Chapter 166: Farming: Saving the Substitute Husband 09

Several more days passed at the bamboo lodge; Jin Chen went into the mountains these two days and hunted plenty of game. He was agile, never missing a grab, and earned several dozen taels of silver. Today he planned to take his husband to the village to 'collect debts'.

He also wanted to see how the Ye family mother and son's deaths had blown up in the village.

He first mounted the horse, steadied himself, then reached out his hand to Yelin.

"Don't be afraid, come up."

Yelin borrowed strength with his hand, sitting in Jin Chen's embrace, and tilted his head curiously, "It's so high."

"Let's go,"

Jin Chen lowered his head to kiss Yelin's cheek, then kicked the horse's side with his calves, and they surged forward.

"Whoa!"

0731 followed behind them, likewise taking off, its silver body shooting forward like an arrow.

The horse ran fast, and they were back in the village in half an hour.

This immediately drew a lot of attention.

The wealthier villagers would buy a donkey to carry goods—who buys a horse? Everyone thought it strange enough, and seeing that the rider was the previously dim-witted Jin Chen made it even more unbelievable.

Not long after, before the horse even reached the Jin residence, a woman spotted Yelin on horseback and shouted loudly.

"Ye Ge'er! Ye Ge'er! Something big has happened!"

The woman ran toward the two of them, heedless of the dirt on her own clothes, putting on a full gossip‑monger act.

"Aunt Chen?"

Yelin was utterly puzzled, "What happened?"

"Oh dear, you don't know— that older sister of yours in your house killed your mother and little brother!"

Aunt Chen, still frightened, spoke while patting her chest.

"What?!"

Yelin widened his eyes, unable to believe it.

Jin Chen also raised his brows in doubt— how could it be Ye Yun who did it? The village rumors are absurd.

{0731, check what's going on. }

0731 hurriedly searched the protagonist's surveillance, then after a moment replied speechlessly.

{Ye Yun, the first thing she did was panic about the family's debt and her own death, fearing it would affect her marriage to Jinbei, so she furtively wiped away the blood words you'd written on the door; just as she was about to dispose of the corpses, the neighbors spotted her, and now she can't explain herself away. }

Jin Chen: "……"

Unbelievable— this world's protagonist is truly stupid enough.

After Aunt Chen finished speaking, she went back to farm work; it's harvest season now, and every household is busy.

Yelin hadn't yet recovered from the shock; first he felt stunned, then a strange taste welled up in his heart.

Like relief, yet also like sorrow.

Yet he felt no grief.

He placed a hand on his chest— this was clearly his own birth mother, so could it be because he's too cold‑blooded?

"Husband, should I be feeling sad…"

Yelin glanced back and lifted his head to look at Jin Chen, his brows slightly furrowed.

"They treated you like this, so it's not worth grieving over— just the debt of giving birth; you've suffered so many years in the Ye family, it's time to repay it."

Jin Chen comforted his husband, "The grudges of the Ye family have nothing to do with you."

{Villain Blackening Value decreased by 10, total now 65! }

A flicker of relief passed through Yelin's eyes as he leaned back affectionately, "I understand."

The horse broke into a run again, all the way back to the Jin residence.

"Owo!"

0731 charged in first, shouting wildly inside.

Since we've come to collect debts, we need full momentum!

After Yelin dismounted, he suddenly turned to look at Jin Chen with a strange tone, "Husband, don't you feel that Fortune is becoming more and more like a big dog?"

Jin Chen also nodded, dead serious, "Really."

Could the name also have an effect?

The three people inside heard the sound and knew it was the ferocious wolf Jin Chen kept.

Madam Song spat, "Useless old thing, why don't you go stop your nephew!" She made a move to pinch Jin Lao San.

"I, the old lady, don't want to let him get away with it for free!"

"So noisy!"

Jinbei kicked open his room door, "Which damn dog is barking! Mom, hurry up and control it—I still have to study!"

Over here the three were arguing into a chaotic mess, but Jin Chen didn't give them time to think of a solution; he immediately kicked the door open and gave them a cold glance.

"With all this ruckus, it looks like you've already prepared the silver?"

He had Yelin in his arms; both wore new clothes, looking completely different from before, and they appeared much more spirited.

Upon seeing Jinbei, Yelin instinctively clutched his chest, realizing he felt no pain now, then exhaled and relaxed his body against Jin Chen's embrace.

"What silver? There's no silver!"

Jinbei saw Jin Chen and his partner's attire, jealousy flashing in his eyes, and he spoke mockingly.

"You can't possibly spend all the money from hunting, so why make things hard on us? There's no silver!"

Jin Chen looked at him as if he were a lunatic, "You're still a scholar— how can you still have problems? You owe me money, yet you refuse to pay?"

While talking with Jinbei, Jin Chen continued to probe the Curse-Extinguishing Flower inside him.

That black flower had slowly begun to bloom; surely these days it has also absorbed quite a bit of fortune's flow, and Jinbei, having tasted its sweetness, would hardly give it up easily.

Jin Chen lowered his eyes; he had an idea.

「Chenzi ah, outside that's your horse, right? Really handsome, your days are good now, so don't go borrowing money from Uncle's house; spreading it wouldn't sound good, would it? 」

Jin Lao San knew he had no justification; he could only play the emotion card, but Jin Chen never bought that.

「I've already given you time; not being able to pay isn't my problem. 」 Jin Chen rolled his eyes, 「Same old talk: if you can't pay, get lost, or else go to the county office. 」

「Jin Chen, you white-eyed wolf! How could a nephew come to his uncle's house to ask for money! 」 Song Shi still couldn't hold back and started cursing, afraid that if they really went to the county office it would blow up, she immediately started rolling on the ground shamelessly, her wailing shook the heavens, 「Unbelievable! This white-eyed wolf will drain our family! Is there anyone to manage this? 」

Neighbors soon heard; an aunt stood outside looking, 「Jin Xiangzi! You go find the clan elder—he'll surely be able to decide! 」

「Find the clan elder! Go find the clan elder! 」

Song Shi's eyeballs rolled; she hurriedly got up from the ground, 「Lao San! What are you waiting for? Go find the clan elder! 」

Jin Chen watched their farce, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly; since they had nothing else to do today, he might as well keep them company for fun.

「What clan elder? If you really want someone to decide, why not just go to the county office? 」

Jin Chen made a move to take Yelin and walk out, 「Since you have no time, then I'll go report to the officials. 」

「Don't go! 」

Jinbei also knew his family had no justification; if they really went to the county office, who knows how much silver they'd lose!

「Mom! Hurry and stop them! I still need the family's silver to marry Ye Yun into the house! 」

This actually sparked some interest in Jin Chen.

He looked back, as if asking doubtfully.

「Ye Yun killed her mother and younger brother, and you still want to marry her? 」

As expected, Jin Chen clearly saw Jinbei's expression show some resistance, but his words were, 「I believe in her! I also promised before—I will definitely marry her! 」

That expression of facing death as if returning home, however, showed no trace of fondness.

It's just like carrying out a mission.