Li Xuejian knew nothing about the things happening in the village and in any case he wasn’t interested in knowing. But from the conversation and whispers, he already could make most of it and found out that this was a family drama about marriage.

In the morning, the He and Tang families arranged the marriage between them without the help of the village matchmaker to make it quick. But then one side didn’t want to keep the promise about the bride price because it was too high.

Now, the two families were arguing about it: “Don’t talk nonsense! It’s crazy to want more silvers! You didn’t say there was no dowry!”

In fact, Tang Junchen didn’t want to marry He Anran. If there was another choice, his family would certainly not choose this ger but buying a slave cost more money than marrying the jinx who nobody wanted as a concubine.

He has a lot of paddy fields but not enough people available to reap the harvest since the woman in the family got pregnant and couldn’t work. The boy was very thin and small, and Tong Junchen could always beat him up if he was lazy.

Meanwhile, as the two families weren’t able to come to an agreement, things were already chaotic: “Seven silvers is too much! Nobody except us will pay five teals!”

Tong Junchen was getting more annoyed by this commotion. He looked at He Anran and directly stretched out his hand to grab his collar to drag him to the village chief’s house and force the ger to sign the marriage contract. Before he touched He Anran's clothes, another hand suddenly stretched out, blocking the front and holding his wrist.

The joints were distinct, the fingers slender and the skin exuded a jade-like texture. When holding it gently, it felt light and breezy as if the other didn't use any strength.

Tong Junchen sneered and moved forward, not putting this hand in his eyes but he couldn't move at all. He didn't believe that he wouldn't be able to break free and continued to use force, but the results were still the same, no matter how hard he tried.

Looking at Li Xuejian, the other looked relaxed as if nothing was happening right now.

The Tong family seemed to have discovered something and quickly tried to help smooth things over: "We are all people from the same village so please don’t argue anymore."

Tong Junchen bluffed out: "I don't care about this jinx!” Pulling his hand back, but unexpectedly, he still couldn’t move. He began to struggle and the rest of the people realized that there was something wrong with him.

Obviously, it was just the hand of a young man, but at this time it is like a poisonous vine, firmly entwined with its prey. After appreciating its dying struggle, it slowly tightened a little bit and reaped its remaining life without any hassle.

Cold sweat dripped from Tong Junchen's forehead and looking at Li Xuejian's deep eyes without a trace of other emotions, he felt a sense of bone-chilling fear. He was scared and struggled even harder.

Unexpectedly, Li Xuejian suddenly relaxed the strength in his hand: “I will pay.”

Tong Junchen just rolled out until he hit the fence behind him. Several outsiders were mocking him as they watched the show. Everyone in the Tong family was aware that people in the village were seeing them as a joke and were furious.

But on the contrary, He Anran’s aunt was very happy, having someone who was willing to give her seven teals for a jinx.

She was convinced that although Li Xuejian lacked the land and had no income, the old hunter must have left him some silver after his death.

As He Zishu was overjoyed she even took the initiative to chase away the Tong family with a broom.

The Tong household was not really rich and couldn't afford to outbid Li Xuejian. The injured Tong Junchen glared at him, braced himself upright. But no matter how much he wanted to pretend, the hands under the arm were helping him to run away.

“Ai! This lady couldn't let those people with the heart of a wolf and the lungs of a dog take my family An Ran!” He Zishu obviously didn’t care about finding a good husband for He Anran but still wanted to pretend in front of villagers to be otherwise.

the heart of a wolf and the lungs of a dog - completely without conscience

With a thick face, she immediately said to Li Xuejian as she wasn't aware that he also didn't have a good reputation in the village: “I can see that my nephew has found a good home and my heart full of worries finally calmed down!”

He Zishu wanted to collect the bride price as soon as possible. The family’s silvers were being spent like splashed water on her son's studies. They need to pay tuition fees and bribe the officials to recommend him for the first-level imperial examination.

Li Xuejian didn't know why he decided to meddle in other people's private affairs. He had nothing to do with the boy apart from a herbal ointment he received yesterday, but in the end, they were pure strangers and he didn't even know the other name.

But maybe it was because the ger was standing there motionless with despair in the depths of his eyes. Or he just didn't like the way the others were looking at him as the boy was not a human being but livestock.

Li Xuejian didn't think of himself as a good and compassionate person. There was no place for such people back in the apocalypse. Everyone was an enemy and a simple act of goodwill could cost a life.

But once in a while, on a whim, if the wind’s in the right direction, he happened to not play according to the rules and helped somebody.

Li Xuejian had already made a decision, so there was no going back now. As for the ger being a so-called jinx, he didn't have an opinion on that. In the belief of those ancient folks, having light-colored hair was a symbol of calamity and ill fortune. This superstition was of course not based on any knowledgeable explanation, but people believe it anyway.

Li Xuejian already accepted the existence of the gers in this world so their hair color felt even less significant and couldn't bother him compared to this.

He looked at the boy carefully and asked: “Do you agree with that?” He won’t take the ger away and marry him without consent.

He Anran was feeling uneasy and anxious as he gazed at Li Xuejian in a daze but then quickly replied back: “Yes! I’m wi-willing.”

Li Xuejian was considerate enough to ask him first and there was little hope in the bottom of He Anran’s heart that the other won’t treat him too harshly.

He heard some gossip and the villagers said all kinds of unpleasant things about Li Xuejian. For example, they described him as a man who was living off his father, didn’t have the ability to support himself, and spent his days lazing around at home.

He Anran didn’t have any prejudice against Li Xuejian and wouldn’t judge his character based on the words of the others. Even if this was true, he still wanted to see it by himself.

He didn’t intend to go back to that home and also couldn’t go back.

He Zishu's voice pulled him from his distant train of thoughts: “There is nothing for him to be unwilling about!” Meaning that it was also not for him to decide.

She turned around to face Li Xuejian and spoke in a soft tone: “Alas! If you would rather head back to your home to bring the money then this lady really shouldn't keep you here anymore.”

It seems that she was no longer able to stand still: “We will wait for you at the village head’s house to sign a marriage contract and register He Anran under the Li household.”

Li Xuejian's lips twitched with a hint of a grimace as he understood the woman's intention.

Before leaving, Li Xuejian spared another glance at the boy and straightforwardly said: “Wait for me to come back.”

On the way, all the villagers looked at Li Xuejian strangely as is if marrying a jinx was a thing that only a desperate person would do.

“I… I will.” He Anran whispered with his eyes half-dropping.

Li Xuejian didn't give He Zishu any face but with so many people staring at her she didn't have any other choice than just keep a smile on her face as if she hadn’t seen the groom's attitude.

In a small village like Wuyuan, the news traveled at the speed of boredom. The crowd of spectators had grown up and stormed over to the entrance of the village chief courtyard. The people were squashing melon seeds and debating whether or not Li Xuejian will really come back with the silvers.