Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

Zhang Yan'er saw a group of county soldiers suddenly burst into the study room. She screamed, then clutching her clothes, she angrily asked, "Who are you people? This is a private residence. How dare you trespass? Are you not afraid that we will report you to the authorities?"

Yet, it was at this time, when she was planning to give birth, that they burst in, losing all face. She couldn't live like this!

But although she didn't want to live, Zou Hai wanted to.

Zou Hai grabbed her and shielded himself with her body, pretending to ask Jiang Qi, "Who are you? What are you doing bursting into my house? This is the Sun Residence, and I am Sun Tianxi, proprietor of Sun's Tea House."

Jiang Qi laughed, pointing at him and said, "Zou Hai, stop pretending. Even though you don't frequent Tianfu County, there are many here who have seen you. Zou Jiang has already told us everything about you, including your dealings with the Tong Family Old San to buy household registration. The Lord County Magistrate has already ordered the arrest of the Tong Family People. Do you still think it's meaningful to continue pretending to be Sun Tianxi?"

Zou Hai felt a panic inside but forced himself to remain calm and said, "Sun does not know what you are talking about. Sun knows the Tong Family People because we are all from Baihe Town. I am not the Zou Hai you speak of; my surname is Sun, called Sun Tianxi, my father is Sun Dazhu. You have the wrong person."

Zhang Yan'er hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes! My Old Master's surname is Sun, not Zou. You've got the wrong man, leave our house quickly, otherwise we will report this to the authorities."

Then, she shouted towards the courtyard outside, "Xia Xiang, Xia Xiang, quickly go report to the authorities, there are thieves in our house!"

Before she could finish, another group of people in constable uniforms burst into the courtyard of the study, led by Squad Leader Lin, who said, "What are you shouting for? Your man is a fugitive from Tianfu County. This operation involves two counties working together to catch this fugitive. Anyone who dares to resist, be warned that blades and guns do not recognize people."

Zhang Yan'er was stunned, she knew Squad Leader Lin; he was a close nephew of the Yujiang County Captain. Him coming here with these people to arrest someone indicated that her Old Master's being a fugitive might indeed be true.

"Old Master, they are framing you, right? Say something!" Zhang Yan'er felt as if the sky had fallen, if the Old Master really was a fugitive, what would she be? Could she also be arrested?

Zou Hai, annoyed by Zhang Yan'er's noise, tightened his grip on her hand, and with his other hand discreetly took out a dagger, pressing it against her lower back. He looked up at Squad Leader Lin and said, "Squad Leader Lin, my Sun Family has lived in the county of Yujiang County for many years, the county is very aware of my family's situation. You have to stand up for me, don't believe the lies of these criminals."

Squad Leader Lin laughed irritably, "Zou Hai, stop pretending. Do you think that if you stubbornly refuse to admit anything, you can escape punishment? Do you think we're fools? Despite saying you've lived in the county for many years, we know everything – you come back home only three or four times a year, not living here for even a month. Who knows what you do outside?"

He continued, "Lord Jiang is the Military Department Company Commander of Tianfu County, holding a handwritten letter from County Magistrate Xu to arrest you. Daring to slander him as a criminal, do you have no brains?"

In the end, Squad Leader Lin threw a bundle of rope towards Zou Hai, "Hurry up and tie yourself up. If you don't cooperate, don't blame us for being impolite."

Zou Hai sank inside, realizing that refusing to admit the accusations wasn't going to work.

He quickly thought of a plan, immediately pressing the dagger against Zhang Yan'er's neck, glaring at Squad Leader Lin and Jiang Qi, "Get out, or else I'll kill her!"

He then sneered, "Junior Minister Ming is currently in the Prefecture. If a murder happens in Yujiang County at this time, neither the Yujiang County Magistrate nor the Tianfu County Magistrate will end up well!"

With the river bandit incident, the regions of Jianghuai and Jiangnan were already in chaos. If something else happened now, Junior Minister Ming would be furious.

Jiang Qi and Squad Leader Lin both held stern expressions, staring at Zou Hai, "Is this not your woman? You're planning to kill her too?"

Zou Hai sneered, "It's you who forced me! If she dies, it's your fault!"

Zou Hai was seething with unbearable anger. He had bought these household registrations, trying to cover up all his tracks perfectly, but unexpectedly, Jiang Qi had still managed to track him down and caught him red-handed.

From the moment Zou Hai held a dagger against her neck, Zhang Yan'er had been stunned. Upon hearing Zou Hai's ruthless words, she completely lost her temper. Before anyone else could react, she grabbed a bowl of cubilose from the table and smashed it on Zou Hai's head.

Clang!

The stewed bowl shattered on impact. Zou Hai was caught off guard, staggering back several steps, nearly falling, while the dagger in his hand accidentally cut Zhang Yan'er's neck. Fortunately, it did not sever an artery, and not much blood flowed.

Ignoring her own injury, Zhang Yan'er cried as she picked up a stool nearby and smashed it towards Zou Hai, cursing, "You beast! I was a decent girl, and marrying you has been like living in widowhood, but now you still want to kill me! Are you even human? You've ruined my life! Wuu wuu wuu…"

Her parental family would also be implicated if Sun Tianxi was found guilty of being a repeat offender. It was a man who had doomed her entire family.

Zou Hai ignored Zhang Yan'er's cries and curses, kicked her down, and ran towards the inner room.

Zhang Yan'er did not chase after him but sat on the ground, crying loudly: "What kind of monster did I even marry?"

Jiang Qi and his men hurriedly rushed into the inner room to capture Zou Hai.

This place was the study, accessible only to Zou Hai. Usually locked when he was not at home, the room had not only a secret chamber hiding gold and silver but also an escape door. At this moment, Zou Hai was trying to flee through it.

"Catch him!" Jiang Qi threw his broadsword, hitting Zou Hai in the lower back. Zou Hai winced in pain, his movements delayed for a moment, which allowed Squad Leader Lin to rush up and pin him down, with Jiang Qi pouncing immediately afterward.

After a fierce struggle, they finally subdued Zou Hai.

Zou Hai was ruthless, seeing that escape was impossible, he even attempted to bite his own tongue to commit suicide. Jiang Qi quickly dislocated his jaw to prevent him from severing his tongue.

But the look of fierce determination in Zou Hai's eyes made it clear he was resolved to die. Even if he didn't die this time, he would try to suicide again.

Jiang Qi knew why Zou Hai was doing so—to protect his wife and children elsewhere with his death.

However, Jiang Qi said, "We have found your household registrations in both Jianghuai and Jiangnan. Lord County Magistrate has already ordered people to capture your family members from both places. Even if you die, you cannot change the fate of your family being related to a felon. If you live, you can still see them one last time. If you're dead, you won't see anyone."

Upon hearing this, Zou Hai's face was filled with an ashen despair, realizing that the county government knew everything...

Originally in the outer room, Zhang Yan'er charged in upon hearing this, grabbing Zou Hai's collar and angrily exclaimed, "You bastard, you had another wife and children elsewhere? No wonder I haven't been able to conceive in six years of marriage to you; you already had children elsewhere and didn't want me to have any!"

Zhang Yan'er was overwhelmed with grievances, hitting Zou Hai while crying and cursing—a complete chaotic mess.

Jiang Qi, with a headache from the commotion, quickly said, "Pull her away, don't add to the chaos!"

The county soldiers hurried forward and dragged Zhang Yan'er away.