Chapter 31
Everyone present fell silent.
When Su Jin got serious, the look in her eyes was just as intimidating as Jiang Heng’s.
“So, none of you believe me, huh? Fine. Whoever can lift these bundles of firewood by themselves, I’ll let them take it home right away. But if you can’t lift it—then go home and bring me all your family’s firewood!”
The crowd exchanged glances, eyes wide.
Who wouldn’t want free firewood, and this much of it?
If they managed to carry it off, it’d be pure profit for them.
Quite a few were itching to try, tempted by the several large bundles in front of them.
A burly man stepped forward.
“I’ll go first.”
Su Jin stopped him.
“Wait. All my firewood’s here already—where’s yours?”
The man was Li Daniu—big and strong, just like his name suggested. In the village, he was famous for his brute strength, his whole body packed with solid muscle.
“It’s from Jiang Heng’s house, right? I can handle it. I’ll definitely lift these bundles. No need to waste time fetching my own—saves me the trouble of carrying it back later.”
His confidence was overflowing. He refused to believe that a slender woman like Su Jin could carry them while he couldn’t.
“Li Daniu, right? Even a bet needs some stakes. If you can’t even put up your own wager, that’s pretty stingy of you.”
Li Daniu clenched his jaw.
“Fine! My firewood it is. But if you give me yours later, don’t say I bullied a woman.”
He went home, brought out all his firewood, and dumped it right in front of Su Jin.
Then he strode toward the bundles. He thought it’d be easy—but to his surprise, he couldn’t even get them off the ground, let alone lift them onto his shoulders.
Li Daniu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“How… how is that possible? I can’t be this weak!”
He gritted his teeth, veins bulging, every muscle straining—but the bundles wouldn’t budge.
“Alright, alright~ stop forcing it,” Su Jin said lazily. “Careful, or you’ll get crushed under your own pride—and the firewood.”
The moment she said it, Li Daniu’s arms gave out.
The bundles toppled, landing squarely on top of him.
“So? Who’s next?”
No one dared to make a sound.
If even Li Daniu—the strongest man in the village—couldn’t lift it, what chance did the rest of them have?
Privately, they were all grateful he’d gone first; otherwise, they’d have lost their firewood instead.
Su Jin shot a provocative glance at Old Lady Lu.
“Still don’t believe me? Why don’t you come and try it yourself?”
The old woman didn’t dare utter a single word.
Su Jin didn’t think she was being disrespectful to elders.
A good person stays good, even when they’re old. A bad person stays bad, no matter their age.
Why should she show respect to a bad elder?
Before leaving, she cast one last sharp, cutting look over her shoulder—so fierce it nearly scared the old woman to death.
Even the onlookers froze, stunned by the ruthless aura Su Jin gave off.
With firewood slung over her shoulder, a bamboo basket on her back, and Li Daniu’s bundles in hand, Su Jin walked away effortlessly—as if it weighed nothing at all.
The villagers watched in stunned silence until she disappeared down the path, then finally exhaled.
“She’s… terrifying. Looks all delicate and pretty, but she’s stronger than Li Daniu!”
“Yeah! And that look she gave before leaving—felt like she was about to eat us alive.”
“She’s not someone to mess with, that’s for sure. Say something bad about her, and she might just punch you.”
After that day, everyone had a lingering fear of Su Jin.
A few days ago, they’d thought she just had a sharp tongue—able to fire back ten words for every one said to her. That was all talk.
But today proved she wasn’t just talk. She was scary.
Strong and sharp-tongued—definitely not someone to cross.
From then on, whenever people saw her, they’d quietly step aside.
You couldn’t out-talk her, and you sure couldn’t out-muscle her.
Without those gossiping busybodies around, Su Jin’s mood improved considerably.
She hummed a little tune, her twin braids bouncing as she walked—just like any carefree village girl her age.
It was hard to believe this was the same fierce, cold woman from earlier.
By the time she reached home, Jiang Heng had arrived before her.
The house was quiet, except for the little puppy wagging its tail in welcome.
“Su Jin?”
No answer—only the puppy’s excited barking echoed back.
What’s going on? The sun was nearly down.
She didn’t know anyone around here—where could she have gone?
Jiang Heng turned to head back out and look for her—
—but before he could, Su Jin appeared, loaded down with firewood.
The sight made him freeze. His pupils widened in shock.
But he quickly collected himself, grabbed the thick pole resting on her shoulder, and took the bundles from her hands. His expression stayed calm, showing no strain at all.
“Give me the basket,” he said simply.
Su Jin obediently removed the bamboo basket and handed it over.
Now that they were home, there was no point struggling further.
Her back was drenched with sweat, her clothes sticking to her skin.
As she walked ahead, Jiang Heng’s expression darkened even more, his brows drawn tight.
He set the firewood down in one motion.
Su Jin sat under the pear tree she’d planted in a corner of the yard, enjoying the cool breeze.
She’d asked before—Jiang Heng said the tree was about ten years old. Its canopy wasn’t too big, but the shade beneath it was perfect.
The courtyard itself wasn’t large, built like a typical rural home:
a square mud-brick wall, an open yard in the middle for drying grains or corn, and two small rooms at the back.
One served as their living space; the other was for storage.
Su Jin narrowed her eyes, enjoying the wind—
until Jiang Heng appeared before her, holding a change of clothes.
“Change your clothes,” he said.
“Change… clothes?” she repeated blankly.
He took her hand and pulled her up.
“Change first. You’ll catch a cold sitting here like that.”
Su Jin blinked, then nodded obediently, her expression all docile compliance.
She couldn’t help but think—her husband really did worry about her.
He hadn’t wanted her carrying so much wood in the first place.
Back at the gate, she’d noticed the flash of distress in his eyes, the way he tried to hide it.
And now he’d noticed her damp clothes and didn’t want her to get chilled.
Not bad—not bad at all. This husband was a keeper.
Jiang Heng still looked grim, eyes shadowed and unreadable.
When Su Jin came back out, he was sitting on a stool, elbows resting on his knees, fingers interlocked, expression heavy. The air around him felt like it was freezing solid.
“Do you know what you did wrong?” he asked quietly.
