Ning Xiuwen had taken advantage of the Lu family’s soft spot for their daughter — and the fact that the original Lu Qingqing was a total fool — to act with impunity.

But today, Lu Qingqing was determined to make him cough up the money!

While spring bloomed peacefully, laughter and poetry drifted out from the Ning family’s courtyard.

The Lu family was buried in crushing debt, yet the Ning family was basking in the warmth of spring?

Lu Qingqing kicked open the old wooden gate with one solid stomp.

Several men and women in the courtyard looked up in shock.

Perfect!

Two of Ning Xiuwen’s scholarly friends were here too.

He was someone who cared immensely about appearances — there was no way he’d let her walk away without getting the money back now.

This also meant she wouldn’t need to summon the villagers.

In addition, there was Doctor Ding’s daughter, Ding Xiang, and that supposedly “dying” mother of Ning Xiuwen!

The two of them were sitting close together, chatting intimately.

As a renowned doctor with dual PhDs in both traditional Chinese and Western medicine, Lu Qingqing took one look and instantly saw that Liu Shi wasn’t sick at all.

Her complexion was rosy, her breath strong and healthy.

What’s more, both mother and son were dressed in brand-new clothes — like it was New Year’s!

Damn it! Father Lu was still wearing clothes layered with patches!

Everything these people had — they’d sucked it from the Lu family like leeches!

“Lu Qingqing, what are you doing here?”

Ning Xiuwen’s smiling face twisted. His brows furrowed deeply, his eyes turned dark and stormy as he strode over.

He lowered his voice and warned, “Don’t make a scene. Whatever it is, talk later. Go back first!”

Whenever there were people around, Ning Xiuwen never got too close to Lu Qingqing.

He always claimed it was to protect her reputation.

Lies to placate a fool!

Liu Shi sneered and rolled her eyes, the way a mistress of the house might disdainfully look at a lowly servant.

She whispered to the two scholarly guests, “That nuisance from the west side of the village — she’s been clinging to our Xiuwen for years. He can’t shake her off. If Xiuyuan weren’t so kind-hearted, thinking about a girl’s reputation… This wild and scarred shrew…”

The two guests exchanged glances and smiled politely.

Lu Qingqing was indeed a bit brash — she had literally kicked the door open just now — but she was actually quite pretty.

Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with intensity. Her skin was smoother and fairer than most village girls. Her oval-shaped face was lifted slightly with a sharp, commanding air.

Unfortunately, there was a scar on her face, which marred her beauty.

Still, she was much more attractive than Ding Xiang.

They politely echoed a few compliments about how cultured and likable Ning Xiuwen was.

Liu Shi beamed even more proudly.

Her son — handsome, learned, talented. He had suitors lining up.

Especially Lu Qingqing — the number one obsessed fool.

Even beating her wouldn’t make her leave.

How embarrassing!

And now she had barged in like this, not even caring about the occasion!

Now that they had conned the Lu family out of their money and taken everything, there was no need to pretend anymore.

“Qingqing, why haven’t you left yet?” Liu Shi’s face darkened, assuming the tone of an elder.

In the past, Lu Qingqing would’ve been scared off the moment she got angry.

But today…

Ning Xiuwen turned back and gave Liu Shi a hard look.

They were used to working in silent tandem. Liu Shi immediately sensed something had changed.

But she didn’t take it seriously.

All these years, Lu Qingqing was fierce to outsiders, but acted like a quail in front of Ning Xiuwen. One scare and she’d crumble.

Her expression grew harsher. “Qingqing, how can you be so inconsiderate? Can’t you see we have guests? If something’s wrong, talk to your auntie inside.”

“No need, Auntie.” Lu Qingqing’s voice rang out, crisp and bright, neither humble nor aggressive.

“Previously, Ning Xiuwen said you were so ill you couldn’t get out of bed — one foot already in the grave. But clearly, you’re doing just fine today. I’m here to ask: when will you return the eighty taels of silver you borrowed from my family?”

What?!

Eighty taels of silver?!

The two scholarly guests were stunned.

Eighty taels was a huge sum — only the wealthiest families could afford that!

Lu Qingqing was just a village girl, dressed in coarse rags — how could she have that much money?

“Lu Qingqing, what nonsense are you spouting!” Liu Shi screeched, unable to control herself.

Everyone jumped in shock.

“What nonsense! Look at yourself — what eighty taels?!”

The main culprit hadn’t spoken yet, but Ding Xiang jumped in.

She cast a scornful look at Lu Qingqing and explained to the two scholars, “You might not know — her brother borrowed a high-interest loan. The family probably can’t repay it, so now she’s trying to get money from Xiuwen.”

Then she turned and mocked, “Lu Qingqing, you’re surprisingly well-informed. You know Xiuwen made money writing books? But you’re too late. He’s already spent it buying land. You can’t borrow a thing!”

Bought land!

Lu Qingqing asked, “How much?”

“Three mu. Oh, right…” Ding Xiang’s expression was filled with malicious delight.

Her wide, flat face now looked particularly mean-spirited.

She didn’t notice Ning Xiuwen’s guilty eyes.

Before he could stop her, Ding Xiang blurted it out like spilling beans: “It’s your family’s three mu. You guys took such good care of it — plowed, weeded, all ready for sowing.”

Talk about preparing a wedding dress for someone else!

She finished with a cackling laugh, like a showy hen laying an egg.

Ning Xiuwen looked panicked.

“Qingqing, let me explain. That land was too good to fall into someone else’s hands. In the future, it’ll…”

Just like before — vague half-truths, leaving the rest for Lu Qingqing to fill in herself.

It was always meant to make her believe she’d eventually become part of the Ning family — that the land was still hers.

He reached out to pull her aside, intending to find a quiet spot to appease her.

Smack!

Lu Qingqing slapped him across the face.

“You took my money and stole my land — you’ve got some nerve!”

To be fair, Ning Xiuwen was indeed good-looking.

A refined, delicate scholar-type.

But his downturned eyes and mouth betrayed his nature.

That kind of face might look fine when young, but with age, it would turn into the classic sharp-eyed, thin-lipped, miserly schemer — the kind with a bad bone structure.

He stumbled from the slap and almost fell.

A useless scholar — weaker than a woman.

All fluff, no substance. Only girls with no real knowledge would fall for that.

“Eighty taels. I want it back today! Otherwise, I don’t mind making a scene. I’ll let your classmates, your teacher — everyone — weigh in!”

“Isn’t the imperial exam on the 16th of the third month? I wonder if this would affect our dear Young Master Ning?”

“I hear your teacher thinks highly of you.”

Before entering, Lu Qingqing had overheard them talking about Ning Xiuwen’s academic achievements — how his teacher had great hopes for him.

This era valued moral integrity.

Once word got out, he could even be barred from sitting for the exam.

Lu Qingqing’s words shocked everyone.

It took a long moment before people snapped out of it.

Ning Xiuwen clutched his face, wide-eyed and dumbfounded.

Ding Xiang shrieked like a rooster at dawn.

The two scholars stood up, no longer relaxed.

Their expressions turned hard to read.

The exam was coming soon — they were classmates, but also competitors.

They had come today to probe for info.

But now, they were wondering — did Ning Xiuwen really borrow eighty taels and not return it?

“Lu Qingqing! You dare strike my son! You damned brat! Who the hell lent you eighty taels?!” Liu Shi shrieked with murderous rage, her eyes bulging like she wanted to kill someone.

Clearly guilty — and going overboard.

Lu Qingqing’s face turned cold.

This old woman must’ve forgotten what her life used to be like.

A widow raising a scholar son, unable to eat or clothe properly.

In winter, she washed laundry for others until her hands bled.

If not for Lu Qingqing — the fool who stole food and money from home — would Ning Xiuwen even have had a chance to study?

He would’ve ended up as a watchdog for some landlord!

Ungrateful snake!

“Auntie, you sure talk big. But if that’s how it is, then what does that make Ning Xiuwen? A bastard with a mother but no father to teach him right?”