Chapter 17

Chen Wuji still paid the tea fee.

Two clerks, twenty wen.

Although he was short on money now, after thinking it over carefully, he still endured.

He temporarily lacked the ability to contend with such people; being forbearing would only bring greater trouble.

Imperial Uncle Liu apprenticed to Lu Zhi, fought the Yellow Turbans, followed Gongsun Zan, and even served in the Eighteen Route Alliance Army, but after beating a supervisor in anger he could only end up fleeing.

Moreover, he now has the identity of a petty hunter.

He cannot be forbearing.

"Chen Wuji, right? Come, make your mark!"

A clerk took out the marriage certificate and register, said nothing, and directly demanded a signature.

Chen Wuji silently took out his and Huo Sanniang's marriage certificate, saying, "What do I do if I already have a wife?"

"Your wife isn't running away? Why are you still holding this torn marriage deed? Hey, Huo Sanniang, you two are married? When did that happen? You little brat, not acting like a person, sister‑in‑law, you're taking her too?" Yuan Laoer took a close look at the names on the marriage deed, his throat instantly tightened, like a duck whose throat had been pinched.

"Yuan Jintang!" the clerk holding the document suddenly shouted.

He put on a stern face, suddenly placed his hand on the knife hilt, and said, "Why don't you take charge of this?"

Yuan Laoer was startled, quickly put on a smiling face and said, "Assistant Officer, I wouldn't dare; I wasn't looking at this idiot with the intention of deceiving you, I just scolded him a couple of sentences."

"Get out of the way!" the clerk snapped, his face cold.

"The practice of taking a brother's widow has long existed; the Court never forbids it, and even encourages a younger uncle to marry his brother's widow. Where did you get the notion that it's not allowed? Keep spouting nonsense, and I'll knock out those rotten teeth of yours!"

Yuan Laoer didn't dare breathe after being scolded; he just put on a smiling face and hid to the side, frequently giving his Village Chief brother meaningful looks.

But the Village Chief simply stepped forward, took the register from the assistant officer's hands, and ignored Yuan Laoer's gesture as if it were thin air.

"Sign your name!" the clerk said again in a low voice.

Although you are already married, you are a hunter's household registration, you can take three wives—one wife and two concubines. The tea money has already been collected from you, so this woman will not be taken back.

Saying that, he suddenly winked at Chen Wuji, "A newlywed bride, so lovely and spirited—you've gotten a bargain, kid."

"But adding another wife means more tax; I want to sleep with her but I don't want the tax." Chen Wuji mumbled with a woebegone face.

The assistant officer couldn't help laughing, "Don't make a fuss—others would love this opportunity but can't even get a turn. With such a lovely concubine, you're worrying over a few hundred wen of tax? When you have time, ask around for advice. Hurry up and sign; we still have business."

Chen Wuji really didn't understand what other tricks were involved.

But the clerk had made it clear he didn't want to take the person back; this person, he had to take whether he liked it or not.

Chen Wuji had no choice but to honestly sign his name.

Immediately the clerk unlocked the shackle on the woman's neck, and the two of them followed the Village Chief away.

From their talk it sounded like the village had several households with girls already fourteen years old who still had no match; they planned to go from house to house to take them away.

Yuan Laoer, however, did not leave; his lecherous eyes darted around Huo Sanniang's body.

Chen Wuji glanced, his face darkening instantly, then rushed into the courtyard, grabbed the sole tetanus blade in the house, and charged out, shouting, "Lao Zamao, look at my wife—I'll kill you!"

That shout was like a thunderclap that shook the heavens; even the clerks who hadn't walked far turned their heads.

Upon seeing Chen Wuji's murderous stance, Yuan Laoer was startled, turned and ran toward the clerk, shouting, "Help! Chen the idiot's killing someone!"

Chen Wuji chased for a stretch but couldn't catch him, then flung the knife away in a furious sweep.

Yuan Laoer's soul fled his body, and he instantly ran even faster.

The two clerks crossed their arms and watched the commotion for a while, then left with the remark, "That idiot dares to act and speak—he's just a fool by nature," and strode off, completely ignoring Yuan Laoer's pig‑like squeals.

Chen Wuji caught up, picked the knife back up, and cursed, greeting several generations of Yuan Laoer's ancestors.

At last the doorway was quiet.

But Chen Wuji, looking at that indeed lovely young wife, didn't know what to do.

A ruthless person who slaughtered her husband's family of three!

He didn't dare tell Huo Sanniang, afraid she'd be frightened awake at night.

But he didn't want Huo Sanniang to find out beforehand; she feared even more that this gentle, kind wife would come to harm.

"Miss, please go inside first."

Huo Sanniang stepped forward and supported the woman who was still kneeling on the ground.

The woman didn't move; instead she lifted her head and said, "I married at fifteen years and three months old, and a month later I killed my husband's family of three with a kitchen knife. Afterwards I spent nearly a year in prison, experiencing two imperial amnesties from the Court, which brought me to today."

Huo Sanniang's body trembled slightly; she stared at the girl in shock, somewhat frightened.

Chen Wuji immediately stepped forward, placed Huo Sanniang behind him, and asked in a low voice, "What are you trying to do?"

The woman shook her head. "I don't intend to do anything—you can beat me to death if you want—but I feel I ought to explain what I've done beforehand, so that if you ever find out, you won't regard me as an enemy."

"My father once held the post of Deputy Censor‑in‑Chief, but after falling from grace the Court confiscated all our property and demoted him back to our hometown; I too was forced into marriage. By the way, my name is Shen Youwei. From childhood I could read and write, I was taught etiquette by a palace musician, and I am well versed in the classics."

Huo Sanniang asked in astonishment, "You, a well‑read, courteous official's daughter, how could you kill someone? May I know the reason?"

"If you're willing to believe me, I can tell you." Shen Youwei nodded.

"On the first night of my marriage, my husband and his father wanted to take turns with me in the bridal chamber; I resisted with a knife, they ganged up and beat me badly, then locked me in the dog shed, where I starved for seven full days."

"After I got out, my mother‑in‑law gave me a quick wash, then called for her husband and son, intending to force me into conjugal relations, thinking that after a few days of confinement I would yield, but I did not."

"In the struggle, I crushed my father‑in‑law's testicles with my bare hands; they flew into a rage, beat me again, and threw me back into the dog shed."

Huo Sanniang stared blankly at the unabashed young woman and said, "Miss, I now understand why you did what you did, but what exactly are these 'testicles' you mentioned?"

Shen Youwei turned her head toward Chen Wuji and asked, "Do you mind if I demonstrate this to your sister?"

Chen Wuji clapped a hand over his groin, "I mind, I really mind—don't come over…"

This person is too ruthless.

Crushing testicles barehanded—just thinking about it hurts.

Huo Sanniang's face flushed, "Um, miss, I think I get it—you don't need to demonstrate."

Shen Youwei nodded and continued, "After being locked up in the dog shed a second time, I actually just wanted to escape; I hadn't thought of killing anyone—until …"