Chapter 23 – Sister-in-law… She’s Pretty Fierce

“That’s right—either marry him or pay the money back!” Xie Gui’s relatives echoed angrily.

Xu Nuo immediately realized what had happened—Xie Gui and his group must have gone to her old home first to stir up trouble, and the only way they could’ve found her here… was if Xu Shan told them.

Absolutely vile.

The whole Xu Lao’er family was rotten to the core.

They were the ones who sold her off for money, and now that things weren’t working out, they just shoved the fool back her way?

How despicable!

“Uncle Team Leader, let me handle this,” Xu Nuo said, stepping out from behind the brigade leader. “I’m already engaged. The marriage certificate has been approved, and I’m marrying a soldier. If you keep harassing me now, this counts as interfering with a military marriage. I don’t think I need to explain how serious that is, do I?”

Everyone knew interfering with a military marriage was a criminal offense.

The team leader nodded. “She’s telling the truth. Her fiancé is a soldier, and he’s waiting right now at the village entrance. If you people keep this up and he comes over, you’ll all be arrested!”

In truth, Xie Gui hadn’t really expected to take Xu Nuo away today.

But his foolish son was obsessed with marrying her, so he had no choice but to tag along, holding on to the slim hope that something might work out.

Now it was clear—that marriage wasn’t happening.

“Then pay us back the money,” Xie Gui said. “I gave your family 500 yuan as a bride price. They’ve paid back 300, but there’s still 200 left. You’re marrying a soldier, right? Soldiers get a monthly allowance. You can cover the rest. Once the money’s paid, we’ll call it even.”

Xie Gui knew better than to expect any money from Xu Lao’er’s family. Those two were slippery and shameless.

So now he was aiming at Xu Nuo instead.

Everyone said Xu Nuo had a soft personality and was easy to manipulate. Even if she couldn’t pay right away, he could make her man sign a debt note—and later, if she didn’t repay it, he could go directly to the army to collect.

“Why should I pay?” Xu Nuo shot back. “You sold me off behind my back. Now the people who sold me can’t pay up, so you’re coming after me? Don’t you think you’re going too far?”

Xie Gui was momentarily stunned.

Of course he knew he was going too far. But people always picked the soft ones to bully—can’t bite the hard ones, so you go after the easy ones.

“Your second uncle said you took a bunch of valuables with you! That money needs to be returned!”

“Oh? He said that? And you just believe him?”

“Even if I didn’t believe him, I have to now,” Xie Gui snapped. “Someone has to pay!”

Xu Nuo tilted her head and sneered, “So if he tells you to eat sh*t, are you going to do that too?”

Xie Gui flushed red with anger, “Watch your mouth, girl!”

“You people,” Xu Nuo said coldly, “listen up. I’m telling you right now—you’re not getting a single cent from me! You want money? Go find Xu Lao’er!”

“He’s your second uncle! Is that how you talk about him?” Xie Gui was stunned. Just a few days ago, this girl had been soft and timid—now she was like a different person.

“Oh?” Xu Nuo smirked. “So now you’re all about etiquette, huh? Sure, I’ll say it to his face too—I won’t call that man my uncle! He sold me like cargo. You think I should still show him respect? In your dreams.”

“Enough nonsense,” Xie Gui growled. “I don’t care how you split it. Just give me the money, or don’t even think about leaving today.”

Ah, playing the scoundrel now.

Xu Nuo could tell Xie Gui was trying to keep his image intact—after all, he was the director of the town’s garment factory, a solid government job.

He didn’t want to push too far and end up losing that sweet post.

So most of the time, he only tried to scare Xu Lao’er’s family—never took real action.

Xu Nuo narrowed her eyes. “Fine. Let me give you some advice. You’re short 200, right? Go to their house and take stuff. Can’t pay? Take it in kind. If it’s still not enough, drop Xie Dabao off at their doorstep. Let them feed him until they’ve earned back what you spent on the bride price. Or, if you’re feeling bold, break Xu Lao’er’s legs and call it compensation for medical fees. How about that?”

—

Meanwhile, in the car—

Lu Chen had been dozing lightly for a while, mentally keeping track of how long a certificate should take.

It was well past that.

Too much time had passed. Xu Nuo still hadn’t returned.

He made a few inquiries around the village, then had Xiao Wei drive them straight to the village production brigade.

Lu Chen got out of the car and saw that the courtyard was packed with people. His instincts immediately kicked in—Xu Nuo was probably in some kind of trouble. He walked into the yard without hesitation.

Just as he entered, before he even saw her, he heard her fierce and righteous speech echo across the courtyard.

Lu Chen had been worried she might be getting bullied—but from the sound of it, that clearly wasn’t the case.

“Sister-in-law is… actually kind of fierce,” Xiao Wei whispered behind him.

Lu Chen’s lips curved slightly.
She looked so soft and delicate, like she couldn’t hurt a fly—but she had a sharp tongue and quick wit.

Usually she was so quiet and reserved, but when it mattered, she knew how to stand up for herself.

And really, in the kind of environment she came from, if she didn’t protect herself, who would?

Lu Chen’s thoughts wandered back to the first time he met her.
She had almost been taken by human traffickers, and if she hadn’t flipped over that fruit stand and gotten detained, she might’ve already been sold off to some remote mountain village by now—instead of standing here as his soon-to-be wife.

Back in the courtyard, Xie Gui was actually starting to think Xu Nuo’s words made sense.

Except for that last idea, which was too extreme, the first two were… surprisingly practical. Tailor-made for his situation. They wouldn’t get him in legal trouble, and he wouldn’t risk losing his job.

“All right, sounds good,” Xie Gui nodded, having made up his mind.

Xu Nuo gave him a bright smile. “Then I wish you success!”

Xie Gui turned to leave, dragging Xie Dabao with him.

But Dabao wouldn’t go. He insisted on marrying Xu Nuo. “Wife! Xu Nuo is my wife! I’m taking my wife home!”

No one could reason with the fool. He was unbelievably strong too—he kept lunging at Xu Nuo, trying to drag her away, and even a few men couldn’t hold him back.

Just then, Lu Chen stepped through the crowd.

Amid the astonished stares, he walked straight over to Xu Nuo’s side.

“Lu Chen? Why are you here? Weren’t you resting in the car?” Xu Nuo asked in surprise.

“I saw you didn’t come back for a long time. Figured something must’ve held you up, so I came to check.” He glanced down at the certificate she was clutching in her hand. “Got it done? Let’s go.”

“Yeah.” Xu Nuo nodded and turned to the team leader. “Uncle, this is my fiancé, Lu Chen.”

The team leader took one look at the uniform and instantly recognized that this wasn’t some ordinary soldier. Combined with Lu Chen’s calm and composed demeanor, it was clear he held a high rank.

“Comrade officer! Comrade officer!” The team leader excitedly extended his hand for a shake. “Xu Nuo is a good girl. Please, you must treat her well.”

“Don’t worry,” Lu Chen replied sincerely. “I will.”

“All right, then you two get going. It’s getting late, don’t miss your travel window.”

“Okay. Goodbye, Uncle.”

By now, the villagers had all seen clearly—this man wasn’t just wearing a high-ranking uniform. He even had a young soldier following behind him.

He looked young, yes, but there was no doubt: this was a big official!

Otherwise, who would have a personal driver?

Sure enough, the young driver respectfully said, “Regimental Commander, I’ll turn the car around now. Please wait just a moment.”

“Go ahead.”

Regimental Commander?!

The crowd buzzed.

“Xu Nuo’s got real luck!”

“She’s amazing! She’s going to be an official’s wife now!”

As Lu Chen and Xu Nuo walked side by side toward the exit, Xie Dabao threw a fit and charged after them, screaming, “No! I won’t let my wife leave! I want my wife! I want my wife to go home and have babies with me!”

Lu Chen calmly stepped forward, caught him with one arm, and subdued him in an instant. “Stop struggling.”

With his arm twisted behind his back, Xie Dabao cried hysterically, wailing and screaming for Xu Nuo, repeating over and over how he wanted to have babies with her.

Xu Nuo sighed. She knew she had to root herself out of this fool’s heart once and for all—otherwise, he’d never stop obsessing over her.

So she turned to Lu Chen and said, “Let him go. I’ll say a few words to him.”

“You sure?” Lu Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.

—