I'll Lend It to You

"Lord Song..."

"Song Chengan."

When Zhao Guiyu and Wang San'er saw the young man following behind Hu Lu, both their expressions changed.

If it had only been those strongmen on duty at the Demon Suppression Division, they might not have dared offend them, but with Miss Zhao beside them, they would not have been too worried.

But now that they saw the young man who had come was Song Chengan, both of them began to panic.

"This is Song Chengan, the one who beat a strange man to death in the street and slew a demon at the docks!"

Wang San'er said.

Zhao Guiyu, however, quickly recovered from her initial shock.

"Lord Song, what brings you here?"

Smiling, she rose to her feet.

Song Chengan was rather surprised by her words.

He had not expected Zhao Guiyu to recognize him.

"You know me?"

Song Chengan asked.

At the same time, he saw Zhao Yuan'er.

A sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

Why was Zhao Yuan'er here?

Zhao Yuan'er knew that he was familiar with those Monsters on Mount Luo. If that matter got out, it would probably bring trouble.

"Young Master Song first eliminated a demon-man in the street, then killed that fish Monster that slaughtered innocents at the docks. Of course we know Lord Song," Zhao Guiyu hastily replied.

Song Chengan nodded.

"Hu Lu said he was treating me to a meal. I had nothing to do, so I came."

"I haven't disturbed you, have I?"

"Not at all, not at all."

Zhao Yuan'er had been rather surprised when she saw Song Chengan.

Only now did she come back to her senses. She stood and gave him a shallow curtsy.

"Young Master Song!"

"Miss Zhao, I trust you have been well."

"Young Master Song knows Miss Zhao?"

Seeing this, Zhao Guiyu was delighted.

Hu Lu, on the other hand, changed color.

If Song Chengan knew Zhao Yuan'er, would he stop helping him?

Song Chengan exchanged a glance with Zhao Yuan'er and said, "You could say we know each other."

"May I ask what your relationship is?"

"Sister Zhao Guiyu has treated me like family since I was little."

"He was worried that Brother-in-law Hu Lu would make a fuss and take this to the County Yamen, so he begged me to come take a look."

Zhao Yuan'er said.

The moment those words were spoken, Zhao Guiyu and Wang San'er's expressions changed at once.

They had thought that since Zhao Yuan'er knew Song Chengan, this matter was as good as settled.

They both knew Hu Lu's circumstances. He had no money and castrated pigs for a living. Even if he knew Song Chengan, how deep could their friendship possibly be?

But with Zhao Yuan'er speaking this way, their side was naturally weaker in momentum. They keenly sensed that things had changed.

Zhao Yuan'er ignored them.

Instead, she continued, "Brother-in-law Hu Lu."

"At least for now, I still call you brother-in-law."

"When all is said and done, Sister Guiyu was in the wrong in this matter. She let you down."

"Our side thinks everyone should discuss it and settle this matter."

"We can compensate you."

"What do you say?"

"I can make the decision regarding compensation."

"It depends on what you want."

"Young Master Song, do you think handling it this way is acceptable?"

After speaking, Zhao Yuan'er looked at Song Chengan.

She was a clever woman and knew that Song Chengan's opinion was very important.

Song Chengan smiled. "Hu Lu invited me here for a free meal. We'll see what Hu Lu wants."

Hu Lu tried hard to straighten his back.

By now, how could he not realize that his worries had been unnecessary? Song Chengan was on his side.

Hu Lu felt a bitter taste in his heart.

He felt that he had once been a shameless, lowly wretch. When others humiliated him, he had not dared talk back; he had only dared throw his weight around before Song Chengan, whom he had inwardly considered beneath him.

Yet Song Chengan had not only refused to hold it against him before, but was now helping him.

Without Song Chengan stepping forward, how could he alone have fought against the Zhao family and Wang San'er?

Without Song Chengan, why would Zhao Guiyu and Wang San'er have discussed matters with him so pleasantly?

His heart was filled with a hundred tangled flavors. He only tucked this debt of gratitude away in his heart, thinking that he would repay it someday.

"Hu Lu?"

Seeing that Hu Lu had remained silent, Song Chengan prompted him.

Song Chengan's call finally brought Hu Lu back to his senses.

He looked at Zhao Guiyu and asked,

"Do you truly intend to leave me and live with Wang San'er?"

After saying that, he stared fixedly at Zhao Guiyu.

They had been husband and wife for many years, and Zhao Guiyu did not dare meet Hu Lu's eyes.

She looked away and said, "If not for Hu Gou'er, we could have managed to keep living our lives."

Hu Gou'er was their eldest son—the son whom Hu Lu had discovered through Blood Recognition some time ago was not his own flesh and blood.

"But now that you know about it, there is a thorn in your heart. Even if I stayed, the days ahead would be difficult."

"You would feel stifled, and I could no longer pretend to be muddleheaded as I did before."

"We might as well part ways and each be free."

"I don't mind."

Hu Lu said.

He looked at Zhao Guiyu, his gaze carrying a trace of pleading.

But Zhao Guiyu did not hesitate at all.

"Back then, my parents looked down on Wang San'er and insisted that I marry you."

"I resented them, so I kept entangling myself with Wang San'er, wanting to spite them."

She took a deep breath. "They are already gone from this world, and I understand that what I did was far too childish. But one thing is one thing—you and I can never again be husband and wife as we once were."

Hu Lu's eyes reddened slightly. "If you leave me, can Wang San'er truly treat you well?"

Zhao Guiyu answered without hesitation, "I have liked him since I was young, and I still do."

"Perhaps I do not like him quite that much anymore, but this is an obsession of mine."

With matters having reached this point, Hu Lu knew there was no room left for turning back.

He said, "You can go live with Wang San'er."

"But I have only one request. Give birth to the child in your belly and give it to me."

"Give me the child, and I will leave you alone."

"No."

Zhao Guiyu shook her head almost without hesitation.

Hu Lu looked at Wang San'er. "I only want the child. I can give you money, but I want this child."

"This is my child."

"If you refuse and want to take my child away too, then I'll stake this life of mine and make a scene all the way to the County Yamen."

"Lord Song will uphold justice for me."

"You will not bully me as you please!" he said with ironclad resolve.

Hearing this, Wang San'er glanced at the smiling Song Chengan and hurriedly pulled Zhao Guiyu aside.

All he wanted now was to settle this cursed matter as quickly as possible.

In the past, he would not have been afraid.

Hu Lu had no ability and no money to grease the right palms. Even if he went to the County Yamen, who would pay him any attention?

But now that Song Chengan was standing up for him, things were different.

If this turned into a real dispute, Wang San'er feared he would be unable to bear the consequences.

"No!"

Song Chengan picked up his chopsticks and ate the cold dishes on the table.

No one else had any appetite, and it would be a waste to leave them there.

Before long.

Zhao Guiyu and Wang San'er returned.

Wang San'er wore a flattering smile.

Zhao Guiyu looked somewhat unwilling.

"Give birth to the child and give it to you," Wang San'er said.

There was not much joy on Hu Lu's face.

He fell silent.

Only after a long while did he ask, "How much silver do you want?"

Wang San'er did not answer. Instead, he tugged at Zhao Guiyu's sleeve. "Ten taels."

A look of astonishment appeared on Wang San'er's face. That was not the price they had discussed.

Hu Lu began taking silver from his body.

He feared thieves might pickpocket him, so he had divided the silver among several places.

In his sleeves.

Against his chest.

Sewn into his jacket.

He placed the silver on the table and began counting it.

No one spoke. Everyone watched quietly.

Hu Lu's hand counting the silver slowed, and his face gradually flushed red.

He had borrowed silver in advance from many friends, scraping together every bit he could, but he was still short one tael.

"Forget it..."

Zhao Guiyu said.

But Hu Lu shouted, "No! We said ten taels, so it will be ten taels."

Song Chengan took some broken silver from his chest.

"I'll lend you this one tael!"

Hu Lu rubbed his eyes, clasped his fists toward Song Chengan, and accepted the one tael of broken silver.