Chapter 4: A Plan

After finishing her work in the cattle pen, Jing Xi deliberately avoided finding more tasks to do. She spent her free time using her special space and keeping an eye on Wu Dazhuang, or sneaking near his house at night to eavesdrop.

She realized that her hearing had improved significantly, most likely due to drinking the spring water from her space in the past few days. As a result, she had overheard quite a bit of useful information.

After tracking Wu Dazhuang for several days, she discovered that he had tried borrowing money from several families in the village, but none of them lent him anything.

However, they all rejected him politely.

Given Wu Dazhuang’s reputation in the village, Jing Xi felt it was only natural that no one wanted to lend him money.

But what she truly couldn’t understand was why Xie Aiguo and the others had ever agreed to let this scoundrel manage the money.

It was like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone forever.

Since borrowing money didn’t work out, Wu Dazhuang was in a foul mood.

Jing Xi secretly followed him and discovered that not only was he foul-mouthed and constantly cursing, but when people refused to lend him money, he would sneak into their homes at night to steal from them. He stole a potato from one house, a radish from another, firewood from someone else, and even some pickled vegetables from another.

He simply refused to suffer any losses.

Even when the villagers realized they were missing things, they knew it was Wu Dazhuang, but they had no way to prove it or confront him.

They could only swallow their grievances in silence.

Wu Dazhuang even went to the Zhang family to ask for a loan. However, Zhang Jianjun’s parents turned him down, saying they had too many expenses lately.

They even asked him, “Isn’t the money from the Long family being managed by you? If things are really tight, why not temporarily shift some of it?”

But Wu Dazhuang couldn’t exactly admit that he was borrowing money to fill that very hole.

In the end, he left in disappointment.

Jing Xi’s mind started to form an idea.

Two days later, on a bright and sunny afternoon, she sat by the roadside where Wu Dazhuang always passed, waiting for him.

At around two in the afternoon, she spotted him approaching. She stood up, patted the dust off her clothes, and slowly walked toward him.

Wu Dazhuang was a little surprised to see her, but when he realized she was alone, he smirked maliciously. “Well, if it isn’t Jing Xi? Why aren’t you resting at home? What are you doing out here?”

Jing Xi smiled, but it was a smile devoid of warmth. “I’m waiting for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes.”

Wu Dazhuang was puzzled. “You need something from me?”

Jing Xi glanced around, then lowered her voice. “Yes. You’re short five hundred yuan, aren’t you?”

The moment Wu Dazhuang heard that, his smirk vanished, replaced by a sharp, suspicious gaze. He stared at Jing Xi. “You eavesdropped on us?”

Jing Xi chuckled. “How I found out isn’t important. The real question is—do you want the five hundred yuan or not?”

Wu Dazhuang was clearly skeptical. This girl was usually quiet and reserved. Aside from being pretty, she had no family, no assets—where could she possibly get five hundred yuan?

If she really had that kind of money, she wouldn’t still be living in that shabby mud house. She would have either fixed it up or found a good family to marry into by now.

“You better keep your mouth shut,” Wu Dazhuang sneered. “It’s nothing for me to deal with a little girl like you.”

Jing Xi took a step back and shrugged. “Fine, if you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. I was going to help you out because I thought you had some skills, but if that’s how you feel, I’ll find someone else. Looks like you’re not that desperate for money after all.”

With that, she turned around to leave.

But before she had taken three steps, a voice called out behind her.

“Wait.”

She turned slightly. “What?”

“What exactly is your plan?”

Jing Xi smiled and turned back to look at him. She gazed at him with the kind of evaluating stare a man would use—slowly sizing him up from head to toe.

A faint shiver ran down Wu Dazhuang’s spine, and goosebumps rose on his skin.

Her soft lips parted. “Steal.”

“…Steal? Are you f***ing kidding me?”

Wu Dazhuang was furious. He lunged at her, reaching out to grab her, but just before he could touch her, Jing Xi’s next words stopped him in his tracks.

“I just find it interesting,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “You and Zhang Jianjun are so close. When he wanted to target me, you didn’t hesitate to step in and help—giving advice, tying me up. But now that you are in trouble, he’s just standing by and watching? Five hundred yuan isn’t much for his family, is it?”

Wu Dazhuang froze on the spot.

But while he was sneaky and dishonest, he wasn’t stupid. “What are you trying to do? Stir up trouble between us?”

Jing Xi openly admitted it. “Even if I were, there has to be a reason for it, right? Otherwise, how could I stir up trouble? Do you really think I’m wrong? Be honest—would it be easy for Zhang Jianjun’s family to lend you five hundred yuan? But they chose not to help you.”

Wu Dazhuang stared at her, lips pressed together.

What she said made sense. He did feel a bit resentful about it.

Zhang Jianjun’s family was one of the wealthiest in the village, which was exactly why the village chief didn’t want to offend them.

“So what?” Wu Dazhuang sneered. “Keep your damn tricks to yourself. You better watch your back when you go out.”

Jing Xi raised her hands in a casual gesture, acknowledging that this wouldn’t be easy. “Suit yourself. It’s not my problem—I’m not the one who needs money. I’ll give you a day to think about it. Just remember, if you work with me, you’ll get that five hundred yuan easily, and no one will ever find out. Say whatever you want about me—I don’t care. Insulting me won’t change anything.”

With that, she turned and left.

About twenty meters away, she heard him curse at her under his breath. “Little slut.”

Though his voice wasn’t loud, she heard it clearly.

She knew exactly what kind of person Wu Dazhuang was.

He had bad intentions toward her.

But she wasn’t angry at all. She simply turned a corner, hummed a little tune, and headed home.

Once inside, she entered her special space.

She had recently discovered that her space could move along with her, and there was no time limit for using it. This realization had come after days of continuous practice.

Even if Wu Dazhuang refused to cooperate with her, Jing Xi had her own way of stealing money from Zhang Jianjun’s house.

However, she trusted her judgment—Wu Dazhuang would definitely agree. There was no way he could come up with five hundred yuan on his own. If he went gambling again, he might lose even more, and by then, five hundred yuan would be the least of his worries.

The so-called Long family they had mentioned might actually break an arm or a leg to set an example.

Just as Jing Xi emerged from her space to prepare dinner, she heard a knock on the door.

Peering through the gap, she saw that it was Wu Dazhuang.

Heh. She had thought he would at least hold out until tomorrow.

“Who is it?”

Wu Dazhuang looked around cautiously, relieved that winter’s early nightfall concealed him. “It’s me. I thought about what you said this afternoon. But you’d better tell me your plan. Now open the door.”

Jing Xi smirked. “It’s too late. We’ll talk tomorrow. Meet me at the same place where I waited for you yesterday—tomorrow afternoon.”

Wu Dazhuang took a deep breath. “You better not be messing with me, or I’ll make you regret it. I’ll f***ing rape you and sell you off to a brothel!”

Jing Xi chuckled, utterly unfazed by his threats.

Just the rage of a powerless man.

The next afternoon, when Jing Xi arrived at their meeting spot, she found that Wu Dazhuang was already there.

There were only two days left before the Long family would come to collect their goods.

Wu Dazhuang was obviously anxious.

As soon as she arrived, he motioned for her to follow him into the woods. Jing Xi followed.

There was no small talk. She got straight to the point.

“You just need to distract the Zhang family. I’ll handle the rest.”

Wu Dazhuang narrowed his eyes. “You distract them? And leave the stealing to you? Are you kidding me?”

Jing Xi nodded. “Not joking. The Zhang family has been staying home lately, counting their stock. The land harvest is done, so the three of them are just waiting to settle accounts when the goods are picked up. All you need to do is lure them out for ten minutes. That’s enough.”

She had been to the Zhang house many times before. When the original Jing Xi worked there, she had seen Aunt Zhang retrieve money from a red kang cabinet in the inner room.

She remembered that the cabinet wasn’t even locked.

Wu Dazhuang still found it hard to believe. “So I don’t have to steal it—you will?”

“Yes.”

Wu Dazhuang studied her, his face a mix of surprise, confusion, and disbelief.

This girl—how did she change so drastically?

“You sure? You just had a falling-out with the Zhangs. How will you even get inside?”

Jing Xi rolled her eyes. “That’s none of your concern. Just do your part—distract them, then wait to split the money at night. Asking too many questions won’t do you any good.”

Ignoring Wu Dazhuang’s hesitation, she proceeded to finalize the time and location for dividing the money.

Looking at his dazed, incredulous expression, she felt the urge to punch him. He failed to listen when it mattered—what if he screwed up at the last minute?

“Hey, I’m talking to you. Do you understand?”

Wu Dazhuang nodded. “You sure about this? You? You really don’t need me to do it?”

“Trust the person you use. Don’t use someone you don’t trust.”