“Fan Niang, open the door. I just want to talk to you for a moment.”
“Please leave. My husband isn’t home, and I won’t open the door!”
“Heh, let me tell you the truth. Your hunter husband offended some people from Yu Family Stronghold yesterday. He was taken away to the mountains. Once someone enters a place like that, very few ever come back.”
The man outside sounded smug and malicious.
“His chances aren’t looking good. Why wait around for someone who may never return? If you agree to be with me, you’ll have food, clothes, and protection. It’ll be far better than following that poor hunter.”
“You… you’re lying! My husband will come back!”
Fan Niang’s heart tightened with fear, but she forced herself to stay strong.
“If you don’t leave, I’ll call for help!”
For a young woman who had only recently married into the village and had no relatives nearby, facing such a situation alone was terrifying.
“Call for help? Hahaha!”
The man’s laughter echoed through the quiet courtyard.
“Go ahead and shout. Most of the villagers are out in the fields harvesting grain. Even if someone hears you, who would dare interfere with me? Open the door yourself and save us both the trouble.”
The man outside was none other than Qin Sanzhu, the son of Village Head Qin Hui.
Relying on his father’s position, Qin Sanzhu had long been known for bullying others around the village.
The moment Fan Niang arrived as a new bride, her beauty had caught his attention.
Over the years, he had met many women, but few had left such a strong impression on him.
After hearing that Qin Ming had been taken away, he spent the entire night thinking about how to take advantage of the situation.
Taking advantage of the early morning, when most villagers were working in the fields, he quietly came to Qin Ming’s house.
Hearing the anxiety in Fan Niang’s voice, his confidence grew.
“Fan Niang, think about it. My father is the Village Head. Our family owns hundreds of acres of land. Around here, nobody has more influence than us. If you stay with me, you’ll live comfortably. Isn’t that better than following a poor hunter?”
“I may have only recently married into the Qin family, but I know a wife should remain loyal to her husband. Aren’t you afraid your actions will bring consequences?”
Fan Niang shouted angrily from inside.
“Consequences? Plenty of people deserve consequences in this world, yet they still live just fine.”
“My husband will return. I won’t open the door.”
Her voice trembled with both determination and sadness.
Everything had happened too quickly.
Her husband had been seriously injured on their wedding day.
Then came the military conscription notice.
Now he had been taken away by armed bandits, and his fate was unknown.
“Enough!”
Growing impatient, Qin Sanzhu stepped back and slammed his shoulder into the wooden door.
Bang!
The door burst open.
Fan Niang fell backward onto the floor.
“You stubborn woman…”
Qin Sanzhu stepped over the threshold.
His eyes swept greedily across the room as he approached.
Fan Niang scrambled backward in fear.
“Help!”
Terror and desperation pushed her to her limit.
Her hand suddenly touched something cold and hard.
A pair of sewing scissors.
Without hesitation, she grabbed them and raised them toward herself, determined to protect her dignity at any cost.
Tears streamed down her face, yet her eyes held unwavering resolve.
“Stop!”
A powerful shout suddenly rang out from the doorway.
Qin Sanzhu froze and turned around.
“Q-Qin Ming?!”
“Husband!”
The scissors slipped from Fan Niang’s hand.
Ignoring everything else, she rushed forward and threw herself into Qin Ming’s arms.
The familiar warmth and presence instantly broke through her fear.
She clung tightly to him, trembling.
“You weren’t supposed to—”
Smack!
Before Qin Sanzhu could finish speaking, Qin Ming’s palm struck his face.
Bang!
The force sent him stumbling into the wall.
“You dare harass my wife while I’m away?”
Qin Ming’s anger erupted.
He stepped forward and grabbed Qin Sanzhu by the collar, lifting him with ease.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Three heavy slaps landed in rapid succession.
Blood spilled from Qin Sanzhu’s mouth as several teeth flew out.
“Ugh… Qin Ming… my father is the Village Head…”
Even while injured, Qin Sanzhu glared resentfully.
“I don’t care who your father is.”
Qin Ming’s voice was cold.
“You tried to force your way into my home and threaten my wife. You’re going to answer for that.”
Dragging him into the courtyard, Qin Ming tied him securely to the old locust tree near the entrance.
“Husband, that’s enough. He’s the Village Head’s son. We can’t afford to provoke them.”
Fan Niang hurried over, worried.
All she wanted was a peaceful life.
She didn’t want trouble to escalate.
“If people think we’re easy targets, they’ll keep pushing further.”
Qin Ming shook his head.
“If I don’t make my position clear today, others will think they can do the same whenever I’m away.”
He picked up a riding whip and struck Qin Sanzhu several times.
The man’s cries echoed across the village.
Nearby villagers soon gathered to see what was happening.
They were shocked.
The Village Head’s son was tied to a tree, while Qin Ming stood before him with a whip in hand.
After several strikes, Qin Sanzhu’s clothes were torn and he eventually lost consciousness.
Only then did Qin Ming stop.
“Husband… is he going to die?”
Fan Niang asked nervously.
“He’s only unconscious.”
Qin Ming reassured her.
“He’ll recover.”
“But he’s the Village Head’s son…”
“So what?”
Qin Ming snorted.
“He forced his way into our home and threatened my wife. If this matter ever reaches the authorities, I’ll still have every reason to defend my actions.”
“But…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
Just as Qin Ming was about to lead Fan Niang back inside, an angry roar sounded from the distance.
“Stop right there!”
Village Head Qin Hui came charging over with more than a dozen villagers carrying farm tools.
His face was twisted with fury.