Chapter 18: If You Want to Run, I’ll Break Your Legs

Song Jiuli thought back to how her mother had forced her to apologize, while her older brothers, Song Dage and Song Erge, had just ignored her. She lightly pressed her lips together.

“Second Sister-in-law, quickly wash your face!”

She didn’t want to speak much more, but Shen Qian was furious. When had Song Jiuli become so difficult to fool?

Not far away, Jiang Wan looked mockingly at Shen Qian and Song Jiuli’s backs, then said to Song Jiuyuan:

“Your foolish sister is probably being stirred up again to go after me.”

Actually, Song Jiuli wasn’t a bad person at heart; she always went after her because of Shen Qian’s influence.

But Jiang Wan didn’t care about all that. She was determined not to let anyone bully her!

Song Jiuyuan followed her gaze and saw that Shen Qian was talking incessantly to Song Jiuli.

The distance was a bit far, and it was getting late, so he couldn’t hear the conversation clearly. However, when Song Jiuli returned after washing the dishes, Song Jiuyuan called her over.

“Li’er, in the future, stay away from Shen Qian. She’s not a good person.”

“Big Brother!”

Song Jiuli already knew this, but because of Song Jiuyuan’s cold tone, she felt especially upset.

She had a sense that everyone had betrayed her for liking Jiang Wan.

“Shen Qian is too scheming.”

Song Jiuyuan gave a simple reason. He hated Shen Qian just like he hated the old Jiang Wan. Women with such deep schemes made him feel an inexplicable aversion.

“I know.”

Song Jiuli replied irritably, intending to glare at Jiang Wan, but she still held back her temper.

She just sat down angrily, hugging her legs in frustration. When Jiang Wan saw this, there was a moment of softening in her heart.

After all, she was still a fifteen-year-old girl, and it was normal for her emotions to fluctuate after a sudden upheaval at home.

But the malicious words from Song Jiuli made Jiang Wan snap back to reality. She wouldn’t change; no one would get her to forgive her!

Jiang Wan went to the creek to wash her face. Luckily, since she was facing away from everyone, no one could see what she was doing. She took out facial cleanser from her space and carefully washed her face.

Then, she took out some skincare products and applied them. Unfortunately, it wasn’t convenient for her to take a bath. She felt very uncomfortable and decided to wait until everyone was asleep to deal with it.

Jiang Wan had no choice but to return to the temporary resting place for the night. However, because she had gotten up so early, her body was somewhat fatigued, and she ended up falling asleep leaning against a big tree.

In the middle of the night, she was woken up by the sound of footsteps on tree branches. She suddenly opened her eyes and saw two shadowy figures not far away.

Shadows?

Jiang Wan instantly became alert. She had a guess: someone from the group had probably tried to escape!

She quickly glanced at the sleeping people and noticed that two people from the Song family’s second branch were missing.

If it were anyone else, it wouldn’t matter, but Jiang Wan wasn’t so kind as to let the second branch get away.

So, she picked up a small stone and quickly threw it at Xiao Deng, who was nearby, and then casually lay back down.

Xiao Deng woke up with a start, immediately spotting the shadows in the distance. He quickly shouted, “Someone’s running away!”

This shout made the officials jump in surprise, instantly shaking off their sleepiness. They hastily got up and chased after the escapees.

The exiled people were mostly woken up too. Everyone stared at the two shadowy figures, their eyes gleaming strangely.

Jiang Wan understood. They must want to see if the two people could escape. If they did, others would surely follow their example.

Song Jiuli looked at the officials chasing after the escapees and quietly asked Song Daniu, “Mother, do you think they can get away?”

“This is a desolate place. Where can they run to?”

Song Daniu sighed. Song Jiuyuan, however, was quick to notice that the escapees were from the Song family. He quietly reminded them.

“It’s from the second branch.”

“What?”

Song Daniu immediately turned around and saw that it was indeed the second branch. Song Lao Er had taken Song Chen and run away!

At this moment, Old Madam and Song Erniang were both extremely anxious, afraid that their son and husband would be caught and beaten up.

Judging by their expressions, they seemed to be praying for their successful escape.

Jiang Wan sneered and curled her lips. A good beating was inevitable.

Sure enough, not long after, the officials brought Song Lao Er and Song Chen back. In order to set an example, Ren Bang tied them to a tree.

“Dare to run?!”

Ren Bang swung his whip and fiercely lashed it across their bodies, shouting as he struck.

“Everyone, look clearly! This is the consequence of trying to escape!”

“Want to run? I’ll break your legs!”

…

The whip hit them hard, tearing their skin. Song Lao Er and Song Chen howled in pain.

“We won’t run anymore, we won’t run!”

“Mother, save me!”

They hurriedly begged for mercy, while Old Madam and Song Erniang cried, heartbroken. Song Erniang stumbled over and knelt in front of Ren Bang.

“Lord, please, please spare them. They know they’re wrong!”

“Quick, quickly take out the money!”

Old Madam snatched Shen Qian’s bag and frantically took out all the silver inside.

“Lord, I will make sure to keep them under control. Please stop hitting them!”

Ren Bang ignored her and kept whipping them. Without hitting harder, these people wouldn’t be scared.

Shen Qian watched as her last saving money was taken from her, nearly choking on her anger.

These two useless men had run away without taking her, but now they needed her money to save their lives. Shen Qian regretted marrying Song Chen more than anything in this life!

Seeing Ren Bang beating Song Lao Er and Song Chen as if he were mad, Song Erniang and Old Madam were desperate to stop him, but they were kicked aside by the officials.

They both crashed to the ground in a sorry state, no longer resembling the noblewomen they once were. Jiang Wan couldn’t help but smirk.

This was just the beginning.

Old Zhang gruffly warned them, “Stay away!”

“Jiang Wan, Jiang Wan!”

Suddenly, Shen Qian seemed to come to her senses and quickly ran up to Jiang Wan.

“Jiang Wan, please save my husband and father. If you save the official, they will surely listen to you.”

These words immediately caught everyone’s attention, not only Old Madam but also Ren Bang and Xiao Deng.

The former looked hopeful, hoping Jiang Wan could stop Ren Bang.

Ren Bang smiled faintly, his actions not stopping. Xiao Deng clenched his fists, sure that Jiang Jie wouldn’t take advantage of the situation.

Jiang Wan didn’t disappoint him. She lazily sat there and casually spoke:

“I’m an exiled person. How could I have such great power? Husband, don’t you think so?”

If she hadn’t reminded Xiao Deng, those two idiots might have escaped. Jiang Wan didn’t care about playing the good person.

She wasn’t sure what Song Jiuyuan would think if he knew. He would probably think she was a malicious woman, but it didn’t matter. She didn’t care about that.

Song Jiuyuan gave her a teasing glance, following her words: “My wife is right. We can barely protect ourselves, let alone meddle in others’ affairs.”

“Song Jiuyuan!”

Old Madam was so angry that her head was spinning. Her words were full of grief, “These are your closest uncle and younger brother. You can’t just ignore them.”