Ma Sanye was shocked.

Zhang Tieyuan, Zhang Cuiyun and the others too.

​​

A... a knife?

Zhang Tieyuan looked at this somewhat ruthless young woman as he considered the possibility of taking his land deeds back through physical violence. He was a man after all. On the other hand, that young boy looked…

As long as he could go home and grab a knife or something and threaten the young woman, perhaps he could probably succeed?

Qi Qingyao saw through him with merely a glance.

She smiled sinisterly.

"If you truly want to take them from me through a fight, I would advise you to think twice. I'm close with the Heir and these two behind me don't just have good looks either. They fight well. How did you think I arrived from Baishui Town safely carrying so much money with me? Who did you think caught the wild boar then? Do not try to test my patience or you'll end up dead!"

Zhang Tieyuan's recently sprouted plans were promptly stomped back into the mud.

He was at the end of his tether, but could do nothing to change the outcome.

Qi Qingyao did not bother to conceal what she came here for either. "There are two paths you can choose to walk today. You can either uphold the pact we signed and admit defeat graciously, or you can leave behind the hand you used to sign the pact. I can consider it and, if I'm in a good mood, I might return the deeds to you."

Everyone fell silent.

After a long period of silence, everyone still felt that this was…

"So ruthless."

"Eleventh Daughter, aren't you a little too…"

"You're right! If you took their land deeds, where are they supposed to stay?"

"She went overboard."

"Both of you are fellow villagers. You can just talk it out peacefully…"

Qi Qingyao bellowed out of the blue, "Everyone, shut up!"

Silence ensued.

"Who's fellow villagers with him? I don't know any bastards who sell their own daughters!" Qi Qingyao said sarcastically, turning her nose up. She looked at the people present and said casually, "Weren't you planning to make a bet with me too after him, to milk this cash cow of all she's got? Aren't you just being hypocritical, saying this now?"

Everyone was speechless.

Qi Qingyao's smile was cold. "You have no right to say you're a gambler if you can't do something as basic as admitting defeat graciously."

Zhang Tieyuan clenched his fists tightly. He did not know how he could retort.

He was a gambler and yet he was not willing to bear the consequences.

Qi Qingyao said, "I'll give you three days. Pack your stuff up and clear the space for me."

Zhang Tieyuan was so furious he stormed out.

Zhang Cuiyun stood, rooted to the spot. She was helpless. She wanted to kneel in front of Qi Qingyao and plead for mercy but, before she could, Qi Qingyao fished out two strings of copper coins and tossed them to her.

"Zhang Cuiyun, here are two taels."

"..."

Zhang Cuiyun paused abruptly and stared at her dubiously.

Qi Qingyao was still smiling. "I won the bet and took your land deeds, but the rice planted in your land isn't ripe for harvest yet. This is compensation for the produce."

Zhang Cuiyun did not know what to say.

Qi Qingyao said, laughing at herself, "Look, I'm honest, aren't I?"

With two taels in her hands, Zhang Cuiyun was speechless. She could only return to her house first. Zhang Tieyuan's son and daughter-in-law left as well, both in tears.

The rest who remained there were speechless as well.

…

From behind, Jiang Yeqian looked at the young woman's side profile and her sweet expression that was slightly tinged with coldness. He was very, very curious about the current Qi Qingyao.

She had the bearing of someone who would achieve great things.