Chapter 23 – These Brutes

Gu Yun: “……!!” Brother Ting v587!

But Gu Yun could tell—when Fu Ting mentioned Ruan Jiaojiao, there were literal little stars shining in his eyes.

Before, Fu Ting also kept Ruan Jiaojiao in line, but that was only out of a husband’s duty. Now his feelings were clearly different— even if they weren’t married, Fu Ting would still give everything to protect Ruan Jiaojiao and keep her by his side.

Could this… be the so-called love people talked about?

Gu Yun got so caught up in his thoughts that he tripped and fell face-first in the dirt.

It hurt so much he wanted to cry. Just as he was about to ask Brother Ting to help him up, he looked up and—his Brother Ting was already running off to find his wife, not even sparing him a glance.

Gu Yun: “……” Wuwuwu, Brother Ting! Women are like clothes, but brothers are like arms and legs! Clothes can be replaced—do you not understand arms and legs can’t just be cut off?!

He could only grit his teeth, endure the pain, and scramble up to chase after his heartless Brother Ting.

But someone else was in even worse shape—Ruan Xiaodie.

This wasn’t the first time she’d secretly tried to stir up trouble between Ruan Jiaojiao and Fu Ting.

Before, she used to pass messages to Gu Yun and let him pass them along, and since Gu Yun was on her side back then, he never exposed her.

But now, Gu Yun had switched sides and stood with Ruan Jiaojiao—always siding with her no matter what!

Ruan Xiaodie instantly felt Ruan Jiaojiao was absolutely hateful. She already had Fu Ting, and she still shamelessly flirted with his brother. She’s nothing but a little slut!

Furious, Ruan Xiaodie scrambled up, praying desperately that Ruan Jiaojiao would take the bait. Once Huo Yunshu tricked her, she and Huo Yunshu would work together to bleed her family dry!

She didn’t feel there was anything wrong with this—in fact, she felt it was only right. After all, the Ruan family only had one daughter. Sooner or later that property would belong to Fu Ting, that coarse brute. Compared to him, wasn’t Huo Yunshu, an educated youth, far more valuable to society?

If a person didn’t look out for themselves, heaven and earth would punish them! She was just redirecting good resources to where they belonged, following the trend of the times~

But now, more and more people were looking at her differently, whispering behind her back, calling her a troublemaker.

Ruan Xiaodie was livid. Covering her ears, she ran off and swore she would never again “pass messages” for Gu Yun and Fu Ting.

What do these people know? Hah! None of them understand my painstaking efforts. No wonder they’ll spend their whole lives as dirt-faced peasants bent over fields! Serves them right!

—

Meanwhile, Fu Ting had arrived home.

The rough man ran fast, his bronze skin gleaming with beads of sweat.

Super sexy.

Ruan Jiaojiao swallowed hard with a “gulp.”

When Fu Ting saw Huo Yunshu blocking his doorway, he went up ready to kick him away. But the stench of urine when he got close was so overwhelming he backed off, grabbed a stick instead, and poked Huo Yunshu’s kidney, trying to prod him away.

Huo Yunshu: “!!!” Damn it, that hurts so freaking bad!

His kidneys were already weak, and with Fu Ting stabbing like that, he almost blacked out on the spot.

“Fu Ting! You brute!”

“Better than you, a shameless lecher.” Fu Ting went over and wrapped his arm around Ruan Jiaojiao’s waist, declaring his claim. “Huo Yunshu, you call yourself an educated youth, but you harass a married woman and even show up at her doorstep? If the higher-ups find out, what crime do you think they’ll pin on you?”

Huo Yunshu: “……”

Of course, Fu Ting was just bluffing. He wouldn’t really report him—after all, when Jiaojiao teased Huo Yunshu before, she’d been even more outrageous.

Still, Fu Ting’s calm and measured response surprised Ruan Jiaojiao.

In her heart, Fu Ting was just a man who lasted long (cough, cough) and treated his wife tenderly. She never expected him to handle serious matters with such composure.

She had to admit—she was smitten.

Watching Ruan Jiaojiao nestle obediently in Fu Ting’s arms, Huo Yunshu felt waves of bitterness surge inside him.

Ruan Jiaojiao didn’t like him anymore. This woman’s heart changed way too quickly—fickle and disloyal!

As more villagers gathered to watch, Huo Yunshu realized things were turning bad and tried to slip away. But Ruan Jiaojiao wasn’t about to let him off so easily.

“Huo Yunshu! I gave you plenty of support before. You’d better pay me back! Otherwise…”

Veins throbbed at Huo Yunshu’s temple. “That was all voluntary on your part—what does it have to do with me…”

The original host may have been foolish, but Huo Yunshu, who exploited her feelings and mooched off her, was even more unforgivable!

This time Fu Ting spoke again: “What you took was our marital property. Whether Jiaojiao wanted to give it or not, I don’t agree. If you won’t return it, fine—we’ll let the higher-ups decide.”

Huo Yunshu: “……” Higher-ups, higher-ups—what, are they your dad or something?

Wait a second—wasn’t Fu Ting supposed to be an illiterate peasant? Why was he suddenly arguing so logically?

—It must be Ruan Jiaojiao’s doing! This woman was vicious—if she couldn’t have him, she was determined to ruin him!

To be tied to Ruan Jiaojiao… it must be the curse of eight lifetimes!

No, Huo Yunshu thought, he had to get Ruan Jiaojiao into his hands and beat her every day.

Yes—that was it. Despite being thrashed by her twice already, instead of backing off, he was even more obsessed with her.

If Ruan Jiaojiao knew what was going through Huo Yunshu’s mind right now, she would definitely say one thing—

That scrawny dog’s brain is fried.

That said, for an educated youth like Huo Yunshu, nothing was scarier than someone reporting him. If the higher-ups came down on him and branded him guilty, he’d have no future work prospects back in the city.

“…I don’t have any money on me…”

“No money? Then we’ll just go to your place and look for it.” At that moment, the blockhead Gu Yun swaggered over with a lewd grin. He was thrilled—it felt like he was back in the old days, bullying people alongside Fu Ting.

Except now his Brother Ting had gone straight, and being a bully alone wasn’t fun.

Finally, here was a chance to rough someone up with Brother Ting again—there was no way he’d miss it.

Besides, he’d long hated Huo Yunshu. That guy always pushed up his glasses, pretending to be refined, but slacked off in the fields and tricked gullible girls into doing his work.

Back then, Ruan Jiaojiao had done plenty of his chores—damn it, even Brother Ting never got that kind of treatment!

The more Gu Yun thought about it, the angrier he got. Fueled by rage, he went up and kicked Huo Yunshu—only to splash his shoe with piss.

Gu Yun: “……” Damn it, not worth it!

Huo Yunshu was terrified now. His wounds from Ruan Jiaojiao’s beatings hadn’t even healed yet, and here he was getting kicked by Gu Yun. Who could he even complain to?

With the crowd growing larger and larger, Huo Yunshu’s face turned beet-red. In the end, he had no choice but to agree to go home and fetch money for Ruan Jiaojiao. Only then did this gang of “brutes” finally let him go.

Of course, they wouldn’t let him go alone—Gu Yun tagged along, grinning ear to ear.

He was having the time of his life.