Chapter 327: She Didn't Die (Make-up Update No. 7)

Pan Yun was so angry she wanted to wring his neck, but thinking of the victim whose life or death was unknown, she held back.

If this man lives, he might be a dose of medicine; if he's dead, then all that's left is the reward money.

Pan Yun hauled him along to look at the situation inside the main room.

The tiles lifted, and the scene inside the main room was laid bare at a glance.

Zhang Niangzi wasn't dead; she was lying with her back to her husband.

Liu Shiji sat at the bedside wiping his tears, softly consoling her: "If you're feeling wretched in your heart, let me keep you company and go out for a walk, or we could move house — we'll move somewhere else and start everything over…"

Zhang Niangzi wept silently, saying nothing.

Liu Shiji said: "I know what's weighing on your heart. I've already gone to press the government office, and the government office says this case has already been sent up to Fucheng, to be investigated by the my lords of Fucheng — perhaps they can catch that dog of a thief…"

Zhang Niangzi, who had been silent all along, slowly shook her head.

Seeing that she had finally reacted, Liu Shiji could not help but sit on the bed, reach out and steady her shoulders, "Do you think even the my lords of Fucheng can't catch him?"

Liu Shiji smiled and said: "Don't worry. I've made inquiries — there's a Constable Zhou in Fucheng who was demoted down from the Jingcheng Embroidered Uniform Guard, and they say he's very capable. I'll spend the money to hire him later; he's sure to be able to catch that dog of a thief and avenge you."

Zhang Niangzi wept silently.

Liu Shiji saw her weeping; his body stiffened, his breathing grew rapid, and he gently gathered her into his arms and asked, "Sanniang, has he come to find you again? Did he hurt you?"

Zhang Niangzi finally raised her head to look at him, gave him a slight shake of her head, and said in a hoarse voice: "He wants me dead…"

Liu Shiji clenched his fist in fury, his face contorted: "That beast — how dare he, how dare he treat you so. I'm going to Fucheng, I'm going to find the my lords…"

He grabbed his robe and was about to leave, but after two steps he came to his senses, hurriedly returned to the bedside and said to his wife: "Sanniang, don't be afraid. I'll hire a few more guards, day and night they'll surround you, I absolutely won't give him another chance to get near you. I'll sell off the family property, go to Fucheng — if Fucheng won't do, then I'll go to the Provincial Administration Commission, to Nanjing, to Jingcheng. I will catch this thief. Don't be afraid, please don't be afraid."

Having said that, he ran outside; Zhang Niangzi hurriedly reached out and grabbed the hem of his clothes, and when he turned her head she gave him a slight shake of her head.

Liu Shiji knew his wife best. Although after that incident his wife had been weighed down in her heart and had stayed long in the Buddhist hall, she was not the sort to take her own life lightly.

It was also she who had insisted last year on reporting to the authorities; she had always been a person of resilient character. Even if she saw that lecherous thief again, she would only strike out in fury, kill him in rage — how could she possibly kill herself?

A sudden inspiration struck Liu Shiji; he slowly walked to the bedside, half-knelt on the footstool, and asked softly: "Did he use me to threaten you? Said something like if you don't submit he'll kill me?"

Tears rolled down from Zhang Niangzi's eyes.

Liu Shiji gathered her into his embrace, tears rolling down his own, and said in grief and fury: "A scholar is good for nothing — I'm truly useless, useless…"

Liu Shiji ground his teeth: "I'll kill him. I will find him, I will kill him. Tomorrow I'll hire a martial-arts instructor and learn to fight, I'll also study harder, I'll sit the imperial examinations, I'll become a great official, I'll kill him!"

Liu Shiji held his wife and wept: "Sanniang, if you must die, then take me with you — let's die together! If you won't die, then watch me learn martial arts and study, watch me find that man and bring him to justice!"

Zhang Niangzi's face was covered in tears; she gave him a slight shake of her head.

She had already been targeted. The other party came and went without a trace; so many constables couldn't find him, couldn't catch him — how could her husband, who was only cramming at the last minute, possibly manage it?

Between her and her husband, only one could be saved.

Only if she died, and the other party's desire was satisfied, would he stop watching her husband.

Liu Shiji was both angry and hateful; his wife had clearly said nothing, yet had said everything.

He hated Hua Buliu, and even more he hated himself.

Unable to protect his wife, unable to avenge her, and now having to let his wife take her own life to save his — Liu Shiji began slapping his own face, and after two slaps his cheeks were flushed red.

Seeing this, Pan Yun turned and slapped Hua Buliu across the face, sending him flying off the roof.

Hua Buliu dropped from the roof to the front of the door with a slap; face-down, his whole front to the ground, he let out a muffled groan, pain making his eyes see stars — he seemed to pass out for a moment, but the pain quickly woke him again.

The tremendous crash at the door made the two people embracing inside the room stiffen.

Liu Shiji, his face covered in tears, looked toward the door, trembling: "Who's there?"

No one answered him. Pan Yun was still crouching on the roof, and Hua Buliu was in so much pain he couldn't make a single sound.

Both people inside the room smelled blood.

Liu Shiji regretted it — he shouldn't have sent all the servants and guards out of this courtyard — but he had also been afraid of the matter of his wife attempting suicide getting out…

Liu Shiji's gaze shifted; he pushed Zhang Niangzi toward the inside of the bed, lowered the mosquito net, then picked up the vase on the table and slowly walked toward the door…

Zhang Niangzi crawled out of the bed; Liu Shiji glared at her, telling her to go back.

Zhang Niangzi paid him no heed — she wasn't even afraid of death, so why would she fear this?

Her hand slipped under the pillow and felt around, pulling out a short blade.

Liu Shiji was stunned for a moment — when had this thing appeared under their pillow?

But there was no time to think. Liu Shiji stood behind the door; from this position he could faintly hear soft groaning coming from outside. His gaze hardened, he suddenly flung the door open, raised the porcelain vase high above his head, and with a great yell charged out…

He had rushed out two steps when he saw a person covered in blood lying not far from the door; Zhang Niangzi, gripping the short blade, followed close behind.

Liu Shiji's eyes went wide. He looked left and right, saw no one else, and said in surprise: "Th-this — who is this? How did he fall into our house?" Liu Shiji, clutching the vase, was about to go help the man up, but Zhang Niangzi grabbed him and pulled him back.

Liu Shiji turned his head and saw Zhang Niangzi's face set in frost, looking at the person on the ground with a face full of hatred.

Liu Shiji's steps faltered; he asked: "Does Sanniang recognize him?"

Zhang Niangzi said in a hoarse voice: "His clothes — the same as his."

Hearing this, Liu Shiji's expression as he looked at the person on the ground also changed. He pulled Zhang Niangzi behind him and, vase in one hand, slowly walked forward.

Liu Shiji, trembling, gently nudged Hua Buliu with the tip of his foot.

Hua Buliu struggled to raise his head; the couple were so startled they stepped back two paces — Hua Buliu was simply too wretched-looking at this moment.

His face was so bruised and swollen his features were unrecognizable; his whole body was covered in blood; his left hand had lost the palm, the wound gaping and swollen, blood seeping slowly even now;

his right hand bent at an unnatural angle, propped beneath his body; the whole person looked as if he might die at any moment.

Liu Shiji asked his wife, "Is it him?"

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Zhang Niangzi peeked out from behind Liu Shiji to look, frowning: "The face doesn't look like him, but his eyes are very similar — and this whole outfit of green clothes is exactly the same as that lecher's."

Liu Shiji trusted his wife: "Then it's him. He's been beaten so badly his face is swollen and bruised — it's normal that Sanniang can't recognize him."

Hua Buliu had already caught his breath and was struggling to crawl up. Seeing him move, Liu Shiji was so startled he let out a great yell, and the porcelain vase in his hand came down with a slap on Hua Buliu's head…

The porcelain vase shattered. Hua Buliu's eyes went glassy; two streaks of blood slid down from the top of his head, past the corners of his eyes and the tip of his nose, and finally, with his eyes still wide open, he flopped backward with a thud.

The couple scrambled to cling together in terror.

Liu Shiji was nearly in tears, "Wife, I think I've killed someone."

Zhang Niangzi hugged him and comforted him in a hoarse voice: "Don't fear—if the officials come, say I smashed him. He was a flower-snatcher; I killed him, and it was only right."

Pan Yun sat atop the roof, watching the whole scene. Seeing how timid the couple were, she knew they'd never dare act again, so she cleared her throat and said, "Both of you, this man is mine. You may beat him or kill him—it's no matter."

The couple jumped in shock, quickly looking up behind them to the roof, where they saw a small Daoist Priest sitting there, legs dangling, swinging back and forth.

Pan Yun gave them a faint smile and leapt down from the roof.

The couple both stepped back two paces, clutching each other as they eyed her warily.

Pan Yun didn't mind. She walked over to Hua Buliu and said, "Let me introduce you two—he's the flower-snatcher Hua Buliu. I claimed his bounty."

From her sleeve, Pan Yun pulled out a notice and unfurled it with a sharp rustle, showing them the portrait on it.

She kicked Hua Buliu and said, "After I captured him, I passed through here—he slipped away by accident. I didn't expect he was suffering heavily, slipped on his foot, and fell into your home."

Liu Shiji stared at the bounty notice, fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Are you here to collect the reward money?"

He said, "I've already turned the reward over to the authorities. Of course, I can give you an extra share—but you must never speak of today's events."

Pan Yun blinked, then nodded after a pause. "Fine. Give me one tael of silver, and I swear I won't tell a soul. All his injuries were from me hitting and kicking him during the capture—nothing to do with you two."

Zhang Niangzi carefully studied Hua Buliu, then pointed at his crotch and asked with difficulty, "Who did that there?"

Pan Yun smiled faintly at her. "When I was capturing him, he slipped in a village and injured himself there. A group of young maidens saw it—they were terrified."

Zhang Niangzi: "Was he fully castrated?"

Pan Yun tilted her head at her. "Not quite. Want me to finish it? I've studied some medicine. I'm not good at healing, but killing and cutting things—I'm quite skilled."

Zhang Niangzi looked at Pan Yun. "Want money?"

Pan Yun smiled slightly and held up one finger. "One tael!"

That sum might be a fortune for someone like Zhou Wan Niang, but to the Liu family, it was negligible—and yet it eased their hearts considerably.

Zhang Niangzi gripped the short knife in her hand and asked, "Are you certain this is the flower-snatcher Hua Buliu?"

Pan Yun stepped forward, took her hand, and guided her slowly to Hua Buliu's side. She whispered, "If you doubt it, I'll make him confess himself."

Pan Yun tapped him once. Hua Buliu, who had been unconscious and healing, jolted awake. His eyes flew open to meet Pan Yun's half-smiling gaze. "Hua Buliu, look—true humanity still exists. You didn't kill her after all."

Hua Buliu stared at Zhang Niangzi, alive and well, and snarled, "Bitch—"

Zhang Niangzi confirmed—it was him. Yesterday, he had spoken to her exactly like this.

Zhang Niangzi's eyes hardened. She gripped the knife and drove it hard into his lower abdomen—

Goodnight

(End of Chapter)