Chapter 1

The sun was scorching hot in late June. Nearing noon, the blazing sun threatened to melt shadows, shrinking them to tiny lumps.

On the path leading to the village entrance, Jiang Fuying, carrying a backpack and several medicine packets, struggled to pull something out of it and handed it to the people beside her.

Tonghua took the candy she offered and smiled, “The county is so nice. There’s everything… Sister Fuying, can you take me there next time?”

Jiang Fuying was about to answer when she saw several children running towards her, laughing and playing. Seeing her from afar, they called her “Sister Jiang” and started, “Sister Jiang, do you have any candy?”

She smiled helplessly and broke off some more candy from her hand. The children took it, licked it, and then eagerly exclaimed, “Wedding candy, wedding candy!”

“What kind of wedding candy?”

Tonghua was quicker to react and blurted it out.

“Sister Jiang’s wedding candy.”

The older child in the lead said immediately, “The groom has sent some gifts. Those Tiger Gang members were enjoying the cool breeze at the village entrance just now. They should be here by now, right?”

The children behind her nodded, laughing and joking, “Wedding candy! Let’s eat wedding candy—”

“The groom?”

Jiang Fuying was overwhelmed. She put the medicine bag in Tonghua’s hand and hurried back to the village.

Before Tonghua could recover, she saw the children stuffing the candy in her hands and staring at the piece in her hand.

“…Go away, get out of here.”

She dismissed them unhappily, then, realizing this was a matter of urgency, hurried after them.

Tonghua, sweating profusely, finally caught up with Fuying.

“Still, it’s about that young master from the Zhang family?”

Tonghua, panting, just happened to see Fuying stop the men carrying the box.

These were the village’s idlers, often found wandering around, stealing, and harassing young women. Because of their close ties, they even adopted the folklore-style gang-building style and named themselves the “Tiger Gang.”

The unruly leader, with his shirt unbuttoned, was a familiar figure to both men: Qiu Er, the so-called leader of the Tiger Gang.

Tonghua barely caught her breath when she heard the man say, “Hey, isn’t that Madam Jiang? Your lover has come to deliver something to you, and you can’t wait any longer.”

The men behind her, carrying boxes, all laughed and chimed in, “Of course not. Brother Qiu, once the money arrives, everything will be easy. Look how impressive this box is.”

“Who sent you here?”

The sun was blazing, and Jiang Fuying’s face flushed with sweat, but her eyes shone with a hint of anger, clearly furious. “Speak.”

“I was speaking to you in a gentle manner. Why are you being so harsh?” Qiu Er, slightly annoyed by her glare, said, “Mr. Zhang is so kind, he’s asked our Tiger Gang to deliver something to you, and he’s also asked me to pass on a message: When is your wife willing to marry? He can’t wait for this marriage—”

At these words, the men behind her practically doubled over with laughter, their faces filled with playful amusement.

Tonghua was impatient, eager to roll up her sleeves and fight them. “What are you talking about? You’re defaming me in broad daylight! Madam Jiang and Mr. Zhang don’t even know each other, so why would they want to enter or not?”

Several people were arguing in the village, making quite a commotion. It was lunchtime, and neighbors had flocked out to watch the fun.

Jiang Fuying didn’t want to argue with them any further, simply saying, “There’s no need to send the things back. Just send them back where they came from…”

“I’m not saying anything bad,” Qiu Er said in a gruff voice. “Just marry Mr. Zhang. What’s wrong with enjoying a good life in the future?”

Jiang Fuying was interrupted before she could finish her words. Even the most good-tempered person would frown at such a frivolous remark.

“Or maybe if you don’t like the Zhang family,” Qiu Er stood lopsidedly, extending his hand toward her, almost touching her cheek. “It’s not that I don’t love you…”

He leaned closer, his nauseating scent mingling with his face, which hadn’t been washed in ages.

“Let me give you a kiss, maybe I can help…”

With a “slap,” the air around them grew strangely still.

Jiang Fuying’s chest heaved violently, the slap still aching from where she had just dropped it, swelled and burned in the sun.

“Damn it…” Qiu Er cursed, taken in by the blow. “You’re so shameless!”

He instinctively raised his hand to strike back, but Jiang Fuying’s cold glare intimidated him. He dropped his raised hand awkwardly, muttering a few curses.

“A box like this, delivered so unclearly, what’s the point? If there’s anything, it’s not your place as an outsider to say anything,” Jiang Fuying clenched her fingers. Surrounded by a crowd of villagers, she raised her voice. “Go back and tell that young man that if he’s really interested, he should send a matchmaker to discuss it with my mother, according to the agenda. My family may not be wealthy, but we are a respectable family. We wouldn’t do such a private exchange.”

“That’s right,” a neighboring woman said, just after lunch. “What’s the purpose of such an unclear message? And they asked you guys to deliver it…”

The Tiger Gang was a scourge in the village, often wandering into the county and gaining a notorious reputation. If they could send something, then the so-called young man from the county must be no good.

“If they really wanted to send something, wouldn’t the Zhang family, a wealthy family, have so few servants?”

“That’s right. Go back!”

With that initial response, it was natural for him to speak up for Fuying, a woman he had watched grow up.

Many people started talking, and Qiu Er felt a bit embarrassed. He had wanted to go back and collect the reward money, but now he was blocked in the village and couldn’t even enter Jiang Fuying’s house.

He even got slapped!

Qiu Er didn’t say anything, but a younger brother behind him couldn’t help but say, “You can’t say that. Who doesn’t know your family’s situation? Mr. Zhang is kind-hearted. He said, You marry him, he’ll take care of your mother’s illness. It’s a small matter.”

Several people surrounded him with a scornful air. “Don’t be ungrateful. This blessing isn’t for everyone.”

Jiang Fuying tried her best to maintain her composure. “What’s wrong? Are you jealous?”

“If you’re jealous, just marry him yourself and don’t disturb my peace,” she said, suppressing her trembling. “Go back and tell Mr. Zhang to stop thinking about it. Don’t waste your energy.”

“You don’t understand what I’m saying, do you? Do you know the status of the Zhang family? If you really anger them, you might lose your life…”

As soon as Qiu Er spoke, the onlookers retreated back to their own courtyards. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to help Fuying, but it was more that once they got involved with this kind of scoundrel, they were afraid they’d never be able to get away.

Faintly, she could hear the sound of pointing and whispering around her. The blood all over Jiang Fuying’s body seemed to have concentrated on her head, and she was almost dizzy.

“—In broad daylight, I see who dares to kill me.”

A middle-aged man’s deep voice rang out from the crowd, “Let’s see if this knife of mine can cut off your rotten tongue first!”

Qiu Er’s face changed. Seeing his father, whom Tonghua had summoned at some unknown time, memories of being chased and beaten flooded back, and a slight chill ran down his spine.

Jiang Fuying turned and whispered, “Uncle Liu.” A calm response greeted her, and her heart settled. She gave a forced smile to Tonghua, who had returned, sweating profusely.

Uncle Liu held a butcher knife in his hand, and the smell of unwashed blood still lingered on his body. It was obvious that he had just been summoned by his daughter and hadn’t yet dealt with her.

He stood forward, his burly figure protruding from his belly, towering over the other thugs. His aura, capable of knocking three people off their feet with one punch, made the men following Qiu Er’s heels buckle at the knees.

“Brother Qiu,” one of them swallowed, “why don’t we just call it quits today? It’s just a gift… It’s not worth making a fuss about.”

“…Yeah, a gift, what does it have to do with us?”

Qiu Er rolled his eyes, unwilling to admit he was scared. Finally finding an excuse, he gestured for the items to be put down, then said, “I’m leaving them here. Whoever wants them can take them! If the Zhang family blames us, everyone will see it. It was her own fault.”

The cold light reflected from Uncle Liu’s butcher knife made the men’s hair stand on end. The memory of the beating they’d received when they harassed Tonghua Fuying was still fresh in their minds. They hurled a few harsh words at him, but then left without further ado.

–

Jiang Fuying returned home and closed the courtyard door. Her mother’s voice rang out from inside: “Aying, are you back?”

“I’m back,” she answered loudly, but her face was devoid of a smile. Rubbing her head with a hint of fatigue, she added, “Mother, I’ll go cook first. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Closing the kitchen door, her heart, pounding with anger, finally calmed. Jiang Fuying closed her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a shadow on her face. Her crescent-shaped brows furrowed in a frown, a hint of annoyance evident.

Mother had been ill, and she didn’t want her to know about these troubles. She was thankful she had stopped them today. If she had been a moment later and her mother had heard all that foul language… she didn’t know how it would have ended.

After a long delay, Jiang Fuying lit the fire. Acrid white smoke billowed from the boiling oil wok. The spatula stirred continuously, mingling with the crackling of the hot oil and a fragrant aroma.

It was the height of summer, and the kitchen fire was burning brightly, adding to the oppressive heat. The woman rolled up her sleeves, revealing a pale arm. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, revealing a rosy face.

The thick smoke and a slight frown on her face couldn’t hide her clear, radiant features. She served the rice and called into the house, “Mother, the meal is ready.”

After a busy morning, she was starving, and only when she sat down did she finally feel like taking a break.

Both side dishes contained meat, and there was also a steamed egg custard. The meal was delicious. Jiang Fuying ate a bowl of rice with the egg custard, and the unhappiness in her heart finally eased.

Noticing that she looked better, her mother, Luo Xujun, tentatively said, “You’re a long time late today, but…”

“Tonghua went with me today. She had to go see Chaizi, so she was delayed a while.” Fuying lowered her eyes, looking at her rice bowl, her tone flat.

Luo Xujun breathed a sigh of relief. “Mother is afraid those people will come and stop you again.”

Everyone in the village knew that the Jiang family’s daughter had been charming since childhood, and her beauty only grew more pronounced as she grew older. There were always some idle hooligans in the village who would come and cause trouble from time to time.

Ever since Jiang’s father passed away, life had become increasingly difficult.

If it weren’t for the close relationship with the neighbors and their constant support, I’m afraid life would be even more difficult.

As for this time…

Jiang Fuying’s eyes softened, and she forced a smile. “Uncle Liu gave them a good beating last time, and they’ve been much more well-behaved lately. Don’t worry too much, Mother.”

Luo Xujun looked young, but he looked tired, his brows drooping. A plain hairpin hung in his hair, simple but neat.

She simply placed her hands on her daughter’s and spoke softly, “Mother doesn’t have any special abilities; she just wants you to be well.”

Jiang Fuying didn’t answer. She put away her dishes and chopsticks without turning back. “Mother, go and rest. I’ll bring you the medicine when it’s ready.”

Not wanting to reveal her low mood in front of her mother, she pursed her lips and took the previously divided meal and the freshly brewed medicine to the other room.

The Jiang family’s courtyard was quite large, and the sun was high in the sky. Jiang Fuying raised her hand, blocking a small patch of shadow from her eyes, and quickly pushed open the door into the side room.

The person inside was clearly awake. Upon hearing her approach, they opened their mouths but remained silent.

“Awake.”

Jiang Fuying glanced at him and placed the dishes and chopsticks on the small table. “Eat. It’s free.”

The light in the side room was dim, and there was only a faint rustling sound. The person half-reclining on the couch slowly rose, emerged from the shadows, and groped their way forward. Jiang Fuying couldn’t just stand by and watch, so she took a few steps forward to help him up.

As she approached, the faint, lingering fragrance of jasmine curled around her arm and ascended, her only guide in the dark world. As she reached the table, the aroma of food mingled with the bitterness of medicine, dispelling the faint jasmine scent, never to be found again.

The man picked up his bowl and chopsticks and thanked him.

The woman sat down beside him, saying, without further ado, “I went to the county this morning to inquire, but I haven’t heard of anyone missing.”

“It’s not unusual to find nothing. Thank you for your hard work, Madam Jiang,” the man nodded. “It’s just that this matter shouldn’t be made public…”

Fuying hummed a sigh of relief and said nothing more.

She was truly tired, and it was only in this dimly lit room that she could casually cast a low profile, unconcerned with others’ expressions.

She casually fanned herself with a cattail leaf, gently swaying the strands of hair that fell by her cheek. She tucked them behind her ear and looked up at the man before her.

The man’s eyebrows were sharp, but because he couldn’t see, they seemed a little dull. His sword-like brows should have conveyed a fierce aura, but the dimness of his eyes softened their aggression, making him appear calmer. His face was handsome, his jaw sharp, a beauty Fuying had never seen before.

But even more difficult to ignore was his cool demeanor, a coolness that even his coarse hemp clothes couldn’t conceal. He stood tall despite his injuries, his shirt ill-fitting, and his broad back, draped in the old clothes, felt slightly strained.

His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, his forearms firm and defined, tensing and relaxing with his movements. He ate his meal slowly, a man evidently well-educated and well-born, born into a wealthy family.

Since he couldn’t see, her unrelenting gaze drifted slowly over him, settling on a small, inconspicuous mole.

With such strong forearms… he must be skilled in martial arts, right?

Fuying pondered aimlessly.

“Madam Jiang is in a bad mood today.”

Fuying’s thoughts were suddenly brought back to her senses, and she looked at him.

It wasn’t a question, but a certainty.

Fuying suddenly felt exposed and subconsciously said, “No.”

“Then,” the man said without further ado. He drank the bitter medicine and inhaled the delicate fragrance again. “If Madam Jiang is in trouble, I will do my best to help, as long as I can.”