Chapter Ninety-One: This Time, He Would Surely Break Even

The eldest brother had no reason to be in such a hurry anyway. He had nothing to do, and if he was not here, he would only be wasting his days in a gambling den.

He was short on cash at the moment, and his pockets were nearly empty. If he did not find a way to make some money soon, he would likely end up begging on the streets.

Now that this man had found him a way to earn a few silver coins, he would have climbed not just one mountain, but four or five if necessary.

He was only grumbling in front of the man, making it clear that he was the one leading the way and that the other should not look down on him when the time came.

"To be honest, if it were not unsafe for you to go alone, I would not have bothered coming with you at all."

When the man heard this, he hurriedly smiled and agreed, though inwardly he spat in disdain.

They were all after profit, yet each insisted on putting on such a show. It was revolting to watch.

Both men hid their own schemes. When they smiled, each thought the other’s smile insincere. No one cared to probe too deeply, since in the end it was all for money.

"What if your daughter is home when you go? I heard she’s changed lately, turned fierce and shrewish."

He did not dare underestimate a shrew. In these times, shrews could be desperate enough to risk everything. Before she was married, the daughter had been obedient enough; after marriage, she had become a shrew.

Why? Naturally because she had given up restraint and no longer wished to be bullied.

Such women were the most troublesome, because sometimes they did not value their own lives. As the saying went, the ruthless feared those with nothing to lose, and even men like them feared such people.

"Brother, you need not be afraid. If that daughter of mine goes mad later, I will be the first to rush in. You just help me hold down that damned woman of mine."

Having thought it through, he knew that once they reached the mountain, if that wretched girl were not at home, he would simply drag Lady Li and flee at once.

And if she really were there, he was not afraid either. He could just fight her head-on.

"With those words, I feel much steadier. After all, you are her father. No matter how much she dislikes you, she would not really do anything to you."

Hearing that the other man was willing to charge in first, he felt much more at ease.

At that, the other man nearly rolled his eyes. What nonsense about not doing anything? That wretched girl no longer even recognized her own father.

The two of them puffed and panted as they crossed one mountain. The man narrowed his eyes and looked around, finally beginning to recognize the place.

"Ah, it is here. I remember now. Take that little path and you’ll reach Lotus Village."

The other man, resting with his hands on his knees, crouched on the ground. The moment he heard this, it was as though he had seen a hundred taels of silver waiting ahead, and his spirits lifted at once.

"Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and move! If we don’t, we may not be able to catch up."

The man led him onto the side path, and before long they had reached Lotus Village. The villagers, seeing strangers enter, cast wary looks their way.

"My friends, excuse me, excuse me—I’d like to ask something. Do you know where the home of Mr. Chu is? Please do not be alarmed, my daughter married here!"

Once he mentioned that his daughter had married into the village, the villagers’ vigilance eased somewhat.

One of them looked at him and gave an understanding nod.

"Ah, you must be looking for Scholar Chu’s wife. She’s not in the village. She left early this morning."

When he heard that the young woman was not in the village, his heart soared with delight.

"It’s all right. I can wait for her. Could you take me to her home?"

The villager smiled and agreed, quickly leading the two of them to the small courtyard of Chu’s house.

Just then, Lady Li was crouched on a little stool, dealing with the rats that were still alive in the bamboo basket. When she looked up and saw the man’s face, she was so startled that the things in her hands fell straight to the ground.