Chapter Eleven: A Fierce Kick to the Crippled Leg

Chen the Cripple grabbed Liang Mingxue’s waistband and stood up, a greedy look on his face. He stretched out a filthy finger.

“I want you to pay me back one tael.”

“What? You damn cripple, you really dare to ask for that?” Li Pinghua rushed forward, pointing at his nose and scolding him. Chen the Cripple was fearless; since he couldn’t marry a wife, he might as well try to get some benefit.

“The deal was clearly eight hundred wen. How can you raise the price?” Mrs. Wang also trembled as she reprimanded him. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn’t have sold Liang Yunqing. They couldn’t even come up with eight hundred wen, yet he dared to ask for one tael.

“Heh heh, sister-in-law, you can’t say that. Who knows if your daughter is crazy? If you don’t give me one tael, I’ll spread the word everywhere. Then your son Liang Youcai won’t be able to study in the county either!”

“How dare you!”

All of Li Pinghua’s hopes of wealth and officialdom rested on her eldest son, Liang Youcai. She wanted to tear Chen the Cripple apart with her bare hands. Her regret was no less than Mrs. Wang’s—if only she hadn’t pushed to sell off Liang Yunqing, things wouldn’t have come to this.

“Does your Liang family want to kill someone? If you don’t give it to me, I’ll report you to the gentry and the magistrate’s office.”

At these words, everyone wilted. Liang Yunqing remained calm and said faintly, “Who said we won’t give it?”

Chen the Cripple grinned broadly, extending his dust-covered hand.

“Then hurry up and give it to me.”

“Give you what?” Liang Yunqing crossed her arms and glanced at him sideways.

“Wasn’t it agreed that you’d give me one tael of silver? If you dare to renege, I’ll go find the gentry right now.”

Chen the Cripple finally realized Liang Yunqing was not only crazy but also more shameless than himself—how could someone change their tune so quickly?

“Oh, if I didn’t want to marry you, of course I’d give you one tael. The problem is, I’m willing to marry you, so what money do you want?”

Upon hearing this, the Liang family’s expressions grew complicated. Their gazes fixed on Liang Yunqing’s face.

Chen the Cripple was momentarily baffled. The girl before him was indeed pretty when not mad. He was about to hesitate, wondering if he should just take her home and, at worst, tie her up when she lost her mind. Suddenly, he felt a fierce impact on his chest.

“Wild bull charge!”

Liang Yunqing dropped to all fours and headbutted Chen the Cripple, shoving him away with the force of a bull crashing into a coffin.

“Ugh—”

Under the shocked eyes of the Liang family, Chen the Cripple looked as if he’d seen a ghost. He scrambled to his feet, crawling and tumbling, and shouted at the charging Liang Yunqing behind him.

“Stop! Hold her back! You all hold her back!”

Liang Mingxue looked at the disheveled Chen the Cripple and stepped forward.

“Yunqing, don’t be like this.”

Liang Yunqing had only intended to give Chen the Cripple a scare, not to kill him. She clapped her hands and straightened up, facing him.

“Chen the Cripple, how do you like me now?”

“No, no, no! I won’t marry you! Just pay me back the eight hundred wen, that’s enough!”

Chen the Cripple hid behind Liang Mingxue, his voice full of fear and panic. He had firmly decided in his heart that Liang Yunqing was a complete lunatic!

Hearing this, Li Pinghua and Mrs. Wang both sighed in relief. Thankfully, they saved two hundred wen.

“Go to the gentry and draw up a contract.”

Grandmother Wang seized the opportunity to give a stern reminder. Chen the Cripple was a rogue; they couldn’t give him a chance to back out.

“Fine! Draw up the contract. If you dare to shove this lunatic onto me, I’ll report it to the gentry!”

Chen the Cripple’s emotions ran high. He no longer cared about the eight hundred wen bride price. Now, he just wanted to save his own skin, nervously glancing at Liang Yunqing standing nearby.

Liang Yunqing caught his gaze and smiled gently, filled with warmth and affection.

Chen the Cripple nearly fainted in fright behind Liang Mingxue.

In the end, Liang Mingxue accompanied the two to the gentry’s house. Chen the Cripple held his crutch defensively, wary of Liang Yunqing all the way. The three knocked on the door of the gentry.

“Who is it? Why come so early?”

A deep voice came from inside. The door opened to reveal Uncle Lin, the village gentry. He looked at the group outside with some surprise.

“Eldest son of the Liang family, what’s going on?”

Uncle Lin eyed the blue bruise on Liang Mingxue’s face, likely from several days ago. He glanced at the filthy Chen the Cripple and then at the proud Liang Yunqing.

What a strange combination.

“Gentry Lin, we want to come have a contract drawn up.”

Liang Mingxue explained.

Uncle Lin nodded, somewhat understanding, and invited them inside. The main hall contained a few old tables and chairs. Once everyone was seated, he began to inquire about the incident.

After Chen the Cripple recounted the story in an agitated manner, Uncle Lin pursed his lips and looked at the motionless Liang Yunqing.

It seemed the rumors he heard yesterday were true—the Liang girl had truly changed.

“Then I will write two copies of the contract: one to keep, one for you. No objections?”

Liang Mingxue shook his head, and Chen the Cripple remained silent.

Uncle Lin stood and fetched some brushes and ink from the side room. Lowering his head, he wrote on yellowed rice paper. Moments later, he presented two copies of the contract.

“Just press your fingerprints here.”

Chen the Cripple hurried forward and pressed his hand onto a small lump of red clay on the table. Liang Mingxue followed suit.

With the contract sealed, a voice echoed in Liang Yunqing’s mind from the system.

“Congratulations, host, on completing your first task. You have received a novice treasure chest.”

She smiled contentedly, curious about the contents of this first novice chest.

“Yunqing, let’s go.”

Liang Mingxue’s low voice interrupted her thoughts. She rose silently and followed him out of the gentry’s house.

Outside, Chen the Cripple carefully put away the contract, casting a disdainful glance at her.

“You’re not bad-looking, but a lunatic. I wonder how you’ll get married in the future.”

Liang Yunqing crossed her arms and stared intently at his only good leg.

“Do you believe I’ll kick that good leg of yours hard?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Chen the Cripple spun around like the wind and ran off wildly, afraid that if he delayed even a second, his good leg might be lost.

Liang Mingxue looked at her disapprovingly. After hesitating, he finally spoke.

“Yunqing, you’re still a girl. How will your reputation be if this spreads?”

Liang Yunqing had already lost hope in this so-called father figure.

“Father, marrying your daughter off to a cripple isn’t going to make your reputation any better.”

Her words left Liang Mingxue speechless. He sighed and headed back, with Liang Yunqing following behind. The sky was already brightening.

The first rays of dawn shone down as the system in her mind began to open the novice treasure chest.

“Novice treasure chest opening... 35%... 76%... 100%”

“Does opening a treasure chest really need to load?”

“The host has no sense of ceremony.”

“Novice treasure chest opened. You have obtained a Soil Converter (unlimited use, improves soil nutrients, increases plant survival rate by 80%, and accelerates plant growth speed by 65%).”

Hearing the system’s words, Liang Yunqing’s eyes darkened. The first novice chest contained a converter? Was this too stingy? And this was supposed to be the version 2.0 of her golden finger.