Chapter 64: She Prepared a Grand Gift for Them

Though she was furious, Zhang Lian managed to hold back her anger.

Forcing a strained smile, she spoke, “San Lai, do you want a wife? I can introduce someone to you.”

“What? You want to set me up with a wife? Are you serious?” San Lai burst out laughing, as if he’d just heard the greatest joke in the world.

Let alone Heishi Village, probably not a single woman in the neighboring villages would be willing to marry him. And now, out of nowhere, some fool comes up offering to find him a match.

San Lai found it utterly ridiculous.

He stroked his chin, his small, beady eyes glinting with mischief as he grinned, “Do you even know who I am? You dare come up to me and talk nonsense?”

His insolent manner made Zhang Lian uneasy, but she mustered the courage to say, “Of course I know who you are. I came here to find you on purpose.”

“Oh? So you’re here just for me?” San Lai sized her up, his gaze lingering on her gently rounded chest. Leering, he said, “Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to me. Not a bad figure you’ve got—I’m quite satisfied.”

“As if! Don’t even think about it!” Disgust flashed across Zhang Lian’s face as she crossed her arms over her chest. “The girl I want to introduce to you is named Lin Xiaodou. She’s as beautiful as a goddess. If you saw her, you wouldn’t be able to take your eyes off her!”

San Lai’s eyes lit up instantly. “Is she really that stunning?”

He had always liked pretty women—ordinary ones simply wouldn’t do.

“Of course. People in the village say she’s a beauty. You can ask anyone and they’ll tell you so,” Zhang Lian replied, her eyes darting cunningly. “If you don’t believe me, you can go see for yourself. She lives alone in a cabin behind the mountain, where it’s deserted. If you want to do anything, it’s easy.”

San Lai hesitated for a moment at her words, then gave her a sidelong glance and sneered, “So you want to use me to get rid of someone you dislike? Not bad, you’re pretty clever.”

Zhang Lian smiled faintly. “No matter what my motive is, I’m giving you a beautiful wife for free. Just tell me, will you do it or not?”

“Of course I will!” San Lai chuckled, then added, “But you have to come with me. If she’s not as pretty as you say and you waste my time, I’ll hold you responsible.”

He trusted no one. If this girl dared deceive him, he would make her pay.

“Fine,” Zhang Lian agreed, gritting her teeth. She despised San Lai, but her hatred for Lin Xiaodou ran deeper.

She was convinced that as soon as San Lai laid eyes on Lin Xiaodou, he would be up to no good.

She barely needed to do anything—San Lai would handle the dirty work behind the scenes. As long as he became entangled with Lin Xiaodou, her reputation would be ruined. No matter how beautiful she was, no one would want her anymore. People would spit at her name, and her fate would be miserable.

The thought filled Zhang Lian with delight.

“It’s lunchtime now. Let’s go quickly, so we don’t waste any time,” she urged, leading San Lai down a narrow path toward the mountain.

She didn’t want to be seen with him, to avoid gossip.

San Lai truly was a lecher. Along the way, he couldn’t keep his hands to himself, constantly reaching for her waist.

Zhang Lian was seething, but, thinking of her plan, she dared not protest loudly. She could only grit her teeth and force a stiff smile, “Let’s walk faster, San Lai. We’re almost there.”

Soon, they reached a grove in front of the cabin.

San Lai wanted to go right up to the door, but Zhang Lian stopped him. “Don’t alert her. Lin Xiaodou is clever—if you show up suddenly, she’ll get suspicious.”

San Lai scoffed, “Women are always making things complicated,” but he stayed put, craning his neck to peer at the cabin.

Zhang Lian hid behind a large tree, quietly observing.

Before long, a graceful figure appeared at the cabin door.

The moment San Lai saw her face, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“Well?” Zhang Lian turned to look.

San Lai was actually drooling with desire. Disgusted, Zhang Lian curled her lip in contempt. Men—always so superficial, always judging by looks.

“My goodness, she’s like a fairy come down to earth!” San Lai’s eyes sparkled as he stared at the beautiful silhouette.

“Well, you’ve seen her now. You believe me, don’t you?” Zhang Lian said.

“Heh, I believe you, I believe you!” San Lai rubbed his hands together, still drooling. “I’ll go say hello to her right now.”

“Don’t rush. It’s broad daylight—if someone sees you, it’ll ruin everything.” Zhang Lian advised, “Better to sneak over tonight. Knock her out and drag her into the woods, then do what you want. I’ll bring some people to make sure the deed is done. With so many witnesses, she’ll have no choice but to marry you.”

“Now that’s a great idea!” San Lai’s eyes glowed even brighter as he imagined Lin Xiaodou in his arms, his whole body burning with excitement.

“How about I go tonight? I really can’t wait,” he said.

Zhang Lian nodded. “Fine by me.”

She couldn’t wait for this to be over. Lin Xiaodou had been flaunting herself in front of her for days, and she was sick of it. Once this eyesore was removed, maybe she’d be in a better mood, work faster in the fields, and stop getting scolded.

After finalizing their plan, the two left together.

Once they were gone, a mountain sparrow fluttered from the tree and flew toward the cabin.

Lin Xiaodou was just about to close the door for her midday rest when a small gray sparrow arrived.

“Xiao Hui, what happened?” she asked.

Recently, a little golden monkey had been visiting her for food and play. Worried that someone might spot it, Lin Xiaodou had tamed several sparrows and stationed them around her cabin as lookouts. If anyone approached, the sparrows would warn her in time.

Xiao Hui was assigned to the front grove.

“Chirp, chirp, chirp! Chirp, chirp, chirp!” The little sparrow flapped its wings anxiously, chattering non-stop.

After listening to its report, Lin Xiaodou’s smiling eyes turned instantly cold.

She knew Zhang Lian disliked her, but until now, the woman had never caused much trouble—at most, a few sarcastic remarks, which Lin Xiaodou would always retort to directly.

They had never had any serious conflict.

But she hadn’t expected Zhang Lian to be so petty, to plot her ruin over something so trivial.

If she had truly been a helpless girl, and San Lai had gotten his way, her life would have been destroyed forever.

Such viciousness!

She blamed herself for being too careless. She’d been busy lately and had forgotten just how wicked Zhang Lian could be.

In the original story, Zhang Lian was the poisonous best friend, who, just to steal Chen Guang, the scoundrel, had caused the heroine’s death.

Someone like that could never be good.

Now that they’d actively come for her, Lin Xiaodou would show no more mercy.

Tonight, she would prepare a grand surprise for them!