Twenty silver ingots lay on a tray on the table. Ruan Shiming noted his younger brother’s anger and refusal to give more. He took the silver and asked Ruan Qing, “Did you take your dowry?”
Despite throwing a tantrum earlier, Ruan Qing had taken some jewelry from Chen shi. Unwilling to accept this, she rushed to Ruan Ning’s dressing table, grabbed several items, and ran to Ruan Shiming, saying, “They wouldn’t give me anything, only these.”
“Younger brother, you’re really stingy!” Ruan Shiming snapped, disappointed and angry. “Don’t blame me for not warning you. I’m now the father-in-law of a county magistrate. Don’t you dare come asking for help. Qing’er, let’s go!”
Carrying the tray and cursing, father and daughter left. At the estate gate, they saw tenants with red lanterns. Ruan Qing asked, “Why are you hanging red lanterns when it’s not a festival?”
A tenant casually replied, “The young mistress is bringing in a live-in son-in-law. They were supposed to get married today, but the second madam didn’t approve, so it’s been called off.”
Stunned, Ruan Qing tugged at Ruan Shiming’s sleeve, whispering, “Father, we can’t let this go.”
Fourth brother is waiting to be adopted. If she brings in a live-in son-in-law, outsiders might steal our family’s property!”
Ruan Shiming looked at the two hundred taels of silver on the tray, his face darkening. His younger brother was giving less and less. If his wife brought in a live-in son-in-law, she might give away all the family’s assets. This cannot happen!
After the father and daughter left, Ruan Shiming handed the tray to Ruan Qing, whispering, “Go back. I’m going to find your third uncle.”
Ruan Shiqi was the most down-and-out among the three brothers, often borrowing clothes from Ruan Shixin. Although they had fought over adopting their sons, they united against the threat of an outsider taking their belongings.
“Let’s go, bring my wife and son. Why should outsiders get our family’s assets?”
Ruan Shixin felt nervous but stood firmly. Despite being skilled in martial arts, the clan’s family rules had been ingrained in him since childhood. Although he had argued with his elder brother over his wife and daughter, he felt lacking in confidence facing the punishment rod that represented family law.
“Elder brother,” he said, a hint of pleading in his voice, “I have seen Ning’er’s marriage prospects.”
Am I not allowed to make decisions about my daughter’s marriage?”
“Hmph, that depends on who she’s marrying. If it’s some poor outsider, our family law will never agree!” Ruan Shiming saw his fear and became more aggressive. “Move aside! I want to see who would dare marry an outsider without my approval!”
“Elder brother, I want to find a well-known son-in-law from our local area too, but whenever I do, you and third brother go to their home to cause trouble. The men you suggest are all worthless rascals. What am I supposed to do?” Ruan Shixin tried to reason. “Ning’er’s husband selection is my decision. If there are family rules that require punishment, come at me, but don’t touch a hair on Ning’er!”
“Then don’t blame me for being impolite, third brother,” Ruan Shiming’s face darkened. “Come help me teach this unruly person a lesson!”
Having grown up in an orphanage, Ruan Ning had no respect for these family rules. To her, they were trying to exploit her under the guise of family law. Seeing Ruan Shixin about to face a punishment rod, Ruan Ning couldn’t hold back. She swung her club at the punishment rod, shouting, “I’d like to see who dares to hit my father!”
The club, seemingly newly made with hard wood, knocked the punishment rod flying, striking Ruan Shiming’s sons and causing cries of pain.
Ruan Shiming was shocked, cursing, “Rebellious! I’ll beat you to death, you little demon!”
Ruan Ning, startled by her own strength, shouted back, “Marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers, not uncles trying to steal our family’s money! As long as I’m alive, I won’t let you succeed!”
Her voice was clear and bright, and the tenant farmers and servants of Ruan family village, aware of the first and third branches’ plotting, joined in, looking at Ruan Shiming and Ruan Shiqi’s families with contempt.
“Ning’er, don’t talk nonsense,” Ruan Shixin said, shocked by her defiance. His protective instinct prevailed, and he quickly pulled Ruan Ning close.
“Rebellious! Daring to strike the family law, beat her!” Ruan Shiming was furious.
In her momentary distraction, Liu’s wife picked up a flower pot and smashed it towards Ruan Ning’s head.
Ruan Ning, caught off guard, was suddenly pushed aside. With a crash, a flower pot shattered on Ji Mingshao’s shoulder, who was half-covered in soil and had a half-bloomed crab claw chrysanthemum stuck in it. Despite his ridiculous appearance, he remained calm, brushed off the dirt, and continued watching from the corridor.
“Big brother and third brother, you’ve gone too far!” Ruan Shixin roared angrily.
With his martial arts skills, he could easily defeat the combined forces of the first and third houses. However, he had always been mindful of family ties and merely parried instead of fully engaging. The flower pot incident shattered his reservations. He realized quickly that if he didn’t resolve the conflict, his wife and daughter could be in danger.
Ruan Shixin quickly subdued everyone, throwing them out the back door and stating, “From now on, our ties are severed. If you dare to harass my wife and daughter again, don’t blame me for being merciless!”
Ruan Ning stood to the side with a beaming smile, feeling a subtle sense of finding her home.
Ruan Shixin perfectly matched Ruan Ning’s imagination of a father, making the world seem worthwhile.
He carefully examined her to confirm she was unharmed before gently taking the club away. “Ning’er, you were always reluctant to learn martial arts from me, but now you must seriously commit. I’ll discuss with your mother—starting now, you’ll practice with me for two hours every morning and afternoon.”
“Two hours every day? That sounds exhausting. Can it be just one hour?”
“No negotiation.” He patted her shoulder and glanced back at Ji Mingshao. “That boy took a hit for you, showing loyalty, but he’s too weak. If you don’t want to change partners, you’ll need to learn from me. He might need you for protection in the future.”
Ruan Ning found this task daunting. Praying for her adoptive father’s longevity seemed more achievable.
From Ruan Ning’s perspective, Ji Mingshao’s long eyelashes cast shadows beneath his eyes, and his handsome, pale face remained impassive, his tightly pursed lips revealing his unease. She felt he was like a lamb to the slaughter and playfully lifted his chin with her finger, saying, “Be obedient and listen well. From now on, you’re mine.”
In the dim twilight, she was surprised to see Ji Mingshao’s pale face had turned red.
He grabbed her hand, leaning down and looking at the panic on her face, saying, “If you don’t know how to flirt with men, don’t force it.”
At Ruan Shiming’s home, Ruan Qing confronted her bruised parents and brothers, grinding her teeth. “Was it Second Uncle who did this?”
“Of course, it was your Second Uncle!” Liu exclaimed. “Daring to hit his brother and sister-in-law—I’ll go to the government office tomorrow and report him!”
Ruan Shixin had only knocked them down and thrown them out, without true severity. Most injuries came from earlier tenant fights. For Ruan Shiming’s family, accustomed to arrogance, this was intolerable. Ruan Qing, holding back anger, said, “No need to report. The day after tomorrow, I’ll marry over and tell my husband to make them all die!”
Author’s note: Beginning the female demon’s journey~
Chapter 99: The Female Bandit Leader’s Husband
