Chapter 39: I Shall Repay My Husband Well in This Lifetime

"Tao Qianqian, you are abusing your power!"

"Is this brat your man? Why are you helping him like this?"

Upon hearing Tao Qianqian’s words, the two burly men were so incensed that they completely lost their composure. At this point, they no longer cared about anything else and simply began to curse wildly.

Tao Qianqian’s expression remained indifferent; she continued munching on her pastry while cheering Xu An on.

"Thud!"

A dull sound echoed. The scarred man’s face instantly turned purple. His eyes became bloodshot, and his lips trembled, as if he were in such agonizing pain that he couldn't even scream. Looking down, one could see him clutching his crotch with both hands, his legs clamped tight. A wooden club the thickness of an arm had landed precisely on his sensitive spot.

"Ah!"

A moment later, perhaps finding some slight relief, the scarred man let out a shriek like a slaughtered pig that resonated throughout the courtyard. His brawny frame collapsed onto the ground, curling into a ball as he gasped for air, his face flushed with blood.

This sudden turn of events left everyone present stunned and terrified. The little girl covered her mouth, her eyes wide. "Hus... husband, you actually hit... hit them there?"

Tao Qianqian also stopped eating her pastry, staring at Xu An in a daze. "That was ruthless! I bet his jewels are shattered, aren't they?"

On the other side, the man as sturdy as a bull stood frozen for a moment before a surge of monstrous rage washed over his face, as if he intended to tear Xu An apart.

"You brat, how dare you be so cruel! Do you really think I’m afraid of you?"

With that, he lunged at Xu An without a shred of hesitation. At this moment, his bloodlust was fully ignited. *Death is death, what’s the big deal?*

"Husband, watch out!" the little girl cried out, her heart leaping into her throat.

Tao Qianqian grabbed her long spear at that exact instant. Even she hadn't expected that this man, who had been timid for so long, would suddenly dare to take the initiative.

Seeing the brute charging at him, Xu An’s expression chilled. He gripped the wooden club and swung it directly toward the man’s head. The brute sneered in disdain, stepping back to dodge it with ease. He let out a savage grin.

"Brat, do you really think we brothers are pushovers? If it weren't for us holding back, a pathetic scholar like you wouldn't stand a chance against us, even if there were ten of you!"

Xu An gave him a calm look, then suddenly shifted his gaze to the space behind the man, his face lighting up with excitement. "Quick, take the chance now!"

Hearing this, the brute instinctively looked back. But the moment he turned, Xu An suddenly swung the wooden club and struck him squarely and mercilessly in the crotch.

In an instant, a horrific wail echoed through the courtyard once more. Just like the scarred man, the brute’s face turned purple, and he collapsed to the ground, curled up like a shrimp.

"You think you’re tough? Fighting isn't just about strength; it’s about using your brain. You two pieces of trash, since you don't want to act like human beings, then go to hell!"

Xu An’s expression was fierce, fueled by extreme anger, and he raised the club to strike again. But at that moment, the little girl ran over and grabbed his arm.

"Hus... husband, stop! If you keep hitting them, you’ll kill them."

"There will be trouble if you kill someone. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you; I want you to be safe," the little girl whispered.

Although she hated these two beasts in human skin, she was far more worried about her husband.

Tao Qianqian also walked over and said, "Xu An, these two have already been punished. You’ve beaten them so badly that they probably won't be able to function for the rest of their lives. Do me a favor and stop. Besides, with me here, it will be a long time before these two are capable of causing any more trouble."

Seeing that both of them were saying the same thing, Xu An regained his composure. They were right; he was just a commoner now, and killing someone was no small matter. *Still, it’s too easy on these bastards!*

Thinking this, Xu An gave them both another angry kick.

"You two rascals actually dared to assault an officer! If I hadn't been quick on my feet, you would have harmed me."

"Just wait to be dragged back to the jail to eat prison gruel!" Tao Qianqian looked at the two brutes and spoke with calm authority.

The two brutes were so angry they could kill. This was clearly a charge Tao Qianqian was forcing upon them. When had they ever attacked her? But at this moment, they were in such pain they couldn't even breathe, let alone argue.

Xu An looked at Tao Qianqian. "Are you leaving already, Miss Qianqian?"

"Xu An, you are so ungrateful! I helped you so much, and you're already trying to chase me away?" Tao Qianqian glared at him.

Xu An was speechless. When had he ever said that?

"I’m not leaving tonight! I’m staying at your house!" Tao Qianqian pouted.

"Cough, cough. Miss Qianqian, why get so angry? I was just asking, I truly didn't mean anything else. You’ve helped me so much, and you haven't even eaten yet. How could I want to chase you away?" Xu An explained with a smile.

"Hmph, I suppose you still have a shred of conscience. Since you are so enthusiastically inviting me to stay for a meal, I will reluctantly stay and eat before I go!"

Xu An chuckled and then pointed at the two brutes on the ground. "What about these two? They’re an eyesore in the yard."

Tao Qianqian replied, "Do you have any rope at home? Give me two lengths."

"I do!" Xu An immediately fetched two ropes.

"If we have rope, it’s simple. Just tie them up and toss them outside," Tao Qianqian said with professional ease.

Soon, the two of them had bound the brutes tightly like dead dogs. Then, Tao Qianqian grabbed the ropes, intending to drag them out of the yard. Xu An hurried over to help.

Tao Qianqian waved him off. "No need. You’d better save whatever little strength you have."

With that, she grabbed both ropes with one hand and dragged the two men, who weighed over three hundred pounds combined, straight out of the courtyard. Her strength was astonishing!

Xu An felt a bit dejected. As a man, he was actually being looked down upon! At the same time, he was quite surprised. *Is everyone in ancient times naturally this strong?*

The little girl watched from the side with envy. If she had that much strength, she could do so many things to help her husband. But she knew that couldn't be rushed. Sister Mu was already teaching her martial arts; as long as she practiced hard and made a breakthrough in her training, her strength would increase too. Perhaps then, she would be able to give her husband a pleasant surprise!

After dealing with the two brutes, Xu An and the little girl returned to the kitchen to finish cooking. The little girl looked at Xu An and whispered, "Husband, thank you!"

Xu An smiled. "This is what I should do. You are my wife; if you are bullied, I naturally have to stand up for you."

The little girl didn't say anything more, but she kept Xu An’s kindness firmly in her heart. *In this life, I must stay by my husband's side and repay him well!*

When the meal was nearly ready, the little girl suddenly set aside a portion of the food in a separate bowl.

Xu An was puzzled. "Yan'er, what are you doing?"

The little girl replied, "Sister Mu said that if there are guests or other people in the house, I shouldn't call her for meals. So I wanted to set a portion aside for her."

"Also, Sister Mu’s injuries flared up today because she saved me. I don’t know if she’s feeling any better."

Xu An was truly grateful that Mu Qingqing had saved the little girl. So he said, "I bought medicine for her. Once dinner is ready, I’ll brew it for her."

"Yes, okay~" The little girl’s eyes brightened, and she nodded.

"Xu An, are you there? Is everything alright? I’m back!"

Just then, Li Erzhuan’s voice came from outside the courtyard. He had returned with the donkey cart!