Chapter 53: Peerless Little Bride 6
"Okay, as you say, it must be quick." Ren Mother nodded. At the same time, she thought to herself, her daughter-in-law seemed weak normally, but at critical moments, she had more initiative than herself. She wondered about her true background.
Indeed, Qian Xu’s background was a mystery. She was picked up by Ren Mother outside the town back then. At that time, barely over two years old, she wore luxurious clothes, yet had nothing to indicate her identity. No one came looking for the child. Ren Mother brought her home and raised her as her own daughter. Later, this child and Liang Xu fell in love, so she let them marry.
Just after marrying, Liang Xu suggested moving. She didn’t want to leave her hometown then, so she didn’t agree.
Liang Xu then resolutely went out to join the army, saying he would make a name for himself and come back to welcome them gloriously.
This departure lasted three years, three years without news.
Then the villagers’ attitude grew increasingly hostile; life became harder and harder.
If this continued, life would really be untenable.
In the morning, the young wife started packing.
Speaking of packing, she actually had very little to pack, a few clothes, a pitifully small amount of valuables, and the clothing Qian Xu wore as a child.
This was Ren Mother’s instruction to definitely take along. She thought, in case one day it’s useful, maybe they could find Qian Xu’s real family.
Early in the morning, someone came knocking on the door.
Ren Mother frowned and went forward to open the door.
Outside was an old lady leading a child. This was Big Bull’s mother, and the child was Big Bull’s kid.
"Old Lady Niu, anything wrong?" Ren Mother asked.
"Didn’t your daughter-in-law say she wanted our Big Bull to sell some herbs today? Why hasn’t she sent it?" Old Lady Niu craned her neck to look inside.
"Oh, it’ll be sent soon," Ren Mother remembered the matter and replied. Naturally, she wouldn’t reveal a bit about the plan to move, but afraid of arousing suspicion, she agreed to send the herbs over later.
"Well hurry up! Don’t waste our Big Bull’s time." Old Lady Niu was quite displeased, turned with her grandson, and walked away. Were it not for the fact that her family could secretly keep a big part of the herb money, she wouldn’t have come so early to remind these two widows. Indeed, in their view, Ren Liangxu probably died long ago, making them none other than two ominous widows.
"Grandma, I want to eat sugar-coated haws." The child’s voice came from afar.
"Eat, eat, just know eating. Alright, today your dad’s coming back from the town, he’ll buy you one."
"Huh? Just one? I want to eat more."
"Will spoil your teeth."
Their voices faded away, Ren Mother closed the door.
After closing the door, Ren Mother looked at Qian Xu, who was feeding Tianmiao porridge, and said, "I’m going to deliver the herbs to Big Bull; you stay home and don’t go out."
"Uh-huh." Qian Xu obediently agreed and continued feeding Tianmiao the wild vegetable porridge.
Tianmiao enjoyed it complacently, showing no awareness that now at seven years old, he could well eat porridge by himself. This wild vegetable porridge had a fresh, sweet flavor, a unique taste.
Ren Mother shouldered the basket packed with the herbs Qian Xu picked yesterday and left for Big Bull’s house.
When she reached Big Bull’s house, his ox cart was already loaded with quite a few things, all items from villagers entrusted to him to sell in town. Seeing Ren Mother arrive, Big Bull squeezed out a smile, "Aunt Ren, just put the basket on the cart."
Ren Mother nodded, intending to place the basket and leave.
Just then, someone called out to her.
"Aunt Ren." It was the voice of Tie Zhu, the village head’s son.
Ren Mother frowned, turned around, and saw Tie Zhu smiling insincerely at her.
"What’s the matter?" Ren Mother suppressed the impatience and disgust in her heart and asked.
"It’s nothing, just wondering if you’ve thought it over about that matter? With Qian Xu being so filial, you wouldn’t want her to spend the latter part of her life so bitterly, right?" Tie Zhu shamelessly asked with a smirk.
Ren Mother shook with anger, turned around, and left.
Seeing Ren Mother being so unyielding, Tie Zhu’s face turned livid. Squeezing out words from between his teeth, he said, "Not accepting a toast, wanting to drink a forfeit."
"Tie Zhu Brother? What’s wrong?" Big Bull knowingly asked.
"Here’s some pocket money; get something nutritious for your kid. As for the Ren family’s herbs, sell them and keep the money; just tell them the road was bumpy and the basket must have fallen from the ox cart without anyone knowing." Tie Zhu ordered coldly.
"Alright." Big Bull took the string of Copper Coins, beaming, and agreed readily. As for Ren Mother and Qian Xu needing those herb sales to buy rice, he had long forgotten in this instant.
Tie Zhu took out a piece of maltose from his pocket and handed it to Big Bull’s child sitting on the threshold.
"Dog, take it and eat. Next time you see that old prostitute, throw stones at her." Tie Zhu ordered.
"Ah, isn’t she just a widow? Why say old prostitute?" Big Bull didn’t stop Tie Zhu’s actions and orders but instead asked curiously.
"She’s stopping Qian Xu from marrying, what does she want? Is she trying to make a secret prostitute? Isn’t she just an old prostitute then? I can’t let her have her way, I must rescue Qian Xu early." Tie Zhu sneered shamelessly.
Big Bull’s eyes widened, can it be explained this way? As far as he knew, Aunt Ren had kept to herself properly for years, how could she be twisted into this by Tie Zhu’s mouth?
However, it wasn’t his business; having money in hand was enough.
"Alright, Uncle Tie Zhu." Dog happily ate the maltose, memorizing Tie Zhu’s orders.
When Ren Mother returned home, she smacked her chest in anger.
"Mom, what happened?" Qian Xu had finished feeding Tianmiao porridge and washed her little hands. Seeing Ren Mother return angrily, she asked worriedly.
"We leave tomorrow. These people are too shameless." Ren Mother gritted her teeth and said.
"Alright." Qian Xu nodded.
However, they still underestimated the villagers’ viciousness.
Before dawn, Ren Family’s gate was thundering with knocking.
"Come out, come out, the people inside hurry and get out!" More than one voice was clamoring outside.
Ren Mother and Qian Xu had just dressed, ready to go out, but were stunned by such a change.
Before they could open the door, the people outside impatiently smashed it open.
Standing in front was the village chief and his son Tie Zhu, followed by a group of aggressive men and women, along with children.
"Village chief, what are you doing? Breaking into our house early in the morning, is there no law?" Ren Mother felt an ominous premonition seeing this lineup.
"Your Ren Liangxu committed treason and was executed. In this village, we are the law. You criminals should be drowned. But since Qian Xu is young, she’ll be pardoned and work as our family’s maid to atone." The village chief opened his mouth and spat out such incredible words.
But the surrounding people’s faces seemed to find it perfectly normal.
The village chief got increasingly elated as he spoke, as if envisioning the beautiful young wife being bossed around as a livestock in his house. A maid, that’s something only big families have. Only the mayor’s house in the town has a couple of maids. It’s a very prestigious thing. The thought that his family could also have a maid made the village chief’s heart increasingly fervent. As for the son fancying this little prostitute, being a maid doesn’t conflict with warming the bed.
Ren Mother was dumbfounded; she had anticipated the village chief might use tactics to rob and pillage, but she didn’t foresee such a vicious and absurd reason.
"Tsk, yesterday I came to propose marriage but you wouldn’t agree; a formal marriage so good, but now, tsk tsk, being a maid for someone." Liu Woman’s sharp and bitter voice rang.
Qian Xu was also stunned; how could there be such a terrifying group of people in the world? Impossible to fathom the malice with normal reasoning.
"Quick, seize them." With the village chief’s order, the people at the door swarmed in. Even children grabbed sticks and were eager to try.
"Prostitute, just die." The child with a stick shouted curses.
"You beasts! I’ll fight you!" Ren Mother shouted, turned around, grabbed a hoe, and prepared to fight desperately.
But with a sickly body, the originally weak Ren Mother was no match for this crowd. The hoe in her hand was immediately snatched away, then they started to seize Ren Mother to tie her up.
Just then, a soft murmuring voice sounded.
"What are you doing?"