the father and son among the villagers froze when they heard Jing Ao Xue's words. But there was nothing they could do. Jing Ao Xue was already carrying the child and heading towards the Han household. The farmer exchanged a look with his son, thinking to themselves: This is going to be quite the spectacle! Chapter 3: Stirring Up Trouble At this moment, the Han household was bustling, having invited almost everyone in the village to their gathering. The "almost" part was due to the fact that Jing Ao Xue had received no such invitation. Unperturbed, she arrived unbidden with a serene demeanor, even taking in the sights with some interest despite the embarrassed looks on the nearby father-son pair of villagers. The scene was as lively as the village's marketplace on the first and fifteenth of the month, yet distinctly different upon closer examination. Every guest arrived bearing gifts, while Jing Ao Xue's hands were empty, a small child trailing behind her, making her quite inconspicuous amidst the families present. Her initial curiosity was soon replaced by amusement as her gaze swept the surroundings. Despite the superficial embellishments funded by the original owner's silver, the Han family's impoverished and shabby state was still apparent. With too many guests for the inner courtyard to accommodate, Han Lao Tai Ye had cleared space outside the residence, entertaining villagers in a show of false opulence. Thankfully, they had the sense to shield the tables with cloth screens to prevent dust from settling on the food, spared the guests from consuming dirt. The villagers' father and son settled at one of these outdoor tables, personally attended by Han Jia Er Lao Ye, who, after discretely weighing the gift, found satisfaction in its heft and greeted them with a warmer smile. However, upon reaching Jing Ao Xue—who appeared empty-handed—his expression soured, mistaking her for a freeloader and attempted to eject her. But his push had no effect; Jing Ao Xue stood firm. A firm believer in reciprocation, she returned his shove with a deft maneuver that sent the rotund Han Jia Er Lao Ye stumbling back a few steps until someone caught him, nearly saving him from an embarrassing fall. Angered by this, Han Jia Er Lao Ye snapped, "Who are you, and what do you want?" Jing Ao Xue found it amusing. The Han family fed off the original owner yet failed to recognize her face. She had little patience for this, for the aroma of food had captured her full attention. She was starving. Scooping up the little Jing Liu Er, she maneuvered through the crowd toward the Han family residence's entrance, ignoring the ruckus her actions caused, much to the curiosity of guests and halting the Han family members busy with attendees. One familiar short and plump middle-aged woman cheerfully blocked her path with a smile that belied her true intentions. Jing Ao Xue recognized her immediately, as the original owner had encountered her several times. Han Ju Ren, a scholar, was eager to break ties with the possessive original owner. Yet, whenever tempers flared, this woman would intervene, mildly scolding Han Ju Ren while lamenting their poverty to the original owner. Disdainful of mundanity, the original owner would still part with silver for Han Ju Ren’s sake. Unbeknownst to her, the real profiteer was this woman, Han Er Fu Ren. Aware of her manipulations, Han Er Fu Ren initially deemed the original owner a lucrative source. But with her nephew recently becoming a Ju Ren, the Han family neared prosperity, and she couldn't let Jing Ao Xue disrupt this fortune. Though simmering internally, she maintained a veneer of composure and said, "Jing Ya Ren, I heard you were bedridden and at death's door. I planned to visit you tomorrow in town, how did you end up here?" The insinuation was vicious—Han Er Fu Ren regretted she hadn't succumbed to illness, sidestepping this current ordeal. Jing Ao Xue shot her an icy glance and replied with a sarcastic smile, "No need for formalities, Han Er Fu Ren. Just call me 'niece' like before. I heard Han Xiucai became a Ju Ren, so I dragged my ailing body here to congratulate him. Given my longstanding, unique relationship with Han Ju Ren, surely Han Er Fu Ren won't begrudge my uninvited arrival, nor my empty hands." Han Er Fu Ren stewed with impotent rage; Jing Ao Xue's remark was loaded, dripping with suggestive undertones. The insinuation before the guests shook her, as they'd heard rumors of Jing Ya Ren's infatuation with Han Ju Ren. What was assumed to be unrequited now seemed mutual. Their changing expressions and shifted gazes unnerved the Han family. Han Er Fu Ren wished to dismiss Jing Ao Xue, but with Han Ju Ren absent to refute the implications, she was left to endure the slander. With a frustrated stamp, Han Er Fu Ren could do nothing as Jing Ao Xue bypassed her, carrying the child over the threshold to enter the residence proper. Inside, far fewer guests were present, presumably reserved for those of higher status, with tables laden with the finest dishes. Added prestige meant her visit wouldn't be in vain if the Han family valued their reputation. The strong abide by strength; the stubborn yield to madness. In this regard, Jing Ao Xue, honed by years of survival in a post-apocalyptic world, feared no self-satisfied scholars. Casually seating herself at the grandest table, her eyes gleamed at the array of food and drink. She hadn’t seen such a feast in years. Hunger debauched her faculties, so she instantly began sampling dishes with abandon until she recalled the little girl in her arms. Tearing a drumstick from a roast chicken, she handed it over with, "Eat, it's good stuff." Jing Liu Er clutched the chicken leg, mesmerized by her mother’s voracious eating. Despite watering at the mouth, she couldn’t muster the courage of Jing Ao Xue. She saw the glaring villagers and the hostile Han family, felt her heart pound—and murmured, "Mother…" Her reward was a roasted pig's trotter and a mouthful of stir-fried pork. Stunned, she instinctively chewed. Delicious. Lost in gastronomic delights, mother and daughter failed to notice until several well-built men marched over and, wordlessly, flipped their table. Jing Ao Xue simply wiped her mouth and looked up. Her gaze, like a venom-dipped blade, unnerved the thugs, who had not expected such a fierce look from a slim woman. Glancing at the spilt food, she icily declared, "Daring to waste food? Prepare to die!" A swift kick sent a pair of chopsticks shooting into the nearest thug’s thigh, eliciting a howl of pain. The others froze, unable to fathom her method. Jing Ao Xue's expression remained impassive; her abilities had weakened, but her combat prowess hadn’t diminished. Even in this frail body, these men posed little threat. Setting down the child, she lifted a stool and, rolling up her sleeves, brought it down hard on a bewildered thug, cracking his head open. Blood flowed. Within moments, two of their number down, the rest regrouped, attacking in a fury. She sneered, concentrating power at her fingertips, deftly dodging every assault. She struck their meridian points, leaving them collapsed like boneless heaps. Within moments, she'd subdued them all—her efficiency stunned both the Han family and spectators alike. Crouching, she instinctively wanted to crack open skulls for crystal cores, a post-apocalyptic reflex, though here it would bring trouble. Regretfully, but needing recompense, she rifled through the limp thugs’ pockets. As they were Han's hired muscle, they weren’t lacking spare coin. Meticulously, she gathered several pouches and banknotes, totaling around a hundred taels, approvingly whistling at the haul. An excellent interest. She chuckled at the trembling thugs, saying, "Feel free to come by for another match next time. Just be sure to bring more silver." The thugs wanted to shake their heads vigorously, terrified of Jing Ao Xue. Yet, unable to move, they could only lie there helplessly, wishing they could flee the Han household on all fours. These men weren’t locals; they were muscle from a gambling den, enlisted by the Han family to bolster their presence. Their leader had some ties with the Han family, and with little happening at the den, they figured they’d come to eat their fill, dressed smartly for the occasion. Having already enjoyed a hearty meal, they were lounging against the fruit trees behind the estate when Han Er Fu Ren summoned them to deal with a freeloading frail-looking woman. Bored and eager for action, they accepted the task without hesitation. However, they hadn’t anticipated the seemingly fragile woman to be so formidable. She was a tempest of fury and had thoroughly terrified them. Unsure what strange technique she had used, they were left powerless and incapacitated, rendering their escape impossible even if they did have legs to sprint away with. As she searched them earlier, her hands moved like slick, slithering snakes, never touching bare skin yet inflicting searing pain that chilled them to the core. Between the agony and fright, cold sweat drenched their backs.