Chapter 103: A despicable person is trying to steal my husband!

What does it mean to be ruined and disgraced?

This is what it means to be ruined and disgraced!

Du Shanü was momentarily stunned, quickly gesturing for Chinu to put on clothes, then she herself walked toward the door:

"Please tell the guests next door that we're not......"

Du Shanü racked her brains trying to salvage a bit of reputation, but she couldn't help it; even more disgraceful things awaited her ahead.

Just beyond the door, when it opened, two people stood there at the entrance.

One was the waiter from downstairs earlier, and the other was indeed the attendant who had been speaking with the County Magistrate in front of the porridge shed earlier.

This attendant is about thirty years old, with a straight posture and a square face, clearly versed in martial arts.

By rights, he should be the sort of person who inspires trust at a glance.

But as luck would have it, Chinu had caused a huge scene inside the room, leaving the other party's face flushed with embarrassment; upon seeing the door open, he didn't know where to look.

Attendant: "......"

Waiter: "......"

Du Shanü: "......"

She curled her toes.

Indeed, she curled her toes.

Even if she had made mistakes in her past life, meeting Chinu in this life counts as settling the debt.

But what can be done?

If she didn't truly pity Chinu, she wouldn't have agreed to such a huge karmic consequence!

Losing face is losing face; after all, one lives a lifetime, and reputation can't be eaten as food.

Having made up her mind, Du Shanü took a deep breath:

"This person is......"

That attendant finally reacted, raising his hand in a slight fist salute, and replied:

"I came uninvited and disturbed you, young lady; please don't blame me."

"It's only that my County Magistrate caught sight of you from afar at the porridge shed, found your bearing extraordinary, and thus ordered me to come......"

"What extraordinary bearing! What extraordinary bearing!"

Chinu had just thrown on his outer garment; hearing this, he flew into a rage and came over following the sound.

"What County Magistrate, not a County Magistrate—what does he want? Does he even want to steal someone's husband?!"

"I'll tell you straight: I can't even tolerate Yu Baobao, and you lot—thick‑skinned men who go around seducing others' husbands—I can't tolerate you at all!"

"How did we end up arguing? Why is she arguing with me and not with anyone else? It's only because she has me in her heart!"

"If you dare to come and snatch, I'll give you one stab, two holes; two stabs, four holes!"

Chinu was truly furious.

He, he has always been jealous.

Otherwise, he wouldn't keep flip‑flopping out of resentment at being left behind.

Last night's tenderness, today's indifference.

Hot and cold mixed together, nearly burning him up.

He ought to be treated well.

He ought to be treated well.

Why would someone put on clothes and then not recognize people?

Why be so cold toward him?

Could it be that he's really just a plaything, and no matter who she was with last night, she would......

Chinu's brows knit with anger; he instinctively glanced at Du Shanü, and that look sent a chill down her back, making her vaguely feel she might be doomed again......

What does it mean that the road to coaxing someone is long and arduous?

This is it!

The entrance fell dead silent; in the end, it was the most unremarkable waiter who reacted first, handing Du Shanü the food box and giving her a 'good luck' look before stepping away first.

The attendant's square face turned liver‑colored, so ashamed he wished he could dig a hole and crawl into it.

"No, no."

"What my master means is, seeing that you, a married couple, both have extraordinary bearing, and seeing you riding horses with the faint outline of a side‑sword on the saddle, he guessed you must be remarkable wandering swordsmen, and thus wanted to make your acquaintance."

The attendant thought it over, recalled Chinu's jealousy, and, suppressing a headache, added specially:

"It's not just about befriending one of you; it's that both of you are wanted. Our County Magistrate is benevolent and always cherishes talent; if you two are willing to accept his offer and stay, he will surely treat you well......"

"Today the County Magistrate sent me here to first invite you two for a welcome feast to wash away the dust; this meal is precisely his small gesture."

Having said that, the attendant didn't even explain how to accept the offer, then hastily bowed and left without looking back, as if he could bear it no longer.

Chinu: "......"

Du Shanü: "......"

We're doomed.

Really doomed.

No need to think; you know that when he goes back, her and Chinu's reputations will be in utter ruin.

She exclaimed, "How is the floor so clean today?!"

Turns out it's because she and Chinu have lost all face—lost all face!

Du Shanü sighed, handed the food box to Chinu, and promptly shut the door again.

Chinu made a fuss, only to realize he'd picked the wrong person; for a moment, lowering his head wasn't an option, nor was keeping it up.

He walked leisurely, set the food box on the Eight Immortals table, then slumped over the table and continued to sulk.

Du Shanü was used to his behavior, as usual sat beside him, casually opened the food box, and couldn't help but laugh, saying:

"That county magistrate sure is generous."

"That's actually true."

"The tavern's expenses are steep; that's something they knew as soon as they walked in."

"Meanwhile, in this two-tier food box, the top layer held four dishes——"

One plate of sliced braised beef, thin as paper, neatly arranged; one plate of stir‑fried shrimp, the shrimp large, pink‑white and translucent; one plate of garlic spinach, dark green and vibrant; one plate of fried small yellow fish, golden and crisp, the tails still cocked.

The second layer held a wine jug—a plain white porcelain jug with no pattern, but a warm, smooth glaze—accompanied by two tiny wine cups whose thin walls let light through. Beside the jug was a small dish of salt‑roasted peanuts, each plump.

"This whole food box, with its contents, is clearly valuable at a glance."

"But they had just come from Ju Cheng, and it was pouring rain; the news of her posing as a princess couldn't have spread that fast."

"Du Shanü was also certain that the other party had never recognized her before."

"But precisely because of that, this county magistrate's boldness shows."

"Just a glance from afar, and he goes to such lengths to show goodwill......"

"Their eagerness to win over talent is indeed urgent."

"In other words, this is an opponent worth guarding against."

"Du Shanü took the two small wine cups, filled them both, then picked up one, drained it in one gulp, and laughed:"

"\"The wine is good too—at least ten years old. \""

"These days, liquor is basically mild grain wine, limited by brewing methods, so its alcohol content is generally low."

"If one wants to drink strong liquor, they must work on the ingredients and the yeast."

"A discerning person can tell the difference between good liquor and ordinary liquor in a single sip."

"Magistrate Ouyang, Magistrate Ouyang......"

"Du Shanü muttered a few words to herself, seeing that Chinu hadn't drunk, she narrowed her eyes slightly, sighed inwardly, took his wine cup, and drank from it."

"With that sip, she didn't gulp it down right away; instead, she leaned close to Chinu, reached out, and pinched his chin."

"Her fingertip pressed against his jawline, she applied a little force, lifting his face."

"Then Du Shanü leaned in, her lips meeting his thin lips, and passed the wine over."

"The liquor flowed from her lips into his mouth, the sweetness melting between their teeth, mingling with their warmth."

"Their breaths intertwined, one shallow, one deep."

"Her fingers released his chin, slowly slid down, her fingertip brushing over his Adam's apple."

"Feeling the tremor beneath her fingertip, Du Shanü asked, knowing full well:"

"\"...... Have you been appeased? \""

"Chinu's eyelashes fluttered, his Adam's apple rolled as he swallowed, and the dead gray in his eyes reignited:"

"\"...... Mm, I've been appeased. \""

"Chinu is truly quick to lose his temper."

"Fortunately......"

"Easy to appease, and truly easy to appease."

"Du Shanü always had the illusion that no matter how many times she hurt him, as long as she showed a little concern, Chinu would again throw himself into danger without hesitation."

"But throwing himself into death......"

"Is that really right?"

"Perhaps it's the good wine, perhaps it's the beauty."

"After that sip, Du Shanü actually felt a bit dazed."

"But her absent‑mindedness, as seen by others, seemed to carry a hint of carelessness……"

"She, she appeases him—after all, is it just for gain?"

"Chinu hid the gloom in his eyes and spoke obediently:"

"\"Nu nu isn't deliberately making a fuss, Ah nu...... Ah nu will now tell you about the Ouyang father and son, okay? \""

"?? Think Chinu is pretending to be obedient? Minus 1; think Chinu is truly obedient? Minus!"