Chapter 5 - 5 5 Going Too Far

Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Going Too Far Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Going Too Far Carrying the rabbit, Chen Jie hurried toward his home and soon returned to his thatched cottage.

Then he noticed that there were a lot of people gathered in his courtyard.

He was shocked, *Could it be that Su Yunjin and her sister had committed suicide at home while he was out?*

Remembering Su Yunjin’s decisiveness that morning, he thought she was capable of such an act.

With these thoughts, Chen Jie rushed quickly toward his courtyard, and as he got closer, he began to hear the voices inside.

“You Su-named, I think you’re tired of living, daring to dig wild vegetables on my turf. If you don’t give me an explanation today, I’ll skin you alive, you worthless piece of trash.”

The first sound he heard was a coarse, aggressive female voice. Chen Jie recognized it as the voice of Lu San’s wife, Lu Qinsi, a notably fierce woman known as a shrew in the village.

Relying on her husband’s connections with the village fishery, she would often bully others.

And from the few words he heard, Chen Jie quickly understood the situation.

Apparently, just after he had left that morning, Su Yunjin had taken Ruirui, Su Yunrui, to dig wild vegetables outside.

And in those times, wild vegetables weren’t found everywhere, so they had gone to East River.

That area, close to the river, was rich in aquatic plants and had the most wild vegetables, but it had long been occupied by the Lu family.

Lu San’s wife, Lu Qinsi, was the most domineering, marking off an area as her own turf, not allowing others to dig wild vegetables there.

Su Yunjin, being so hungry, went with Ruirui to dig a few wild vegetables, but unexpectedly was caught by Lu Qinsi, and then chased home, threatening to make Su Yunjin pay.

If they didn’t make a Su-named person pay the price this time, anyone would dare to dig wild vegetables on her turf in the future.

This led to the current scene, and Chen Jie frowned slightly, then immediately heard Su Yunjin’s voice coming from the yard, “Sister-in-law Lu, I dug these wild vegetables. This time, I apologize to you and won’t go again.”

“You won’t go again? You still think there will be a next time? You worthless piece of trash, wishful thinking. I’m telling you, return every single wild vegetable you dug today, then kneel and kowtow to me in front of everyone, and I’ll forgive you. Otherwise, I’ll skin you alive.”

Hearing these words, the surrounding villagers frowned slightly. The Lu family’s wife was too domineering. Digging up the wild vegetables and returning them should be enough, why make someone kneel and kowtow?

This was somewhat too bullying.

But no one stepped forward to speak for Su Yunjin, as the Lu family was too troublesome, like a sticky plaster. No one wanted to provoke them.

At this moment, Su Yunjin looked pale. Coming from a scholarly family, she naturally understood the principles of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and sense of shame, but now it was obvious that Lu Qinsi intended to trample on her dignity, and she was unwilling to allow it.

Thinking this, Su Yunjin said, “Sister-in-law Lu, don’t push people too far!”

“Hey, you even dare to talk back? Let’s see if I won’t tear your dog’s mouth, you worthless piece of trash!”

As she spoke, Lu Qinsi prepared to strike. In fact, she had come today to make a display of her power, as recently, people’s resources at home were running low, and those digging wild vegetables were becoming increasingly disrespectful. Occasionally, others would dig some from her turf.

However, those families had men to back them, so she wouldn’t dare to act excessively. But today, even Su Yunjin dared to come and dig, which infuriated her.

Other families had men to support them, but Su Yunjin’s family had a useless gambler who didn’t care about her. Being such a lowly person, how dare she provoke her? All right then, she thought, I’ll just take this weak one to assert my authority.

As Lu Qinsi was about to pounce, the surrounding villagers couldn’t bear to watch. How could a young lady from a scholarly family like Su Yunjin confront a shrew like Lu Qinsi? A beating seemed inevitable.

Su Yunjin’s face was pale at the time, but her eyes showed determination. She had never fought, but she didn’t want to be a victim.

Inside, Ruirui was leaning against the window, looking out, her small black hands clutching the wild vegetables tightly. Her sister had told her to protect the wild vegetables no matter what.

Yet seeing her sister about to be beaten, she was petrified.

Just as Lu Qinsi rushed toward Su Yunjin, a voice came from outside the door.

“What is going on?!”

Hearing the voice, everyone looked outside to see Chen Jie walking in with a large, plump rabbit. The crowd’s eyes filled with envy; that rabbit looked like it weighed seven or eight pounds!

“Jiu Si is back.”

Everyone greeted Chen Jie with smiles and made way at the door for him.

Chen Jie walked in.

Lu Qinsi also saw Chen Jie, especially the fat rabbit in his hand, causing her to gulp involuntarily.

“Chen Jiu Si, you’re back just in time. You should deal with this piece of trash in your house.”

Seeing Chen Jie, Lu Qinsi wasn’t frightened at all. Instead, she seemed more arrogant, as if Chen Jie was someone backing her.

It wasn’t surprising that Lu Qinsi acted this way because Chen Jiu Si used to be a real scoundrel. The last time she had blocked the doorway to bully Su Yunjin, she had even slapped Su Yunjin twice.

At the time, Chen Jiu Si was inside and didn’t dare make a peep. Later, people even said that Chen Jiu Si hadn’t helped his wife but had instead scolded Su Yunjin for causing trouble.

Such a coward, if you don’t bully him, who would you bully?

This had led to Su Yunjin being seen as a soft target who’s easy to bully. With her husband not supporting her and her family in ruins, if she wasn’t easy to bully, who would be?

Lu Qinsi dragged Su Yunjin to stand before Chen Jie and said, “Jiu Si, you’re back just in time. Take care of this piece of trash at your house. She’s completely out of line by digging wild vegetables on my turf. You need to give me an explanation, or your Brother Lu San won’t spare you when he returns.”

Hearing this, everyone looked at Chen Jie, and Su Yunjin glanced at him as well, but her eyes were filled with despair. She knew Chen Jie wouldn’t help her; he was only harsh at home but turned into a coward outside.

Thinking this, she lowered her head, ready to accept humiliation and a beating.

Chen Jie looked at Lu Qinsi, his voice calm as he asked, “What kind of explanation do you want?”

Hearing this, Lu Qinsi thought Chen Jie was frightened and about to give in, so she smiled and said, “Hehe... I knew Brother Jiu Si was the most reasonable. I’m not bullying you. I don’t even want the wild vegetables. Instead, have this lowly woman kowtow and apologize to me, and give me the rabbit in your hand, and this matter will be settled. How about that?”

Ssss~

Hearing this, everyone around gasped. Lu Qinsi was quite shameless, trying to extort an entire fat rabbit over a few wild vegetables. She was truly bullying them excessively.

The Su family’s little young lady was unfortunate, marrying such an incapable fool. The woman even rode his neck and left, and he still endured it.

With a man in the house who’s not tough, the woman was in for a terrible fate.

The people around were sympathetic, lamenting Su Yunjin’s tragic fate. No wonder people said that marriage was like a woman’s second chance at life.

The Su family was once famous for its scholarly reputation in the ten miles around. While Master Su was alive, who didn’t look up to them? But now, the daughter had married Chen Jiu Si, the useless gambler, and was truly out of luck for generations...

Chen Jie didn’t respond, but Lu Qinsi threatened, “Jiu Si, sister-in-law isn’t forcing you. Just give a clear answer if you’re going to apologize or not. I’m telling you now, but when your Brother Lu San comes back tonight, it won’t be such nice talk.”

Hearing this, Chen Jie finally spoke.