W Chapter 23

Chapter 23: “Scared?”

Shen Hui put Ling Xing down, took the clothes, and carried the bamboo basket on his back.

The bamboo basket contained twenty catties of flour, plus the steamer and money box, which were a bit heavy. After carrying it all the way, Ling Xing’s shoulders felt a little uncomfortable, and he raised his hand to rub them.

“Are your shoulders injured?” Shen Hui asked.

Ling Xing shook his head, saying no.

The two walked towards their house, seeing people in the yard and hearing a burst of crying.

Fang Xiuxia had come again.

She woke up in the morning and found herself sleeping outside, as were her two sons, Zhao Erbao and Zhao Sancai.

Not only that, but the three of them had injuries on their faces, with Zhao Erbao and Zhao Sancai more severely injured, as if they had been hit by something.

Both of their hands were dislocated and had to be set by Doctor Sun in the neighboring village.

Fang Xiuxia knew it must have been Shen Hui who did it. After her two sons’ hands were set, she came to the Shen family in a menacing manner.

Now that she had reason on her side, she wasn’t afraid of Shen Hui.

Who knew that when she arrived at the Shen family, she found that Shen Hui wasn’t home at all.

Not only was Shen Hui not home, but the weather had warmed up these past two days, and the Shen family had all gone to the fields to turn the soil. Only Shen Lai, Shen Xiaochun, and Shen Xiaxia were at home.

Since the adults weren’t home, Fang Xiuxia didn’t leave. Thinking of the silver she had lost last night, she was determined to get it back tenfold today.

With only the children present, it was perfect for Fang Xiuxia, as children were easily frightened.

Last night, only Fang Baogen’s parents had come with her, and after that humiliating and money-losing episode, no one in the Fang family was willing to come today.

However, the wives of Fang’s eldest and second sons, whose husbands worked under Zhao Fan, could excuse themselves for not being home last night, but since they were home today, they had to accompany Fang Xiuxia to support her, or they would lose face.

Three women made for a real spectacle, causing quite a commotion in the Shen family’s yard.

Shen Xiaochun and Shen Xiaxia were so scared that they cried loudly, huddling together and shivering.

Only Shen Lai had some fighting spirit, but he was just a ten-year-old “Ge’er” and no match for the three women.

Fang’s eldest and second daughters-in-law were a bit better and didn’t say anything too nasty; it was mainly Fang Xiuxia who was cursing.

She had suffered a great loss at Shen Lai’s hands last night, and now that she had caught the opportunity, she was determined to curse him until he didn’t dare to say another word.

Shen Lai had a fiery temper, and hearing Fang Xiuxia calling him a “slut” and a “cheap thing” with every other word, he plunged into the kitchen, grabbed the fire poker, and directly hit Fang Xiuxia with it.

Shen Hui and Ling Xing returned to find Shen Lai waving the fire poker, being held down by two women, while Fang Xiuxia tried to snatch the poker. Shen Lai shouted at the top of his lungs for Xiaochun and Xiaxia to help.

The two children, though timid, saw Shen Lai being held down and, letting go of each other, clung to the legs of Fang’s eldest and second daughters-in-law, crying.

“Don’t bully Fifth Uncle, waaaah!”

“Second Uncle will be back, I’m going to tell Second Uncle, waaaah!”

Shen Xiaochun and Shen Xiaxia cried and threatened, not forgetting to pull at the women with all their might, not letting them bully Shen Lai.

The children’s wails made Fang’s eldest and second daughters-in-law uncomfortable. They were adults, after all, and what did the children have to do with their grudges?

Moreover, they had a rough idea whether the fourth sister-in-law was targeting a young “Ge’er” because she was upset about Erbao and Sancai, or because of her husband’s absurd behavior, and she was venting her anger on others.

But they didn’t dare to let go.

Their husbands were all under the fourth sister-in-law’s husband, and their Fang family was highly regarded in the village because of the fourth sister-in-law’s husband, and they received many benefits.

The fourth sister-in-law’s personality was a bit off, but their family depended on her, so no matter how bad she was, they could only protect her.

Seeing Fang Xiuxia snatch the fire poker and raise it to hit Shen Lai, she gnashed her teeth, glared, and said angrily, “I’ll beat you to death today, you cheap thing who seduces men!”

“Ah!!!”

With a scream, the fire poker fell to the ground, rolling several times before being stopped by a small stone protruding from the ground.

Fang Xiuxia’s angry face was replaced by pain. She clutched her wrist, moaning in pain as she crouched on the ground.

Just as the fire poker was about to hit Shen Lai’s head, Shen Hui threw a small stone, accurately hitting Fang Xiuxia’s wrist.

Shen Lai thought he would not escape this calamity today and that his head would be split open, but he didn’t expect his second brother to return at the critical moment.

His heart was pounding non-stop, and Shen Lai didn’t dare to think about it; it was truly terrifying.

“Fifth! Xiaowu! Xiaochun Xiaxia! Are you all right?”

Ling Xing ran over quickly, pushed aside the two women holding Shen Lai, and protected the three children behind him, anxiously asking them while vigilantly watching the Fang family.

Fang’s eldest and second daughters-in-law were afraid of Shen Hui, so when Ling Xing pushed them, they let go, intending to help Fang Xiuxia up from the ground and leave.

But they were a step too late; Fang Xiuxia was lifted up by Shen Hui.

Her collar suddenly tightened, and Fang Xiuxia ignored the pain in her wrist, feeling a panic in her heart. When she came to her senses, she was off the ground. The feeling of not being able to touch the ground with her feet made her heart panic and fear, especially with Shen Hui’s fierce and terrifying black eyes. His calm face made it impossible to discern his emotions, but it gave her the feeling that she was about to be killed.

Fear and panic filled her, and Fang Xiuxia’s face turned pale with fright. Where was her previous momentum?

“You are very brave,” Shen Hui said coldly.

The other families had also been thrown outside to sleep for most of the night, but no one had come to make trouble, thinking that Shen Hui would vent his anger and let the matter pass.

If they hadn’t known that Shen Lai’s pregnancy mole had been seen and the eldest son’s widow had been knocked unconscious, they wouldn’t have dared to go to the Shen family with the Fang family to demand an explanation.

Fang Xiuxia felt like she couldn’t breathe. She subconsciously grabbed Shen Hui’s wrist to push him away.

Her strength was insignificant to Shen Hui; instead, it lifted her higher. Shen Hui’s arm muscles bulged, and the veins on the back of his hand swelled.

His face was calm, and when he raised his eyes, he carried an imposing pressure. “I know the locations of the tiger dens, snake caves, wolf packs, and bear nests on the mountain like the back of my hand. If you dare to cause trouble in my house again, you won’t be sleeping at your doorstep, but in the mountains. Do you understand?”

Fang Xiuxia swallowed. The year the Shen family came to the village was the year she got married. She had only heard about the ferocity and horror of Shen Hui when she returned to the village.

She had also seen him in town several times, each time carrying the corpses of fierce beasts, his body and face covered in blood, looking terrifying.

Those were just hearsay or distant glimpses. Although she was afraid in her heart, she quickly forgot about it.

But this time was the first time Fang Xiuxia directly felt the threat of death. Her whole body was stiff and cold, and her heart was filled with regret, panic, and fear.

She really shouldn’t have repeatedly harboredlucky(jiǎoxìng, a fluke) and provoked this evil spirit.

“I, I understand.”

After Fang Xiuxia honestly nodded and spoke, Shen Hui loosened his hand, and she fell to the ground.

Fang’s eldest and second daughters-in-law, who had not dared to breathe loudly, then stepped forward and quickly helped her up.

They didn’t stay long and ran away, supporting her.

Shen Hui turned around and saw Ling Xing protecting the three children like a mother hen, staring at him with wide eyes.

Shen Hui took a step forward and stopped when he sensed that Ling Xing was about to retreat. He rubbed his wrist and asked casually, “Scared?”

Ling Xing had some understanding of Shen Hui’s strength after seeing him lift a person with one hand and hold them for so long. He was surprised, but not scared.

At most, he was afraid that the Fang family would retaliate against the Shen family.

Ling Xing gently shook his head. “Does your arm hurt?”

Ling Xing asked seriously, which surprised Shen Hui. Then he chuckled, “I don’t feel anything.”

After saying that, he looked at Shen Lai, Xiaochun, and Xiaxia. “She won’t dare to come again in the future. Don’t be afraid anymore. I’ll take you to the village chief’s house to exchange for candy.”

Hearing that there was candy to eat, Shen Lai was resurrected with full health and immediately jumped up and down. “Second Brother, you’re the best! I’m not afraid at all!”

Xiaochun and Xiaxia’s eyelashes were still wet, and they were tempted by the candy to come out from behind Ling Xing, bravely pulling on Shen Hui’s sleeves.

Xiaochun looked up and said, “Second Uncle, that person was so fierce earlier.”

Xiaxia followed closely, “Second Uncle, they called us sharp things. We’re not sharp. Mom said my sister and I are soft.”

The two children spoke one after the other, their voices small, and their words were not fluent or comprehensive, but their accusations, though late, had arrived.

Listening to them, Shen Hui seemed to hear a smaller version of Shen Gui, saying a bunch of things in his ear.

Ling Xing followed Shen Hui to the village chief’s house. On the way back, they happened to pass by Xie Qingya’s place to buy the tofu they would need for tomorrow.

On the road, the three children walked hand in hand, smiling, forgetting the fear of being scared to tears by the Fang family at home, and looking forward to the sweet candy.

Listening to the three children whispering about how to eat the candy, Shen Hui lagged behind a little, walking on Ling Xing’s side and slightly behind him. “What is ‘Ge’er’ worried about?”