Chapter 68: Leaving Home 2/3

Unable to resist, Jin Xiaoshu reached out and touched Fang Jinniang’s hair with his fingertips.

Fang Jinniang was really beautiful. Was he dreaming?

Fang Jinniang used to stay at home all the time, and although she wanted to change her situation, she didn’t know where to start.

But after listening to Jin Xiaoye and the others talk a lot recently, she suddenly realized something.

If a person disregarded their reputation and didn’t care about what others thought… others would be afraid of them.

Although she knew this, she couldn’t bring herself to ignore her reputation before. She didn’t want things to get too ugly. But now her mother had pushed her to a dead end.

She had thought about seeking death… if she wasn’t afraid of death, what else could she fear?

Fang Jinniang knew nothing about the man behind her, but she pulled him along, striding towards home.

She knew there were probably many people watching her on the road, but since she couldn’t see anyway, she didn’t care!

Fang Jinniang didn’t mind not being able to see, but Jin Xiaoshu at the moment… He felt a bit shy and dizzy from the gazes of the people around him, as if he were about to float away.

Fang Jinniang was actually pulling him forward!

What did it matter if his sister and brother-in-law held hands in the village? Fang Jinniang was in the county town, pulling him along under the gaze of so many people!

Before long, the two of them arrived at Fang Jinniang’s doorstep.

And by this time, quite a few people had followed them.

The people living near Fang’s house all knew Fang Jinniang and felt quite sympathetic towards her.

Recently, Fang’s mother had some dealings with the Wang family, and everyone had some vague knowledge about it.

The two sons of that Mr. Wang were about the same age as Fang Jinniang, but they had already gotten married. If Fang Jinniang really went to the Wang family, she would either become an old man’s concubine or a young man’s concubine.

Ten years ago, people in their alley thought that Fang Jinniang would marry the best among them. Who could have thought that she might end up being a concubine?

Being a concubine… If she became a concubine for Mr. Wang’s son, that would be tolerable, but if it were for Mr. Wang himself… Mr. Wang had had several concubines, none of whom had a good ending.

But what they hadn’t expected was that everyone was pitying Fang Jinniang, and Fang Jinniang had actually brought back a young man who looked no more than twenty.

Jin Xiaoshu really needed to thank Li Qingzhi and Jin Xiaoye for their care during this time; he had become much stronger all of a sudden, and he had already gone through puberty.

Plus, he had been doing business alone on the boat for this period of time, exposed to wind and sun, and had interacted with many people… He looked much more mature than his peers.

When Fang’s mother heard the commotion outside and came out to see, she saw Fang Jinniang bringing a man over.

Anger surged within her, and Fang’s mother angrily said, “Fang Jinniang, what are you doing?!”

“Mother, let’s talk inside,” Fang Jinniang said calmly.

Fang’s mother glanced at the people outside, let Fang Jinniang in, and then slammed the door shut.

The house rented by the Fang family was quite small, with only two rooms downstairs, and there were two small attic rooms above them.

The downstairs room was the living room for cooking, eating, and receiving guests, while one room was for Fang Zijian to stay in. As for the attic rooms upstairs, one was shared by Fang’s two sisters, and the other was occupied by Fang’s mother.

The three of them entered the living room, and without a word, Fang’s mother slapped Fang Jinniang across the face, lowering her voice as she cursed, “You little slut…”

Jin Xiaoshu had been nervously watching Fang’s mother all along, so he naturally saw her actions for the first time. Without hesitation, he grabbed Fang’s mother’s arm and pulled her back a bit. “What are you doing?”

What’s wrong with Fang Jinniang’s mother? She not only scolded Fang Jinniang, but she also slapped her!

Mother, you are actually hitting someone!

And with a slap!

Jin Xiaoshu had been beaten before. When he was a child, he was naughty and disobedient, and his sister would chase him with a broom and spank him, but as he grew older, he had never been slapped.

His shyness in front of his mother-in-law disappeared in an instant, leaving only anger, and he tightened his grip on Fang’s mother’s arm to stop her from continuing her actions.

After closing the door, the room was quite dark. Fang Jinniang didn’t see clearly what her mother was doing when she hit someone. She was stunned before realizing what had happened.

The man she brought back protected her, which was good.

Fang Jinniang grabbed Jin Xiaoshu’s clothes. “Mother, I want to marry him.”

When Fang’s mother saw Fang Jinniang bringing back a man, she already sensed that something was wrong. Now, hearing Fang Jinniang’s words, she became even more furious.

But even so, she didn’t forget to lower her voice, “What nonsense are you talking about? You want to marry this rough man?”

Jin Xiaoshu worked as a boatman, so naturally, he didn’t dress well. Plus, his appearance… Fang’s mother could tell he was used to physical labor.

“Yes,” Fang Jinniang smiled.

Fang’s mother was furious and wanted to scold her loudly, but Jin Xiaoshu was still firmly holding her arm, and she felt like her arm was about to be broken!

Jin Xiaoshu, accustomed to rowing boats, had developed many muscles on his arms. He could easily control Fang’s mother, who never did any physical work and was petite.

Fang’s mother gritted her teeth. “I don’t agree. I have already arranged a marriage for you…”

Fang Jinniang said, “Anyway, I’m going to marry him. If you like Mr. Wang so much, just marry him yourself.”

Fang’s mother hadn’t expected to encounter such a situation. Fang Jinniang had always been obedient, so when she told Fang Jinniang to marry Mr. Wang yesterday, she never expected Fang Jinniang to resist.

She had treated Fang Jinniang so badly before, even withholding food from her, and Fang Jinniang had endured it all, hadn’t she?

And marriage was originally arranged by parents and matchmakers. How could this girl dare not listen to her?

“You unfilial daughter…”

Fang Jinniang interrupted her mother. Her voice remained calm, “Mother, if you force me to marry Mr. Wang, I will go to my younger brother’s school and tell his classmates that he’s selling his sister to support his education. I will tell them that he’s sucking his sister’s blood to get an education. He’s a heartless scoundrel…”

“Shut up!” Fang’s mother finally couldn’t contain her voice and screamed.

But Fang Jinniang didn’t stop talking, “After I finish cursing him, I will either throw myself in front of him or hang myself at the doorstep. I want to see if he still has the face to continue studying.”

Fang Jinniang didn’t want anyone outside to hear what she was saying; her voice had been very soft all along.

But when she spoke, she was determined, and her eyes were fixed firmly on Fang’s mother.

Fang’s mother covered her chest, truly frightened.

If Fang Jinniang really did that, Fang Zijian would be finished!

Forget about continuing his education; probably no one would want to marry him.

Chongcheng County was just that small. If such a thing happened, neither she nor Fang Zijian would have the face to go out again!

“You despicable person, how can you be so ruthless, you’re just a heartless wolf…” Fang’s mother cursed loudly.

But Jin Xiaoshu went to look at Fang Jinniang and said, “Jinniang, don’t scare me!”

Jin Xiaoshu had been in a daze, floating in the clouds, but just now… he was frightened by Fang Jinniang.

Fang Jinniang looked at Jin Xiaoshu and said, “Don’t say anything.”

Jin Xiaoshu dared not speak. He still had one hand holding Fang’s mother’s arm, and with the other hand, he reached for Fang Jinniang’s hand. After grasping it, he felt a little calmer.

But his mind was still chaotic; he didn’t know what to do next, so he just stood there, waiting for Fang Jinniang’s orders.