“You… you… how come you walk without making a sound? What are you doing standing behind me when I’m talking?”
Zhao Guizhi was so frightened that she stammered.
Seeing Lu Da’s extremely grim expression, the others slipped away like oil under their feet. Zhao Guizhi also wanted to escape, but Lu Da grabbed the clothes on her shoulder. “If A Yao hadn’t stepped forward to save people yesterday, you’d be dead by now. How dare you gossip with the life she saved?”
“Who’s gossiping?”
Since he had already heard everything, Zhao Guizhi decided to go all out and shouted, “The fine flour in your hand is evidence! I’m not the only one saying this—everyone thinks the same!”
“Lu Da, Jiang A Yao was bought by you. Such a thing happened right after she entered your household. I advise you to ask for the betrothal gifts back and marry another woman.”
“Say one more word, and I’ll cut your mouth off. Believe me?”
Lu Da’s face turned livid with rage, his eyes shooting intense killing intent.
Zhao Guizhi’s stubbornness flared up, and she recklessly retorted, “There were so many men in that courtyard. Jiang A Yao might have been defiled there. Didn’t you spend a fortune to marry a wife for carrying on your family line? Why not take this chance to replace her? If you miss this opportunity, there won’t be another later.”
“You’re asking for death!”
Lu Da’s hand suddenly tightened, and the clothes around Zhao Guizhi’s neck choked her until she couldn’t breathe.
Seeing the situation turning dangerous and Zhao Guizhi still being reckless, the villagers who had been hiding nearby rushed out to intervene. “Lu Da, she’s just a gossipmonger. Don’t bother with her.”
“Yeah, killing is against the law. You still have a sister—don’t be so impulsive. It’s not worth it.”
Lu Da knew perfectly well that these people were taking sides, but he also understood that killing this woman now would be useless. These rumors would still follow Jiang A Yao.
Even if Zhao Guizhi stopped talking, others would continue.
The people here couldn’t stand others doing well. They were afraid that one stomp wouldn’t be enough to finish someone off, so they made sure to stomp a few more times.
After some thought, Lu Da dragged Zhao Guizhi toward the courtyard.
“Lu, let go of me! What do you think you’re doing?”
“Help! Lu is causing trouble! Come and see…”
Unable to break free, Zhao Guizhi struggled, cursed, and screamed all the way, but nothing stopped Lu Da. He hauled her, half-dragging and half-pulling, into the courtyard.
The people resting in the courtyard immediately stood up with knives in hand, glaring fiercely at Lu Da and Zhao Guizhi.
Terrified, Zhao Guizhi turned to run but was yanked back by Lu Da.
His strength was immense. Zhao Guizhi stumbled and fell flat on her face, eating a mouthful of dirt.
“What are you doing?”
Scarface heard the commotion and strode out of the house, just in time to witness the scene.
He glared at Lu Da, his voice low and clearly on the verge of anger.
Lu Da glanced at him, threw the bag of fine flour on the ground, and said coldly, “I don’t want this flour anymore. Let me take A Yao away.”
Scarface’s brows furrowed deeply. “Didn’t I tell you? My master still needs the doctor’s care. Once my master recovers, we’ll send her back immediately and even give a reward.”
“I don’t want the reward either. I’m taking A Yao home now…”
“What’s wrong with you? Can’t you understand human language?”
Lu Da’s unyielding attitude infuriated Scarface to the point of drawing his blade, but Lu Da showed no fear. Raising his voice, he declared, “A Yao healing the sick and saving lives is clearly a virtuous deed, yet this woman has been spreading rumors in the village, saying she…”
Lu Da abruptly fell silent, glaring hatefully at Zhao Guizhi.
Scarface, having only heard half the story, asked in confusion, “What did she say about Miss Jiang?”
Lu Da took a deep breath, his eyes reddening as he replied, “She claimed your master’s injuries were beyond treatment, that keeping A Yao here was to defile her… and even said this bag of flour was the payment.”
Lu Da couldn’t continue, and Scarface erupted in anger. He strode over to Zhao Guizhi in three quick steps, grabbed her by the collar, and lifted her like a helpless chick.
Zhao Guizhi struggled to escape but couldn’t break free, her feet kicking futilely in the air.
“You said my master’s injuries were untreatable?”
“Sir… sir, have mercy! I was talking nonsense, just babbling…”
Terrified to the brink of tears, Zhao Guizhi elicited no pity from Scarface—instead, he found her despicable.
Scarface raised his hand and slapped her hard. Zhao Guizhi spun around from the force before collapsing to the ground, blood gushing from her nose and mouth, a large tooth spat out with it.
“What do you take my master for? What do you take us for? Bandits who prey on the weak?”
Scarface hauled Zhao Guizhi up again. She whimpered and cried but still couldn’t avoid another slap.
Another strike landed, symmetrically across her face. Her mouth went numb, blood trickling steadily from her lips.
When Scarface reached for her again, she curled into a ball in fear but failed to evade.
This time, however, he didn’t hit her. Instead, he dragged Zhao Guizhi toward the house.
Her legs gave way in terror, and Scarface pulled her along like a dead dog.
At the doorway, Scarface turned and barked at Lu Da, “You! Get inside too!”
Without hesitation, Lu Da followed.
Inside, the injured man reclined partially upright. Jiang A Yao fanned the stove, brewing medicine, filling the room with a thick herbal scent.
She had overheard Lu Da’s words earlier but was barred from leaving. Distracted, she mechanically fanned the flames, her expression grim.
Scarface entered, glanced at Jiang A Yao, then addressed his master, “Master, this woman is vile! She dared to curse your recovery and slander Miss Jiang. Such malice deserves death!”
At this, Zhao Guizhi whimpered in terror, tears streaming down her face. Her swollen mouth prevented her from pleading; she could only kowtow desperately for mercy.
The injured man sighed, looking from Lu Da to Jiang A Yao. “Killing her solves nothing. The words she spoke will still spread.”
Scarface grew agitated. “Then what should we do, Master? These rumors harm not only Miss Jiang but also you. If exploited by ill-intentioned people in the future…”
He trailed off under the man’s cold gaze, immediately falling silent.
“Miss Jiang and her husband must continue living in this village. For their future, we cannot carelessly kill her.”
The man’s words echoed Lu Da’s own thoughts.
While killing her might offer momentary satisfaction, it would do nothing to protect Jiang A Yao’s reputation—a matter too serious to handle rashly.
It would be best if they stepped forward to explain to the villagers—reasoned, justified, and authoritative—but Lu Da wasn’t sure if his current master would agree.
Thinking this, he steeled himself and declared, “A Yao is here to save people. She has done nothing wrong, yet she faces such slander. If you cannot resolve this properly, I will take her away. We won’t treat these injuries anymore. Do what you want—kill or torture us. We can’t go on living anyway, so we might as well die by a swift blade now.”
With that, Lu Da strode to Jiang A Yao’s side, took her hand, and stood up, turning to leave.