Chapter 46: If a person isn

Facing Yuan Laoer's continued arrogance and contempt, Chen Wuji didn't hesitate and sliced off his left ear with a single slash.

"Tell me, why?" He drove the dirty ear into the ground with a slash and asked again in a low voice.

He actually knew the reason, but he just wanted Yuan Laoer to say it himself.

When a person lacks ability, having a delicate wife is also a sin.

He had seen this kind of thing many times online before.

Back then he felt the world's malice toward honest people was just too great.

Now that this happened to him, even the word "disgusting" can't describe it.

Yuan Laoer howled like a wild boar being slaughtered, his mouth stretched wide, yet he stayed silent, trying to kill Chen Wuji with his gaze.

"I never expected your backbone to be this hard. Not speaking is fine; you've got plenty of scraps on you anyway, we'll cut them slowly." Chen Wuji sneered, then reached again, grabbed his right ear, and cleanly sliced it off.

Two cuts later, Yuan Laoer's already round head instantly turned into an old winter melon.

The blood‑stained sight was somewhat nauseating.

"Wait, wait!" Yuan Laoer suddenly let out a hoarse roar.

"I'm not refusing to speak; I'm in pain, too painful to talk. Honestly, it's because… because of your wife. I did it because I liked your wife."

"For my wife? You have the nerve to say that!" Chen Wuji shouted angrily, pinching Yuan Laoer's nose with two fingers.

"Wait, no, have mercy, I won't…!" Yuan Laoer, staring at the blade inches away, was so frightened his voice changed, sounding like a male duck.

Chen Wuji didn't stop, delivering a light, deft slash that smoothly sliced off Yuan Laoer's nose tip.

In the Dayu Dynasty, this is the penal code for punishing criminals and also a way to record Military Merit.

If you see someone on the street without ears or a nose, there's no need to doubt—they're definitely not a good person, at worst they're involved in theft or adultery.

"You, Yuan Laoer, with such status, stop begging for mercy, just be generous." Chen Wuji said, "Let's be direct: tell me how this matter should be resolved!"

Yuan Laoer was nearly faint from the pain; the muscles on his face twitched erratically, like a mad goat, completely lacking the imposing aura he just had.

"Can I pay compensation?" he asked tentatively.

"Of course you have to pay. Our Xishan Village had no labor duties this year, yet I'm on the Xianya's list. This was done by you two brothers, right? Do you want to deny it?"

Yuan Laoer fell silent for a moment, "I… I don't deny it."

"Rarely, you actually told an honest line," Chen Wuji mocked.

"For this matter, I want two taels of silver from you; is that unreasonable?"

"Un…" Yuan Laoer stammered, "Not unreasonable at all, not unreasonable. I'll go home and get the money right now."

Chen Wuji smiled gently, "Don't be so nervous. I'm being reasonable; if the silver isn't brought before evening, I'll—slaughter you."

"I will… I will definitely bring it," Yuan Laoer said repeatedly.

His whole body prickled under Chen Wuji's stare; his courage nearly shattered.

In Chen Wuji's gaze, he truly felt the intent to kill him.

"This grandson isn't a fool, so why did he suddenly become so ruthless? Even his speech is now orderly—how can he still look like a fool?"

Yuan Laoer was completely baffled, yet also a bit terrified.

"I trust you'll keep your word; it's only two taels of silver, still more worthwhile than a life, right?" Chen Wuji tossed the knife aside, grabbed the Iron Spade and dug Yuan Laoer out of the earth.

While digging, he unintentionally struck him a few times.

It was entirely accidental; a person buried can't be excavated that precisely, so unintentionally cutting off bits of flesh is normal.

After some effort pulling him out, Chen Wuji finally saw Shen Youwei's handiwork on him: each leg bore a slash, oddly symmetrical.

"Let's go, remember, don't miss the appointed time," Chen Wuji politely tossed him out the door.

Huo Sanniang watched the whole scene from under the eaves; though she said nothing, her bright eyes gradually gave way to intense worry.

After Chen Wuji entered, she suddenly said, "Wuji, why not take another wife? Your Chi Han Syndrome is almost cured; even without me, you should be able to live well."

"Wife, what nonsense you're spouting—life finally looks hopeful, and you want to run? I won't allow it; we haven't even had our bridal chamber yet." Chen Wuji jumped in surprise.

"Then I'll stay until after our bridal chamber, then I'll leave," Huo Sanniang pressed her lips together forcefully.

"Just the bridal chamber isn't enough; we should get married, and you at least have to give me a son or a daughter, then raise them to adulthood, okay?"

"Wuji, I'm afraid I can't have children…" Huo Sanniang's voice suddenly choked.

"Wife, we can't blame ourselves for others' faults. There are so many villains in the world; besides Yuan Laoer, we might also encounter Zhang Laoer and Liu Laoer. If they trouble us, do you still look for problems within yourself?" Chen Wuji said warmly.

"Wife, I think you're even worse than this fool of mine; you can't even figure this out. It's not your fault, it's those bad things' fault. It's one thing for the bad things to trouble us, but why do you want to betray me and invoke Dual Punishment?"

Huo Sanniang is good at everything except overthinking.

It seems gentle‑tempered women often have a touch of this flaw.

"Sister, your husband is right; you can't think it's your fault just because Yuan Laoer wants to claim you. In fact, this matter has nothing to do with you." Shen Youwei urged, holding Huo Sanniang.

Huo Sanniang finally couldn't hold back her tears, "But I caused you both to live in constant anxiety."

"That's Yuan Laoer's fault, not yours, sister." Shen Youwei consoled.

Chen Wuji pretended to be fierce, "If you dare run, I'll find a rope to tie you to the kang, then torment you day and night; how could anyone be dumber than me?"

"I'll handle this, none of you should worry; right now the real worry is whether we should have lunch—starving."

"Oh right, sister, hurry, the meat is about to burn in the pot!" Shen Youwei shouted, quickly pulling Huo Sanniang into the kitchen.

Because of Yuan Laoer, the house acquired so many new things, yet it still couldn't make the two of them smile.

Lunch was still a super low‑budget snake soup, but it tasted surprisingly good.

Huo Sanniang didn't bring up the matter again, but a faint melancholy lingered in her brows.

Chen Wuji didn't go back into the mountains that afternoon; after this incident, he still felt uneasy about entering.

Taking advantage of the lull, he planned to repair and reinforce the dilapidated main gate.

The courtyard now sorely lacked a sense of security.

Yuan Laoer arrived rather quickly; just as Chen Wuji had taken down the gate to try his hand at carpentry, the guy limped over, a burlap sack slung over his shoulder.