Transmigrated into a fat wife, farming, raising children, and picking up husbands

The government building doors were reopened, and the afternoon sun shone down on us.

The two walked out of the town government office side by side and onto the street. Lin Xiuer took a deep breath and suddenly couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Four taels of silver..."

She murmured softly, looking at the rusty key in her hand, then at Ping An.

"My dear husband, now we own a house in town, and it's such a big house."

Looking at her bright eyes and cheeks flushed slightly with excitement, Ping An's lips unconsciously curved into a smile, his eyes full of tenderness: "Yes, we have a house now."

Lin Xiuer gripped the key tightly and walked briskly forward. After a few steps, she turned back to look in the direction of the town government office and muttered to herself:

"Haunted? Pshaw... I'm one of those vengeful ghosts too."

……

The sun was high in the sky, and most of the crowd at Caishikou had dispersed.

Only a few stalls selling needles and thread remain, lazily clinging to their small plot of land.

When Wu Liangcai and Chen Mingxuan strolled over, Hu Yidao was carrying his bamboo basket, preparing to finish work and go home.

Seeing their sleepy-eyed appearance, Hu Yidao chuckled: "Oh, you two young masters are up early today!"

"What do you mean 'early'?" Wu Liangcai yawned, glancing at Lin Xiuer's usual stall location, which was empty. "Where's Sister Lin? Has she closed up shop?"

These days, for Lin Xiuer's pancake and to join in the fun, these two pampered young masters have been getting up early for so many days in a row for the first time.

They've really reached their limit, running so much, going up the mountain and picking mushrooms.

I drank some wine at Lin Xiuer's house last night, and went straight to sleep when I got back. Who would have thought I would sleep until this hour?

"We've already closed up shop." Hu Yidao lifted the bamboo basket up.

"Unlike you two, they can't sleep in until late morning without a care in the world. They sold all their pancakes early this morning, and they're probably already in Willow Lane by now."

Chen Mingxuan was still rubbing his eyes, not quite understanding at first: "Willow Lane? What are we going there for?"

"Pay back the money," Hu Yidao said matter-of-factly. "The ten taels of silver from Xinglong Gambling House are due soon. It's better to pay it back as soon as possible, and settle this matter once and for all."

Wu Liangcai's drowsiness vanished instantly, his eyes widening: "What? Sister Xiu'er went to the gambling den to pay off her debts? Why didn't you go with her?"

Hu Yidao was taken aback by his shout: "Their man is with them, why should I go and join in the fun..."

"How can that be the same, Brother Hu!" Wu Liangcai stamped his feet anxiously. "Can those thugs in the gambling den compare to a few hooligans from the Black Fish Gang?"

"My dad said those people at the gambling den have connections! Xinglong Gambling Den has been open for so many years and no one has dared to cause trouble; they have powerful backers!"

"Especially Lei Dachui, who wields a big sword! He's a real fighter."

"And that accountant, Bai Jingchuan, he looks like he's got a lot of ulterior motives! What if Sister Lin and the others fall into the hands of those people? Do you think they'll be alright?"

Chen Mingxuan was now fully awake, and his expression changed.

"That's right, they should at least wait for us to come before going together! In case Zhao Tianba makes exorbitant demands and Xiu'er doesn't have enough money, we can chip in!"

Hu Yidao scratched his head, looking innocent: "I did want to go with them, but the girl said it wasn't necessary. It's just paying back some money, not going to fight. She told me to just do what I need to do."

"I was just thinking that with Brother Ping An by my side, nothing serious would happen."

"Oh well, never mind. I can't explain it to you!"

Wu Liangcai grabbed Chen Mingxuan's sleeve. "Quick, Brother Xuan, let's go take a look before it gets too late! Maybe we can be of help."

Chen Mingxuan was dragged along for a couple of steps when he suddenly remembered something: "Wait, Brother Wu!"

He glanced left and right and saw a firewood vendor by the roadside. He grabbed two sticks that fit well and handed one to Wu Liangcai.

"Take this, at least for self-defense!"

The two men, sticks in hand, dashed off towards Willow Lane. They looked like two hot-blooded youths about to charge into battle.

Hu Yidao stood there, watching the two figures rushing away, opened his mouth, then closed it again.

These two young masters truly treat Xiu'er as one of their own.

It wasn't that he didn't care about Lin Xiuer's safety; it's just that he had personally witnessed Ping An's skills and trusted him completely.

He cares about Lin Xiuer so much, he definitely won't let her get hurt in the slightest.

At the entrance of Xinglong Casino in Willow Lane, Wu Liangcai and Chen Mingxuan stopped in their tracks, panting as they peered inside.

Inside, everything was normal. There was no noise or fighting as I had imagined, no onlookers, and not even a single thug standing guard at the entrance.

The faint sound of dice hitting a bowl could still be heard, along with scattered cheers from gamblers.

"...So calm?"

The two exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking even deeper—could it be that they had already been taken away and a new group of people were gambling here?

Wu Liangcai gripped the stick in his hand, took a deep breath, and stepped over the threshold.

The gambling den was dimly lit and filled with smoke.

Several dealers were greeting customers at the table, while a few thugs leaned against the wall yawning. Everything seemed normal.

This... doesn't look like anything has happened.

Chen Mingxuan, with his sharp eyes, spotted Du Qi urging the gamblers to place their bets.

"Du Qi!" Chen Mingxuan walked over. "I have something to ask you."

Du Qi was busy opening the wine cup when he heard this and looked up: "Oh! Young Master Wu, Young Master Chen! What brings you here today? Itching to play?"

Wu Liangcai, disregarding formalities, bluntly asked, "Du Qi, where's Lin Xiuer? Did that pancake seller, Fatty Lin, come by just now?"

Du Qi put down the dice cup in his hand. "You mean Lin Xiuer? She's here. She paid back the money and left. She's been gone for a while now."

"She's gone?" Wu Liangcai leaned closer. "She...is alright? She didn't get into any trouble with your people?"

"Conflict?" Du Qi chuckled twice. "What conflict? They came to pay back the money in a proper manner, and the unpaid tenants were just being polite in accepting it."

"After collecting the money, just cross it off the ledger, cancel the transaction, and leave. What conflict could there be?"

"That's...that's it?" Wu Liangcai was a little incredulous. "What about Lei Dachui? He didn't make things difficult for her?"

"Lei Dachui?" Du Qi gestured with his chin towards the inside. "He's just standing there, not moving an inch from beginning to end."

"You know, this Madam Lin is really something else. When she and her man stood in front of the counter, that aura... tsk, Mr. Bai didn't say a word, took the money and settled the account."

Chen Mingxuan and Wu Liangcai exchanged a glance, and the weight on their hearts finally lifted. But at the same time, an inexplicable sense of loss rose within them.

So they rushed over with sticks, but didn't help at all?

"They left a long time ago," Du Qi added. "They've been gone for about half an hour."