Qianshan Village lay deep in the mountains — isolated and desperately poor.
Normally the villagers rarely even saw a bicycle, much less a four-wheeled metal machine.
So when the imposing military-plated jeep crushed along the muddy road at the village entrance, the entire village exploded into excitement.
“Oh my! What kind of vehicle is that? Why is it so big?!”
“That’s a jeep! Only high officials ride those!”
“Which leader came to inspect? Go inform the village chief!”
Children in ragged cotton jackets ran behind the car, noses running, eating dust yet screaming excitedly.
Women along the roadside stopped sewing and craned their necks to peek inside.
“Hey — doesn’t the woman in the passenger seat look familiar?”
“Looks like Su Lao-San’s useless daughter Su Man?”
“Nonsense! Didn’t she get sold to Idiot Wang from the next village? Heard she ran away that night — Zhao Guihua’s been cursing everywhere!”
“Exactly — that unlucky girl wouldn’t have the fortune to ride a jeep!”
The car window wasn’t fully closed.
Their gossip drifted into the vehicle.
Su Man listened expressionlessly, a cold smile forming.
Her reputation in the village had long been ruined by Zhao Guihua — lazy, greedy, unfilial, loose with men…
They’d smeared her for two lifetimes.
Today she would return every bucket of filth.
“Drive straight to the Su house.”
She pointed at the broken earthen courtyard ahead.
“Alright.”
Lu Zhan pressed the accelerator.
The jeep roared, scattering chickens.
It stopped firmly before the wobbling wooden gate.
Inside the yard came laughter and scolding.
“Mom, that girl running away is fine — we already got the bride price.”
It was Su Gang, her useless younger brother, speaking while chewing.
“What if Idiot Wang’s family causes trouble? We can’t refund it!”
“What’s there to fear? She ran herself. Besides, in this cold she probably died in some ditch already.”
Zhao Guihua’s sharp voice carried malicious delight.
“Better dead — saves her from claiming property later!”
“Eat up! I killed this chicken to nourish you. After New Year I’ll find you a better wife!”
The sound of slurping chicken soup followed.
Su Man heard every word.
Her fists clenched, nails digging into flesh.
In her previous life it was the same — sold to a fool, tortured endlessly, while this family of leeches feasted on her price and cursed her death.
Not family.
Enemies.
“Get out.”
Lu Zhan suddenly held her cold fist.
His palm was warm and steady.
“Don’t dirty your hands. I’m here.”
Su Man inhaled. The violence in her eyes cooled into absolute calm.
She pushed open the door and stepped down.
Lu Zhan followed like a moving iron tower, blocking the crowd’s gaze.
He retrieved two bottles of Moutai, two cartons of cigarettes, and a large bag of candy from the trunk.
Not like gift-giving.
More like a raid.
The gate was only loosely closed, bolted from inside — clearly hiding food from neighbors.
Villagers gathered.
“Su Man, what are you doing?!”
She ignored them.
She stepped back and kicked with full strength — for both lifetimes of hatred.
BANG!!!
The fragile wooden gate shattered; the bar snapped and the doors collapsed in dust.
The courtyard was exposed.
In the center, a small table.
Zhao Guihua, Su Lao-San, and Su Gang sat around a pot of stewed chicken, mouths greasy.
Su Gang held a drumstick mid-bite — it dropped into chicken droppings.
“My drumstick!!”
He cried miserably.
Zhao Guihua jumped up, nearly choking on a bone, grabbing a broom and cursing before seeing clearly:
“Which bastard kicked my door?!”
“Tired of living?! I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
The dust settled.
Su Man stood in the doorway against the light — new dress, leather shoes, neat hair.
Completely out of place in the ruined yard.
She smiled coldly.
“Zhao Guihua, still loud as ever.”
“Enjoying chicken bought with the money from selling me? Not afraid of choking?”
Zhao Guihua froze.
She rubbed her eyes, unable to believe the radiant woman was the submissive stepdaughter.
“Su… Su Man?”
“You dead girl! You dare come back?!”
Her anger overtook shock.
“You broke my door — you’ll pay! Perfect timing, Idiot Wang’s family wants you — we’ll tie you back!”
She rushed forward swinging the broom toward Su Man’s face.
The villagers gasped.
Su Man didn’t move.
Not even a blink.
Just as the filthy broom was about to hit—
A military boot kicked out.
“Scram!”
The shout thundered.
Zhao Guihua flew backward like a rag doll.
She crashed into the pot of chicken soup, scalding herself and screaming like a slaughtered pig.
Lu Zhan lowered his leg and stood before Su Man.
One hand in pocket, the other holding Moutai, his gaze icy over the three people.
“I’d like to see who dares touch her.”
The courtyard froze.
Su Lao-San dropped his chopsticks.
Su Gang shrank trembling into the wall.
This man…
was terrifying — like a demon crawling out of hell.