After the Scholar Rejected Me, I Married the Rogue and Got Rich - Chapter 60

“Mother, this is what Aunt Lin asked me to bring you. It’s still warm,” Zhou Han said, pushing the money bag over. “This is the payment for this shipment, a total of seventeen taels of silver.”

Aunt Zhou opened the basket first and saw the perfectly preserved fried fish and the richly braised pork. Her heart warmed with joy: “Oh, my dear in-laws, you’re too kind! I can’t accept this!”

When she saw the seventeen taels of silver, she was even more astonished, her eyes widening in surprise: “So much?”

“Yes, Chief Zhao said this job was tough, so he gave me a little extra,” Zhou Han said calmly.

Aunt Zhou looked at the silver, but waved her hands repeatedly: “No, no, I can’t take all of this money! You’ve been out there braving the elements and earning hard-earned money. You have to keep a large portion for yourself! Buy something decent for Sangsang, or buy some clothes for yourself. You’re about to get married, so you can’t be without some savings.”

As she spoke, she counted out seven taels of silver from her purse. “This is enough for me to supplement my household expenses. Keep the remaining ten taels safe and save them for yourself. When you get married, give them to Sangsang for safekeeping. You two will have many expenses in the future!”

Zhou Han frowned: “Mother, there are many places in the family where money is needed, so please keep it all.”

“Silly child!” Aunt Zhou said firmly, “I can still move, and I can earn some money from embroidery, enough to live on! Now that you’re engaged, things are different. You have to think about your future family! Listen to me, keep this money! Otherwise, I’ll get angry!”

Looking at his mother’s unwavering expression, Zhou Han knew he couldn’t go against her, and felt a mix of bittersweet emotions.

He remained silent for a moment, then carefully put away the remaining ten taels of silver and whispered, “…Thank you, Mother.”

———

In the following days, Zhou Han continued to help out at the dock every day, but the weather grew colder day by day, with low-hanging lead-gray clouds and a biting wind.

At midday, the sky grew increasingly dark, and fine snowflakes began to fall sporadically.

Looking at the sky, Lin Sang said to Wang Shi, “Mother, judging from the weather, it seems we can’t avoid heavy snow. I think we should hurry up and buy more meat, vegetables, rice, and flour to stock up while the snow is still light. Otherwise, we’ll run out of food and drink once the roads are blocked by snow.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Han immediately said, “I’ll go with you. I also need to buy some things for the winter.”

Seeing the snow intensifying, Wang decisively said, “Alright! You two take the oxcart and hurry back! Once we’ve bought everything, we’ll pack up and head home before the snow gets too heavy!”

The two agreed and drove the oxcart towards the town’s market. The market was especially lively before the snow, filled with people who had come to stock up on goods.

Lin Sang carefully calculated and bought enough rice and flour to last for a while, radishes and cabbages that could be stored for a long time, a piece of pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, and a few frozen fish.

Zhou Han bought a lot of durable grains, salt, and some daily necessities.

Lin Sang even went to the fabric shop and used her own savings to buy a thick, soft, dark brown wool fabric, which she handed to Zhou Han: “Brother Zhou, this is for your aunt. It’s getting cold, so she can make a thick vest for her. It’s warmer than cotton.” Zhou Han looked at her, touched, and silently accepted it.

After finishing their shopping, the two carried large and small bags and walked towards the secluded alley where the oxcart was parked.

Just as they entered the alley, five or six men with wooden sticks and unfriendly expressions suddenly appeared and blocked their way. The one in the lead had a roguish smile on his face and was one of Wu Laizi’s henchmen.

“Hey, you two shopping? You’re living the good life!” the leader said sarcastically, his eyes sweeping over Zhou Han and Lin Sang with ill intent.

Zhou Han’s eyes instantly turned icy cold. He gently placed the object in his hand on the ground, stepped forward, and stood firmly behind Lin Sang, his voice low and filled with murderous intent: “Wu Laizi’s men? Did he send you?”

The leader, exposed, didn’t bother to hide his arrogance and sneered, “Zhou Han, you’re pretty arrogant! You cut off our source of income and injured one of our brothers! We’ll teach you a lesson today! Brothers, let’s go! Let’s teach that girl behind him a lesson too!”

As they spoke, several men brandished wooden sticks and swarmed forward! A cold glint flashed in Zhou Han’s eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep! His movements were as fast as lightning and as powerful as a tiger. He dodged the swinging wooden sticks and punched the first man in the face. The man screamed and fell to the ground with blood streaming from his nose.

He then grabbed another man’s wrist and twisted it hard. With a cracking sound of bones dislocating and a scream, the wooden stick slipped from his hand. Zhou Han seized the stick and struck the third man in the back of the knee, sending him crashing to his knees.

His fighting style was fierce, targeting vital points. Every strike was accompanied by the dull thud of bones colliding with flesh and the screams of his enemies, without any hesitation or delay.

In just a few breaths, three or four people were already lying on the ground. The remaining two looked at Zhou Han, who was like a demon god, and were so frightened that their faces turned pale. They retreated one after another, not daring to go forward.

The leader was terrified and shouted, his voice trembling with fear, “Zhou… Zhou Han! You… you wait! Master Wu won’t let you get away with this!” With that, he helped his groaning companion up and scrambled away.

The alley fell silent instantly, with only the sound of wind and snow and Zhou Han’s slightly heavy breathing remaining. He had his back to Lin Sang, and his tall figure appeared somewhat stiff in the wind and snow.

He dared not turn around, afraid of seeing the fear, disgust, or disappointment on her face. In the end, he still revealed this cruel and violent side to her.

However, the expected disgust did not come; a cool, soft hand gently tugged at his sleeve.

Zhou Han’s body stiffened, and he slowly turned around.

What came into his view were Lin Sang’s clear and bright eyes, which held no fear or disgust, but instead shone with a strange, almost worshipful light, as well as undisguised concern.

She looked at him, her voice soft yet firm: “Brother Zhou, are you alright? Are you hurt?”

Zhou Han was stunned, almost unable to believe his eyes and ears. “Aren’t you afraid of me?”

Lin Sang paused for a moment, then smiled slightly, her tone carrying a sharpness different from her usual gentleness: “Why should we be afraid of you? They started the trouble first, so they deserve to be beaten. Reasoning with these wicked people who actively provoke and bully the good is useless. Only when they know the pain will they be afraid and dare not come again. You did the right thing.”

An indescribable surge of warmth and ecstasy instantly washed away all of Zhou Han’s anxiety and gloom. Looking into her bright eyes and her unreserved trust and support, he felt his throat tighten and his chest fill with a burning emotion.

“Sangsang, thank you. This is the first time that someone other than my mother has stood firmly by my side,” he said, his voice hoarse.

“Fool, since I chose you, I know what kind of person you are. I’ve never judged you by your appearance,” Lin Sang said, struggling to stand on tiptoe and touching his cheek.

The wind and snow continued, but in this narrow alley, two hearts were drawn closer than ever before because of this unexpected event.

As Zhou Han felt her slightly cool palm, he knew that he had found not only a wife to spend his life with, but also a true confidante who understood him and could stand shoulder to shoulder with him through thick and thin.