Eternal Novel Hits

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Chapter 167: Ding Ling Ling

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▶▶The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife

Chapter 167: Ding Ling Ling

Behind the scenes of Pingcheng's market, with a slight connection to Li Chengbin's father-in-law, the real power was held by the boss in the underworld. Currently, the two sides managed to coexist without conflict.

Even those small gangs in the alleys, who might not have seen Xiao Cheng, had heard of his name. A simple mention of it was usually enough.

Xiao Cheng was no longer working under the underworld boss, but who could guarantee that he wouldn't rise again. Nobody dared to mess with a demon's business; even small hooligans would end up in dire straits.

The news spread rapidly, reaching even stray dogs, fearing they might go crazy and start barking at the store's entrance.

Previously, the underworld boss in Pingcheng and Xiao Cheng had some conflicts. Xiao Cheng had done everything the boss had done, but the results were not satisfactory; every endeavor was overshadowed by Xiao Cheng.

The underworld boss only valued the top talents in the industry, with no regard for the second-best. Now that Xiao Cheng had left, he was finally making a name for himself, occasionally able to say a word or two in front of the boss.

For Xiao Cheng's decision to open a legitimate business in Pingcheng, the boss was delighted. There was no reason to stop him, and he immediately agreed to a dinner meeting.

The heavy burden in his heart had finally lifted, and he joyfully opened up, drinking heavily.

He even declared brotherhood with Xiao Cheng, promising mutual support and assistance. If anything happened, Xiao Cheng should be the one to handle it; he would be more effective than others.

Everything that could be said, and even things that couldn't be said, were expressed. Good food and wine were consumed lavishly, with the belief that drinking to the fullest expressed true camaraderie, one cup after another.

After dinner, they went to a nightclub.

Various kinds of alcohol were continually delivered to private rooms in succession.

After a round of drinks, Xiao Cheng went to the restroom and took the opportunity to make a call at the front desk.

At home, Bai Lu and Xiao Wei were sitting in the main hall in front of a table full of delicious dishes, their hands supporting their cheeks.

A pair of puffed-up little faces.

"Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding..." The old clock on the wall struck seven times, and the sky was already dark.

Bai Lu pouted, "Your brother doesn't keep his promises."

Xiao Wei shook his head, "Big brother might be busy, not breaking promises."

Bai Lu snorted, "He probably went to drink again. When he comes back drunk, see how I..."

"Ding Ling Ling—"

Xiao Wei's eyes lit up, and he pointed at the high table, "Big brother is calling!"

Bai Lu, with a slight touch of pride, picked up the phone. A gentle, but not overly sweet voice came through, "LuLu."

It had a hint of pride but not too much.

The daytime coldness was gone, replaced by a bit of warmth, although not much. His voice was deep and clear, indicating he was still in good condition, not completely drunk yet.

Given the experiences from previous times, Bai Lu quickly deduced from Xiao Cheng's unusual tone that he hadn't eaten much. Originally planning to have dinner at home, he had ended up discussing business in a nightclub after a few drinks.

In business, socializing was unavoidable.

Local forces had their roles, mutual benefits, and required face-saving. Bai Lu understood these principles, but still couldn't help but worry, "Don't drink too much."

There were many things she wanted to say, but as she approached the words, she realized they were of no use. She had already given all the necessary instructions before. In the end, only one sentence remained, "Come back early."

Xiao Cheng responded, "Okay."

After hanging up the phone, Bai Lu and Xiao Wei returned to the table full of delicious food, picked up their chopsticks, and began eating enthusiastically.

"Big brother won't come back for dinner?" Xiao Wei, still holding a piece of spicy chicken, asked with a trace of unwillingness.

Bai Lu reassured him, "Your big brother is too busy; he doesn't have time to come back for dinner. He's full from drinking."

Xiao Wei, hearing the small complaint in Bai Lu's tone, picked up a bitter melon from his bowl and ate it.

"Don't be sad; when big brother earns enough money, builds a big house, and you have a little nephew or niece, big brother will be able to have dinner with us every day."

Bai Lu's mouth twitched, "Is there anything else in your head besides a little nephew?"

"Yes."

Xiao Wei, with a serious expression, said, "A little niece."

Bai Lu: "..."

"Well said, let's not talk about it next time."

After dinner, after taking a bath and washing clothes, and hanging them up, they took a stroll, and it was already nine o'clock.

Xiao Cheng hadn't come back.

Bai Lu sat in the courtyard illuminated by moonlight, reading a book. Next to her, Xiao Wei sat obediently on a small stool, with his textbooks placed on the chair, quietly doing his homework.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

A knocking sound echoed.

Xiao Wei immediately raised his head, and Bai Lu exchanged a glance with him, both seeing the doubt in each other's eyes.

The door was not locked. If it was Xiao Cheng returning, he would have just pushed the door open without knocking.

Who could it be at this late hour?

Xiao Wei asked, "Who is it?"

"I'm Chen Chunli."

The voice that used to be loud and arrogant was now calm and quiet, knocking on the door instead of pounding it.

Xiao Wei was surprised, turning to Bai Lu, "Should we open the door?"

Bai Lu replied, "She's pregnant."

Moreover, Chen Chunli's expected delivery date was within this half-month. Today, Wang Hao went out with Xiao Cheng for some business, not with someone else.

It wasn't with someone else but Xiao Cheng.

Xiao Cheng had a responsibility.

Xiao Wei followed Bai Lu to open the door. Once opened, not only the heavily pregnant Chen Chunli was standing there, but also Wang Hao's worried mother—He Yulan.

Seeing Bai Lu, He Yulan immediately stated her purpose, "Chunli said her stomach feels a bit uncomfortable. She wanted to come to your house to make a call and ask when Wang Hao will be back. Bai Lu, do you know Xiao Cheng's number? Help us call and ask when Wang Hao will be back."

Bai Lu gestured for them to come in, "Auntie, don't worry. Xiao Cheng will call Wang Hao right away. Please come in and have a seat first."

Xiao Wei, who had seen Chen Chunli not causing a scene and still having such a big belly, moved the chairs back to the main house.

Wang Hao's father wasn't in good health, and He Yulan usually took care of him, rarely visiting neighbors.

Bai Lu had seen her a few times, but Xiao Wei had seen her quite a lot. This child was always well-behaved.

"So late, are you still doing homework?"

Xiao Wei moved the chairs back, nodding, "Already finished."

"Big sister is calling big brother; Haoge and big brother are together. Don't worry, Auntie."

"Ah, good, don't worry."

He Yulan was quite surprised by the change in Xiao Wei. He used to be as taciturn as Xiao Cheng, rarely speaking. Now he actually greeted and comforted people, which was good.

Being a good daughter-in-law could also be a good mother.

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Chapter 166: Just for Her

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▶▶The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife

Chapter 166: Just for Her

"Really, it's hilarious. Bai Lu's grades are at the bottom of the year, even facing retention, yet she still has the nerve to prepare for exams. Is she afraid of not making enough spectacle to embarrass herself?"

"She won't have the chance to embarrass herself. Her school records have been expelled; she might as well go home and roast sweet potatoes."

Several girls mocked Bai Lu and then turned to flatter the girl in jeans in the middle.

"Or maybe we're just kind-hearted. We directly helped Bai Lu eliminate the opportunity to embarrass herself."

Zhou Jiayi, with a proud look, sneered, "For someone as immoral as her, shouldn't she be expelled to celebrate the New Year? Her expulsion is a decision carefully considered by the school, it has nothing to do with me. Don't spread rumors."

The two girls immediately changed their tune, "Yes, it has nothing to do with Jiayi. Bai Lu brought this upon herself; she can't live properly. Criticism is inevitable for such a morally loose person. No one likes bad students; we firmly resist them."

Li Shuixian, with a wicked smile, agreed, "After her expulsion, let's see where she'll bounce to. She won't even have the chance to bounce."

"After you all finish your exams, each of you will get into a top university. Then, let's go to Bai Lu's house together and share the good news. We'll make her suffer sleepless nights for three days and three nights."

This malicious method of denigrating someone gained unanimous approval from the two narrow-minded girls.

While approving, they didn't forget to praise Zhou Jiayi, who provided them with the opportunity for humiliation. "Jiayi is really amazing."

"Just by moving her lips and manipulating public opinion, Jiayi is formidable. Is Bai Lu, who doesn't even have the qualification to take the exam, comparable? Don't joke around; after the exams, let's see how we ruin her to the point of having no face to show."

"Yes, bring more classmates along..."

Several girls laughed and walked away, linking arms.

The direction was towards Li Shuixian's store.

Last time, Li Shuixian compensated Bai Lu with 150 yuan, using dowry money to make up for it and promptly correcting the store's account book back to its original state. Xiao Zhihai didn't notice, so he didn't pursue it further.

Otherwise, he would have to drive Li Shuixian out of the house.

Repeatedly, destructive events struck, and the grocery store no longer had any business.

Li Shuixian hated Bai Lu to the bone, but thinking that she would soon have her revenge, she felt happy inside.

Throughout the journey, they were planning with Zhou Jiayi on how to discredit Bai Lu to achieve the best effect. It would be even better to invite more classmates to watch the joke.

Wang Hao's understanding of women was once again refreshed.

It turned out that girls, on the surface, might appear amiable, but behind the scenes, they employed such cunning and malicious tactics—spreading rumors, tarnishing someone's reputation, expelling them from school, and inciting others to humiliate them in their own homes. All this was like stabbing a knife into their hearts.

Wang Hao, belatedly realizing that the target of these actions was Bai Lu, his sister-in-law, immediately turned his head, expecting to see a face darkened by the desire to kill in Xiao Cheng. However, it wasn't the case.

Xiao Cheng's expression was unexpectedly calm.

"Cheng, Cheng Ge?" Wang Hao was a little scared of Xiao Cheng's current demeanor, feeling like it was the calm before a storm.

After all, the clear sky that was there just a moment ago had darkened, covered by layer upon layer of ominous clouds.

As if the next moment would bring forth a storm with howling winds and torrential rain.

However, Xiao Cheng didn't do anything. His expression remained normal, and he calmly said, "Let's go."

They proceeded according to the original route to Pingcheng.

The motorcycle was different from the ones Li Shuixian and the others had ridden; it was rented separately, with Wang Hao driving.

The cold wind whistled past their ears as the bumpy road undulated, mirroring the ups and downs of his unsettled heart.

Xiao Cheng didn't speak throughout the journey.

Wang Hao, who had been pondering the whole way without finding any clarity, finally understood when Xiao Cheng, who had said he wanted Bai Lu just two days ago, expressed concern and then promptly returned. Apparently, he cared a lot about Bai Lu.

But now, when Bai Lu was being bullied, why was he not doing anything?

Could it be that it wasn't good to act against a group of women?

Wang Hao was full of doubts. Upon arriving in Pingcheng, Xiao Cheng said a sentence, and the route changed. Instead of going to inspect the store, they went to Pingcheng High School. Finally, everything became clear.

Cheng Ge was going to collect debts.

After collecting these debts, Bai Lu would be able to deal with those unruly girls herself.

Three years ago, Pingcheng High School added a new student dormitory building using funds from above. There was a slight accident in the middle of it, and although the dormitory was built, the funds allocated from above had not arrived yet. The deadline for the final payment, agreed upon by the school and the building material supplier, had passed, and they couldn't pay.

The building material supplier didn't dare confront the public school, so they entrusted this matter to the big boss.

The person dispatched by the big boss was notorious on the streets, ruthless and cruel, cold-blooded and merciless—a cold-faced Yama, Xiao Cheng.

The client and the big boss had a deadline for the final payment. The deadline given to Xiao Cheng, however, was different from others; it was the longest among all.

Because the big boss trusted Xiao Cheng's abilities and knew he wouldn't fail, so he always gave him the longest deadline.

Long enough to directly coincide with the client's deadline.

Xiao Cheng held this extended deadline, leaving behind a trail of usable favors for future endeavors.

Those who had been given leniency by Xiao Cheng weren't fools; they all knew that favors had to be repaid.

It was only a matter of time.

The principal of Pingcheng High School was one of them.

While he was losing hair over his worries, sleepless and restless, fearing that the debt collectors from the underworld would come to his home, forcing him to sell fields and properties to repay the debt...

Xiao Cheng appeared, accompanied by only four people, coming to his home. Without weapons, and calmly asked, "When are you going to pay the money?" After getting the answer, he left.

Even though the answer was far from the actual deadline for payment, Xiao Cheng didn't take any action. He simply left.

The principal knew that he owed a great favor.

What surprised him even more was that after three years, when Xiao Cheng came back, he asked for nothing. He only instructed him to handle a simple task, something that could be done effortlessly.

Even after seeing Xiao Cheng off, the principal found it hard to believe, suspecting that he might be seeing things.

He took off his glasses, wiped them with his sleeve, put them back on, and stared at the figure on the motorcycle until it disappeared.

Only then did he confirm that the person who came to him was indeed Xiao Cheng, that infamous and unfeeling bully rumored in the streets.

His understanding was shattered once again.

Leaving behind favors could be advantageous.

When it was time to reclaim those favors, Xiao Cheng didn't seek any benefits and did it only for a girl who was struggling academically.

"Truly shocking..."

Wang Hao found a spacious store, well-located with good Feng Shui, and Xiao Cheng inspected it all. Once finished, he contacted the construction team to clean and renovate, making sure to instruct them to clear the warehouse first.

The warehouse contained Bai Lu's chestnuts and needed to be managed.

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Chapter 5: Hello Chang’an

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Chapter 5: Seriously Ill

The carriage appeared ordinary on the outside but concealed something special within. On the tea table, a set of finely crafted jade tea cups gleamed with a mirror-like smoothness, clearly not ordinary items.

However, this alone was not enough to capture her attention.

The girl gently picked up one of the tea cups and noticed a familiar pale blue seal at the bottom.

This tea set was part of a wedding gift she had prepared for a friend years ago.

Her friend had married into the Wei family at the Marquis of Zheng’s residence in the capital at the age of fifteen, and the gifts had been sent to the Marquis’s residence at that time.

So… could it be that someone from the Wei family had come to Hezhou?

Who could it be?

While the identity wasn't initially important, knowing which member of the Wei family was here might help her deduce their purpose.

The girl carefully examined the furnishings inside the carriage, finding no signs of a woman’s belongings.

Someone who could casually use items she had once gifted would have to be a direct descendant of the Wei family.

There were only two main branches in the Wei family. The former Marquis of Zheng had long passed away, and the eldest son, Wei Qin, had inherited the title of Marquis. Her friend was the current Marquisate of Zheng.

The second son, Wei Yu, a legitimate younger brother of Wei Qin, served as a Deputy Minister of Justice.

Since the Marquis of Zheng, Wei Qin, favored luxurious splendor, and the carriage was decorated in a minimalist style, it was unlikely to belong to him.

The carriage lacked the Wei family crest, clearly intended to avoid revealing its owner’s identity. So, could it be that the second son, Wei Yu, had come in disguise?

If that were the case, then his visit here must be for something unusual.

The girl thought for a moment and quickly made a decision.

She retrieved several neatly folded sheets of coarse paper from her robe, placing them under the silver coin she had left earlier, then jumped out of the carriage with the boy.

Upstairs by the window, a servant frowned. "My lord, they’ve left."

Earlier, the servant had noticed the two youths sneaking into the carriage and was about to catch them when his lord had said, "No need," and continued watching indifferently from the window, as though it had nothing to do with him.

The items in the carriage were not only valuable but also included confidential government documents. If anything were to go missing, what would they do?

But, as his mistress often remarked—his lord’s behavior had always been eccentric.

The "eccentric" young lord casually replied, "Let’s go," and slowly turned away, heading downstairs with his servant.

It was early spring, and the young lord wore his hair tied back with a jade crown. He was dressed in a robe of plum-colored brocade, tall and elegant, his skin pale and his features intense.

He moved with an air of aloof grace, like a lone pine standing on a distant mountain, distinct from the noisy marketplace around him, attracting the attention of passersby.

The girl, hiding in the shadows, noted his handsome face and watched as he indeed boarded the carriage. She couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

Though she had never met the second son, Wei Yu, she had heard of his striking appearance, said to rival that of Pan An, and that he was in his early twenties.

But somehow, there was something faintly familiar about him.

Perhaps it was because she had met the Marquis of Zheng, and there were always some similarities between close brothers.

With this, she could be certain—this man was indeed the second son of the Wei family.

Feeling relieved, the girl led the boy away.

"Lord, did we lose anything?" the servant asked quietly from outside the carriage—though he suspected that if they had, it would be his lord’s own fault. At least if they chased after them now, they might still catch up.

Over the years, he had cleaned up countless messes left by his lord’s strange behavior.

A voice from within the carriage replied with a hint of amusement, "Not only did we not lose anything, but we gained something."

The young lord, with his long, slender fingers, picked up the silver coin.

Then, slowly unfolding the paper beneath it, he looked down at it in silence for a moment before murmuring, "Such a generous gift, and for merely staying a moment longer—how overly polite."

A moment later, his large hand lifted the carriage curtain, and he gazed in the direction where the two "youths" had disappeared.

…

By noon, the two "youths" had found an inn in the city and rented two upper rooms.

After a servant delivered hot water, the girl bathed behind a painted screen. Stepping out of the tub, she stood barefoot, drying her body with a clean cotton towel, and glanced over at her reflection.

She appeared to be barely past fifteen, tall but frail, her limbs weak, and her delicate hands soft. Clearly, this was the body of a pampered young lady.

In summary—pleasant to look at, but useless.

Still, since she had inherited this body, it wasn’t up to her to complain.

Strength could be gained through hard work.

She grabbed a fresh robe she had bought from a nearby tailor and started to dress. As she slid her arm through the sleeve, she suddenly paused.

Her pale skin was smooth, and a striking red birthmark stood out on her chest.

She looked down at the mark, and a memory flashed before her eyes—a young girl, barely learning to walk, falling face-first into the mud, her dirty face covered in tears.

That girl, called Ah Li, also had a red birthmark on her chest.

But Ah Li was only four years old.

Brushing the thought aside, the girl continued dressing, tying her robe swiftly and expertly.

As she dried her hair, a knock sounded at the door. "Sir, the meal you ordered has arrived."

"Come in," the girl replied, disguising her voice.

The servant entered, only to see the "young man" standing with his back to him, drying his hair. The new robe and the youth's posture exuded an air of elegance.

Not lingering, the servant assumed this was some noble young man and quickly set the table before leaving.

As the girl laid down her towel and approached the table, she called out, "Come in."

The boy, who had been waiting outside, pushed the door open. He had washed his face and changed into clean clothes, though his hair was still messy from his haste.

"Why were you waiting outside?" she asked as she sat down.

"I was waiting for you, sir. I cannot let you wait for me," he replied, referring to her as "sir" as they had agreed upon on their way to the inn.

"Let’s eat," the girl said, picking up her chopsticks.

"Do I... do I eat this too?"

The girl raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to order you a separate meal?"

"No, no!" the boy quickly shook his head. "I’ve never shared a meal with anyone before."

"You saved me, brought me out of Zhoujia Village… gave me food, new clothes!" The boy pointed toward the next room, his gratitude palpable, but guilt began to surface. "You even let me sleep in such a soft bed... I... I should do something. Otherwise, otherwise…"

He struggled to think of what he could offer in return, unable to come up with anything "equivalent" to make him feel deserving of such kindness.

"Should I break one of your legs?" the girl asked expressionlessly. "Would that make you feel better?"

The boy’s eyes widened, his voice trembling. "If… if that’s what you really need…"

The girl stared at him, speechless.

In the end, the boy couldn’t bring himself to eat at the same table as her. He took a bowl, filled it with food, and ate in a corner, crouched on the floor.

After the meal, when the servant came to clear the dishes, the boy helped him clean up.

Once everything was tidy, he stood there, waiting, his eyes brimming with hope, as if expecting the girl to give him more tasks—preferably difficult ones.

The girl glanced away from his overly innocent eyes in silence.

Following her gaze, the boy noticed two clean radishes in a bamboo basket.

In the upper rooms, where everything was well-stocked, radishes were often eaten raw like fruit in winter and spring.

Next, the girl saw the boy pull out a cloth-wrapped bundle from his robe—a knife.

In an instant, the radish skins were flying.

Soon, a perfectly peeled radish was presented to her. "Here, sir!"

The girl looked at the knife in his hand, surprised.

Such skill with a knife—

What a waste that it hadn’t been used to cut people.

She studied the boy before her.

It seemed that, as a child, he had tried to fight back but failed, and after suffering the consequences, he didn’t dare resist anymore.

People refrained from fighting back mostly out of fear.

Once, in a similar situation, she had also refrained—

Not because of fear, but because of a debt owed.

The debt to her blood relatives had been repaid in full, with her own blood and life.

From now on, no one could threaten or manipulate her for any reason. She would do only what she wanted, walk only the path she chose.

For example—

She didn’t really feel like eating the radish.

"Too spicy, not to my liking."

"Oh…"

"You can eat it." The girl stood up, heading toward the bed. "I’m going to rest. If you’re not tired, keep an ear out for any

news in the city."

"Yes, sir!"

In the middle of the night, when everything was quiet, the young boy sleeping next door was suddenly awakened by a noise.

In a panic, he rushed to the other room.

"Sir!"

No response.

The boy clenched his teeth, kicked open the door, and saw the bed curtains falling, the figure inside tossing restlessly.

"Sir, what’s wrong?"

The girl’s cheeks were flushed red, her breathing quick and shallow. Hearing his voice, she murmured softly, "Water..."

The boy immediately brought a cup of water to her lips, but the girl didn’t seem to recognize him, unable to drink.

Desperate, he splashed cold water on her face, but it didn’t work. He hurriedly pressed his fingers to her forehead, only to be startled by the intense heat. She was burning up.

What should he do?

He had never experienced something like this before.

Should he call a physician? But what if the doctor asked too many questions...

While he hesitated, the girl suddenly collapsed unconscious.

The boy panicked.

In the end, he rushed out, bolted down the stairs, and yelled to the innkeeper in the dead of night, "Call a physician! Hurry!"

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Chapter 4: Hello Chang’an

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Chapter 4: The Careless Gift

At that moment, the door was suddenly pushed open from the inside.

The boy was startled and took two steps back.

"Where are you from? What are you here for?" A middle-aged man, dressed as a steward, spotted the boy, frowning while sizing him up.

"My dad sent me over," the boy said timidly.

"Who's your dad?"

"Zhou... Zhou Ershuan."

The steward squinted, recognizing the boy a little. "From Zhoujia Village?"

The boy quickly nodded and stepped forward to hand over the deposit receipt.

The steward, after looking at the receipt, scolded with a stern face, "How did you handle this?! You were supposed to deliver it last night, but my master waited all night!"

They had struggled to find someone last-minute in the middle of the night, but it was useless. The master's mind was still fixated on the painting previously sent from Zhoujia Village. He was so upset he had been throwing things in a tantrum!

The steward had just been scolded and was about to take people to Zhoujia Village to handle the situation.

As he spoke, the steward glanced at the donkey cart behind the boy.

"Please calm down," the boy said nervously. "My dad hurt his leg yesterday and couldn't move, which caused the delay. I came in his place last night, but I got lost and by the time I arrived, the city gates were already closed..."

"Enough!" The steward had no patience for the boy's explanations. "Just tell me, is the item here?"

"It's... it's on the cart."

The steward gestured for a few servants to come over.

A large black cloth bag, hidden under the funeral goods, was hauled down by several servants. The contents inside seemed to struggle faintly.

The steward noticed something off. "Why is it so heavy?"

The boy whispered, "My dad said that in addition to the one from the painting, there’s another good one, and he told me to bring it along... Since my dad couldn’t come personally, the job wasn’t done perfectly, so consider it an apology to the master."

Hearing this, the steward's expression softened.

There was no reason to be overly harsh; the Zhoujia Village folks had always known their place, never daring to play tricks on his master. So, the steward tossed a money bag to the boy. "If you're late next time, I won’t be as forgiving."

"Yes, thank you, thank you." The boy bowed.

"Wait." As the servants passed by with the bag, the steward considered opening it to check.

The boy's heart jumped.

However, the knot tying the black cloth bag was extremely tight. As the steward struggled to untie it, they suddenly heard a shout from the alley: "Come quick, the cat ran this way!"

It was the rowdy voices of boys chasing cats and dogs in the early morning—

The steward, not wanting to attract attention, urged the servants, "Take it inside."

After all, it wasn’t their first deal with Zhoujia Village, and those people always knew their place. They’d never dare to cheat his master; otherwise, they’d pay the price.

Once the group had entered the courtyard and closed the door, the boy wasted no time, quickly driving the cart away.

As the donkey cart passed through the alley, a girl, who had just drawn attention away from the situation, nodded in approval. "Well done."

The boy, eyes gleaming with a mix of tension and excitement from being praised, handed the money bag to her.

The girl took it with one hand while patting the donkey's head with the other, her eyes full of approval.

Meanwhile, the steward, leading the servants, had just carried the bag into the inner courtyard when a man in his thirties, dressed in fine clothes, came out.

The man, with dark circles under his eyes, was plump and angry. He kicked the steward, "Didn’t I tell you to go to Zhoujia Village? What are you still doing here! Where did you find this low-grade trash? Throw it out immediately!"

The steward, clutching his stomach, grinned despite the pain. "My lord, please calm down! This is from Zhoujia Village... the one in the painting!"

His master had peculiar tastes since childhood, particularly uninterested in the girls at the brothels, instead favoring virtuous, pure women. Ever since he saw the painting sent from Zhoujia Village a few days ago, he couldn't take his eyes off it, as if he’d been bewitched, constantly yearning for the woman in the picture.

Hearing this, the man's anger subsided, replaced by a gleam of excitement. He urged the servants to take the "person" to his room.

The steward, trying to please, said, "My lord, the girl might not be clean. Should I have the maids take her to be washed first?"

"Let me see her first to check if she’s as heavenly as in the painting!"

The man, eager, rushed forward to untie the bag. The more difficult it was to untie the knot, the more his anticipation grew. If something is too easy to obtain, it loses its appeal.

Finally, after much effort, the bag was untied, revealing two inner bags.

The man opened one first, and his smile froze instantly. With a horrified shout, he stumbled back. "What is this monstrous thing?!"

Inside was an ugly, one-eyed woman, her mouth gagged.

The steward, equally shocked, quickly regained his composure. "My lord, calm down. This is just a bonus... If you don’t like her, I'll have her thrown out immediately!"

What kind of business was Zhoujia Village running? Even if it was a buy-one-get-one deal, this bonus was way too careless!

"Get her out, now!" The man, fuming, ordered the woman to be thrown out. Desperate to make up for the mistake, the steward hurriedly opened the second bag, forcing a smile. "My lord, the beauty from the painting is here. Please take a look..."

Before he could finish, his smile froze.

An oppressive silence filled the room.

The man's face turned livid, his lips trembling with rage, nearly fainting.

In the bag was an old man, barely able to open his eyes.

The steward stammered, "This... this must be some mistake!"

How could there be such a terrible mix-up?! And two of them, no less!

...

In the alley, the girl untied the rope around the donkey's neck and patted it. "Let’s go."

As she let the donkey go, the boy, following behind her, asked nervously, "Why did we send them here?"

"Why not earn some silver?" The girl replied, holding up the money bag.

"If they hadn’t tried to sell us, we wouldn’t have sold them. Simple as that."

The boy, still uneasy, said, "But... but they'll figure it out soon."

"They would’ve come looking for us anyway. Instead of waiting, it's better to take the initiative and test things out." The girl’s eyes glinted with thought. Regarding this "master," it seemed the couple hadn’t lied. In fact, it appeared they felt rather secure in his backing.

This wasn’t a place for ordinary people, given how lavishly they operated.

The boy, half understanding, hurried after her. "So, can we go to the authorities now?"

"Definitely not."

"Huh..." The boy was even more confused and anxious. "Then where are we going?"

"They’re here." The girl quickened her pace. "Run—"

Before the boy could fully react, he instinctively followed her, running.

Sure enough, moments later, angry shouts could be heard behind them. "Hurry! Catch that brat!"

They sprinted through the long alley into the bustling marketplace.

Their pursuers were close, but the girl led the boy through the crowd, dodging between people until they hid behind a kite vendor’s stall and slipped into a parked carriage on the side of the street.

She had spotted that the carriage was empty, making it the perfect temporary hiding place.

Peeking through a gap in the curtain, she saw the steward and his men continue the chase, soon disappearing into the crowd.

Only then did the girl silently let the curtain drop.

Just as she was about to leave, something caught her eye, and her gaze fell on an item on the small tea table inside the carriage.

She stared at it in surprise.

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Chapter 3: Hello Chang’an

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**Chapter 3: Have They Escaped?**

On a chilly spring night, the moonlight was cold and still.

In Zhoujia Village, the sound of a donkey cart startled a pack of barking dogs.

The villagers here were different from those elsewhere; even at midnight, when they heard a commotion, some hurriedly lit lamps to check, displaying a peculiar vigilance.

A girl hidden among a pile of funeral paper offerings in the donkey cart looked at the four or five lights that lit up one after another and lowered her voice, saying, “Just drive the cart; don’t look around.”

“That’s Old Shuan’s cart, isn’t it? What’s he doing out at this hour?”

“Don’t you know? Old Shuan has struck it big this time... They say it’s rare and valuable goods.”

“Tsk, Old Shuan has had good fortune these past few years…”

“Just needs a son.”

“Isn’t he raising one? In a couple of years, he can find a wife for him, and once he has a grandson, it’ll be his own!”

Several men huddled together, chuckling, and called out toward the direction of the cart, “Old Shuan! Why are you out delivering at midnight?”

“Yeah, be careful not to run into ghosts on the way! Old Shuan, do you want us to come with you?”

In the darkness, the cart driver’s body stiffened, and his voice trembled like a mosquito: “What… should we do…”

The voice behind the cart urged, “Go, quickly.”

“Mm…!”

The boy, wearing an old lambskin hat and wrapped in a heavy cotton coat to disguise his figure in the night, felt his heart racing and dared only to keep his gaze fixed ahead, urging the donkey cart to go faster.

“What’s wrong with Old Shuan?”

“Why isn’t he responding?”

The men exchanged glances, and their expressions suddenly changed.

“Quick, let’s check his house!”

“Old Liu, you come with me to chase him!”

Soon, the village was filled with the sound of gongs, which usually could only be heard when the water was being drawn.

They weren’t a trained military force, but the principle of “a loss for one is a loss for all” was ingrained in them; their vigilance exceeded that of ordinary people—when personal interests were at stake, especially regarding unearned benefits, the initiative was often strong, requiring no teaching or prompting.

“Quick! Catch up to them!”

Aside from the two who initially ran to chase, others soon rode mules to follow.

Hearing the increasingly loud sounds behind him and imagining the terrifying consequences of being caught, the boy was drenched in sweat, his mind echoing with a single thought—indeed, there was no way to escape!

In the next moment, he suddenly felt a rush of wind behind him.

The girl, hidden among the funeral offerings, suddenly stood up, leaped onto the wooden board beside the boy, seized the donkey reins from his hand with one hand, and with the other raised a whip, said, “Hold on tight; if you fall off, I won’t turn back to save you.”

The donkey cart surged forward rapidly.

The boy clung tightly to the cart board, his eyes momentarily fixed on the girl’s half-tied ponytail flying in the wind and the yellowish-white paper money fluttering off her shoulder.

As the cart sped up, the person chasing on the mule became increasingly agitated.

“What the hell… is this a donkey cart?!”

Running this fast, even a donkey would hardly believe it!

With such a disparity in speed, the person driving the cart deliberately took confusing paths, and after half an hour of pursuit, he finally lost the trail completely.

The sounds in Zhoujia Village grew chaotic, with most villagers already awakened and rushing towards the headman’s house.

“Old Shuan’s house is full of blood!”

“A half-dead young woman… how is that possible!”

“Why hasn’t Old San returned? She can’t have really escaped, right?!”

“I refuse to believe it; no one has ever escaped alive from here!”

“Village head, what should we do?”

“Why the rush? Even if they escape Zhoujia Village, they can’t leave Hezhou?” The man seated in a chair, wearing a robe, looked impatient: “Though it probably won’t be a big deal, this commotion is quite troublesome! Once dawn breaks, I’ll head into the city to make arrangements; each family should contribute ten taels of silver, and Old Shuan will be reimbursed later.”

Among the crowd, while some were unwilling and grumbled a few complaints, they had no choice but to comply.

A nearby limping woman, pouring water for everyone, pressed her cracked lips tightly together upon hearing these words.

...

Did we really escape?

The boy sat in the donkey cart, cold sweat still lingering, staring blankly back toward the direction of Zhoujia Village, now out of sight.

“Did we… really escape?” he cautiously asked the girl, glancing at her seemingly unreal profile.

He hadn’t dared to dream of this for a long time.

As a child, he had dreamed of it, only to wake up injured, always shedding tears in the darkness for a long time.

But he heard the girl, her gaze fixed ahead, say, “Not yet.”

The boy was taken aback.

The girl glanced at the road ahead, assessed the direction, and headed east.

As dawn approached, the donkey cart slowly stopped in front of the city gate.

The girl looked up at the words “Hezhou” inscribed above the city wall—

Initially, when she heard that couple speak, it was with a Hezhou accent.

The grand map of the Da Sheng dynasty was something she had memorized since childhood, and having been to Hezhou before, she could deduce the official road into the city from her memory.

Thus, the world was indeed the same as before, everything in its original form, only she had “died and been reborn” in another body.

After the fifth watch, the city gate opened slowly.

The gate guards yawned as they began another day of inspections.

Outside the city gate had already gathered quite a few people; at this hour, those entering the city were mostly small merchants going to the morning market. A boy and girl, dressed plainly and pulling a cart filled with funeral offerings, did not stand out in the crowd.

The guards waved their hands to let them through, not inspecting the items on the cart.

Hearing the two guards chatting casually, the girl lowered her eyelids.

Although during peacetime or non-critical times, it was not necessary to be overly strict with the common people entering and leaving the city, the guards’ laxity clearly indicated the Hezhou government was too loose, with no semblance of law and order.

No wonder.

After entering the city, daylight broke.

“Go buy ten meat buns.” The girl pulled out a piece of broken silver and handed it to the boy. “I only eat meat buns.”

The boy looked at the bun stall she pointed to, cautiously approached, handed over the broken silver with both hands, and earnestly said, “Ten… meat buns.”

“Here!” When he brought the buns back to the girl, his eyes sparkled with an indescribable joy, as if he had accomplished something incredibly far-fetched and remarkable.

The girl took the water jug from the cart, poured water to wash her hands, and took a bite of a bun.

The buns were steaming hot, and eating one made it clear to her that she was still alive.

Only the living can eat.

Living is truly good.

After devouring five buns, the girl noticed the boy standing there motionless and thought for a moment before picking up another bun, telling him, “This is a bun; it’s something you can eat.”

The boy was taken aback.

It’s not that he didn’t know it was a bun…

“C-can I eat it too?” he asked uncertainly.

Looking into those perpetually cautious eyes, the girl nodded and handed him the bun.

Her fingers were slender and fair, even more delicate than the soft bun in her hand, shimmering gently in the morning light.

The boy gazed at her, stunned for a long time, before reaching out to take it.

While eating the buns, the girl’s companion asked for directions to Liu Ke Alley.

...

“How do we say it? Do you remember everything?”

Suppressing his anxiety, the boy nodded, “I remember.”

Liu Ke Alley had only three households.

The only one without a family name on the plaque outside the gate, with only the words “Quiet Wind Courtyard,” was the only one.

The boy led the donkey cart to the back door of that courtyard, swallowed nervously, and mustered his courage to knock on the door.

(End of this chapter)

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Chapter 2: Hello Chang’an

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