Volume 1, Chapter 7: The Enraged Sister-in-law

“Why that look in your eyes?” Fan Xiu asked, puzzled.

“Who told you to spread nonsense!” Xiao Ruoqing snapped angrily.

Am I broad-shouldered and stout?
Do I eat three pigs in one meal?
And heartless and ruthless? Which bastard is spreading these rumors about me!
If I find out, I’ll execute his entire clan!

“I never insulted you, why are you so worked up? I’m just worried about my own life! Afraid you’ll bring trouble my way!” Fan Xiu said helplessly.

“Hmph!”
Xiao Ruoqing let out a heavy, cold snort. “Don’t listen to the nonsense others spread. As far as I know, the Empress is beautiful and kind-hearted, loves her people like her own children, and since ascending the throne, she has been reforming the tax system, imperial examinations, land policies—striving to give the people of Dayin a better life. You…”

Before she could finish, Fan Xiu suddenly said something that left her stunned.

“If she’s going to do that, all I can say is this Empress is utterly useless, and most likely won’t live more than two years!” Fan Xiu grinned.

The probability of assassination attempts on the presidents of the Beautiful Nation is over 10%, with a mortality rate of 6%—higher than extreme sports. Isn’t that because they fail to see the situation clearly?

Hearing this, Xiao Ruoqing felt like she had been struck by a thunderbolt; her mind buzzed fiercely.

Seeking death?
Fan Xiu actually judged from just that one sentence that she would fail and wouldn’t survive two years?

Before the assassination attempt, she thought her actions might only upset some people but wouldn’t have serious consequences.
Yet now, after the attempt, and since her reforms began, it has indeed been less than two years.

But how did Fan Xiu come to such a conclusion?
Could this guy be a genius strategist?
Or did he already know she was the Empress and deliberately say these things to deceive her?

No!
If he knew she was the Empress, knowing his nature, he would have jumped at the chance already.
Besides, the assassination has nothing to do with Fan Xiu; otherwise, he wouldn’t have saved her.

Just as she was about to ask more, Mrs. Zhou came in from outside.

“Xiu’er, it’s late. The woodshed has been cleaned out for you. You should go sleep there,” Mrs. Zhou said.

“Huh?”
Fan Xiu stood up. “Why would I sleep in the woodshed? I’ll just sleep here; Liu Qing won’t mind!”

He winked at Xiao Ruoqing.

But all he saw was her icy stare.

Xiao Ruoqing strongly suspected that though Fan Xiu claimed he would sleep on the floor, he was probably planning to sneak into her bed at midnight.

After all, this guy had a history—shameless and brazenly bold!

And me not minding?
Which unmarried girl wouldn’t mind having a man sleeping where she does?

Fan Xiu was expecting her response but suddenly felt a kick to his rear.

Turning around, he caught Sister-in-law Li Chuntao lowering her leg.

“You little brat!”
Li Chuntao shouted angrily, “You’re supposed to be a scholar. Do you know what it means for men and women to keep propriety? This concerns the girl’s honor. Have you stuffed all your studying into your dog’s belly?”

She lifted her leg to kick him again.

“Stop! Sister-in-law, please don’t kick me. I’m going out right now!” Fan Xiu shouted, then hurried outside.

Watching Fan Xiu run away in disgrace, Xiao Ruoqing suddenly felt a surge of relief—perhaps because she had suffered so much bullying from him before.

In all her life, she had never felt this refreshingly satisfying!

Finally, someone could put this bastard in his place!

Indeed, sometimes to discipline a son, the father must step in!

“Miss Liu,”
Li Chuntao smiled and said, “Sorry, my son’s studying has made him foolhardy. Don’t take him seriously.”

Mrs. Zhou smiled along.

Xiao Ruoqing didn’t believe a word of Li Chuntao’s excuse.

Foolish from studying?
That bastard looks anything but foolish.

He’s sharper than a monkey, not a bit like a scholar.

But she couldn’t embarrass them, so she smiled and replied, “It’s okay, I won’t take it to heart.”

After they left, Xiao Ruoqing’s expression turned serious.

Though Fan Xiu was a scholar who passed the provincial exam, his way of thinking and actions were completely different from anyone she knew.

What puzzled her most was how Fan Xiu guessed she wouldn’t survive two years—just from a few words?

The next day.

Early in the morning, neighbors came to congratulate Old Fan’s family and propose matches; the doorsteps were nearly worn down from the traffic.

Old Fan’s family had produced a provincial graduate, which not only brought them prestige but also the entire Qinglin Village basked in the glow.

Everyone wanted to share in the joy.

In the Great Yin Dynasty, not just anyone could pass the provincial exams; the difficulty was hellish.

Let alone provincial graduates, even becoming a county-level scholar was like crossing a narrow bridge with thousands of competitors—over two thousand candidates competed for one scholar’s title.

And the triennial county exam produced only one provincial graduate out of five hundred scholars!

In Zhiyuan County, this year’s exam yielded only two provincial graduates.

The other graduate, Yang Wenyan, had returned two days ago, riding a fine horse and parading before the county magistrate, greeted by cheers.

He then hosted a banquet at the county’s largest inn for the local gentry.

Fan Xiu was the other provincial graduate.

Old Fan stood in the courtyard, his face flushed with joy, grinning nonstop.

He had dreamed of such glory.

And now,
it was finally realized—his heart elated beyond words!

All previous efforts and sacrifices were worth it!

However, this made things uncomfortable for Fan Xiu, who was forced to smile along.

He had wanted to talk to Old Fan about giving up scholarship to go into business.

But judging by Old Fan’s ecstatic mood, if he said that now, Old Fan might just draw a knife and chop him down as a rebellious son!

Amid the joyful atmosphere in the Fan household,

Bang!
Suddenly, the main gate was kicked open.

Following that, a man in his thirties stormed in, his face marked by a savage scar, eyes fierce, dressed in short clothes with a short baton at his waist.

“Damn it!”
The scar-faced man yanked down a faded red lantern and stomped it to pieces, sneering fiercely, “Looks like things are going pretty well here!”

The once lively courtyard instantly emptied as people scattered in panic.

Scarface Zhang.

A notorious thug in Zhiyuan County, enforcer for the underground moneylender, specializing in debt collection.

“Why is he here now?”
“Don’t you know? The Fan family borrowed money to fund Fan Xiu’s studies.”

“He barges in at the peak of the Fan family’s glory—talk about disrespecting the provincial graduate!”

“Hmph! Provincial graduate or not, it depends on whose face you’re saving.”

Scarface kicked over a stool in the yard and shouted coldly,
“Fan Shoucheng! Fan Xiu! Get your asses out here now!”