“If it were just that, so be it. Even if your wife-master doesn’t intervene, we have no reason to meddle. But you, you fox-spirited seducer, actually dared to lure my wife-master into an affair in the wilderness. Now, with evidence and witnesses, I want the village women to judge this matter…”

—

Early in the morning, the Liu family’s residence in the western part of the village was bustling with activity. The village’s notorious shrewish husbands, along with a few of their acquainted male spouses, stood at the courtyard entrance, making a scene.

The group’s momentum was impressive, attracting many villagers to gather and watch.

The villagers surrounded the three-acre land in front of the Liu family’s entrance, forming three layers.

In the center of the crowd, a short man in brown linen clothing was standing with his hands on his hips, panting heavily. He had been cursing for the duration of two incense sticks, and his mouth was now dry and tongue parched.

His shrill voice rose above the others, threatening, shouting, and throwing tantrums with all his might.

Unfortunately, the red-clothed young man leaning against the doorway maintained the same expression throughout—a half-smile, half-smirk.

Those peach blossom eyes fell upon the cursing man, as if looking at a child throwing a tantrum, with a hint of nonchalance.

Xu Chun’s eyes were wide with anger, and he cursed and swore for a good while. However, to his dismay, the onlooking villagers merely watched the spectacle without stepping forward to support him. What angered him even more was that the fox-spirited seducer ignored his accusations from beginning to end.

Although he knew that about eighty percent of the young women in Xiqiao Village were secretly enchanted by the seducer’s beauty, the villagers dared to be angry but not to speak out.

It was said that this demon had a lover who was a high-ranking official in the county. If one offended him, misfortune would befall them.

Peasant households were inherently inferior to official families. They lived in constant fear and trepidation, careful not to offend them in the slightest.

Xu Chun wasn’t foolish. Although he was fuming with anger and shouting about finding someone to send this debaucherous husband to the authorities, he didn’t actually dare to do so. His true intention was to use this commotion to force the village head to come out and give the Liu family’s debaucherous husband a small punishment as a warning.

The cowardly Liu Changning was useless and couldn’t control her husband. The village elders had their ways of disciplining the fox-spirited seducer.

Xu Chun had planned it well in his mind. He made a huge scene, and a couple of the village’s influential matrons did indeed come, but at this moment, they didn’t step forward to speak on his behalf.

Feeling resentful, he realized that his usual shrewishness had made the village matrons dislike dealing with him.

When one plan fails, another is born. Glancing at the male seductress standing at the doorway, not even acknowledging his presence, Xu Chun’s face darkened. He stepped forward and started tugging and pulling.

If the fight escalated, he refused to believe that the village’s reputable matrons wouldn’t come out to mediate! Most importantly, he had justice on his side in today’s matter!

The curve of Pei Yuanshao’s lips flattened imperceptibly, the smile not reaching his eyes.

With a seemingly casual shift of his footsteps, he effortlessly dodged the middle-aged husband’s fist that was aimed at him.

—

When Liu Changning finished dressing and freshening up, she walked out just in time to witness the imminent scuffle at the door, which was wide open.

The red-clothed, black-haired man dodged with great skill and ease.

She lowered her eyelids, a glimmer of light flashing in her tea-colored eyes. Her good-for-nothing husband seemed to know martial arts! There was no mention of it in the original host’s memories or the novel’s description.

Doubt?

Ignoring the odd feeling in her heart, when she raised her head again, her gaze met Pei Yuanshao’s from afar.

The man in the distance had a leisurely smile on his face, showing no signs of panic even when being forced back to the doorstep. When his peach blossom eyes met hers, apart from a hint of surprise, they quickly turned into a pool of charm.

Liu Changning’s expression remained indifferent. She gave him a distant glance, as if nothing had happened, and moved her gaze away, just like the previous day, cold and indifferent like a wooden person.

Pei Yuanshao: !!

He stroked his chin, deep in thought. Being ignored twice in a row… It wasn’t disappointment, but it added a touch of hidden concern. The honest village woman had become difficult to fathom!

In the moment Pei Yuanshao was distracted, when he looked up again, she had disappeared.

Liu Changning turned around and darted into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, just like yesterday, the stove was cold, and the cooking pots were empty. However, there was a considerable increase in raw ingredients, likely sent by one of the male lead’s mistresses. In the past, the original host wouldn’t touch them, but Liu Changning didn’t mind. The food that her good-for-nothing husband obtained through his good looks shouldn’t go to waste. It was just that she wasn’t skilled in cooking and had no idea how to handle raw meat.

The curses from the courtyard escalated, becoming more and more vicious, and even her name could be vaguely heard amidst the shouting.

Liu Changning took a deep breath, shifting her gaze away from the raw ingredients. She glanced at the bobbing heads outside the house, her dry lips pressed into a straight line.

She rubbed her buzzing ears. The male lead was too good at causing trouble! It seemed that the matter of divorcing her husband couldn’t be delayed any longer.