Chapter 32: She Actually Bought the Wasteland

"Ruyi is right! If she hadn't taken that money, how could we have been dragged off by the cripple? And the cripple wouldn't have dared to come and demand payment so brazenly. So, who actually took the money? The wasteland? Hmph, we’re going to go see for ourselves. We’ll see if she really bought that land. Maybe all of this is just a trick to fool us!"

"Yes, we must get to the bottom of this!"

Su Shan was still aching all over. He had suffered more than his fair share of injuries lately, so he had no desire to get involved in this mess. "Fine, go if you want, but I’m not going!"

Watching Su Shan walk away, Mother Su didn't care. She grabbed her daughter and headed out.

It was mid-morning and the weather was still relatively cool, so the villagers were bustling about. Some were heading to the fields with hoes on their shoulders, while others gathered in groups to gossip. Almost everyone was talking about what had happened the previous day, and every conversation revolved around Luo Yunhe.

"Hey, did you hear? Mother Su and Su Ruyi were almost sold to the cripple from the next village yesterday!"

"Is that for real? Where did you hear that? Mother Su is so fierce; how could she have been sold to that cripple?"

"Exactly, don't go spreading nonsense."

"It’s true, I’m telling you! I ran into the cripple this morning; he had a few men with him, and they went straight to the Su house. Not long after, he came back with those same men, carrying money in his hands, looking quite pleased. So, I asked him a couple of questions. Guess what happened?"

"Stop keeping us in suspense and just tell us! How could that cripple be so easily appeased?"

"You don't know the half of it. That cripple is so desperate for money... he’s never short of cash..." The old woman recounted everything the cripple had said to the group.

Everyone listened in stunned silence, unable to believe such a thing had actually occurred.

Just then, Mother Su and Su Ruyi appeared in their line of sight. Seeing the mother and daughter, the villagers' voices dropped, and their eyes darted toward them from time to time, fearing that Mother Su would hear their gossip and come over to claw at them.

Mother Su was so obsessed with finding out if Luo Yunhe had bought the wasteland that she didn't even notice the gazes of the villagers. She led Su Ruyi straight toward the wasteland.

"Hurry, hurry! My gut tells me something is about to happen—that look in Mother Su's eyes is all wrong!" One woman stood up and immediately began to trail after them.

Seeing the prospect of a show, the others followed suit, flocking after them.

At the wasteland on the northwest side, Luo Yunhe was working hard. There were so many weeds that she had only managed to clear a small portion yesterday, so she continued where she left off today. The weeds she had tossed aside the day before were scattered in a mess; even though they had wilted, they were still a nuisance to clean up again. She was smarter today, pulling the weeds and stacking them neatly so they would be easier to haul away later.

As she toiled in the field, a crowd of people approached from the distance.

"Mother, look... it really is that wretched little hussy! Could she have actually bought this patch of wasteland?" Mother Su spotted Luo Yunhe’s figure working incessantly in the field.

"Abominable! That wretched little thing, using money to buy a patch of wasteland—it’s a total waste!"

"Mother, even if it is wasteland, it’s quite large; she must have spent a lot of money. Maybe that day it was..."

"Hey, Mother Su, isn't that the wife your eldest son brought home? Why is she working in the wasteland?"

The villagers following behind craned their necks to look into the field. Some of the men were among them, but having been scolded by their wives the day before, they didn't dare to crowd around and could only stare from a distance at that delicate figure.

"I heard the village chief say this plot was sold. Could it be your daughter-in-law who bought it?"

"Oh my, spending so much money on a patch of wasteland is such a waste! What could possibly grow there? Nothing at all!" The villagers chattered incessantly.

"Mother, her claim about borrowing money from 'Deadbeat Wang' might not be true!" Su Ruyi remained convinced that the money for the land must have come from the cripple.

"Let's go to town and ask Deadbeat Wang ourselves!"

The two angry women, ignoring the villagers behind them, turned to leave, but were blocked by an old woman.

"Mother Su, there’s no need to go. You want to ask if your daughter-in-law borrowed money from Deadbeat Wang, right? I have to tell you, I actually saw Deadbeat Wang and his men leaving the edge of the village yesterday. You lot better not invite trouble; that Deadbeat Wang is notoriously difficult. If she really borrowed money from him, you won't have a peaceful day left to live!"

"That's right! Everyone knows how ruthless he is. How could she borrow money from him?"

Mother Su and Su Ruyi, who had been certain the money came from the cripple, felt their suspicions waver after hearing the villagers' accounts.

"You... you really saw him?"

"I did! Deadbeat Wang, the one who lends money and collects interest—who doesn't know him? The man is vicious, you’d best stay away from him!"

"Exactly! If you get involved with him, your family will never know peace again. The interest rates are terrifying..."

The faces of Mother Su and Su Ruyi turned ghastly. They opened their mouths to speak but found no words, and they left in a state of utter dejection.

Luo Yunhe, oblivious to all of this, continued to work hard in the field. The villagers eventually drifted away, though a few men lingered, reluctant to leave.

Luo Yunhe worked until noon, then tidied up, tossed the weeds at the edge of the field, and headed home. Upon arriving, she felt the house was unusually quiet. This silence made her feel uneasy; after all, it was a miracle if someone as boisterous as Mother Su didn't try to stir up trouble.

She poured some water to wash her hands. Her palms were covered in blisters and scratches from the work, but she didn't mind. Just as she was about to head into the kitchen to find something to eat, she heard footsteps outside.

Su Jingxuan had returned, carrying fresh game in his hands.