Chapter 9: The Countryside Wife and the White Moonlight (9)

Moments earlier, when Su Yu and Li Hua had first passed the two men, Li Hua had been entirely bewildered. She sensed something amiss, yet could not put her finger on it.

Glancing around to ensure the coast was clear, Su Yu had leaned down and whispered into Li Hua’s ear, “Run back to the manor and bring men. Tell them a kidnapping is taking place.”

“Mother, aren’t you coming with me?” Li Hua asked, trembling with fear. It was her very first time encountering kidnappers.

Su Yu shook her head. “I learned self-defense back on the country planet. I will stall them. You must be quick, do you hear?”

Li Hua nodded vigorously. “Please don’t get hurt! I will bring people back immediately!”

Terrified that something might happen to Su Yu, Li Hua pumped her plump little legs as fast as they could carry her, reaching the main gates of the Marshal’s Manor in five short minutes.

Clinging to the imposing stone lion, she wheezed for breath. The sentry recognized her and descended the steps. “Li Hua, didn’t you go out with Madam? Why are you back alone?”

Clutching her chest, Li Hua gasped, “B-Big Brother Dali! Madam and I ran into kidnappers on the road! Madam is stalling them and sent me back to get help! Hurry and gather some men—there are two kidnappers, and I’m afraid Madam will get hurt!”

By the end of her sentence, tears were already welling in her eyes.

Yan Dali instantly took charge. “Adjutant Xue happens to be here. I’ll take you to him.”

Her legs turning to jelly, Li Hua was practically dragged by Yan Dali until she stood before Xue Yanzhen.

Li Hua repeated what she had told Yan Dali. “Adjutant Xue, we really cannot delay any longer!”

Xue Yanzhen’s expression turned grave. He rose immediately. “Dali, pick five men. Li Hua, lead the way.”

Su Yu had not confronted the two men recklessly; she had acted with absolute confidence. Their footwork was unsteady, bearing no sign of martial arts training. Moreover, having two grown men support a woman as light as a feather yet move so sluggishly indicated a severe lack of physical strength.

In her past life, Su Yu had been a two-time municipal Sanda champion and a Taekwondo champion. In this life, her body possessed immense strength from years of manual labor. Indeed, with just a single kick delivered without even exerting her full force, she had shattered the man’s leg bone.

In the narrow bluestone alley, the man’s agonized wails echoed relentlessly. Su Yu said coldly, “Shut your mouth, unless you want your other leg broken too.”

Rage burned in the man’s chest. Everything had gone so smoothly—who could have predicted this meddlesome woman would pop out of nowhere and ruin their entire operation?

Enduring the searing agony, he stole a glance at Su Yu. Recognizing the lethal seriousness in her eyes, he shoved his fist into his mouth to stifle his screams.

I’ll humor this wench for now. Once the short one brings reinforcements, I’ll make sure both her legs are snapped in two!

He lowered his hate-filled gaze.

“Who is this woman you’re kidnapping?” Su Yu demanded.

“I don’t know!”

“Mind your tongue. Do you truly think your accomplice is bringing help to save you? Stop dreaming. My daughter has already run to the Marshal’s Manor for reinforcements. Crossing the Marshal’s Manor will not end well for you.”

The man refused to believe her, craning his neck in stubborn silence.

“Madam!”

The synchronized cadence of marching boots arrived alongside Li Hua’s anxious cry.

Catching the man’s face turn ashen from the corner of her eye, Su Yu stepped forward to steady the weak-kneed Li Hua. She nodded to Xue Yanzhen behind her. “Now that Adjutant Xue is here, I leave this in your hands. I am taking Li Hua back to the manor.”

The inexplicable flutter stirring in her chest left Su Yu unsettled. Supporting Li Hua toward the end of the alley, she could not resist glancing back one last time. The narrow bluestone passage was packed tight with guards in black uniforms. Turning away resolutely, Su Yu departed with Li Hua.

After returning to the manor, Su Yu did not cross paths with Xue Yanzhen again, leaving her with no way of learning the rescued woman’s identity.

The following day, five academic tutors and a sketching teacher arrived. Su Yu’s days were packed tight: starting at seven in the morning, she studied English, Chinese, and sketching; her afternoons were devoted to Beiguo History, Foreign Planet History, and Chemistry; later came workouts to lose weight; and her nights were spent writing to earn money. With such an exhausting schedule, she had no time to dwell on what had occurred in Bluestone Alley—save for those rare midnight dreams where a cold, glamorous face, even with eyes closed, would drift across her mind.

During lessons, Su Yu had Li Hua sit beside her to listen. Since Su Yu ostensibly had no academic background, the tutors began with foundational coursework in English and Chinese. Having full command of traditional Chinese characters, however, the material was laughably simple for her—so simple that she struggled to figure out how a genuine novice ought to behave.

With Li Hua present, things became far easier. All Su Yu had to do was mirror Li Hua: wear a solemn expression, feign confusion from time to time, and occasionally nod in sudden realization.

When the morning lessons concluded, Su Yu put down her pencil to see the sketching teacher out.

Though Su Yu had repeatedly concealed her true proficiency, the sketching teacher possessed a keen eye. As she prepared to depart, she remarked, “Miss Su has an extraordinary talent for drawing. With diligent effort, there is no reason you cannot become a world-renowned artist in the future.”

Su Yu showed no sign of flattery or delight, replying calmly, “Teacher Lin overpraises me. I have simply drawn embroidery stencils often, so I have a bit of practical experience, that is all.”

Teacher Lin smiled and nodded. “Modesty is a virtue. Miss Su need not see me out further.”

The more one explained, the more flaws one revealed.

Standing in place until Teacher Lin’s silhouette vanished, Su Yu turned to Li Hua beside her. “Run two laps before lunch.”

Li Hua assented and fell into step behind Su Yu. By now, Li Hua was capable of speaking between heavy, ragged pants while jogging. “M-Mother… do you think… I am… too stupid? To tell the truth… I didn’t understand a single word today… I was just pretending to nod along…”

Su Yu was caught off guard. So Li Hua’s knowing nods were all an act! No wonder her own performance—just a fraction better than Li Hua’s—had drawn the teachers’ scrutiny. Both the English and Chinese tutors had lavished praise on her innate talent before taking their leave.

Su Yu came to an abrupt halt. Lost in her own jogging rhythm, Li Hua crashed straight into her back. “Mother, why did you stop?” Li Hua asked, her face flushed crimson.

Su Yu scolded gently, “You are forbidden from faking it during afternoon classes. If you don’t understand, you don’t understand; ask the teacher to explain it a few more times. When you pretend to understand, the teacher assumes you’ve grasped the concept and moves on, and in the end, you will learn nothing.”

Li Hua nodded hastily, filled with shame. “Mother, Li Hua knows she was wrong.”

“Recognizing a fault and correcting it is the greatest virtue. For your penalty, run an extra half-lap at noon.”

In addition to Xianhua Press, Su Yu selected two more publications for submissions: Youth Current Affairs, which focused on news and socio-political commentary, and Baihua Huiwen, which specialized in serialized vernacular fiction.

Every two days, Li Hua would carry Su Yu’s completed manuscripts to the inn, which had now been renamed Hanshan Literary Studio.

A popular author could boost a newspaper’s circulation, thereby commanding higher manuscript fees.

Half a month later, Su Yu’s academic pursuits were advancing like wildfire, while the serialized vernacular novel Bound-Foot Woman, penned by the author Hanshan, took the entire city of Xuancheng by storm.