“Oh! Sister-in-law, you’re really going?!” Qiao San couldn’t help but be taken aback. Ever since that incident years ago, his sister-in-law had never stepped beyond the doorstep. This time, she must have made a tremendous resolution.
“Yes!” Qing Niang nodded firmly, then said earnestly, “I’ve thought it through. I can go out at night, burn incense before dawn and return immediately. If I disguise myself a bit, there shouldn’t be any trouble!”
At this point, the petite young woman inevitably recalled the past. Her delicate face fell into gloom, and once again she spoke in a tone of guilt: “It’s all my fault for being foolish and wanting to go out for the Qingming Festival back then, which led to your elder brother being injured by evil men. He hasn’t recovered yet, and even got involved in legal troubles, forcing our family to sell the ancestral property, oh…”
“Sister-in-law, don’t cry…” Qiao San, overwhelmed by urgency, rushed forward in one swift step, tightly grasping her hands and shaking them vigorously. “Sister-in-law, having you as our family’s wife is a tremendous blessing, and it’s also my blessing as Qiao San!”
“Mm…” Innate feminine modesty and the dignity of being a wife quickly brought Qing Niang out of her self-pity. She took a slight step back, blushed, and withdrew her hands.
“The first incense is extremely important. I entrust everything to you, younger brother!” Without waiting for her impolite younger brother-in-law to explain, Qing Niang actively diffused the awkward atmosphere, gracefully bowed, and then turned and left.
“Phew–” At this moment, Qiao San hadn’t completely regained his composure either. He was quite annoyed at his own loss of control. How could he have startled Qing Niang like that? He should just think about it in his mind!
Wait? No, Qing Niang is his elder brother’s wife. He mustn’t think about her, absolutely mustn’t think about her again… He should also quickly forget the springtime scene from this morning!
Although his mind was repeatedly trying to convince himself, Qiao San couldn’t help but turn his head again, watching his sister-in-law’s retreating figure. In his heart, he couldn’t help but exclaim involuntarily—truly worthy of having once been the most beautiful woman in Liumang Town!
“Whoosh—” A flame burned into his eyes, and his gaze, as tangible as an arrow, shot toward the graceful figure in the distance. The gradually retreating Qing Niang seemed suddenly struck by lightning. Her delicate and shapely body trembled slightly, mysteriously sensing the scorching gaze from behind.
The young woman, in the prime of her life, barely perceptibly paused for a moment, then continued forward without looking back, disappearing around the corner.
Liumang Town was definitely a place where ruffians ran rampant. However, both the local authorities and the ruffians deeply respected the two great aristocratic families—”Wang” and “Li.” The Wang family had high-ranking officials serving in the imperial court, while the Li family descended from generations of military generals. Naturally, they were both wealthy and powerful, incomparable to ordinary rich families.
Arriving at the Wang family’s mansion, Qiao San, with his worldly experience, discreetly handed silver to the gate guards. “Please inform Master Wang that Danda San wishes to meet him! I have a way to help Master Wang easily defeat the Li family and secure the first incense this year!”
“Master, Danda San is here requesting an audience!” The guards, having received the bribe, were especially enthusiastic, and at the end, they even added, “He says he has a way to help us win the first incense for the Dragon Mother’s birthday celebration!”
“Oh!” Master Wang, who had originally been about to wave off the news with disdain, paused mid-motion. He pushed aside the servant girl who had been massaging his legs and thought carefully before asking, “This Danda San—is he that young ruffian leader who’s emerged in the past couple of years?”
“Yes, Master! From what I’ve heard around town, although Danda San may not be the strongest fighter, he’s definitely the boldest!” The power of silver was truly amazing. Thanks to Qiao San’s generous investment, he gained enthusiastic support from the guards.
“Then let him come in for a meeting. All of you, step aside!” Master Wang couldn’t help but become intrigued. He waved his hand to dismiss the servants, then put on a face of upright propriety.
Qiao San entered the Wang residence with the professional smiling face of a ruffian. After quite some time, he came out again, looking very satisfied. Finally, he summoned several young ruffians, giving them instructions with a whisper and a firm grasp.
After completing everything, the self-proclaimed bold ruffian couldn’t help but secretly chuckle inwardly. With the Wang family’s name backing him, his plan could now proceed smoothly! Now everything was ready; all that remained was for the east wind to blow!
Standing crookedly amidst the bustling streets, Qiao San indulged in self-admiration.
—Using others’ strength to achieve one’s goals, profiting from chaos; with only three parts effort, achieving ten parts of success; he really was an excellent rogue! Hehe…
※※※※※※※
The Dragon Mother’s birthday celebration soon arrived.
Before dawn, in the lingering darkness of the sky, two figures quietly approached the back entrance of the only temple in Liumang Town—the Dragon Mother Nunnery.
“Little brother, do you think this will work?” Qing Niang, dressed in scholar’s robes, though excessively handsome, was at least not too conspicuous in the darkness.
“Don’t worry, elder sister-in-law!” Qiao San cautiously glanced around, then whispered while leaning his ear against the door to listen for any movement inside. “I’ve already bribed the nun in charge of announcing the time with Master Wang’s name and some silver. She’ll ring the bell a little later than usual. Hehe… When that happens, all the nuns will go to the front gate to greet the worshippers, and the main hall will be empty—more than enough time for you to burn the first incense several times!”
“Little brother, I feel uneasy. I think something might go wrong. Maybe we should…” All her life, Qing Niang had always been proper and obedient, never daring to do anything like this. She was so nervous now that she didn’t know what to do with her hands and feet.
“Screee—” The side door, which had been bribed open, creaked as it swung inward. Qiao San chuckled proudly and comforted her, “Elder sister-in-law, look, everything is already arranged. Don’t be afraid—with me here, I’ll protect you!”
The last sentence was spoken with determination, but somehow it didn’t quite fit their respective roles. Qiao San quickly suppressed his wandering thoughts, desperately trying to change the subject: “Elder sister-in-law, remember to pull out the first incense stick afterward, then hide behind the temple gate. Once the crowd surges in, I’ll come and take you away.”
The uncle and niece, tiptoeing quietly, arrived at the main hall of the nunnery. Under the cover of night, the nunnery unavoidably took on a ghostly, supernatural aura, causing Qing Niang to instinctively move closer to her younger brother-in-law. “S…San… it’s s…so scary!”
“Elder sister-in-law, you’ve never done anything wrong, so there’s nothing to fear! If the Dragon Mother wants to scare anyone, it would be someone like me, a rascal! Hehe…”
Qiao San disdainfully glanced at the Dragon Mother statue high upon the altar, then let out a cold snort. “Hmph! Who even knows if there really are gods or spirits in this world? If there were, why don’t they do something about all the injustices in the world? Superstitions, all of it—nonsense!”
“Little brother, don’t speak recklessly, or you’ll anger the spirits!” Qing Niang, a devout believer, turned pale and instinctively knelt down on the prayer mat without hesitation, clasping her hands in reverence. “Dragon Mother Goddess, please don’t blame my little brother. He just spoke carelessly. Great Goddess, please forgive him.”
“Hehe… Sister-in-law, have you ever seen divine miracles?” Qiao San chuckled as he approached the statue, though he had no intention of praying. Without hesitation, he sat down on the prayer mat.
As he spoke, a flicker of flame passed through Qiao San’s eyes. From his angle, Qing Niang’s kneeling figure revealed her mature curves through her clothes. Her full, shapely buttocks were even more enticingly rounded. With the slightest movement, the soft, fragrant flesh quivered gently like rippling waves, irresistibly seductive.
“Thump, thump…” Just as Qiao San’s heart began to race, a faint, ambiguous tapping sound suddenly echoed from a corner of the hall, causing the oddly behaving man and woman to instinctively startle. Could it be that gods and spirits truly exist in this world?!
The tapping sound rang in their ears like thunderclaps. Then, from outside the hall, came the sound of light footsteps. The situation both inside and outside grew increasingly tense. How could Qing Niang, a virtuous woman, not turn deathly pale?
“Sister-in-law, quickly, hide!” Although Qiao San was also startled by the strange sound, he remained true to his reputation as the bold Danda San. His first reaction was to calmly scan his surroundings for the best hiding place.
“There! Sister-in-law, come!” The side door of the hall had already begun to move. With no time to spare, Qiao San, disregarding any sense of propriety between men and women, stretched out his big hand and scooped Qing Niang into his arms, then swiftly jumped onto the altar!
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