Chapter 9: Catching the Little White Rabbit

She looked extremely provocatively at Li Ruantang, who was guarding the courtyard gate. In Hu Village, even the late village chief would have to show her, a Fu, some respect.

Moreover, Fu Lanxian came to collect debts, which was perfectly justified. Even if the villagers saw it, they wouldn’t dare to interfere, fearing getting involved.

Seeing Li Ruantang not speaking, Fu Lanxian extended her finger, about to push her.

Meng Jun and Hu Youning were hiding in the kitchen, peering through the window cracks while holding their breath. Seeing this scene, the young gentleman’s heart almost jumped to his throat.

Li Ruantang’s wounds hadn’t fully healed yet, and it was uncertain if she could handle it alone.

He was extremely nervous, glancing around the small kitchen, and whispered softly, “Aning, can I borrow something from the kitchen?”

Borrowing something wasn’t a difficult matter, but at this crucial moment, it seemed a bit out of place.

Hu Youning was also nervous, nodding before remembering to ask him why.

The young gentleman pursed his lips, carefully selecting a rolling pin to grip in his hand, and explained to Hu Youning, “After all, the wife-master is injured, and they outnumber us. In case the wife-master can’t hold on.”

Meng Jun leaned against the window crack, lowering his voice, “I need to go out to protect her.”

“Jiujiu, why don’t we go out now?” Hu Youning felt that Li Niang’s sickly appearance couldn’t withstand a fight no matter how he looked at it.

He had just taken a step towards the kitchen door when Meng Jun firmly held him back, “No. You can’t go out now.”

Before going out, Li Ruantang had specifically instructed the young gentleman to keep Hu Youning inside.

“After all, it was because I didn’t listen to my father’s instructions that the Fu woman came here,” Hu Youning said, both guilty and upset. “If something happens to Li Niang, how can our Hu family bear the responsibility?”

The future that his mother had sought would be ruined in his hands.

Meng Jun pressed the teary-eyed Hu Youning onto the small stool in front of the stove, “Aning, if you go out now, you’ll only cause trouble for the wife-master. Think about it, only if we are safe will she not have to worry too much. Otherwise—”

A scream came from outside the window, and the young gentleman’s suspended heart suddenly sank into a sea of ice. Without bothering to comfort the crying Hu Youning, Meng Jun hurriedly leaned against the window, peering through the thin cracks.

He saw Li Ruantang dodge slightly, then counter-grab Fu Lanxian’s arm.

Her face showed no expression, while the previously arrogant Fu Lanxian was grimacing in pain, cursing continuously, and hurriedly turning to the few people who had retreated half a step in fear, angrily saying, “You’re paid to do a job, what are you hiding for now! Come on, all of you, give this lady a good beating!”

“Fu Niang, why don’t we come back another day?”

The few followers who had been behind Fu Lanxian earlier lowered their voices. None of them were skilled in martial arts, and in the past, they relied on brute force and mob tactics when beating people.

Before they could see clearly how Li Ruantang had moved, Fu Lanxian was already twisted like a withered branch. Who would dare to step forward and get beaten now?

Fu Lanxian was already red-faced and thick-necked with pain. Seeing them about to retreat, she immediately shouted hoarsely, “Whoever can beat this woman black and blue, this lady will reward one tael of silver!”

“One tael is not enough,” Li Ruantang smiled slightly at the corner of her lips, looking at those people. She applied force with her hand, and Fu Lanxian, who could still shout earlier, immediately became like someone whose lifeline had been pressed, shaking like a sieve.

“At least five taels of silver. Otherwise—” Her smile deepened, “How will you all support yourselves for the rest of your lives?”

“……”

She spoke sincerely, yet her tone sounded extremely arrogant. The others were frightened and kept retreating, not daring to take half a step forward, stumbling and crawling away, afraid that Li Ruantang would chase after them.

“Leaving already?”

Li Ruantang glanced at Fu Lanxian’s wet skirt hem, releasing her hand with extreme disgust.

Without support, Fu Lanxian fell to the ground awkwardly. Since she became aware, she had never lost face like this before.

She took a few deep breaths, suppressing the viciousness in her eyes, and put on a timid appearance, “Are you really going to let me go just like this?”

“If you break the law, the Great Jin Dynasty’s laws will deal with you,” Li Ruantang said coldly. “The matter between you and Hu Sanniang, how the money should be fairly judged, is a matter for the government. If you feel it’s unfair, you can file a lawsuit with the county magistrate.”

“If I were to use force against you, how would it be any different from your causing trouble today?”

Hearing these words, Fu Lanxian laughed inwardly. However, on the surface, she still maintained a timid appearance, “What the lady says is reasonable, I, Fu, will remember it.”

“After all, it was Hu Sanniang who owed me money, and I was rude today, offending the lady.” She endured the pain, chewing her words in a pretentious manner, breaking her usual pattern by not persisting further.

As soon as Fu Lanxian left, the villagers who had been watching the commotion from their own courtyards also dispersed in twos and threes.

“Wife-master!” The young gentleman looked around several times before suddenly pulling open the kitchen door and running towards Li Ruantang.

He was still holding the rolling pin, his beautiful phoenix eyes full of worry, “Are you alright?”

“Mm, I’m fine.” Li Ruantang couldn’t help but tap his nose, gently wiping away the fine sweat that had formed on it, “Sorry for making you worry.”

“Eh?” The young gentleman was stunned, feeling a bit uncomfortable as he looked away, he wasn’t worried. Just… just a little concerned, that’s all.

He was still waiting to return to the capital with Li Ruantang, of course he would be concerned about her injuries and worried about her safety, but it definitely wasn’t the kind of worry she thought.

Definitely not!

The young gentleman silently found an excuse for himself, and when he turned his head, he saw Hu Youning standing in front of Li Ruantang with red-rimmed eyes.

“Thank you, Li Niang, for today.” Hu Youning lowered his head and formally bowed to her.

Li Ruantang naturally couldn’t go to support him, she just cupped her hands and said, “Young Master Hu, there’s no need for such formality.”

As soon as she finished speaking, hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

“Ning’er!” Zhou Fulang’s voice trembled, and he stumbled into the courtyard. Seeing Hu Youning standing there safe and sound, the worry in his heart immediately subsided.

His legs went weak, and he sat directly on the ground.

***

Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.

Synopsis:

Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.

But this is still far from enough.

He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.

_____

Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.

If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.