Chapter 73: From Trash Talker to Pathetic Mess

“Greetings, sister-in-law. I am Wang Shijin, son of the Tongcheng County Magistrate.” Wang Shijin stepped forward, cleared his throat, and deliberately raised his voice so everyone present could hear clearly.

This tactic had never failed him, whether at home or throughout the vast county of Tongcheng.

Except for the maids serving in his father’s chambers, even those attending to his mother—though aware it violated propriety—would often yield under his mother’s willful blindness, allowing him repeated successes.

Following him meant becoming half a mistress in the future—no longer needing to serve others but having one or two servants attend to them instead. Those maids weren’t foolish; they naturally calculated the benefits for their future.

As for Leng Xiao’s delicate young wife, her appearance and figure were the finest he had ever seen in his life—so exquisite that he could overlook her married status and take her into his chambers.

Blocked by Leng Xiao, Wen Nuan Nuan rolled her eyes skyward.

Internally, she raged: This guy really knows how to wield the slightest bit of family power to its fullest extent!

Throughout history, such things have remained largely the same.

She realized she had been naive and shallow in her understanding.

“What do you think he’s scheming? His father’s the county magistrate—what good does it do letting us know? It’s not like we’re buying something where he could give us a discount. He should go say that to merchants doing business instead.”

“Reaching this age and still not knowing how to leverage having a magistrate father—what a waste of growing up all these years.”

Wen Nuan Nuan whispered her thoughts to Leng Xiao. As expected, she received no response, but she sensed the chilling hostility radiating from the man before her dissipating considerably.

Seeing Leng Xiao’s tall, imposing frame completely shielding that delicate figure, Wang Shijin felt his anger surge!

At home, he was constantly lectured by his father, who always held up Leng Xiao for comparison. At the Academy, he had to listen daily to Qin Old Master—returned from the capital—stroking his beard and praising Leng Xiao. Having always sailed smoothly and gotten his way, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

He had originally thought today would allow him and all his classmates to laugh at Leng Xiao’s expense. Instead, Leng Xiao wasn’t the joke—he was!

No. No matter what, he had to turn this situation around.

This was his specialty. Among the Prince’s Mansion servants, whichever wife was somewhat comely—he would offer some silver, and success came easily.

“I came in haste today and didn’t bring much silver—only twenty taels. But it’s enough to treat everyone present to a simple meal at Qinghuan Pavilion in the city. Might sister-in-law honor us with her presence? I would certainly accompany you with utmost care.”

Twenty taels—enough to cover a year’s expenses for an ordinary farming family of eight.

And Qinghuan Pavilion, located on Tongcheng’s most prosperous street, was the county’s largest and most expensive restaurant. Even those who hadn’t dined there had passed by, heard of it, and yearned for it.

Those who had earlier chimed in with Wang Shijin, upon hearing this, immediately joined in the clamor, laughing and agreeing.

By this point, everyone present basically understood Wang Shijin’s true intentions lay not in the wine.

Where some reveled in drama without concern for consequences, others naturally despised this unseemly conduct. A scholar’s integrity had been utterly tarnished by Wang Shijin—no wonder Qin Old Master held him in low regard.

Other instructors might tolerate and indulge him out of respect for the County Magistrate, but Qin Old Master, returned from the capital, would not. Yet, Wang Shijin blamed this disdain on Leng Xiao anyway.

Now, with such blatantly frivolous remarks meant to provoke, everyone understood this was an attempt to embarrass Leng Xiao.

Some well-meaning individuals wanted to step forward and defuse the situation but were gently pulled back by those beside them, who subtly shook their heads.

He immediately understood. The county magistrate was the local authority; offending Wang Shijin meant they could easily block the sky above their heads. Moreover, this matter depended entirely on Madam Leng Xiao’s attitude. If she had already been swayed and developed greed, even if they stopped it today, Wang Shijin would still succeed another day.

They would only end up offending someone for no reason.

Leng Xiao’s rough hand hanging at his side quietly clenched.

“That’s not right.” The small murmur from the person in his arms captured his full attention.

Wen Nuan Nuan was genuinely puzzled.

This plot wasn’t right.

Earlier, when Wang Shijin spoke, she found his words familiar, thinking he might start conversations with everyone that way.

But what he just said—wasn’t that meant for one of Leng Xiao’s female leads? Why had it landed on her head ahead of time?

Wasn’t this still the prelude? The main story hadn’t even begun yet. Why was the plot advancing prematurely? And the key issue—why did it have to be pinned on her!

“What’s not right?” Too close to see her full expression, Leng Xiao ignored the clamor outside. An unfamiliar unease rose in his heart as he cautiously asked.

Wen Nuan Nuan couldn’t very well say the plot was wrong. She had no clear thoughts either, but the first priority now was to stop Eldest Brother and the others from fighting—at least not in front of others.

“Eldest Brother, Little Brother, come back!” Wen Nuan Nuan raised her voice to stop them.

How many matters couldn’t be resolved privately? Just look at Leng Xiao, whose chilling aura could freeze a person to death, yet he hadn’t made a move—wasn’t that proof enough?

And there was Leng Chen, who had been guarding her side all along, his fists clenched tight but not charging forward. Wasn’t he just as angry as the other two?

These two probably wished they could slice Wang Shijin into a thousand pieces in their hearts, yet on the surface, aside from a bit of gloominess, they showed no other emotions.

Now that was the demeanor of someone destined for great things.

Otherwise, if Wang Shijin one day ended up with a broken arm, a lame leg, a cracked skull, or a damaged eye, the entire Tongcheng would guess it was your doing.

Leng Tian and Leng Yun returned like defeated geese, heads hanging low.

“Sister-in-law, don’t be afraid. I can take him on!”

“I can too. I can fight two of him by myself, beat him until even his own parents wouldn’t recognize him!”

“You’re just kids. What’s the big deal? Is it necessary to resort to fighting and killing?” Wen Nuan Nuan scolded softly, then added in a secretly proud tone, “Let your sister-in-law handle this. Watch and learn.”

Wasn’t Wang Shijin just looking for cheap verbal thrills? When it came to retorts, she had never been one to back down!

With the four of them present, the other side wouldn’t dare to act. She could fully unleash herself and show them how to infuriate Wang Shijin to death, ensuring he abandoned all these improper and messy thoughts and never dared to set his sights on her again!

The others present only heard Wen Nuan Nuan call back her two brothers and scold them.

Wasn’t this a clear sign she was swayed?

Those who had been laughing and joking earlier now cheered even more loudly and openly.

Those who had prepared to step in and those trying to hold others back shook their heads and sighed.

A smile spread across Wang Shijin’s plump, greasy face as he glanced around the crowd with considerable pride. He closed his folding fan and tapped it lightly against his left palm, swaying forward. After clearing his throat with two coughs, he announced loudly, “This humble scholar, Wang Shijin, pays his respects.”

Wen Nuan Nuan clearly sensed the gloomy, cold hostility emanating from the person in front of her. She patted his arm reassuringly, then stepped out from behind Leng Xiao with fighting spirit blazing.

Just about to speak, but upon meeting Wang Shijin’s plump, greasy face, it was like seeing a slab of pale pork. The discomfort from motion sickness surged up violently, and with a retch, she vomited bile right in front of Wang Shijin!

All the remnants in her stomach had long been emptied earlier, so Nuan Nuan was mostly dry heaving at this moment.

Everyone present was stunned!

The crowd: What is going on?

Wang Shijin: What the hell does this mean? Why did she vomit after just one look at him!

And she kept on vomiting!