Nian Zhenzhen’s face turned red as Nian Jiaojiao spoke, and she retorted indignantly, “I, I can’t manage it? Mother’s money was for me to buy brushes and ink!”
She had set out with great anticipation to welcome her mother home, only to find her mother returning empty-handed. At the time, she was merely puzzled and didn’t think much of it. Her mother had promised to buy it for her next time she went out. But that evening, her good friend Fang Fang came to visit and secretly told her that her mother had met with her third sister, and they seemed to be getting along very well at the restaurant.
In truth, the atmosphere between Nian Jiaojiao and Mother Nian at the restaurant was far from pleasant; it was even a bit awkward. Fang Fang had only glimpsed them from below the restaurant and had returned to embellish the story. In short, Fang Fang’s words had given Nian Zhenzhen a sense of crisis.
Nian Jiaojiao didn’t care what the female lead was thinking. Not wanting to get entangled with her, she began to chase her away: “Since you know I’ve been kicked out of the Nian family, then I have nothing to do with you. For a stranger to just show up uninvited like this, do you want a beating?”
Nian Jiaojiao took a few more steps closer to Nian Zhenzhen, making Nian Zhenzhen feel a sense of pressure. It was then that she remembered that her sister was the malicious person who wanted to kill her own sister. Nian Zhenzhen subconsciously retreated a few steps, but not wanting to show her fear, she said with a feigned fierceness, “What can you do to me? I’m telling you! In broad daylight, I don’t believe you dare to lay a hand on me!”
“Last time you pushed Fifth Sister into the water, no one saw it. If you dare to act out this time, I’ll definitely have you arrested!”
Nian Jiaojiao glanced at her and sneered, “Heh, this time… I’m afraid no one will see it either…”
Nian Zhenzhen’s heart pounded wildly, and she nervously looked around. Indeed, there were only the two of them in the courtyard. Nian Zhenzhen swallowed and said, “You’re so cruel, I can’t be bothered to talk to someone like you!” With that, Nian Zhenzhen turned and left quickly.
Nian Jiaojiao watched the fleeing figure, her fierce expression softening. She made a face at Nian Zhenzhen’s retreating back.
“Creak…”
The door slowly opened, the dilapidated wooden door emitting a long groan. Three husbands emerged from the room. Although their gazes were unfocused, Nan Qing accurately located Nian Jiaojiao and said, “You’ve scared her so much, aren’t you afraid she’ll hate you? Tomorrow, the village will surely spread news of you trying to harm your sister again.”
Nian Jiaojiao shrugged indifferently: “You understand my fourth sister well, but it doesn’t matter. Let her spread whatever she wants; my reputation is already like this. These scandals can’t really do anything to me.”
As they were chatting, someone else burst in from outside.
“It’s bad! It’s bad! Something terrible has happened!”
A man in disheveled state rushed in rapidly. Nian Jiaojiao couldn’t immediately recall who he was, but Xingyun exclaimed, “Brother Zhang! How did you end up like this?” This Brother Zhang used to be a neighbor to him and his three brothers; they also made a living by hunting.
The man called Brother Zhang bent over, hands on his knees, panting heavily. “Xing, Brother Xingyun, your, your elder brother, it’s bad!”
Nian Jiaojiao was stunned. Xuan Yi? Xingyun hurriedly asked, “What, what happened to my elder brother? Brother Zhang, hurry and tell me!”
Brother Zhang calmed his breathing slightly, took a breath, and shouted, “Your elder brother is surrounded by wolves!”
Hearing this, Xingyun felt his vision darken, and his legs went weak. He almost fell but was promptly supported by Nan Qing from behind. Nan Qing asked Brother Zhang in a deep voice, “What exactly happened? How did he encounter a wolf pack?” Xuan Yi had been hunting in the mountains since he was a child, and his hunting experience was undeniably rich. He knew exactly which areas of the mountain were safe and which were inhabited by fierce beasts. In all his hunting years, though he had occasionally been injured, they were only superficial scratches. But encountering a wolf pack, an incident that threatened his life, was something he had never experienced before.
Indeed, Brother Zhang replied with annoyance, “Alas! It’s all my fault! If it weren’t for me, Brother Xuan Yi wouldn’t have gotten into such a situation…”
“Young Master Tong wanted to hunt a white fox and brought seven or eight guards up the mountain, also needing a guide.”
“I saw the handsome reward, and considering who knows Qinghe Mountain better than Brother Xuan Yi?”
“So, when the other party approached, I suggested finding another person, Brother Xuan Yi, to lead the way. The other party agreed and promised double the reward.”
“It was supposed to be a good thing, alas…”
“Hurry up and say it!” Xingyun urged him anxiously.
Brother Zhang quickly continued, “We were quite lucky. Not long after we went up the mountain, we found traces of the white fox. We chased it to shoot it, but Young Master Tong specifically requested it be captured alive, with the fur intact. So, our group had to pursue it.”
“That white fox was cunning and fast. We chased it for most of the day without catching it, and it ended up running into a dangerous area.”
“Both Brother Xuan Yi and I had decided to give up on the white fox, but Young Master Tong wouldn’t allow it. He insisted we let the white fox escape and, if we didn’t catch it, not only would we not receive payment, but we’d have to compensate him.”
“We couldn’t afford to compensate him, so we had no choice but to chase it, and that’s when… we encountered the wolf pack…”
Saying this, Brother Zhang’s eyes welled up with tears: “Brother Xuan Yi covered our retreat to save me. I managed to escape, but, but Brother Xuan Yi he…”
Hearing that it was Young Master Tong who forced his elder brother into danger, Nan Qing’s vacant eyes flashed with coldness.
Heh.
Young Master Tong?
No matter who you are, Nan Qing remembers this debt.
At this moment, Xingyun couldn’t listen anymore. He dragged his feet and walked outside, “Elder brother! Elder brother!”
Nian Jiaojiao and Yu Chuan quickly pulled him back. “What are you doing?”
Xingyun struggled through his tears, “Wuwuwu… Don’t hold me back, I have to go save my elder brother!”
Nian Jiaojiao frowned and reprimanded, “Calm down!” Perhaps the residual authority of the original host made Xingyun flinch instinctively. He forgot to struggle and could only sob with his head bowed.
Seeing him like this, Nian Jiaojiao softened her tone and said, “Don’t be impulsive. You don’t know the location where your elder brother is in danger. Where will you find him?”
“Besides, your condition isn’t suitable. Even if you managed to find your elder brother, it would just be sending more food to the wolves.”
Xingyun’s face was streaked with tears, his eyes filled with despair. Yet, he saw Nian Jiaojiao turn to Brother Zhang again and ask, “Brother Zhang, do you still remember where Xuan Yi encountered danger?”
Brother Zhang nodded at the question. Nian Jiaojiao looked around and found a rusty sickle. “Then I’ll trouble Brother Zhang to take me there.”
Brother Zhang gritted his teeth upon hearing this: “Brother Xuan Yi put himself in danger for me. With his skills, he could have escaped on his own. Don’t worry, I will also go to rescue Brother Xuan Yi!”
Nian Jiaojiao nodded: “Then let’s set off.”