CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 38: PERFECTLY TO HER LIKING

The faint smell of blood drifted through the valley.

Six bandits, all dead!

Liu Ji blinked quickly; he didn’t even know when these six had fallen.

Anyway, in the blink of an eye, they were all dead.

Qin Yao wiped her knife clean on a bandit’s body. The six bandits died with open eyes, void of any sparkle.

The clothes on the six were all tattered hemp garments, looking worse than the ones Liu Ji was wearing. Qin Yao disdainfully glanced at them and reached out to rummage through their belongings.

Unfortunately, they were dirt poor, not a copper coin to be found, though their knives looked decent enough.

Qin Yao gathered all six knives, stood up, and surveyed the area, throwing all six bodies into the weed-filled ditch on the right, letting them return to the embrace of nature.

With many wild beasts in the mountains, the corpses would be cleaned up in a few days.

Having swiftly dealt with the six, she thought about villagers who might pass by, and so Qin Yao used her feet to sweep sand and stones over the bloodstained area, to hide the blood. This way, no one would be frightened upon arrival.

Qin Yao clapped her hands, "By the way, do those six look familiar to you?"

She suddenly remembered, "If they’re locals, it might still be troublesome."

Liu Ji stiffly shook his head.

He thought, why ask after killing them, isn’t it a bit deliberate?

Since the incident, he hadn’t said a word.

Qin Yao assumed he didn’t like talking, relaxed, and nodded, "It’s good they’re not from around here, as Sheng Country law says, ’If citizens encounter bandits on the road, killing them is not a crime.’"

She gestured with her chin, "Let’s go."

Liu Ji immediately followed, taking a big leap over the sand and stones she swept over.

The two returned home, already late afternoon.

He had finished cooking lunch and had left, while clan members helping were busy bustling around the front and back of the house.

Roof tiles were being delivered one by one, and under everyone’s efforts, the new house was gradually taking shape.

Qin Yao was surprised to find that these days, the meals at home had become more delicious, the house cleaner, and it was maintained daily to ensure tidiness.

The man in the house was now basically home every day, no longer out flirting with young wives and teasing young ladies, as he increasingly handled chores well, much to her satisfaction.

Qin Yao vaguely guessed it must be related to the incident of them returning from Lower River Village that day.

But what she didn’t know was that the moment they returned to the village that day, Liu Ji immediately fetched the hidden copper coins, grabbed a handful, and hurriedly headed into the village.

He first found Sister-in-law Zhou, who looked at him in astonishment, and he handed her ten copper coins.

"What’s this?" Sister-in-law Zhou was a bit bewildered and slightly afraid.

Today, Liu Laosan seemed different; could he have committed some guilty act again?

Liu Ji said shamefully, "Sister-in-law, a few days ago, I took vegetables from your garden, and this is the money for those days. Please take it, but don’t tell my wife I took vegetables from your garden."

What taking? Clearly, it was stealing!

Sister-in-law Zhou’s anger flared up, "Oh, it was you! You made me yell at those village boys for days, and none admitted it, turns out it was you!"

Seeing her angry, Liu Ji hurriedly admitted, "Sister-in-law, don’t be angry; I forgot to give you money at the time. I’ve come to repay you now."

Sister-in-law Zhou, knowing well the nature of the man before her, curiously weighed the copper coins and asked:

"San, the sun didn’t rise from the west today; you’ve truly changed, stealing and even repaying?"

Liu Ji promptly corrected, "What stealing? I bought them, sister-in-law, remember, I took money and bought your vegetables, not stealing!"

After saying that, he handed her two more copper coins, calling it hush money.

Sister-in-law Zhou realized she understood less and less about this man before her.

Was this still the Liu Laosan from before?

Liu Ji insisted she not tell his wife about this matter, obtained Sister-in-law Zhou’s nod and agreement, and then turned to head for Granny Wang’s house.

Granny Wang was sitting at the door stitching shoe soles, and upon seeing Liu Ji rush over, her seemingly blurry old eyes instantly opened wide, and she angrily shouted:

"Liu Laosan, you scoundrel, dare to come to my house to steal eggs again?"

When young, Granny Wang fractured her calf from a fall and didn’t get proper treatment, leaving her leg rather weak.

A few years ago, amidst chaos, her son was drafted and died on the battlefield, her daughter-in-law remarried and left, leaving only a little grandson with whom she lived.

Granny Wang couldn’t do heavy work, so she raised many chickens and ducks, selling eggs to make a living, letting grandson and grandma survive.

Eggs were her lifeline; who could have known, the day she barely stepped out to catch bugs for chickens and ducks, Liu Ji came along.

Too small to know better, Granny Wang’s grandson was deceived by Liu Ji to open the gate.

In just a blink, Liu Ji sneaked five eggs out.

The little one counted the eggs and ducks’ eggs several times each day, remembering the count clearly.

Not until Liu Ji left did he count and find Liu Ji deceived him.

Upon returning home, Granny Wang found her poor grandson crying at the entrance, and upon hearing it was Uncle Liu who tricked him, she was furious.

Granny Wang wanted to confront Liu Ji, but hesitated, cautious of this rascal’s mischief potentially hurting her old bones, so ultimately she didn’t go.

Unexpectedly, while Granny Wang didn’t go find Liu Ji, heedless of shame, Liu Ji himself came again!

Granny Wang grabbed the wooden club by the door, appearing ready to fight Liu Ji fiercely should he approach.

Liu Ji hurriedly explained, "Don’t get worked up; I’m here to pay for the eggs. The other day, I left in a hurry, forgot about it, you’re mistaken, I, Liu Ji, am not that kind of person."

After saying so, he counted five copper coins, placed them on the ground, and turned to leave.

Walking away a bit, he suddenly turned back, scaring the little grandson about to pick up the money into running inside the house and hiding behind grandmother.

Liu Ji showed what he thought was a friendly smile, handed over five cents, "I will buy five more eggs, tonight adding dinner for my wife; she’s been busy lately, needs some nourishment."

Granny Wang hesitantly doubted, everyone knew Liu Laosan’s words were all lies, none true?

She asked her grandson to pick up the money, seeing Liu Ji truly offer it, finally easing her suspicion, and fetched five fresh chicken eggs, placing them on the ground for Liu Ji.

"Granny, the eggs from your hens taste better than others; I’ll be coming again next time," Liu Ji beamed with a smile, picked up the eggs, tucked them in, turned, and exhaled deeply.

This way, he’d finally rest assured.

Even should his wife discover, she couldn’t fault him.

Certainly... can’t kill him.

Having lived 23 years, he never imagined anyone would kill as effortlessly as chopping vegetables.

Even less expected was having personally married such a god of slaughter.

If only he’d known sooner... such misfortune! Liu Ji looked up to the sky regretfully; he was now filled with remorse!

Passing by Liu Family’s old house, Liu Ji entered, face full of sorrow, for the first time in his life politely asking his stepmother, Mrs. Zhang.

Solely to learn some culinary skills, to please the god of slaughter at home.

Mrs. Zhang: Just... quite unexpected.