Lu Dagang and Zhang Lanlan arrived in Qingcheng with almost no money left.
Zhang Lanlan found a job as a sweeping maid in the home of a merchant surnamed Li in Qingcheng.
A relative from the capital came to visit the Li family. It was said he was a collateral descendant of a high-ranking official in the capital, working as a clerk in a certain government office. He was in Qingzhou on official business and stayed at the merchant's house temporarily.
Zhang Lanlan, for reasons unknown, got involved with that clerk and became his concubine.
However, Lu Dagang, working as a porter at the dock, knew nothing of all this.
He continued to give most of his earnings to Zhang Lanlan as usual, dreaming of saving enough money for them to go to the capital together, start a new life, get married, and have children.
Zhang Lanlan, fearing that the clerk might discover Lu Dagang, lied, saying Lu Dagang was a fellow villager and relative.
To get rid of Lu Dagang, Zhang Lanlan went to a broker recruiting for the black mining pits and tricked Lu Dagang into going to the black mining pits, selling him as forced labor.
By the time Lu Dagang realized what was happening, he was already under control in the black mining pits, forced to dig in the deepest parts of the mine. After witnessing several miners killed by cave-ins, he decided to escape.
During his escape, he accidentally fell down a cliff and broke a leg.
After escaping, he hobbled with a crutch to the Li merchant's house to settle accounts with Zhang Lanlan. However, the steward of the merchant's house said that Zhang Lanlan had become the concubine of the capital relative and had already gone to the capital with him.
Although Lu Dagang was furious and full of hatred, he was penniless and had a broken leg. When he tried to find work, no one would hire him.
To survive, he had no choice but to stay in Qingcheng and become a beggar. It wasn't until yesterday that he happened to see Lu Ye and his companions.
After hearing Lu Dagang's story, Bai Sheng sighed with emotion but felt no sympathy for him at all.
She thought of modern society, where some men have eyes but see nothing, ignoring good girls who are self-respecting and strong, yet they are inexplicably drawn to those affected, pretentious "green tea" or "white lotus" types. They become ATMs and tools for these women, get manipulated endlessly, and even enjoy it. Only when they are kicked away like dog shit do they finally realize the truth, and then they start cursing that there are no good women in the world.
Lu Dagang was such a man. He was unable to judge character and failed to cut his losses in time; if he didn't deserve his fate, who did?
Lu Ye kicked Lu Dagang, pressed the tip of his dagger against his cheek, and said coldly, "Lu Dagang, what happened between you and that woman surnamed Zhang is none of our business. But it is wrong for you to extort and blackmail me with baseless accusations. We are from the same village, after all. Am I, Lu Ye, someone who is easily manipulated? Hmm?"
Lu Dagang knew Lu Ye was skilled in martial arts. He squinted, looking at the glinting blade on his face, and said tremblingly, "Lu Ye, I... I really had no other choice, so... I personally saw your camel cart enter a dead-end alley and suddenly disappear into thin air.
However, you can rest assured, I haven't told anyone about this, including Zhang Lanlan. Today's blackmail is just to raise money to go to the capital.
No matter what, I must go to settle accounts with Zhang Lanlan. I want to make her pay dearly!"
Bai Sheng smiled and said, "Lu Dagang, what you saw was just an illusion I created. When I was a slave, I learned some illusionary arts from an old illusionist. We always park the camel cart in alleys when we go to town. Fearing theft, I always concealed it with an illusion. Come, I'll demonstrate it for you."
"Illus... illusion?" Lu Dagang's mouth dropped open in shock. The little beggar, who had been acupunctured and subdued, also looked towards Bai Sheng.
Lu Ye's lips curved upwards.
Bai Sheng retracted the lantern in her hand into her spatial dimension, then, in the blink of an eye, it reappeared in her hand. "See? It's all an illusion."
Lu Dagang was quite surprised. He had heard the elders in the village talk about illusionary arts before. He never expected Lu Ye's slave wife to know how to use them!
Lu Ye smirked and glanced at Bai Sheng. His darling wife was so good at fabricating lies, even thinking of illusionary arts. Now, Lu Dagang had no choice but to believe, as darling had personally demonstrated it before him.
Lu Dagang began to tremble, "Lu Ye, I was wrong, please let me go, I... I'll be your ox and horse."
Lu Ye sneered, "Be my ox and horse? I don't want a cripple. You shouldn't have threatened me with this."
"I... I truly had no way out," Lu Dagang shrank back.
The little beggar also turned ashen with fear.
"Then what concern is that of mine?" Lu Ye's eyes flashed with cold light.
He raised his saber, preparing to strike Lu Dagang down.
Bai Sheng stopped him. She smiled at Lu Ye and said, "Husband, killing Lu Dagang won't bring us any actual benefit. It's better to spare his wretched life and let him go find Zhang Lanlan for revenge.
I really want to see the surprised look on Zhang Lanlan's face when Lu Dagang confronts her. If Lu Dagang dies, it will be a favor to Zhang Lanlan.
I don't want Zhang Lanlan, who has done so much to our family, to have an easy time!"
Lu Ye pondered and chuckled, "My darling thinks of everything. This is indeed the best arrangement."
Lu Dagang, terrified when Lu Ye raised his saber, nearly had a heart attack. Hearing Bai Sheng's words, he suddenly saw a glimmer of hope and immediately said, "Lu Ye, that bitch Zhang said she was going to the capital and would make a name for herself, then take revenge on you and your wife. She said she would never let you off. This time, spare my life, and I will go to the capital and personally destroy everything she has, making her wish she were dead!"
Bai Sheng took out a pill and said to Lu Dagang, "Open your mouth!"
Lu Dagang hesitated for a moment. Thinking that Lu Ye's wife said she was sparing him to go after Zhang Lanlan, she probably wouldn't kill him, so he slowly opened his mouth.
Bai Sheng threw the pill into Lu Dagang's mouth and said sternly, "The medicinal properties of this pill will not take effect for three months. After three months, without the antidote, you will die with rotten heart and lungs.
Therefore, I am giving you three months. If you succeed in your revenge within these three months, come find me at the 'Yu Sheng Grain Shop' in the capital, and I will give you the antidote.
If you act contrary to my intentions or play games with me, you can imagine the consequences!"
It was poison! Lu Dagang broke out in a cold sweat. Three months was so short! He didn't even have money to go to the capital. Even if he got the money, by the time he reached the capital, the time limit would have passed. "Lu Ye's wife, but I... I am penniless, and three months is too rushed. I might not even reach the capital."
Bai Sheng said, "You can come with us!"
Lu Dagang's heart leaped with joy. If this were the case, he would have a chance to survive! No matter what, he had to grit his teeth and live!
"Thank you, Lu Ye! Thank you, Lu Ye's wife!"
Lu Ye said coldly, "Make sure you do exactly as my wife says! Take care of yourself! Otherwise, I'll make you die a miserable death!"
"Yes, yes, yes, I will. Rest assured, I will definitely make Zhang Lanlan die a miserable death!" Lu Dagang kowtowed repeatedly.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. He had to cling to Lu Ye, this big tree, with all his might.