As Gu Zhixing’s clear, calm voice rang out, the crowd that had been stunned by his appearance slowly came back to their senses.
The first to speak was surprisingly not anyone from the Lin family, but Tian Guihua, who was still tiptoeing and peeking over the wall.
“Miss Lin, is this the man you brought back from the village entrance two days ago?”
A lot of villagers had gone to watch the commotion that day, but Gu Zhixing had been covered in blood and grime, his face hidden by messy hair. He looked so weak—like he could die at any moment—that no one paid attention to his appearance.
Later, when Lin Wan bought him, she had carried him all the way back home, and his face happened to be turned inward. Everyone had been focused on the shocking fact that she bought a dying man, not on what he actually looked like.
Even though Tian Guihua lived next door, she couldn’t exactly climb over every day to peek. And since Gu Zhixing hadn’t stepped outside in the past two days, this was her first time seeing him.
Lin Wan nodded slightly.
The villagers outside the gate were all shocked. So it really was the man she brought back from the village entrance.
The Lin family was also stunned.
Lin Xiuniang turned to Old Madam Wu and Lin Dahuo in disbelief. “When did she buy a man back?”
She lived in the neighboring village and hadn’t heard a word about it. Yesterday Lin Dahuo had urged her on, so she hurried over with a matchmaker.
In her mind, Lin Wan was absolutely someone who couldn’t get married—no family in the village would want a burden like her.
The matchmaker, Zhang, didn’t look too good either. “The young lady is already married, and you still asked me to come for a proposal? This is ruining my reputation!”
A matchmaker’s job might involve exaggeration, but it was still meant to help form marriages. Now that the girl was already married, this was a serious taboo—“better tear down a temple than break up a marriage.” If word got out, how was she supposed to show her face again?
Lin Xiuniang was also confused and immediately turned to glare at Lin Dahuo and Old Madam Wu. “Mother, eldest brother, what is going on?”
She had brought a matchmaker here, only to find out the girl was already married. This wasn’t just embarrassing for the matchmaker—she herself would lose face completely. And once she got home, her own mother-in-law would definitely make things difficult for her.
Old Madam Wu did know that Lin Wan had brought a man home. Two days ago, she had even seen her carrying him. But she hadn’t taken it seriously at all—he looked like a dying man at the time.
Who would have thought that the man who looked ready to breathe his last would now be standing here, perfectly fine… and shockingly handsome?
She glared at the pair standing side by side holding hands.
“You say you bought a man, but I never heard you hold a proper wedding. Without a wedding, you can’t be considered husband and wife,” she sneered.
“And even if he looks decent, marriage isn’t just about looks…”
She still hadn’t given up on marrying Lin Wan off to Zhou Cheng. Only if that happened could the thirty taels of silver come back into her hands, and Lin Wan would still be working like a slave for the Lin family.
Her abacus beads were practically flying into Lin Wan’s face.
Lin Wan sneered. “So what, I shouldn’t care about looks and instead care about who steals chickens and dogs better?”
Zhou Cheng’s reputation wasn’t widely known in Qinghe Village, but in his own village, everyone knew he was a petty thug.
Zhou Cheng immediately exploded. “Who are you calling that?!”
Lin Wan glanced at him lazily. “I didn’t name anyone. Why are you so worked up? Don’t tell me you think I’m talking about you. Interesting—you seem very self-aware.”
Her words weren’t vulgar, but they were sharp enough to make anyone’s temper snap.
Zhou Cheng stepped forward and tried to kick her.
Gu Zhixing frowned slightly and was about to step in front of her—
But in the next moment, Lin Wan pulled him behind her.
Before he could react, she had already kicked out.
Her foot collided directly with Zhou Cheng’s leg.
There was a sharp crack.
“Ah!! My leg—my leg is broken!!”
He collapsed to the ground, curling up and clutching his leg as cold sweat broke out all over him.
Lin Wan calmly withdrew her foot.
With that level of skill, he still dared to attack her? This body’s raw strength was truly useful—and with her previous life’s combat training, dealing with someone like Zhou Cheng was effortless.
Seeing her son fall, Lin Xiuniang rushed forward. “Son! Are you alright?!”
“My leg… my leg is broken…” Zhou Cheng’s face turned deathly pale as he gasped in pain.
Lin Xiuniang turned furious and glared at Lin Wan. “You actually dared to hurt someone?!”
“So many people saw it,” Lin Wan said coolly. “He attacked first. Am I supposed to stand still and take a beating?”
Just then, she changed the subject and looked toward Tian Guihua still perched on the wall.
“Aunt Guihua, can you lend me some pig manure?”
Tian Guihua reacted instantly, glancing at the Lin family before replying loudly, “I’ll go get some from the pigsty right away!”
Lin Xiuniang was still focused on her son and didn’t realize what was coming.
Old Madam Wu also shouted angrily, “You little wretch! We came here kindly to propose marriage, and you injured someone! Pay us thirty taels of silver and we’ll let this go, otherwise don’t blame me for reporting you to the authorities!”
She thought that with Zhou Cheng injured, they had the upper hand.
But Lin Wan only smiled when she heard this.
“Report me? Go ahead. Saves me a trip.”
She looked at the crowd. “Early in the morning you came to my door to cause trouble. And Zhou Cheng just tried to break into my house and attack me. I merely acted in self-defense.”
The courtyard gate had been closed the entire time, and they had never been invited in. Zhou Cheng, driven by anger, had kicked the door open and rushed in.
Everything she said was true.