CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: TURNING BACK TO LOOK, ONLY TO FIND NO ONE BEHIND

So she coughed and chuckled lightly, "I just went out to handle some errands, how come someone already wants to pin trouble on me?"

Now Ruan Mian had long since changed out of her luxurious clothes and returned with a cartload of supplies.

Their speculations were naturally proven wrong.

Even Qi Nanfeng didn’t understand what she was actually doing.

In the morning, she clearly had to deliver goods to the Magistrate’s gate, yet now she’s back with so many good things?

Without thinking, he said sharply, "Looks like the Lord Prefect gave you quite a few benefits. You’re still young and beautiful. When you married me, why weren’t you so diligent then?"

Having said this, the Liu Family added fuel to the fire.

"Why did you bring this jinx back again?! Her whole family was wiped out, aren’t you afraid those killers will follow and implicate our whole group?"

"Ruan Mian, oh Ruan Mian, I see you really don’t think of our lives as lives!"

Saying this, they rushed in front of Shaoxi, pointing at her nose scolding.

Ruan Mian wanted to intervene, but unexpectedly Shaoxi suddenly reversed her grip, twisting her hand backward!

Only a crack was heard, the sound of bone breaking instantly sent Liu Family howling in pain.

The government officer’s ears were almost worn out from her screams.

He simply took out a piece of cloth and stuffed it into her mouth, preventing her from making any sound.

Qi Nanfeng’s face drastically changed, he wanted to speak but was directly ignored by Ruan Mian.

She held several large boxes and cheerfully distributed some baked goods to everyone, even the people from the Uncle’s Mansion got a share.

She also handed out newly bought small copper stoves, telling them.

"This small copper stove is much warmer than the previous pottery. Later on, light some charcoal, put it in, and you can keep warm wherever you go. I also bought some charcoal."

Additionally, she took down a pot of chicken soup.

She had brought this from Ding Cheng’s residence, besides, there were still a lot of delicious food but she didn’t take them out all at once.

She called over Cui Zhu: "Zhu’er, go heat this pot of chicken soup for everyone to eat with rice."

With the natural disaster having arrived, being able to eat a meal was good enough, let alone hoping to have meat.

Ruan Mian’s actions were clearly beyond their expectations.

Now, who even cared about Qi Mansion? The government officers eagerly started fires; they had waited all day just for this moment.

Seeing this group full of energy, while her own family was all dirt-faced and disheveled.

The old mother Liu Family was still in tears of pain, and that muddleheaded sister was missing.

Clearly, they were Ruan Mian’s in-laws, yet she preferred to give food to unrelated people at Uncle’s Mansion rather than giving a bit to Qi Mansion!

Qi Nanfeng felt a raging anger, like a flood breaking its dam, surging forth!

He ground his molars, hobbling over to Ruan Mian’s side, gripping her arm harshly.

Facing his bloodshot eyes, Ruan Mian was calm with a hint of sarcasm in her smile.

"What? Is Mr. Qi here to ’beg’ for a bowl of chicken soup?"

Qi Nanfeng was choked by Ruan Mian’s words, before he could speak, Ruan Mian decisively shook off his hand and left without looking back.

Before she left, she didn’t forget to tell him: "I’d rather feed it to the dogs than give it to you. After all, a good dog is much more useful than you."

In just a few words, Qi Nanfeng felt a stabbing pain all over his body.

He almost ground his molars to pieces, staring incredulously at Ruan Mian’s departing figure, unable to recover for a long time.

Back then, this woman who kept his home while he was away, serving diligently, how did she become like this!!?

Could she have been replaced?

He found it unimaginable.

And this incident wasn’t over, noise came from outside the post station.

"You bitch! You bitch, where do you think you’re running to? I’m telling you, I’m the master’s woman, and you dared to steal the master’s purse. See if I don’t beat you to death!"

The commotion outside drew Ruan Mian’s attention.

Not just her, but even the government officer and several onlooking women couldn’t resist going out.

Unexpectedly, running breathlessly towards the post station was the disheveled Qi Lin.

She was still wearing the clothes she’d entered the mansion with. Although she looked disheveled now, her bare arms and legs made the women scornful.

They started gossiping.

"Oh, looks like Nanny He was right, this Qi Family girl really has no shame. See, wearing clothes from those women trying to sneak into the Magistrate’s pretending to seduce the Lord to escape exile!"

"A perfectly fine young maiden stooping to such shameless means, thanks to the wonderful teachings of the Liu Family daughter."

"Indeed, stealing someone’s belongings and getting chased to the door!"

Liu Family followed the sound, seeing it was Qi Lin, hurried forward: "Linlin! My daughter, where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you!"

The well-dressed girl who had chased her here immediately understood the situation.

She sneered: "So, a criminal?"

As she spoke, she told the approaching government officer: "Lord, this disgraceful convict came to my mansion, taking advantage of the confusion, stole my master’s purse. It contained many valuable items belonging to my family! Have her return them immediately!"

Ruan Mian’s brow slightly twitched; it seemed Qi Lin took advantage of the chaos to steal and escape from the Magistrate.

But didn’t expect to be caught by this woman... whether she was the Magistrate’s concubine or wife, she chased all the way here.

At this moment, Qi Lin was stubbornly denying everything, hissing through gritted teeth.

"That wasn’t yours! Besides, the Magistrate was skinned and hung for all to see, who are you threatening? You’re just a guilty minister’s family too, aren’t you afraid of being caught by the governor and sent to exile?"

The woman, hearing this, became furious: "How dare you curse me?"

She glanced left and right, seeing this, Ruan Mian discreetly handed a broken silver to the government officer.

Followed by a meaningful look.

The officer instantly understood, immediately took a bucket of horse dung from the stable and handed it to the woman.

The woman picked up the bucket and unhesitatingly poured it over Qi Lin from head to toe!

The pungent smell hit the nose, causing everyone to hold their noses and back away in disgust.

Even Liu Family retreated several steps!

Qi Lin stood in shock, trying to speak, but the horse dung dripping down her nose landed in her mouth.

Causing the bystanders to burst into laughter.

The woman felt relieved, her hands on her hips scolding Qi Lin thoroughly, using every filthy word which even the usually sharp-tongued Liu Family couldn’t rebut.

Qi Nanfeng felt utterly humiliated, not showing his face.

Qi Lin, looking pitifully for help from her family, turned around only to find no one behind her.

Her emotions suddenly spiraled out of control, yelling at Liu Family: "Mother, aren’t you going to help me?! Who did I do all this for!!"