“Master Qin, rest assured, something like this will never happen again.”
Qin Hui’s hair was being painfully pulled by Qin Ming, but he endured the pain and spoke in a flattering tone.
The situation was stronger than the man.
Besides, he had already witnessed Qin Ming’s martial prowess firsthand. Even if all his sons attacked together, they wouldn’t gain the slightest advantage.
“Good. At least you know what’s best. Now get out.”
Only then did Qin Ming release his grip.
“Thank you, Master Qin!”
Qin Hui hurriedly scrambled to his feet. After thanking him, he quickly left the house.
“Father, now that all the villagers are here, let’s attack together and drag this brat to the authorities!”
“That’s right! He beat Brother Erzhu into that state. We should have him exiled thousands of miles away!”
“Shut up! This matter ends here. All of you, go home!”
Qin Hui barked sharply.
“Ends here? Father, how can we just let this go—”
Smack!
Qin Hui slapped his son across the face.
“Father?!”
“I said get back home! Right now! Immediately!”
He practically roared the words.
The force of his shouting aggravated his broken nose and bruised abdomen, causing him to wince in pain.
Yet the fury in his eyes, mixed with an even deeper fear, instantly silenced his eldest son.
The scene stunned everyone present.
Not only Qin Hui’s sons, but also the villagers who had gathered after hearing the earlier screams were left dumbfounded.
Just moments ago, Qin Hui had arrived in a murderous rage, leading a group to beat Qin Ming to death.
How had a brief trip inside the house completely reversed his attitude?
He had even publicly slapped the son he relied on most.
“From now on, if anyone dares cause trouble at Qin Ming’s home, I won’t spare them!”
After throwing out that final warning, Qin Hui turned and left.
His sons glanced hatefully at Qin Ming, hoisted the badly injured Qin Sanzhu onto their backs, and followed after him.
“All right, it’s over. Everyone can leave.”
Qin Ming waved at the crowd.
The villagers felt a chill run through them when his gaze swept across them.
After witnessing his terrifying strength and the Qin family’s inexplicable retreat, none of them dared linger.
Like a receding tide, they quickly dispersed, carrying countless questions and rumors with them.
…
“Hubby, are you alright?”
Back inside the house, Fan Niang asked with concern.
“I’m fine. What could happen to me? See? Not a scratch.”
Qin Ming grinned and rolled his shoulders to show he was unharmed.
“Did you really become a bandit?”
After closing the door, Fan Niang bit her lip and asked softly.
She had seen the iron token engraved with the character Yu, and she had heard Qin Hui’s terrified reaction.
In this era, the word bandit carried the weight of a crime punishable by the extermination of one’s entire family.
It was a sword hanging over everyone’s head.
“How could that be?”
Qin Ming laughed.
“If I’d really joined the bandits, why would I come back?”
“Bandits live in mountain strongholds. If I stayed in the village, wouldn’t I just be waiting for the authorities to arrest me?”
“But…”
“That token was something I picked up while escaping.”
“Bandits all have brands burned into their bodies. Do you see one on me?”
Seeing that his wife still looked unconvinced, Qin Ming simply removed his shirt.
The moment his clothes came off, his sturdy upper body was revealed.
“Really… that’s wonderful…”
Tears instantly filled Fan Niang’s eyes.
She threw herself into his arms and burst into sobs.
Since her marriage, the young couple had endured one hardship after another.
After Qin Ming was taken away by the bandits the previous night, Fan Niang had actually fainted upon hearing the news.
She had not slept at all.
She had even prepared a rope.
If her husband died, she had no intention of continuing to live.
For a girl barely in her teens, it had been an unbearable ordeal.
And now, all those bottled-up emotions finally exploded.
“Fan Niang, it’s alright. I’m fine. Stop crying.”
As Qin Ming felt her small frame trembling against his chest, he couldn’t help feeling moved.
With a wife like this, what more could a man ask for?
At that moment, he silently vowed that no matter what happened in the future, he would give this girl a good life.
“Waaah…”
Fan Niang cried in his arms for nearly the time it took an incense stick to burn.
“If you keep crying, you’ll become ugly, and then I won’t like you anymore.”
“No! You’re my husband. I’m sticking with you no matter what!”
Hearing his teasing, she finally laughed through her tears and lightly punched his chest.
Only then did she calm down.
“From now on, we’ll live a good life together. I promise no one will ever bully you again.”
“Mhm. I’ll make you something to eat. Wait here.”
Fan Niang nodded and walked to the corner, retrieving half a sack of grain to prepare breakfast.
…
Watching her petite figure disappear outside, Qin Ming picked up his horn bow.
When he had been taken to Yu Family Stronghold, all of his arrows had been lost.
And arrows weren’t cheap.
The arrowheads had to be forged by a blacksmith.
One arrowhead cost roughly fifty copper coins.
To put that into perspective, a whole chicken only cost twenty or thirty coins.
Fortunately, there were still two arrows left at home.
With Qin Ming’s current archery skills, that was enough to hunt small game.
But if he wanted larger prey, he would need at least five or six arrows.
That meant he had to make a trip to town today.
Besides buying arrows, he also needed to visit the military office at the county yamen.
The deadline was five days.
Either the person reported for service, or the money arrived.
One hundred taels of silver was no small amount.
Fortunately, Yang Yulian had lent him money, giving him temporary breathing room.
But he intended to repay that debt as quickly as possible.
Thinking this, Qin Ming took out his arrows and sat beside a bluestone near the doorway, carefully sharpening them.
Before long, Fan Niang finished preparing breakfast.
As usual, it was simple millet porridge and pickled vegetables.
What surprised Qin Ming, however, was the peeled egg sitting in his bowl.
“This egg…?”
“I bought it yesterday when I exchanged grain. I only had ten coins left, so I could only afford one.”
“Then you should eat it.”
“You work hard hunting. You should have it.”
“You silly girl.”
Seeing the slight pallor on Fan Niang’s delicate face, Qin Ming felt a tug at his heart.
He split the egg in half and placed one portion into her bowl.
“Eat.”
“Starting tomorrow, I guarantee you’ll have meat every day.”
When she tried to refuse, Qin Ming firmly pushed the half egg back into her bowl.
“How is that possible?”
“Meat is so expensive. Being able to eat our fill every day would already be wonderful.”
Clearly, Fan Niang didn’t believe him.
In these chaotic times, burdened by endless taxes and levies, ordinary people were fortunate just to eat enough to survive.
As for eating meat every day, only officials and wealthy gentry could afford such a luxury.
“The mountain behind our village is our own private storehouse.”
“If we want meat, I can go get some whenever I want.”
“You’re bragging.”
She stuck out her tongue playfully.
“It can’t be that easy.”
“Just wait. I’m heading into the mountains today.”
“You’ll see.”
“Hubby, be careful. The mountains are dangerous.”
Fan Niang knew that fierce beasts frequently roamed the vast mountain range.
The thought of him leaving immediately filled her with worry.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
Qin Ming quickly finished his meal and wiped his mouth.
“Hubby, let me pack some food for you.”
“No need. I’ll be back before sunset.”
With that, Qin Ming picked up his bow, arrows, and chopping blade, then strode confidently toward the deep mountains.