Chapter 24: Suspicious Beggar

“Ah, mother, Young Master Wang specially prepared these generous gifts as an apology. If we don’t accept them, he might think we’re still angry,” Su Wan earnestly persuaded.

But Su Fu shook her head, “Mother, I’m no longer angry.” She was firmly against accepting the gifts and said that when Wang Shun came again, she would return the items.

She patiently advised Su Wan, “Wan Wan, people’s hearts are hard to fathom. We don’t truly know Wang Shun’s real intentions. We can’t accept these things, understand?”

Su Wan pouted. What kind of intentions could Wang Shun possibly have? He was probably just afraid that Ji Sang was not to be trifled with and worried about getting into trouble with him.

Clearly, that kid was just someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Besides, although he was related to the local chief, the chief didn’t think highly of him because he was unambitious.

If trouble really came, he might not be able to help him.

Still, he knew to try to make peace—not completely stupid.

Su Wan shared these thoughts with Su Fu and added at the end, “Mother, if you don’t accept it, he’ll keep feeling uneasy, thinking the master is going to take action against him.”

“…Is that so? Then, let’s accept it,” Su Fu finally relented.

“All right, dear mother,” Su Wan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At worst, they could give him a chance to redeem himself later.

Thinking of those bandits, Su Wan had a plan brewing in her mind.

Life went on like this, and two days later the Su family began setting up shelters and building the new house.

Since they did not provide meals to the villagers working for them, they paid each worker an additional thirty wen. The villagers all wore smiles and worked with more energy.

It should be noted that ordinary workers at the dock earned only forty wen a day. But working for the Su family, they received one hundred and thirty wen daily—a rare opportunity one could hardly find even if searching by lantern light.

Excited, the work progressed quickly, and the structure began to take shape in just a few days.

The two older brothers of the Xia family also helped at the Su household.

Xia Xian and Lin Daniu, the wife of the village head, helped prepare meals. Occasionally, the elderly Su lady also helped with lighter tasks, which wasn’t too tiring.

Su Fu was responsible for purchasing meat, rice, wine, and other supplies.

The whole family lived harmoniously, never quarreling over money.

In such a warm and happy daily life, everyone’s face beamed with joy.

Until one day, a shabby, unkempt beggar appeared in the village.

It seemed the beggar noticed that among the whole Qinghe village, only the Su family was truly well-off. So, for three consecutive days, he came to the Su family asking for food.

The Su family didn’t take it to heart and gave him some food.

A few days later, it happened to be Su Shanyu’s day off, and the house was due to be completed the next day. Su Mingshan decided to hold a housewarming feast the day after.

Xia Xian’s eldest brother, Xia Yong, said, “It’s only right. Tomorrow, I’ll invite Yuer’s mother over to help.”

The second brother, Xia Min, also said, “I will invite Qian’er’s mother to come help as well.”

While the adults were inside discussing the housewarming banquet, Su Wan carried her bowl out the door. She followed the beggar who was moving slowly, seemingly with difficulty.

After stepping outside, the beggar glanced back at Su Wan.

She gave him a meaningful smile.

The beggar’s face was hidden behind dirty, tangled hair, so no one could tell what expression lay beneath.

That evening, after drinking, Ji Sang prepared to drive the carriage away. Su Wan stepped forward and stopped him, whispering into his ear, “The beggar is trouble. Stay alert!”

Ji Sang’s expression tightened. If Su Wan said there was trouble, then there surely was.

From the days they spent together, he sensed Su Wan held many secrets — she was far from ordinary.

The more powerful she became, the happier he felt. That meant a greater chance of safely returning to the capital.

Sure enough, as he drove to the village entrance, he saw the beggar speaking with two furtive men.

He focused hard but couldn’t hear what they were saying.

To avoid alerting them, he did not stop.

Behind him, the three cast unfriendly glances his way.

What they didn’t know was that a pair of eyes was watching them closely from the shadows.

The next day, Ji Sang came as usual to pick up Su Fu and her daughter to head to town.

Facing Su Xinyao’s soft, adorable eyes, Su Wan’s heart tightened. In the previous life, Su Xinyao had died too — the little girl must have suffered so much then.

Su Wan gently cupped Su Xinyao’s chubby face, pressing her own against it, softly saying, “Yao Yao, in this life, your sister will protect you and keep you safe as you grow up. No one will ever hurt you.”

Su Xinyao didn’t understand the words but smiled happily and hugged Su Wan, patting her back, cooing in a baby voice, “Sister is so good.”

Su Wan chuckled, “When I come back, I’ll bring you some candy.”

“Mm-hmm,” Su Xinyao responded, then ran inside, calling from afar, “Grandma, sister is going to buy me candy!”

The mother and daughter could not help with the house construction, so they didn’t worry much.

In town, Su Wan used an excuse to have Ji Sang take her for a walk, then after greeting Su Fu, they left.

Just after two streets, Su Wan learned that Wang Shun was at the Yue Tea House.

Knock knock… Ji Sang knocked on the door of a private room.

Inside came an impatient voice, “Who dares disturb me while I’m drinking tea?”

No response from outside. Wang Shun then sent a follower to open the door.

The new follower didn’t recognize Su Wan and Ji Sang and, feeling cocky, shouted at them, “Who are you two? Don’t you see that my master is with an important guest?”

“Make my master angry, and I’ll make sure you two won’t get away so easily.”

“I…” Before the curse could even leave his mouth, the follower was already lifted off the ground by Ji San.

The man sitting by the door suddenly changed his expression, leapt up from his chair.

Wang Shun noticed the panic on the man’s face next to him and couldn’t help but laugh. “I say, brother, don’t be nervous. The whole Qinghe Village is under my turf. No one can hurt you. As for finding that person, leave it to me…”

But just as Wang Shun was speaking with great enthusiasm, his eyes caught Ji San entering the room. His heart clenched sharply. His smile froze instantly. When he saw Ji San holding Xiao Liuzi by the collar, his face went pale with fear.

“Master, kill him quickly! This guy is outrageously bold. Hitting me is disrespecting you!” Xiao Liuzi kept shouting, oblivious to the danger.

Fearing Ji San might take his anger out on him, Wang Shun stepped forward and kicked Xiao Liuzi hard three times. “You mutt! How dare you make me want to kill the great Ji San! Get lost! Don’t ever follow me again!”

After kicking him away, Wang Shun looked at Su Wan with a flattering smile. “Little shopkeeper, what wind blew you two here?”

Wang Shun was truly afraid of Ji San and dared not look him in the eye, so he tried to curry favor with Su Wan instead.

Su Wan noticed Ji San’s gaze fixed on the man beside them and grew curious.

“Master, do you know him?”

“Yes, very well.” Ji San smiled slyly, but his eyes never left the man.

From the man’s expression, Su Wan could tell they were familiar but didn’t seem to be on good terms.

Ji San pulled out a chair, sat down, then turned to close the door behind him, cutting off the man’s only escape.