After Transmigrating, I Was Assigned Three Wives—Refusing Was a Crime! - Chapter 12:

Chapter 12: 100 Taels of Silver in Hand

“Don’t worry, I’ve got everything under control,” Lu Qing said with a smile, comforting Han Qiuniang. Then his gaze shifted to the somewhat nervous Dong Chunhua. She had been married to Sun Magan, and now Sun Magan had handed her over to Lu Qing as a concubine. Dong Chunhua didn’t know what to do.

“I agreed to take you in as a concubine not because I desire you, but because I could tell that Sun Magan is not a decent man. I suspect he planned to sell you to that brothel street. That’s why I accepted the arrangement,” Lu Qing said. “Now, I’m giving you two choices—stay here or leave. I won’t force you to do anything. It’s your decision.”

Dong Chunhua immediately knelt down. “I’m willing to stay. Sun Magan is a beast. He beat me every night. He treated me like an animal.” Her life had been a nightmare, and now she had nowhere else to go.

“Alright then. From today on, stay and live with us,” Lu Qing said, then looked at Han Qiuniang. “Find her a clean set of clothes.”

“Alright!” Han Qiuniang nodded and stepped forward to help Dong Chunhua up. “You don’t need to worry anymore. No one will hit you again. Our husband is a good man. Since marrying him, he hasn’t laid a hand on us,” she assured her gently.

Just like that, the matter passed without much disturbance.

The next morning, as the sun rose, Lu Qing came out of the room and saw Wu Hai outside.

“Wu Hai!”
“Brother Qing!”
“What are you doing here?” Lu Qing quickly realized Wu Hai hadn’t gone home all night.

“My father was worried Sun Magan might cause trouble, so he asked me to stand guard for you,” Wu Hai replied with a smile.

“Thank you!” Lu Qing patted Wu Hai’s shoulder, touched. “I’ll remember this favor.”

“Brother Qing, if everything’s fine, I’ll head home now.” Wu Hai yawned.

“Wait.” Lu Qing stopped him, went back inside, and returned with a bag of flour. “Take this with you.”

“I can’t. You and your wives should eat it,” Wu Hai refused quickly. After all, Lu Qing now had four women to feed.

“If it weren’t for Aunt Zhang, I would’ve starved to death in winter. Now you’ve done me another favor. I’m not someone who forgets kindness. Take it—it’s a gift from me to Uncle Facai and Aunt Zhang.”

Seeing Lu Qing insist, Wu Hai didn’t refuse again. This was white flour, a luxury in Manglong Village. Though he acted hesitant, Wu Hai truly wanted it inside—who didn’t want to eat white buns? In Manglong Village, white flour was a rare treat. It was even used as part of a bride price. Ten jin of white flour could get you a wife.

After sending Wu Hai off, Lu Qing had a simple breakfast and took the ginseng he dug up yesterday to Luliang County to sell. He returned to the same pharmacy as before.

“Young Master!” The shopkeeper welcomed him with a bright smile. After all, the last ginseng Lu Qing sold had fetched 80 taels of silver.

“I’ve come to sell ginseng again,” Lu Qing said, producing three roots of ginseng.

The shopkeeper examined them. Their quality was excellent. “Young Master, where did you find such good ginseng?” he asked, tempted by the goods. Everything Lu Qing brought was top-tier.

Lu Qing just smiled without answering. Seeing this, the shopkeeper didn’t press. After all, it was someone else’s money-making secret—no one would share that lightly.

“How much will you pay for these three?” Lu Qing asked.

“How about 80 taels?”

“100. That’s my price,” Lu Qing said directly.

“This…” the shopkeeper hesitated.

“Don’t feel bad about it. You’re guaranteed to profit. Didn’t you make money from the last batch?” Lu Qing said bluntly.

The shopkeeper chuckled. “Fine, 100 taels it is.”

With the silver in hand, Lu Qing left the pharmacy. He walked around Luliang County, bought some needed items, white flour, and rice, then returned to Manglong Village.

As soon as he stepped inside, Han Qiuniang rushed over, her expression serious. “Husband, something happened!”

“What is it?” Lu Qing quickly looked around, worried Sun Magan might have caused trouble.

“Sun Magan stole everything from the village chief’s home. The chief has sent people all over the mountain to search for him,” Zheng Yulan explained.

“Really? I expected that,” Lu Qing said, not surprised at all. This was exactly what he figured someone like Sun Magan would do.

“Husband, what did you buy today?” Cheng Su’e asked, eyeing the items Lu Qing brought back.

“I bought some arrows and ox tendon rope. I noticed plenty of wild chickens and rabbits in the mountains. I plan to set a few traps and try my luck!” Lu Qing said, setting everything down.

“Qiuniang, Yulan!”

“What is it?” Han Qiuniang and Zheng Yulan looked at him.

“I’ll teach you a technique to weave nets. Help me turn this hemp rope into a fishing net!” Lu Qing threw the rope to the ground. He had noticed many fish in the river nearby, but it seemed no one in Manglong Village knew about fishing nets—or even what they were.

“What’s a fishing net?”

“It’s used for catching fish,” Lu Qing explained patiently.

“But isn’t fishing done with rods and spears?” Zheng Yulan asked, confused. She had never heard of using a net for fishing.

“Rods and spears work, but they’re inefficient. Nets can catch a lot of fish all at once,” Lu Qing said with a smile. Fishing rods were more for leisure, spears were too slow—nets were the most effective.

“I see,” Zheng Yulan said, finally understanding.

Lu Qing taught the technique to Han Qiuniang and Zheng Yulan. They were quick learners. After a few demonstrations, they got the hang of it.

As they worked, Lu Qing went back inside and built several traps. When he pulled the rope, the mechanism triggered, and several arrows shot into a wooden door panel in front.

“Ah!” Han Qiuniang was startled.

“This is a trap I made. If anyone causes trouble while I’m not home, just pull this rope,” Lu Qing said, teaching Han Qiuniang and Zheng Yulan how to use it.

Sun Magan was narrow-minded. Even if he didn’t come looking for trouble, Lu Qing preferred to be prepared. He also set a few hidden traps in the courtyard. Only when everything was done did he finally let out a satisfied breath.

“So the arrows you bought were all for traps?” Han Qiuniang asked. Seeing the mechanisms and traps Lu Qing had built, she felt secure—who would dare mess with them now?

Once everything was ready, Lu Qing left the house and went to Wu Facai’s home.

“Aunt Zhang!”

“Lu Qing!”

“Are Wu He and Wu Hai home?”

“They went to the fields with your Uncle Facai,” Aunt Zhang replied.

“Do you need something from them?” she asked, seeing Lu Qing holding a cloth-wrapped item.

“I went to Luliang County today and bought two weapons for self-defense. The two of them are the village enforcers—they can’t go around unarmed,” Lu Qing said, handing over the knives.

“Oh my, you really shouldn’t have!” Aunt Zhang exclaimed, surprised at the quality of the blades. Even if she didn’t know the exact value, she could tell they weren’t cheap.