The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 12 Desperate to Leave
Yu Tingwan was suddenly jolted back to reality by the image, and could no longer fall asleep.

She dared not think about it anymore.

A feeling of suffocation washed over me.

Her heart pounded like a drum, and the helplessness and sorrow of her past life were like an airtight cage, overwhelming her with an irresistible force.

The little girl clutched her collar at her chest, struggling to breathe.

She was so eager to leave the Hu family that she didn't want to wait a moment longer.

Meanwhile, in Ze County.

Various stalls were set up on both sides of the street.

Besides the surging crowds, one could vaguely see many soldiers patrolling.

"Your sister-in-law insists on using face cream. Doesn't she realize that her face doesn't need to cost money?"

It looks ugly no matter how you use it.

While Hu Dalang was complaining, Hu Yaozu's mind was on the finely crafted wooden hairpins on the stall.

He took out a coin to pay.

Hu Dalang narrowed his eyes: "For my cousin?"

Hu Yaozu, dressed in a scholar's uniform, was refined and scholarly, a stark contrast to Hu Dalang, who was only good at farming and rough around the edges.

He pressed the wooden hairpin to his chest, his ears burning, neither admitting nor objecting, and simply kept walking forward with his head down.

The two returned to the town from Ze County and headed towards the inn.

Midway through, an elderly man called out to Hu Yaozu with delight.

Half an incense stick later, Hu Dalang walked in from outside with a ruddy face and shouted loudly, "Father, we ran into Master Chu on the way back. He saw that Yaozu was still in town and wanted to invite him to our house for the New Year."

It's clear how much Master Chu values ​​Yaozu; how could he, as the eldest brother, not be excited!

Hu Yaozu was also happy, but equally troubled: "If I go, I won't be able to spend the New Year with my father and elder brother."

"I have your older brother by my side, why would you need to worry about me?"

Hu Dazhu was also excited, but he was more composed than Hu Dalang: "This is a good thing. Many people would beg for this. Master Chu has always taken care of you. You can't come empty-handed. You should take something with you. The family is counting on you to make something of yourself."

Hu Yaozu readily agreed.

Hu Dalang then told Hu Dazhu the news he had gathered: "With the end of the year approaching, many people are coming to town to buy New Year's goods. This road is blocked, and there are quite a few people like us who can't go back. There are also caravans that buy medicinal herbs every year, and bodyguards who escort goods. The inns are all full. Luckily, we booked quickly."

"There are more soldiers patrolling nearby. I heard that in a few days, General Wei's coffin from the border will have to pass through Ze County. It's not far from here. There are white lanterns hanging in several places on the street, and the capital has sent many officials to pick it up."

"The war was won, so why are people dying?"

He was about to say something more, but he saw that Hu Dazhu hadn't heard a word he said, and instead had his brows furrowed.

He fell silent and whispered to Hu Yaozu, who was standing to the side.

"Father was happy just now, what's wrong?"

Hu Yaozu said in a low voice, "He must be missing Wanmei."

Hu Dalang glanced at him sideways: "Aren't you worried about it?"

The former's face suddenly turned red.

Hu Dazhu didn't hear what they were saying, and sighed worriedly, "I'm worried that your mother is mistreating her."

Hu Dalang choked, then, as if remembering something, he rubbed his nose guiltily: "Anyone who didn't know better would think my cousin was Dad's biological daughter."

"Your aunt passed away early, is it wrong for me to love her so much?"

"And another thing! Your wife is cunning; you'd better keep an eye on her after she gives birth!"

Yu Tingwan was unaware of the conversation between father and son.

She was leaning against the window watching a play.

Wang picked up a rattan cane and chased the Xu boy all over the yard.

"He sneaked into my house and rummaged through everything. He's so young, yet he already knows how to steal!"

"Is that something you can eat?!"

The Xu family boy was pinned to the ground and beaten by her, with crumbs of pastry still in his mouth. He grimaced in pain, but remained unusually arrogant.

"I want to eat it! I want to eat it!"

"What I see is mine!"

Last time he stole rice from his neighbor, his parents and grandparents praised him for being capable.

Before Wang could lash out, Xu's wife rushed forward.

“Auntie, it’s just that the child is ignorant and wasted food because he’s greedy. But he’s still young. You can’t hold it against him.” Wang’s face darkened: “If you don’t know how to raise a child, then don’t have one! Who are you to talk here!”

"This sponge cake was brought back from town by Erlang, and I've been reluctant to eat it!"

"If they steal food today, will they steal money tomorrow?"

"Do you think I'd let you stay in my house?"

Mrs. Xu chuckled and stepped forward, protecting her grandson: "Oh dear, he's already eaten it, we can't let him spit it out. My dear in-law, please calm down."

She forced her grandson to apologize to Wang, saying, "Say it now, you'll never dare to do it again!"

Yu Tingwan witnessed the Xu family boy roll his eyes, but he didn't show any sign of admitting his mistake.

She calmly closed the window and ignored the commotion outside.

The Hu family is going to have some fun.

-

into the night.

Wu, the young wife next door, tossed and turned in bed in the middle of the night, nudging the sleeping man beside her: "I don't feel at ease."

Soon, the couple's whispers could be heard inside the house.

Wu's wife said, "Before it got dark, there was a commotion next door. It turned out that Xu's son sneaked into Aunt Wang's room and ate the chicken cake."

As she spoke, she swallowed hard.

That must taste so good!

"Such a big thing, and that Xu family brat showed no remorse whatsoever, turning around and running off to have fun outside."

“I’ve thought about what Wan Niang said carefully, and it still seems strange to me.”

"She suddenly started saying that the two houses were close to each other..."

Not long after, Wu's young wife, holding a candle, knocked on Wu's aunt's door.

She was a little afraid of her mother-in-law: "Mother, would you please send me back to my parents' home tomorrow?"

Do you want me to carry you on my back?
What kind of daughter-in-law treats her mother-in-law like that!
Aunt Wu's face darkened, and she was about to scold him when she heard her son's voice from the opposite room.

“Mother, I should go back with her, but I’m too sick to get out of bed. It’s snowing outside, and I’m really worried about her.”

The night is dark.

At the Hu family's house next door, Yu Tingwan couldn't sleep, so she sat by the fire, occasionally poking at it with a stick.

In the flickering firelight, her features appeared pale and sorrowful.

She had no idea whether she had been captured and taken back by the Dong family's servants in her previous life.

Just then, there were rustling footsteps outside. Yu Tingwan, being on guard, suddenly looked over.

Someone tiptoed toward her and finally stopped in front of her door.

It's Xu Fen.

Under the moonlight, Xu Fen was furtively trying to pry open the door, having long forgotten the warning from Little Xu during the day.

Yu Tingwan was in the house across the street; how could he remain indifferent?

This is a perfect opportunity with both favorable timing and location.

As long as he covers Yu Tingwan's mouth to prevent her from crying for help, he can still do whatever he wants!

What good is it if those girls who were taken advantage of by him hate him to the core? They still dare not reveal a single thing to others for the sake of their reputation.

The greed in Xu Fen's eyes was unmistakable.

Thinking of Yu Tingwan's face, he felt hot all over.

There was a click.

He pried open the latch that was locked inside.

Xu Fen's eyes gleamed as he pushed open the door and entered.

Just then, the burning firewood inside the house hit his face directly.

He instinctively reached out to block it.

Sparks flew everywhere.

Hair and cotton-padded clothes were then set on fire.

A searing pain shot through him, and his scream pierced the silent night.

(End of this chapter)