Another night passed with Zhang Zhi burning with recurrent fever, his survival hanging in the balance.
Just as Zhang Family’s Old Woman was feeding him medicine, shouts erupted from the doorway.
“Zhang family’s new bride, get out here! You damned whore, give me back my son!”
Why had Liu Ming’s widowed father come?
Meng Xizhou tilted her head toward Zhang Family’s Old Woman. “How does he know I’m involved? Did you tell him?”
The old woman’s eyes darted evasively. “Bullshit! I’ve no time for that ruffian!”
Meng Xizhou snorted coldly and rose without another word, grabbing the old woman’s chamber pot and kicking the door open. She flung its contents directly at the man outside.
Warm, viscous liquid drenched him head to toe, the uniquely pungent odor permeating the air.
“You’re fucking dead!” Liu Ming’s father roared, shaking his head wildly, his face purpling with rage.
“Want a son? Go dig one up yourself,” Meng Xizhou retorted. “Or have my mother-in-law bear you one. After all, in-laws should support each other.”
“You killed my son! A life for a life!” the man bellowed, then abruptly changed his tone. “Or you could bear me a new one yourself, and we’ll call it even…”
So that was his vile scheme?
Meng Xizhou’s eyes turned dangerous. She swung the chamber pot hard against Liu Ming’s father’s head. With a loud clang, the man crumpled to the ground unconscious.
She strode back inside, snatched the medicine bowl from the old woman’s hands and smashed it on the floor, then bound the struggling woman with rope.
“How dare you, you little beast! What do you think you’re doing?” the old woman shrieked in fury.
Finding her too noisy, Meng Xizhou gagged her with a cloth strip.
After tying them both up, she dragged the old woman and the unconscious man like dead dogs to the Liu residence and tossed them onto the same bed.
“Mmph! Mmph!” The old woman struggled violently.
“Truly close in-laws, sharing a bed now.” Meng Xizhou bent down and patted the old woman’s cheek. “See you tomorrow.”
The next morning, Xiaohe Village erupted in scandal!
Villagers watched as Zhang Family’s Old Woman crawled out of the Liu house, clothes in disarray, followed by Liu Ming’s father hastily pulling up his trousers.
Both were covered in scratches, screaming insults and clawing at each other as they ran, their vulgar shouts echoing through half the village.
“You old hag, daring to climb into my bed! I’ll beat you to death!”
“Bah! That pathetic worm between your legs isn’t even fit to tease dogs with!”
The villagers abandoned their farming, tucking their hands into their sleeves to watch the spectacular drama of in-laws turned illicit lovers.
Ultimately, the old woman gained the upper hand. Hair disheveled like a bird’s nest, she cursed her way home.
Meng Xizhou stood waiting at the gate with a kitchen knife, but just then a carriage pulled up outside the Zhang residence. A tall, sturdy man leaped down.
Zhang Cheng! He’d returned at this very moment!
Meng Xizhou’s pupils contracted. She immediately threw down the knife and kicked it deep into the woodpile, completely concealing it.
She couldn’t take Zhang Cheng in a fight yet—she needed to act!
The old woman reached the courtyard first, eyes bloodshot. Snatching a firewood stick, she charged at Meng Xizhou.
“I’ve guarded my Chastity Arch for half a lifetime, only for you little whore to tear it down completely! Today I’ll beat you to death!”
Meng Xizhou immediately darted behind Zhang Cheng. “Mother-in-law, Liu Ming’s father insisted you bear him a son as compensation! I was too weak to stop him!”
There she went again! Spouting nonsense to shame her!
Zhang Family’s Old Woman grew even more frantic in her rage, failing to notice that the person blocking Meng Xizhou was her own eldest son, and kept trying desperately to strike Meng Xizhou.
Meng Xizhou sobbed, “Brother, please reason with Mother for me. Her beating hurts too much—I can’t bear it.”
Seeing this delicate daughter of a noble family begging him so pitifully, Zhang Cheng felt immensely gratified. He reached out to stop Zhang Family’s Old Woman, saying, “Enough, Mother. Don’t go too far.”
Hearing Zhang Cheng’s voice, the enraged old woman froze. Looking up at his face, she burst into tears, mucus and tears streaming down together.
“My son, you’ve finally returned! You have no idea how this wretched girl has thrown our household into chaos!”
The fear and anger that had built up over days erupted at the sight of her pillar of support. Zhang Family’s Old Woman plopped down on the ground, weeping uncontrollably as she recounted the events of the past few days with exaggerated details.
So much had happened in just two days?!
Zhang Cheng was shaken but not grief-stricken. Though his elder sister and younger brother were useless, they were still his people. For them to end up one dead and one crippled under mysterious circumstances was like a slap to his face.
Zhang Cheng’s interrogating gaze sharply turned to Meng Xizhou.
But upon closer thought, something felt off. Meng Xizhou was a wealthy young lady from the capital, educated in propriety and morality. Even if she hadn’t made a fuss after being sold into the Zhang family, how could she possibly have actively seduced her brother-in-law?
“It was you, Mother, who caused Sister and Brother-in-law’s death, and you forced my husband to take medicine that made him sever his roots to save his life!” Meng Xizhou seemed utterly enraged, her hand trembling as she pointed at Zhang Family’s Old Woman. “How dare you distort the truth like this!”
As she spoke, she grew so furious that she fainted, collapsing backward.
Zhang Cheng swiftly caught her, his arm wrapping around her slender waist. A delicate fragrance wafted over him, stirring a sudden heat within. Yet he still managed a mocking smile—such a delicate city miss, unable to withstand even a little foul language.
Zhang Family’s Old Woman was rolling on the ground in a fit, but upon seeing Meng Xizhou faint, she leaped up in renewed fury.
“Faking a faint now, you little slut!” She grabbed the firewood stick again. “I’ll beat you until you really pass out!”
But the swinging stick was blocked by Zhang Cheng. The old woman cried out in disbelief, “Son, these are all her seductive tricks! Don’t be fooled by her!”
“Mother, go cook first. I’m hungry,” Zhang Cheng said wearily, supporting Meng Xizhou into the house. “I’ll go check on Younger Brother first.”
Zhang Family’s Old Woman stamped her feet in rage, but since her husband’s death, her eldest son had become her authority. Unable to defy him, she turned and headed to the kitchen.
While the old woman cooked, Zhang Cheng asked villagers about his elder sister and brother-in-law. Everyone agreed it was Zhang Family’s Old Woman who had brought misfortune upon herself.
Zhang Cheng knew what kind of person his mother was, but Meng Xizhou was too undisciplined. As the saying goes, “family shames should not be publicized”—couldn’t she have just endured more quietly?
He sneered. No wonder her original family had abandoned her. He’d have to find time to teach her a lesson, so he could report back to her family with a clear account.
Meng Xizhou timed it perfectly, waking up just before mealtime.
At the dinner table, Zhang Family’s Old Woman eagerly served Zhang Cheng: “Cheng’er, your recent work must be so exhausting—you’ve grown thin from all that labor!”
Zhang Cheng engaged in kidnapping, trafficking, and finding people for hire—any dirty job available. Of course he was tired.
“Not bad, but recently there’s been a gentleman looking for a female physician. I’ve been searching for half a month without success,” Zhang Cheng said.
Meng Xizhou’s heart stirred – this had happened in his previous life too.
That distinguished country gentleman was a cut-sleeve who had injured himself through anal intercourse. Too embarrassed to face any male physician, he specifically sought a female doctor.
But in these times, it was difficult for women to study medicine, and finding a female physician was like searching for a needle in a haystack. In his past life, Zhang Cheng had dragged Meng Xizhou – who had failed to save the village chief’s son – to fill the position as a scapegoat.
This time, Meng Xizhou took the initiative: “Why not let me give it a try?”