Chapter 572: Chapter 572: Ruthless Man
Da Feng Village, by the old well passed down through generations, the village women chatted incessantly while working: "Hey, have you heard? The eldest of the Qin family, the one who always looks as if he’s lost his parents, is going to take an official position in Yuchang Prefecture."
"I’ve heard, how could I not have heard, the news has spread everywhere. There were county soldiers in the village a while ago, and I guessed it was because the eldest of the Qin family was going to take an official position. Indeed, he is really making something of himself."
One woman, excited upon hearing Qin Er Lang was going to become an official, eagerly asked, "The eldest of the Qin family hasn’t married yet, right? How fortunate, you all know my cousin San Cui, right? She’s the prettiest girl within ten miles around, just the right age for the Qin family’s eldest, they would be a perfect match."
"A match, my foot. Take it easy there, just because the Qin family’s eldest is becoming an official doesn’t mean you should start matchmaking him. With his grim-reaper-like demeanor, does your cousin have several lives to dare to marry him?"
Someone couldn’t stand it anymore and shouted, "What nonsense are you all talking about? He’s not taking an official post; he’s joining the military. And, he’s not the eldest, he’s the second, Er Lang, understand? He is the second!"
However, no one cared whether Qin Er Lang was the eldest or the second, they just exclaimed: "Mother Ju’er, you must be mistaken, everyone says he is going to Yuchang Prefecture to take an official position, becoming a small Section Leader, commanding ten men."
Confused, they wondered, "Where is Yuchang Prefecture anyway? Is it in our Jianghuai area?"
Mother Ju’er, washing wild vegetables with well water, scoffed back at them, "He’s just going to be a soldier, not even a small Section Leader. If you don’t believe it, go ask Qin Er Lang yourself."
With that, all the women by the well stopped talking.
After a while, one woman splashed some well water on Mother Ju’er, "Mother Ju’er, you’re too mean, suggesting we ask Qin Er Lang. His face is like King Yan’s; dare we ask him? He’d probably throw rocks at us before we even got close."
Qin Er Lang’s fierce reputation was well-known, and from the elders to the children in the village, all were afraid of him; unable to confront him, they continued to speculate and gossip about Qin Er Lang.
Upon hearing that Qin Er Lang was leaving, Luo Huiniang was distressed and didn’t believe it. She ran to the pharmaceutical workshop to ask Gu Jinli, "Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu, everyone in the village is saying Brother Qin Er is leaving, is it true?"
As the young girl spoke, her big, round apricot eyes reddened, looking as if she were about to cry.
Seeing this, Gu Jinli shook his head and said to her, "It’s true. The transfer order came the day before I returned from the prefecture. The county soldier who came to the village that day was here to deliver the order, you should know this."
But Luo Huiniang replied, "I didn’t know. I didn’t see that county soldier... Brother Qin Er won’t leave, right?"
Hearing this, Gu Jinli, seeing the tears welling up in Luo Huiniang ’s eyes, realized that Luo Huiniang’s affection for Qin Er Lang was deeper than he had thought.
He took Luo Huiniang’s hand and asked, "Hui Niang, tell me honestly, do you... like Qin Er Lang?"
Caught off guard, Luo Huiniang’s cheeks turned as red as apples, and she quickly waved her hands, "No, no, it’s just that Brother Qin Er saved me, so I want to be good to him."
Damn, that’s liking someone.
Gu Jinli asked again, "I’ve told you before, you can repay a life-saving debt in other ways."
Luo Huiniang said, "I know, but if Brother Qin Er leaves, I won’t get to see him, then how can I repay him?"
Gu Jinli: "..."
You just can’t bear to see him leave.
Looking at the girl in front of her, her round face filled with confusion, not yet aware of romantic feelings, yet she had given her heart away.
After a moment of silence, Gu Jinli said to Luo Huiniang, "Hui Niang, why don’t you go ask Qin Er Lang yourself? Maybe the village’s news is false; perhaps you can persuade him to stay."
Qin Er Lang would not be interested in Hui Niang; he looked down on farmer girls, only wanting a wife from a high-class family. If he saw Luo Huiniang trying to persuade him, he would certainly rage and say hurtful things.
Rather than letting Hui Niang harbor illusions for a lifetime, it might be better for her to be scolded by the man she likes; perhaps being scolded by him might make her take her heart back.
"Ah? Do I have to ask Brother Qin Er myself?" Luo Huiniang was a bit scared, for Brother Qin Er was so fierce.
Gu Jinli said, "You don’t have to ask. Just ignore him, he’s not one of us."
If Luo Huiniang didn’t go, it would prove that she wasn’t that into Qin Er Lang. After a few years when Qin Er Lang had left, she would have forgotten about him.
But Luo Huiniang hesitated for a moment and finally said, "I’ll go! I want to ask Brother Qin Er if he really has to leave? Can’t he just stay and keep us company?"
After saying this, Luo Huiniang let go of Gu Jinli’s hand and ran off without looking back.
Gu Jinli, worried about her getting into trouble, followed, but did not enter the Qin family’s gate, instead hiding under the wall of the Qin family’s courtyard, peeking through a small hole in the wall.
"Brother Qin Er!" Luo Huiniang stood in the courtyard of the Qin family, called out, then cowered and stood there, not knowing what to do.
Gu Jinli felt a bit sorry for Luo Huiniang, but held back from running into the courtyard to drag her away, her ears pricked up to the noises coming from inside the Qin family’s house...someone was at home, not just one person.
After a short while, the door of the Qin family’s main hall opened, and Qin San Lang walked out, heading straight away from the house, and after leaving the courtyard, turned left, finding Gu Jinli hiding and peeking from under the courtyard wall, couldn’t help but laugh.
Gu Jinli knew someone was behind her, turned around and waved at him, inviting him to join the peeking.
Qin San Lang came over, crouched next to her, took out a knife, and chiseled a small hole in his own courtyard wall, so they could both look into the courtyard.
In the courtyard, Luo Huiniang’s embarrassment brought her to tears, yet she bravely shouted towards the main hall, "Brother Qin Er... I, I came to find you."
Bang! Qin Er Lang punched the rotten wooden door, directly smashing a hole in it.
Gu Jinli said to Qin San Lang, "Your house needs a new door."
Qin San Lang nodded, "Indeed, it needs replacing."
It had been smashed twice, if not replaced, they might as well not have a door at all.
Luo Huiniang was quite frightened by Qin Er Lang’s punch, her body trembled, but she didn’t run away.
Qin Er Lang sneered coldly, "You really have a thick skin."
He walked out of the main hall into the courtyard, kept a distance of ten feet from Luo Huiniang, and asked directly, "Why are you looking for me? You want me to not leave? Who do you think you are? Just a farmer girl, your entire family lineage has been farming, you’re definitely not my match."
Luo Huiniang listened in confusion, "Brother Qin Er... what are you talking about? I just don’t want you to leave, I didn’t say I wanted to marry you."
"Just don’t want me to leave? Hah!" Qin Er Lang’s face darkened. He threw the Gou He Blade in front of Luo Huiniang, "Go ahead and kill yourself then, you can keep me here by dying."
I’ll stay for three days, until your funeral is over and your grave visited, then I’ll leave!
Gu Jinli: "..."
There’s a crude saying I’m not sure if I should say.
"Damn it, your Brother Qin Er really is a wolf, too cruel." Gu Jinli was angry, and still not relieved, pinched Qin San Lang.
Qin San Lang, having suffered for no reason, didn’t dare to say anything. He understood Xiao Yu; they played well together, thus her actions, and indeed, Brother Er had gone too far, actually asking Luo Huiniang to kill herself.