My domineering ex-husband is living off his wife in ancient times.

Chapter 52 looks somewhat similar

Li scratched her head: "Isn't Da Hua over there...?"

"Don't expect everything from Da Hua, she's not even thirteen yet! Tsk, is it you who owes An An five hundred taels, or is it Da Hua who owes it? Do you think I can't get you to do anything?" Mother Cheng raged.

Li shrank back and quickly slipped away.

Cheng Ruoan knew her mother was really worried, so she quickly tried to appease her: "Mom, it's really okay for us to spend the night here."

Just then, they saw Boss Qian carrying a bundle of firewood to deliver to the dilapidated temple. Cheng Ruoan asked in front of her mother, "Boss Qian, do many people know about this dilapidated temple?"

Mr. Qian: "Only people in our village know about it, but it's been abandoned for a long time, and no one comes here anymore."

Cheng's mother: "Really?"

Mr. Qian sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and began to speak slowly and deliberately: "It's true."

Our village is located in a rather unique terrain. Although it is not far from the official road, the road leading to the village is a winding mountain road with only one entrance and exit. This dilapidated temple is located next to this entrance and exit, on a winding path.

As you all know, people in our village are xenophobic; no one from outside the village dares to come, let alone burn incense at our local temple.

The reason this dilapidated temple fell into disrepair is because even the people from our own village disliked the fact that it was difficult to get there, and the villagers preferred to go to the Nuwa Temple on the mountain.

In addition, someone jumped into that dry well and died, so everyone considers this place unlucky and doesn't mention it, let alone come here.

"It's only in the last few years that my wife and I, who run a tea stall, have had the occasional break."

Boss Qian had received many benefits from Cheng Ruoan, so he was very open and honest with Cheng Ruoan.

He told Cheng Ruoan, "You don't need to worry. The refugees from the mountains have been brought down. Since those refugees settled in the mountains, only a few of them have come out to do some bad things. They're not that bold."

Cheng Ruoan touched his nose.

He thought to himself: Those are not refugees, but bandits disguised as refugees, or thugs who have already defected to the bandits and become outlaws.

The villagers, including Boss Qian, had no idea that the bandit was being kept in the mountain valley by the government of Huilan City.

Why bother raising them?

Cheng Ruoan thought that perhaps that was the reason why Si Shaoheng and the others were delayed from returning.

What she saw in the mountain village was that the refugees had a lot of work to do and a lot of farming tools.

The doctor who treated Si Niu and Da Ya also mentioned that the sleeping gas they used was very special.

Cheng Ruoan thought, this isn't a fantasy martial arts world, most sleeping pills and sedatives can't make someone fall unconscious after just a few inhalations.

That might be because some special medicinal ingredient was added to the formula for the sleeping potion.

Combining the two, it's possible that the refugees were all detained by bandits in the mountains to grow medicinal herbs.

I've thought of all this.

Cheng Ruoan's thinking can expand a bit more.

The magistrate of Qingshan County had the intention of assisting someone in a rebellion, and he stockpiled people and weapons in Qingshan County.

What about the magistrate of Huilan County?

If he also harbors ulterior motives and helps that "Young Master Baiyun" manufacture other weapons with mass destruction... let's not even talk about the destructive power, just think about how terrifying the sleeping gas used by the bandits would be if it were used on the battlefield.

Of course, all of this is just Cheng Ruoan's own speculation. We'll have to wait for Si Shaoheng and the others to return and check the information before we can say anything for sure.

"Sigh, I'm going to have to spend the night here anyway." Cheng Ruoan lay back in her rocking chair.

Boss Qian's eyes lit up, and he suggested, "How about this, if you want to stay here for another day or half a day, I'll go to the village and call a few strong young men to come and hire as your guards, how about that?"

Everyone in the surrounding area knows our village is particularly xenophobic. With the able-bodied men of our village guarding the intersection after the main road, most people won't dare to go in, and they won't discover you in this dilapidated temple.”

Boss Qian always thought that Cheng Ruoan and the others were children snatched from refugees, and that the only ones who would seek revenge would be ordinary refugees, so a few able-bodied men would be enough.

Cheng Ruoan thought it was a good idea, stretched out her hands and said to Boss Qian, "I want ten."

Mr. Qian gasped, "Do you really need ten?!"

Are you hiring someone to guard and deliver the message?

Are they planning a group fight?

“It’s safer, isn’t it? Look at our family, there are few men and many children. Yesterday, our child was snatched, and today a family traveling with us stole our things. Sigh…” Cheng Ruoan said in a pitiful tone.

Mr. Qian also sighed.

He originally only wanted to call over his wife's nephews to secretly earn some extra money.

If you want ten...

He had no choice but to talk to the village chief.

But after thinking it over, I realized that Madam Cheng was truly magnanimous, and her family had indeed suffered a great loss.

I'll help if I can.

Boss Qian: "It's not busy farming season yet, but there are plenty of idle men in the village, ten would do. It's just the wages..."

Cheng Ruoan said generously, "Boss Qian, you're an honest man. How much is the wage? Just name a number."

Mr. Qian held up one finger and asked cautiously, "Is one or two okay?"

Cheng Ruoan thought that if each person received one tael, then ten people would receive ten taels.

If it can ensure they get a good night's rest in the dilapidated temple and are full of energy for their journey tomorrow, then it's not too expensive.

Cheng Ruoan smiled and nodded: "Boss Qian, tell the kid that if he can help us stand firm in this round, he'll be willing to double his earnings."

Mr. Qian was overjoyed!

Doubled, that's two ounces!

That person would get two hundred coins, which is equivalent to four days' wages for the people from their village who went into the mountains!

"Alright, alright, I'll definitely find you ten good people. I guarantee that you'll be safer and more comfortable resting in this dilapidated temple than in the best inn in Huilan City!"

Mr. Qian immediately took his leave and went back to the village to find more people.

Not long after dark, Si Shaoheng and the others returned.

This time, Zhao did not rush out and shout, "My son, you've finally come back!"

Because of her fever, Zhao was secretly given fever-reducing medicine by Cheng Ruoan and was sleeping soundly on the mule cart.

When Cheng Ruoan saw the three Si brothers return, Si Shaoheng and Shao Yang walked in front, while the eldest and fourth brothers walked behind.

He quickly made arrangements, saying, "Second brother and sister-in-law, quickly reheat their dinner; they must be exhausted."

After saying that, he pulled Si Shaoheng to the backyard of the dilapidated temple, to the small open space outside the doors of several side rooms.

Cheng Ruoan: "Quickly, before your older brother causes trouble, quickly check the information with me. What's the situation at Panlong Village? How are those refugees doing?"

What else did you find in the mountains?

Si Shaoheng: ...

Let me have a drink of water first.

He had just finished complaining in his mind when he saw Cheng Ruoan taking out a bamboo jar for him while trying to block him.

"Have some soda to soothe your throat, then tell me clearly."

Looking into her bright eyes, Si Shaoheng smiled helplessly and indulgently, opened the bamboo jar, and took a sip of cola.

Because he drank too quickly, a little bit of clear liquid dribbled from the corner of his mouth, down his chin, and down his collarbone...

Wow.

Cheng Ruoan's eyes brightened even more.

How come she only just realized that Si Shaoheng, the original owner of this body, wasn't bad-looking at all?

But... the more I look at him, the more he seems to resemble Si Shaoheng from my previous life.

Let's verify it.

Thinking this, Cheng Ruoan grabbed Si Shaoheng's sleeve and entered the space in a flash.