"Who are you? How did you get into my house?" Mu Fengqie asked warily.
Old Zhao was extremely confused. "Why weren't you knocked out?"
Seeing this, Mu Fengqie understood. She sniffed carefully, and indeed there was a strange smell in the room.
Fortunately, her sachet could ward off all poisons. Otherwise, she would have fallen into the tiger's den by now.
However, Mu Fengqie didn't dare to relax. She was so weak that she would surely be no match for Old Zhao in a fight. She could only try to stall for time.
"Your knockout incense didn't work at all. Who gave it to you? Maybe they wanted to harm you?"
But Old Zhao didn't buy Mu Fengqie's words at all. Now Mu Fengqie was already in his grasp. The duck in his hand couldn't fly away!
He had been alone for so many years, and finally he could taste the forbidden fruit. Watching Old Zhao approaching her lecherously, Mu Fengqie was extremely anxious. She couldn't just sit there waiting for death. She must find a way to hold on until Jing Xunche came back.
"How about we make a deal? If you touch me, my husband will surely never let you go. But if you spare me, I'll give you five taels of silver. What do you say?"
Mu Fengqie appeared calm on the surface, but in fact her heart was pounding in her throat.
Money makes the mare go. It was up to this old man to choose.
Hearing this, Old Zhao stopped and fell into deep thought. Then he shook his head. "It's too late to turn back now."
You know, Mu Xingrou was a concubine of a landlord. For them country folks, a landlord was like a high - ranking official.
If he offended Mu Xingrou, he might even lose his life. He could still tell what was more important.
Moreover, Mu Fengqie was a well - known beauty in the neighborhood. He had long lusted after her beauty, but he never had the courage. Today, he finally had the chance, and he wouldn't miss this hard - won opportunity.
Maybe after today, this beauty would even become his. Then there would be someone to wash his clothes, cook for him and bear his children. How wonderful that would be!
Mu Fengqie was furious. She tried hard to search her memory and vaguely remembered that Old Zhao was an insignificant person. It seemed that he must have been instigated by someone.
"I warn you not to come any closer. I'll call for help!" Mu Fengqie roared.
If her silver needles were still with her, it would be a piece of cake to take down Old Zhao. But now she didn't have her silver needles, so things became a bit more difficult.
Old Zhao didn't care at all. Instead, he got more and more excited. "Call all you want. No one will come to save you even if you scream your throat out!"
Hearing this, Mu Fengqie's heart sank. A glint of light flashed in her eyes. They were in the wilderness. Even if she called, no one would hear her. But she couldn't just sit there waiting for death.
Jing Xunche had just walked up the mountain when he realized he had forgotten his bag. So he rushed back to the thatched cottage to get it. Before he even reached the yard, he heard Mu Fengqie's voice and rushed in immediately.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw Mu Fengqie huddled on the bed, and Old Zhao was lecherously approaching her.
Jing Xunche only felt a buzzing in his head. He used his lightness kung fu and instantly kicked Old Zhao out. Then he rushed forward and hugged Mu Fengqie in his arms.
Seeing Jing Xunche, Mu Fengqie was slightly stunned. Her thin lips pursed into a line, and the corners of her eyes became moist.
She had finally escaped this disaster.
Seeing that the matter was exposed, Old Zhao began to plead for mercy. "Please spare me. It has nothing to do with me. I was also instigated by someone!"
Old Zhao could tell that Jing Xunche was extraordinary. He also knew very well that if he offended Jing Xunche, he might not live to see the sun tomorrow.
Jing Xunche was extremely angry. His blood - thirsty eyes were full of cold light. He wished he could tear the man in front of him into pieces to vent his hatred.
Mu Fengqie shook her head. "Forget it. A life for a life. Let's hand him over to the government. You said just now that you were instigated. Who instigated you?"
She wracked her brains but still couldn't figure out who she had offended. The only person who had some unpleasantness with her was Mrs. Kong, but Mu Fengqie also knew that Mrs. Kong was just a paper tiger. She would never have come up with such a vicious idea.
Hearing this, Old Zhao heaved a sigh of relief. The big stone in his heart finally fell to the ground. "It was Mu Xingrou. She gave me fifty cash and promised me one tael of silver after it was done."
Hearing the name Mu Xingrou, Mu Fengqie's hands tightened into fists. Good for you, Mu Xingrou. If you don't offend me, I won't offend you. But if you do, I'll surely fight back! She had noted down this score!
Mu Xingrou gathered a group of people and came to the thatched cottage. Some of them were half - believing and half - doubting, while some came just to watch the fun. Anyway, the villagers all had their own motives.
"Sister Xingrou, is it true that Mu Fengqie has an affair with someone?" Li Biquan asked excitedly.
A look of concern appeared on Mu Xingrou's face. She sighed and said slowly, "To be honest, I don't want to believe it either. How could Qier do such a stupid thing? This is a crime that deserves to be drowned in the pond!"
Mu Xingrou deliberately mentioned the words "drowned in the pond". To her, Mu Fengqie's existence was just a stain. A useless person was no different alive or dead. Then wouldn't Mu Fengqie's money be up to Mrs. Kong to decide?
Li Biquan couldn't hide her excitement. If Mu Fengqie couldn't resist temptation and had an affair with someone, then wouldn't Brother Jing be hers? Thinking of this, Li Biquan couldn't help smiling from ear to ear.
Mu Xingrou was just leading the crowd to break into the house. "The scene of passion they had imagined didn't appear. Instead, they saw Old Zhao tied up on the ground, and Mu Fengqie and Jing Xunche were sipping tea leisurely.
"Yo, what brings you here, big sister?" Mu Fengqie stood up, a meaningful smile curling up on her lips.
All the words Mu Xingrou had prepared were stuck in her throat.
Logically, it should have been foolproof. How could it turn out like this? Didn't Jing Xunche just leave? Why did he come back so soon?
Watching the situation develop to this point, Mu Xingrou was momentarily stunned on the spot. She didn't know how to end this.
Li Biquan was full of doubts. Her excitement had faded away, replaced by unwillingness and confusion. "Sister Xingrou, didn't you say that Mu Fengqie had an affair with someone? What on earth is going on?"
She had thought she could benefit from the fight between the crab and the clam, but unexpectedly the scene she had imagined didn't happen at all. She couldn't help scolding Mu Xingrou for being stupid in her heart.
She didn't understand what was going on just now, but now the truth was clear.
Mu Fengqie pretended to be pitiful and looked at Mu Xingrou, with a hint of confusion in her eyes. "Big sister, how could you say such things about me? Although I was pregnant before marriage, I've been living a good life with my husband. Moreover, this man came here to steal. Why did you pour dirty water on me?"
Mu Xingrou forced herself to calm down. Hearing Mu Fengqie's accusation, her mind raced to find a solution.