Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Su Tang Was Married

He was about the same age as Su Tang, yet he had the gall to say such disgusting things.

Lu Xiao’s expression darkened. Just as he was about to speak, Li Xiulan cut in, “Jinbao, if you don’t know how to talk, then just eat more and talk less!”

Jinbao’s eyes darted around. Chastened, he fell silent and buried his head in his bowl, shoveling rice into his mouth.

After dinner, Lu Xiao took Mr. and Mrs. Lu next door to pack their things, while Su Tang cleared the dishes in the kitchen.

Jinbao, who should have gone with them, followed her instead. He stood at the kitchen entrance with a smarmy grin and said, “Sister-in-law, let me help you!”

A chill ran down Su Tang’s spine, and a wave of disgust washed over her. She quickly refused, “No, that’s alright. You should go chat with Mom and Dad.”

But Jinbao didn’t leave. Instead, he moved closer and lowered his voice. “Sister-in-law, Brother Xiao has made it big now. Do you think… you could get me a spot here in the army too?”

Su Tang froze, then frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

Jinbao rubbed his hands together, a flash of greed in his eyes. “Exactly what it sounds like. Why else do you think I came along, sister-in-law?”

He never knew being a soldier was so good. Now, seeing the comfortable life Lu Xiao had, he was dead set on becoming one too.

Too bad Mr. Lu had already refused his request to write to Lu Xiao for him.

He had even said that if Jinbao was truly capable, he should go to the recruitment office and sign up himself.

Jinbao had no interest in that. He wanted to be a soldier just like Lu Xiao, or at the very least, snag a minor officer position.

Signing up at the recruitment office? Wouldn’t that mean starting from the bottom as a raw recruit?

A wave of annoyance washed over Su Tang. She said coldly, “That’s not my decision to make. If you have something in mind, you should talk to Lu Xiao.”

After speaking, she turned back to her work, ignoring him completely.

Jinbao, having been rebuffed, snorted and turned to leave the kitchen.

After she finished cleaning the kitchen, Su Tang still felt uneasy. She had no idea what kind of trouble this Jinbao character would stir up next.

’There’s just something about Jinbao that makes my skin crawl.’

’He looks shifty and sleazy, not at all respectable.’

So that evening, Su Tang told Lu Xiao about it.

“The way he looks at me is disgusting. I feel really uneasy.”

Hearing this, Lu Xiao’s expression grew stern. He nodded. “I understand. Leave it to me.”

“Don’t be alone with him. If anything happens, get Mom.”

Jinbao’s family wasn’t particularly close to his, but back home, they took relations by marriage seriously, so it was best not to make things too awkward.

Lu Xiao was mainly worried his parents would hold this against Su Tang.

But he had his ways of making Jinbao behave.

The next morning, Lu Xiao took Jinbao away with him.

He said he was taking him to tour the barracks. Jinbao was, of course, overjoyed to hear this.

He eagerly followed Lu Xiao, completely unaware of his real intentions.

He and Chang Jia took turns drilling Jinbao, treating him like a new recruit. They worked him so hard he couldn’t even speak. When he got home at night, he collapsed into bed and fell asleep instantly.

This went on for two days, giving Jinbao absolutely no chance to be alone with Su Tang.

Finally, there came a day when Jinbao refused to go no matter what. Figuring Su Tang was at work and not at home, Lu Xiao didn’t bother with him.

But unexpectedly, someone had swapped shifts with Su Tang, giving her two days off early. She ended up running right into Jinbao.

Su Tang got home and had just stepped inside when she heard footsteps behind her.

“Jinbao? You didn’t go to the training grounds today?”

Seeing it was Jinbao, Su Tang frowned slightly and took two steps back.

Jinbao leaned against the doorframe, a malicious smile playing on his lips.

“Were you missing me, sister-in-law? Brother Xiao won’t play with me, so I had to come back and find you to cure my boredom.”

He deliberately dragged out his words, his gaze brazenly sweeping over Su Tang’s body as if he were sizing up a piece of merchandise.

Su Tang clutched the keys in her hand and edged toward the living room.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Lu Xiao will be back any minute.”

“Ooh, what’s the rush?”

Jinbao suddenly closed in, a threatening smile on his face. “I know about your past in Shanghai. I did some asking around. Su Tang, I know your secret.”

He reached out to touch her arm, but Su Tang sidestepped to avoid him.

“Don’t you go too far!”

Su Tang’s face paled, her voice rising unintentionally.

’A secret? What secret? I don’t remember having any secrets.’

’Could it be about something that happened before I got here?’

But Jinbao only laughed harder. “Too far? I haven’t even started. Sister-in-law, what do you think Brother Xiao would do if he knew that you…”

He suddenly lowered his voice and whispered something in Su Tang’s ear. Her eyes flew wide open, and she immediately raised her hand to slap him.

Jinbao was ready for it and grabbed her wrist.

“Quite a temper on you. But I like ’em fiery.”

“Just put in a good word for me with Brother Xiao, help me stay here, and I’ll agree to any of your conditions… and your little secret will stay safe.”

“Let go of me!”

Su Tang struggled desperately. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw an enamel mug on the coffee table. She suddenly lifted her leg and kicked Jinbao hard in the knee.

The moment Jinbao cried out in pain and loosened his grip, she snatched the mug and smashed it against his head.

“That’s not a secret to me, and Lu Xiao wouldn’t believe you anyway. But I will absolutely not let what you did today slide.”

Su Tang had struck with lethal intent. She couldn’t stand the sight of this disgusting creep for another second.

“Su Tang! You really think you’re some kind of goddess? Don’t forget, you’re relying on Lu Xiao right now. If he decides he doesn’t want you anymore, let’s see how you’ll survive then.”

Jinbao clutched his head as blood dripped through his fingers. He lunged at Su Tang like a mad dog.

Terrified, Su Tang scrambled backward, the small of her back slamming into the corner of a table. A cold sweat broke out from the pain. Just as Jinbao was about to grab her…

At that very moment, with a loud BANG, the front door was kicked open.

Lu Xiao stormed in, his face dark. His buttons weren’t done up properly, and he was still clutching an enamel food container he hadn’t had time to put down.

He lunged forward, covering the distance in a few large strides, and slammed Jinbao against the wall. His fist whistled through the air as it flew toward him. “Are you fucking tired of living?”

Jinbao shrieked in pain with every blow, but Lu Xiao was like a crazed beast, grabbing him by the collar and beating him relentlessly until Jinbao was a bloody, whimpering heap on the floor.

Mr. and Mrs. Lu, who had returned with Lu Xiao, rushed in. Seeing the scene, Mrs. Lu was so scared she covered her mouth. “Stop, Lu Xiao! You’re going to kill him!”

Mr. Lu watched but didn’t intervene. He knew his own son.

It looked like Lu Xiao was going for the kill, but he was controlling his strength.

When Lu Xiao finally stopped, Jinbao leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.

“Lu Xiao! I… I’m going to report you! Report all of you!”

Lu Xiao ignored Jinbao and turned to check on Su Tang. Seeing she wasn’t hurt, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry.”

’This was my fault. I knew Jinbao was trouble, but I still let him stay here.’

“You’re going to report Lu Xiao? I’ll report you first, you unfilial brat!”

Mr. Lu was so furious he could barely breathe. Li Xiulan rushed over to pat his back.

“Dear, don’t get so worked up. Take it slow.”

Jinbao glared at the family, his eyes filled with venomous hatred. He pointed a finger at Su Tang.

“Lu Xiao! I bet you don’t know, do you? Su Tang is used goods! She’s been married before!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep