Chapter 33: Trepidation

"Husband, you're back?" Luo Yunhe's eyes lit up with joy the moment she saw Su Jingxuan.

"Yes. How have you been today?" Su Jingxuan asked.

"Don't worry, I was perfectly safe today. I just got back from the fields myself!"

"As long as you're safe, that's all that matters."

"Give it to me, I'll prepare it for you!" Luo Yunhe reached out to take the game.

It was a wild rabbit, its fur a mix of brown and gray. It was neither too big nor too small, round and plump—quite adorable. Sadly, it was already dead, pierced clean through the eyes by an arrow, the fletching still protruding from its socket. Luo Yunhe held the rabbit, turning it over and over, unsure of how to proceed. Although she knew how to slaughter chickens and ducks, she had never skinned a rabbit before and didn't know where to start.

"Let me," Su Jingxuan said with a soft chuckle at her bewildered expression. He took the rabbit from her, walked over to the wall to secure it in place, and pulled out a small knife, beginning to skin it with practiced ease.

His movements were clean and efficient. He made incisions at the four paws, then sliced down from the head, swiftly pulling the entire pelt away in one fluid motion. In no time, the rabbit was completely skinned.

"Keep this fur. I'll make you something warm for the winter," he said.

"Alright!" Luo Yunhe nodded, her eyes fixed on the pelt in his hands, sparkling at the thought of real fur.

She took the dressed rabbit to the kitchen, washed it, cleaned the innards, and chopped it into pieces. She then went to the cellar, dug out a couple of radishes, cleaned them, chopped them up, and placed everything into an earthenware pot to stew.

After Su Jingxuan finished dealing with the rabbit skin, he laid it out in the sun to dry. He knew that properly curing it to prevent decay would require special materials. By the time he was done, the aroma of radish-stewed rabbit began to waft from the pot.

The scent drifted through the courtyard, making even the neighbors swallow hard in anticipation. Luo Yunhe couldn't help but stare at the pot, brimming with expectation.

***

Inside the house, Su Shan, Mother Su, and Su Ruyi sat on the bed, staring at one another in silence. Even the heavy, savory fragrance drifting in from outside could not distract them.

"What are we going to do? That wretched little hussy really went and borrowed money from Wang the Rascal. If she can't pay him back, he’ll definitely come knocking on our door!"

"Father, Wang the Rascal is notoriously vicious, and his interest rates are exorbitant. If this continues, our family will be dragged down with them!"

Su Shan’s expression was grim, his voice low. He had assumed Luo Yunhe was just a simple girl who wouldn't dare do such a thing, but the news he had received confirmed she had indeed borrowed money from Wang. If that were true, he truly didn't know what to do.

"Go, call your older brother here," Su Shan commanded.

Though Su Ruyi didn't know what her father intended to do, she obeyed and went to fetch him. She wasn't acting as arrogant as usual, though she still harbored deep resentment toward Luo Yunhe. If that wretched woman couldn't pay, and Wang the Rascal came calling, he might take a fancy to her instead—what would they do then? Su Ruyi had no intention of being a victim of someone else’s mess.

In her delusions, Su Ruyi never considered that with her looks, she was unlikely to be a target for Wang; at most, he would simply sell her off.

"Brother, Father wants to see you!" she said, before scurrying back into the house.

"Husband..." Luo Yunhe said, looking at him with concern as she tried to stop him.

"It's alright. I'll go see what they want," Su Jingxuan reassured her before heading to Su Shan’s room.

As he entered, he found the three of them sitting there in silence, staring at him.

"Father, Mother, is something the matter?"

"I'll ask you this: do you know about your wife borrowing money from Wang the Rascal to buy that barren land?"

Su Jingxuan paused. His wife had told him the money came from what her mother had sold her for; how could it be from Wang? However, their line of questioning suggested they knew something he didn't.

"Yes, I know about it," he replied. He wasn't lying—he knew about the land purchase, though he couldn't reveal the source of the funds.

"If you knew, why did you indulge her in borrowing money to buy wasteland? Do you have any idea how difficult Wang the Rascal is? Once he gets his claws into you, we’ll never have a peaceful day again. Do you have to see our entire family destroyed before you're satisfied?"

"Su Jingxuan, I raised a white-eyed wolf! You brought such a disaster into this house. Are you trying to kill us all?"

"Brother, it's not that I want to nag, but Wang the Rascal is not to be trifled with—he has blood on his hands! Now look at us; we’re all going to be ruined because of her!"

Su Jingxuan remained silent as he listened to their grievances, though his brow furrowed at their harsh words.

"Don't worry. I will repay the money. You have nothing to fear!"

"Easy for you to say! Everyone knows she's a member of the Su family. If she can't pay, they'll come after us! You say it won't affect us, but how can you be so sure?" Su Ruyi snapped.

Su Jingxuan’s patience began to fray. Since he could remember, his parents had always been this way—constantly demanding and critical. He used to endure it because it was just him; he would let them scold him without a word. But things were different now. He had a wife, and he was determined not to let her suffer or be humiliated on his account.

"I said I will pay it back," Su Jingxuan stated, turning to leave, refusing to listen to any more of their vitriol.

"Old man, look at that! Look at the 'good son' you insisted on raising. Now he’s even learned to talk back to us!"

"Brother is truly unbelievable. How could he turn his back on his own family like this? Wang the Rascal won't care about excuses when he wants his money. Brother clearly doesn't put our safety first!"

Su Shan frowned. "Didn't they say it was a three-month loan? Since it's three months, we'll wait and see. Maybe they'll actually pay it back. If they do, we get a piece of land for free, and we can do whatever we want with it!"

Mother Su and Su Ruyi fell silent.

"Father, then... should we still make Brother hand over his earnings every month? If he gives us the money, how will he pay back the debt?"

"That’s his problem! Let him figure it out himself!"