Desperation

The wind howled through the snowstorm.

Dark clouds stretched across the sky, pressing down heavily as dusk approached, making the already gloomy evening even darker.

Inside the main hall of the Li family residence.

Yang Ning nervously handed a cup of hot tea to Wang Gou'er. "Master Gou'er, please forgive us, we only have plain water at home."

"Madam is too polite," Wang Gou'er said with a grin beneath his black dog-fur hat.

His scarred face looked even more menacing when he smiled. As he took the cup, he deliberately reached out to touch Yang Ning’s hand.

Frightened, Yang Ning quickly pulled away and stepped back two paces.

Wang Gou'er laughed heartily.

The thugs standing on both sides of the hall joined in with raucous laughter.

Amid the brazen laughter, Yang Ning’s face grew paler by the minute, her fingers clutching tightly at the coarse cloth of her gown.

Wang Gou'er had once been a notorious street bully in Yunzhou, quick to pick fights and ruthless in his dealings. A mere quarrel had led him to slaughter an entire family of five, for which he was locked up in Yunzhou’s main prison, awaiting execution.

Somehow, he had managed to curry favor with a powerful patron and was released. Since then, by relying on his brutal methods, he had clawed his way up the ladder and transformed himself into the owner of Yunzhou’s largest moneylending house, the Wang Family Money House.

He was the most feared villain among the common folk in Yunzhou.

If not for Li Yan’s injury, the Yang siblings would never have been forced to borrow money from him.

Facing this harbinger of misfortune, Yang Ning forced herself to remain calm and said, "Master Gou'er, the contract we signed states that the repayment is due in two and a half months. There are still two months left..."

"No need for Madam Li to remind me," Wang Gou'er said with a smirk. "I’m a businessman running a money house—I stick strictly to the rules. Two and a half months means two and a half months. I won’t be demanding early repayment!"

Hearing this, Yang Ning felt a slight relief, but her suspicion grew—if he wasn’t here to collect the debt, then what was his real purpose?

Before she could ponder further, Wang Gou'er clapped his hands, and soon two burly men carried in a stretcher-like wooden board from outside.

They set the board down on the floor.

Yang Ning saw a person lying on it.

It was none other than Chen San, the ruffian who had caused trouble that morning and had been knocked out cold by Yang An’s punch.

Chen San’s eyes were tightly shut, his face pale.

His entire body was wrapped in white cloth like a giant rice dumpling, clearly struggling to breathe, gasping for air.

Yang Ning anxiously asked, "Master Gou'er, what is the meaning of this?"

Wang Gou'er cracked his knuckles on the table, his tone turning harsh. "Madam Li, this is your Yang Erlang who hit my man, right?"

Yang Ning hurriedly explained, "Yes, Erlang did hit him... but there was a reason—this man started it first..."

Wang Gou'er sneered coldly, cutting her off. "No need to say more! It’s enough that Yang An hit him! My man has multiple broken bones and internal injuries. It cost me three hundred taels of silver at the Huichun Clinic to save his life."

With that, Wang Gou'er pulled a receipt from his sleeve and slammed it down in front of Yang Ning with a loud thud.

"This is the receipt from Huichun Clinic."

"Madam Li, take a good look. If there’s no issue, then pay the three hundred taels."

"Don’t think I’m bullying you just because you’re a woman."

"I’m in a good mood today. As long as you pay the three hundred taels, I won’t pursue the matter of the beating. But if not..."

Wang Gou'er lowered his black dog-fur hat a little, his cold smile deepening.

"I’ll have no choice but to take this to the authorities. And I’ll have your Yang Erlang sit for a little chat."

Yang Ning was no fool.

She could clearly see that this was a pure attempt at extortion.

She protested, "My brother only threw one punch! How could his entire body be broken?!"

"Madam Li, are you implying that the injuries on my man are fake?" Wang Gou'er sneered coldly and said to the thugs beside him, "Step aside and let him show you."

The two thugs stepped forward.

They tore open the bandages on Chen San's arm, revealing it covered in bruises and wounds!

Yang Ning’s eyes narrowed in disbelief as she cried out in shock.

"How could this be?"

"How could this be? My brother didn’t even hit his arm!"

Smack!

Wang Gou'er slammed his hand on the wooden table with a tremor, standing up angrily. "What? Are you saying Madam Li is accusing me of extorting you? If the Yang family lady thinks so, then I won’t say more. We’ll settle this at the magistrate’s office!"

Wang Gou'er snorted coldly and strode away.

Yang Ning panicked.

Wang Gou'er was wealthy and powerful, with strong backing.

If this really escalated to the authorities, even if the truth was on their side, it would become a fact, and her brother’s life would be ruined forever. In desperation, she grabbed Wang Gou'er’s sleeve. "Master Gou! I’m just a woman; I don’t speak well! Please, wait a moment!"

"What’s this? Madam Li has come to her senses and is willing to pay the three hundred taels of silver?"

Wang Gou'er stopped and turned his head with a smile.

Since their house was already mortgaged to Wang Gou'er, they didn’t have three hundred taels to spare. Yang Ning had no choice but to plead with a bitter face, "Master Gou, I really can’t pay the money right now... I beg you, could you grant me some more time?"

"What nonsense is Madam Li talking?"

Wang Gou'er’s face darkened as he said seriously, "I told you before, I, Wang Gou'er, run a moneylending business and am very strict! If someone gets hurt, compensation is only fair. There’s no such thing as an extension! Either pay up, or your Yang An goes to jail for a few years. He’s young; getting out in his forties, he can still marry and have children!"

Forties? After getting out?

That would ruin my brother for life!

Yang Ning, who valued Yang An more than her own life, was so desperate she was about to cry. She grabbed Wang Gou'er’s arm, begging, "Master Gou! My brother was foolish, please give him a chance! I beg you to grant some leniency; I will definitely repay the money!"

Having dealt in debt collection for half his life,

Wang Gou'er knew exactly how to squeeze every last drop of pain. Seeing Yang Ning’s desperate display, he thought the time was ripe.

He glanced at Yang Ning’s soft, enchanting figure.

Suddenly, his fierce smile softened. "If the lady wants me to spare Yang An, it’s not difficult. Actually, I have a favor to ask Madam Li. If this favor is done well, not only will the three hundred taels be settled, but perhaps all the debts Madam Li owes me will be wiped clean."

"But I wonder if Madam Li is willing?"

Grasping at a lifeline, Yang Ning hurriedly asked, "Master Gou, what is it?"

"It’s nothing big. There’s a nobleman who has admired Madam Li for a long time but never had the chance to meet her. I just need Madam Li to come with me for a while. No other demands—just keep this nobleman entertained and happy."

Yang Ning’s face instantly turned pale.

There was no mistaking Wang Gou'er’s meaning—he was forcing her into prostitution!

She suddenly pushed his hand away.

Yang Ning took a few steps back, her voice trembling with anger. “I won’t go! I absolutely refuse to go!”

“Not going? Then you might as well prepare to see your brother in prison!”

Wang Gou’er mentioned Yang An again.

It was like pressing on a deadly pressure point—Yang Ning froze in place.

Looking at her pitiful, tearful face,

Wang Gou’er tried to persuade her, “Madam Li shouldn’t be so resistant. Honestly, it’s all about making money. Once you get past that mental hurdle, it’s really no different.”

But Yang Ning shook her head again and again.

“Do you want Madam Li to just watch your brother rot in jail? Yunzhou’s prison isn’t like anywhere else. Once you’re in, no one comes out whole and unharmed. Yang An is so delicate and tender-skinned—if he spends decades in there, tsk tsk tsk…”

Tears welled up and spilled uncontrollably.

Yang Ning, who had never begged anyone before, knelt down beside Wang Gou’er, crying as she kowtowed. “Master Gou’er, please, have mercy. Spare my brother, I beg you! Spare my second brother! It’s my fault—I’ll bring him to kneel before you myself!”

Seeing that she was still stubbornly refusing to relent,

Wang Gou’er’s face darkened, his voice cold. “You’re begging me? Who do you think I should beg? Besides, serving that noble guest is a great opportunity—so many women would kill for it. Why are you crying?”

Yang Ning kept kowtowing.

Her forehead was red and raw, almost bleeding.

After all this time, Wang Gou’er had lost patience.

If gentle words don’t work, then it’s time to get tough!

He gave a cold look and signaled to his men. Two burly thugs immediately stepped forward from either side, grabbing Yang Ning’s arms and yanking her to her feet, ready to drag her away by force.

“Don’t touch me!”

Yang Ning struggled fiercely, tears streaming down her face.

She pulled out a rolling pin from somewhere and swung it wildly. The backs of the two thugs’ hands that had grabbed her were slapped red and swollen with several sharp strikes. They recoiled in pain.

Breaking free from the thugs’ grasp,

Yang Ning gripped the rolling pin tightly, staring at Wang Gou’er.

Staring at the ruffians in the room.

A faint golden glimmer flashed unnoticed in her eyes. Despairing tears rolled down her cheeks as she thought, *Wang Gou’er came for me—it’s all because of me, all because of me. If I die, everything will be fine. Er Lang will be safe, and so will my husband.*

She turned and charged toward the corner of the table!

This move caught everyone off guard—none of the scoundrels expected Yang Ning to be so fierce!

Wang Gou’er was shocked, his heart screaming, “It’s over!”

At that moment,

Chen San, wrapped head to toe in white cloth, opened his rolling eyes and suddenly jumped up from the wooden board.

He blocked Yang Ning’s path.

With a powerful kick to her stomach, he sent her crashing to the ground!

Although Chen San had only trained in martial arts for a few years and knew just the basics, his strength was far beyond what a frail woman like Yang Ning could withstand.

The heavy blow shattered Yang Ning’s body in that instant. Her delicate features crumpled, her face pale as she collapsed onto the floor.

Watching Chen San rise up again,

Unscathed and steady,

She clutched her stomach, wincing in pain. “You’re faking it! You’re faking it! My Er Lang didn’t commit any crime! He doesn’t belong in jail!”

“Foolish woman, you realize it far too late,”

Chen San sneered, casting a cold glance at Yang Ning.

Chen San eagerly sidled up to Wang Gou'er, boasting, "Master Gou, I told you, when dealing with tough nuts like that, fists work better than words. You shouldn’t have wasted time talking to her."

Yang Ning wasn’t dead.

Wang Gou'er breathed a sigh of relief.

That had really scared him just now. This woman was personally requested by a VIP, with strict orders that she be delivered unharmed. If she had died, his own skin wouldn’t have been worth a damn.

Wang Gou'er patted Chen San on the shoulder.

"Well done. You won’t be short of silver when we get back."

"Thank you, Master Gou!" Chen San beamed with joy.

Wang Gou'er wiped the sweat from beneath his black dog-fur hat and cursed the two thugs still clutching their hands, "You two useless trash couldn’t even catch a woman. If you fail again next time, I’ll tear your arms off!"

The two thugs shivered inwardly.

They quickly responded with obedience. Meanwhile, Yang Ning had no strength left to struggle, just being carried off with her arms held on both sides.

The target was secured.

Wang Gou'er was satisfied as he led the thugs away.

They had just stepped out of the hall when a furious curse rang out, "A Ning! You beasts, let her go!"

Following the voice, they turned around.

Wang Gou'er and the others saw Li Yan sprawled outside the door.

Li Yan, lying in bed, had struggled to get up when he heard Yang Ning’s screams, falling off the bed!

He crawled outside the room.

Seeing Wang Gou'er’s men trying to abduct Yang Ning, his eyes reddened, veins bulging in fury from his temples. He growled, "Wang Gou'er! Let her go!"

Wang Gou'er chuckled.

He strolled over to Li Yan.

His black dog-fur hat blended into the shadows, casting a dark veil over Li Yan. "Who else could it be? Isn’t this Li the Bad Guy? Still alive, huh?"

"Wang Gou'er, get lost! Get lost!" Li Yan shouted angrily.

"Haha, why so angry?" Wang Gou'er chuckled twice, crouching in front of Li Yan. "Since Li the Bad Guy is still alive, perfect. This will come in handy."

He pulled out a pre-drafted divorce letter from his sleeve.

Handing it over with a pen.

"The honored madam has a great blessing and is about to rise to prominence. Li the Bad Guy, don’t hold her back. Sign your name here. Once you sign, I guarantee you’ll stand on your feet again."

"Glory and wealth won’t be just a dream."

Li Yan stared fiercely at Wang Gou'er, whose eyes were bloodshot. His ten fingers dug deep into the cold snow!

Wang Gou'er slapped his face, urging him on.

"What are you staring at? Li the Bad Guy, your leg’s broken, right? Don’t tell me your hands are broken too? Don’t play dumb, sign it now!"

"I’ll sign your grandmother’s!"

Li Yan ripped the divorce letter to shreds with a "shred" sound!

Grabbing Wang Gou'er’s outstretched arm with both hands, he bit down hard.

Tearing off a bloody piece of flesh—even through the cotton jacket!