บท 27: 027. Moral Kidnapping

[Moral Coercion] The door was locked from the inside, and the two of them began to practice unarmed martial arts in the spacious courtyard. When Ning Jing saved Yang Yu on the street before, she had already witnessed Su Liang's skills. And this was Su Liang's first time seeing Ning Jing make a move. If there were spectators, they would definitely feel that Su Liang's moves were fast, fierce, and accurate, while Ning Jing seemed slow, yet able to dismantle moves, giving a sense of using little effort to do a lot. One was as sharp as a knife, the other as free as the wind. They both halted their moves simultaneously; Ning Jing was relaxed and composed while Su Liang seemed a bit out of breath. "You haven't used your full strength," Su Liang said. Ning Jing didn't deny it, "You're not at your real strength either." Su Liang's delicate body now limited her, and she could only exert less than half of her strength from her previous life. "I must start practicing as soon as possible. What weapon are you good at?" Su Liang was curious. Ning Jing answered, "A long sword." Su Liang asked, "Can you teach me swordsmanship and lightness skills when you have time?" "Sure," Ning Jing nodded, "So, will you stay and work for me?" It was that same question that never got an answer. Su Liang declined, "I can only trade it for a plate of Crisp Eggplant." They agreed to be roommates; Su Liang would cook, and Ning Jing would do the dishes. However, if they wanted more dishes, they'd have to "pay extra". "Deal," Ning Jing agreed. The knocking on the door sounded, and he went to open it. Bai He's face didn't look good, his gaze crossed Ning Jing and looked at Su Liang. "If you have something to say, say it to me," Ning Jing didn't invite him in. Su Liang guessed the reason Bai He came, so she didn't go to him either. "I'd like to ask you to persuade my parents..." Bai He started to talk about his intention to marry Liu Huilan. After he finished talking, Ning Jing shook his head, "For such a matter, you need to figure it out yourself." He closed the door immediately after finishing. Recently, the two families had become closer, so Bai He probably thought Ning Jing and Su Liang could help change the minds of Old Bai and his wife. However, some things outsiders just can't interfere with. Bai Xiaohu hurried home, "Little Uncle didn't even get inside before Brother Ning chased him away!" Mrs. Bai angrily said, "Even outsiders know he's being a fool, so they don't bother with him! I don't know what Liu Huilan did to hook his soul!" Eldest daughter-in-law Liu's family was knitting shoe soles and remained silent. Liu Huilan was her biological cousin, and they had a good relationship. But in this matter, even she was an outsider who couldn't say a word. ... For lunch, Su Liang cooked the Crisp Eggplant that Ning Jing ordered and fried a plate of Thousand Layer Meat Cake. She washed the wild vegetables sent by Mrs. Bai, steamed them with a little bit of flour, mixed with the sauce. "If you want to make money, you could open a restaurant." Ning Jing once again praised Su Liang's cooking skills. Su Liang nodded, "If I really open a restaurant one day, I'll hire you as the manager. Just standing there, young ladies and wives will definitely flock to dine, enjoying both delicious food and a pleasant view of a handsome man." Ning Jing frowned, "You're treating me like a vase?" Su Liang smiled, "Is it wrong to praise your good looks?" ... After lunch, Ning Jing took out the treasure box he had once shown Su Liang, "You can choose three items." Yang Yu, Xing Yusheng, and Liu Huilan. Although Su Liang had voluntarily saved those people, according to the agreement, Ning Jing still had to reward her. "Is this jade hairpin also an option?" Su Liang picked up the jade hairpin Nian Jincheng had put in her hair on the night of their wedding. Seeing Mr. Liang's reaction at that time, Su Liang guessed that this might originally belong to Ning Jing. Maybe it was a token of love he had given to someone? Ning Jing shook his head, "No, not this one." Su Liang put down the jade hairpin, seemingly unconcerned. She chose a golden bracelet, a jade pendant with a golden edge, and an emerald ring. Ning Jing collected the rest of the items. Su Liang asked Ning Jing for a locked wooden box and put the original owner's embroidery and three pieces of jewelry in it. The used embroidered items had been washed, dried, and tidied up. Since her transmigration, Su Liang had only seen and eaten one type of fruit, pears. Today, she received grapes from Xing Yusheng and found them exceptionally delicious after a taste. As it was getting darker, Mrs. Bai came over once more, never mentioning Bai He and Liu Huilan's matters. She only told Su Liang that the pig from Mrs. Niu's family had been found. "She's offended too many people in ordinary times. I don't know who did it, but they fed her pig rat poison!" Even though Mrs. Bai despised Mrs. Niu, she couldn't help but sigh at this. A pig was an essential asset for a farming family. Now, Mrs. Niu's family had suffered a huge loss. The dead pig was found in the mountains, and almost every household had rat poison, so even if they reported it to the county government, they might not be able to find out who did it. As for the "mastermind" Su Liang, she only felt a little sorry for the pig, not for Su Xingzhe's family. "There's one more thing, it's just my guess." Granny Bai whispered to Su Liang, "You may not know, but ever since Su Daqiang's family sold themselves as laborers, that old cow has had her eye on their house! Now her house's wall has collapsed, and the house is broken. It can be fixed, but she might take the opportunity to seize your house! You have to be careful!" Su Daqiang's house was the best in the village. The old cow's family had been supporting Su Xingzhe's studies for years, and they were so poor that they didn't have the money to build a new house, which was very broken. The old cow had mentioned this matter to Su Liang just yesterday. Su Liang thanked Granny Bai, who mentioned in passing that she was going to propose a marriage for Bai He soon. Su Liang just smiled and congratulated her. As Granny Bai left, Su Liang ate a few grapes and was about to continue practicing calligraphy when she heard someone knock on the door again. "Ning Jing." Su Liang suspected that Granny Bai was right. Ning Jing opened the door and saw Lei Zheng, Su Bai, several Su family clan elders, and the old cow couple, leading two dirty children outside. "Where's Liang Girl? Let her come out. We have something to say!" Old Cow said. "She's sleeping." Ning Jing replied indifferently. Su Bai sighed, "Young Master Ning, there was a strange incident in our village last night. Did you hear about it? Xingzhe's house collapsed, and now the whole family has no place to live. Xingzhe is the only scholar in our village, and he's going to take the Court Examination next month. He needs a quiet place to live. The rich family's house is empty now, and they want to move in temporarily until their house is repaired." "Young Master Ning's family is rich, and he doesn't lack that little money. Just give the house to Xingzhe. In the future, when he gains fame and becomes an official, he won't forget your kindness." One of the clan elders spoke up. People joined in one after another. From the tone of their voices, if Ning Jing and Su Liang did not agree, they would be considered stingy, heartless, and shortsighted. Ning Jing's lips slightly parted, "Fifty taels." Old Cow shrieked, "It's originally Su family's house, why can't we live there? And you still want money?" Su Bai sighed, "That house was bought by Liang Girl from Hu Er, the gambling house owner in the town, for fifty taels. Why not let Xingzhe write an IOU, owing it first, and when he passes the examination and gets a reward from the county government, he can pay it back." The house was actually given to Su Liang by Hu Er. Su Bai knew this but deliberately said otherwise because he didn't want to offend Ning Jing and Su Liang. But the clan elders pressured him, and fearing that Su Xingzhe might really make a name for himself, Su Bai didn't want to offend anyone, so he played the peacemaker. Old Cow began to wail, "My Boy Zhe has been studying all these years, and he's finally making his way. Now he doesn't even have a place to live! If he doesn't make it, it's all your fault! His mood is bad, and you still force him to write an IOU. How can you be so heartless! You are cutting off the lifeline of our whole family!" The two children got the hint and started crying, throwing themselves at Ning Jing. Ning Jing frowned and dodged. The two children fell to the ground and cried even harder. Seeing this, Old Cow immediately started a scene, "You all saw it, he hit my grandson! All of you with the surname Su, watching your own children being bullied by outsiders!" Su Bai saw Old Cow's shamelessness, his forehead twitched, and he yanked the two children up from the ground, "Stop making a fuss! Xingzhe is a scholar, where would he do things that take advantage of others? In the future, when he gains a reputation, he will be criticized! Even for his future, this IOU must be written!" The clan elders frowned upon hearing this because Su Bai's words were not unreasonable. But Old Cow quickly responded, "Don't try to scare me! As long as they give us the house, why can't we take it?" "Not giving." Ning Jing remained expressionless. "Call Su Liang out! See if she has the heart to watch our entire family freeze to death outside!" Old Cow shouted, "Su Liang! Come out! Come out and look at your nephew! He can't survive!" Su Liang, annoyed, put down her brush and came out. As soon as she saw her, Old Cow wailed even harder and pinched her two grandsons to make them cry louder. Su Liang pulled Ning Jing behind her, grabbed the children who were pushed toward her and threw them back, coldly looking at Su Bai and the clan elders, "Is there only one vacant house in the village? None of your houses have empty rooms? If they can't live in my house, will they freeze to death outside tonight?" Su Bai's face stiffened, "Not really..." "Since you all sympathize with Su Xingzhe, value his scholarly identity, and believe he has a boundless future, why not take him into your own homes, serve him well, and once he passes the examination, he'll surely remember your kindness." Su Liang snorted coldly, "With such a great opportunity, I'm sure the elders would be more than happy to do so, so why should a cold-blooded and malicious junior like me step in? Uncle Bai, don't you agree?" Su Bai was embarrassed by Su Liang's sharp sarcasm and didn't dare to speak. In fact, Old Cow's house was not seriously damaged; they had intentionally collapsed it to seize Su Liang's house. But Su Liang hated moral kidnapping the most. A group of old people, with two pitiful-looking children, trying to stimulate her maternal instinct? Sorry, she didn't have that at all. Even if Old Cow's house was deliberately destroyed by her and Ning Jing, who told them to exploit and humiliate the little widow, almost driving her to death? A counter-kidnapping left the clan elders and Lei Zheng speechless. "We want your house! Your house is the best!" Old Cow's eldest grandson shouted, revealing their true intentions hidden behind their pathetic acts. Su Liang slammed the door shut, and heard Su Bai's voice outside, "Go back and let Xingzhe write the IOU first, then come back! Or go live with your brother first!" Then there was Old Cow's crying and cursing, and the two children crying even more heartbreakingly. Su Liang remained unmoved. That family would never really write an IOU to buy the house, and what kind of scholar was Su Xingzhe, who bullied even his widowed sister-in-law? When the two of them reached their respective rooms, Su Liang suddenly stopped Ning Jing. "What?" Ning Jing asked. Su Liang snorted lightly, "Aren't you also going to take the Court Examination? Do well on it. Hopefully, when the results come out, it will make that whole family so angry that they'll vomit blood." Ning Jing nodded, "Okay. I want steamed dishes tomorrow." Su Liang rubbed her forehead, "Deal!"