Ruling the Historical Romance Novel as the Female Supporting Character-Chapter 397: A Woman Full of Lies

They stayed in Hu City until after New Year’s Day, selling a large batch of fruits, candied fruits, oil, seafood, and fruit wine. Then, they specifically made a trip to Fu Province to sell the same items. With the New Year approaching, many people were eager to buy these goods, and the black market vendors had tripled their demands.

This time, they had earned a substantial fortune, their small savings surpassing a million. However, Su Yijia felt a twinge of disappointment. Despite having so much money, there were few entertainment activities to enjoy. Thankfully, there was still the thrill of treasure hunting, which helped lift her spirits.

Ming Xinlu and her companions were diligently traveling across the country collecting antiques. Since they were actively buying, their spending was also significant. As society changed, more people became aware of the value of old items, knowing that their treasures would soon appreciate significantly.

Items that used to sell for five yuan now fetched fifty or more, with even mediocre quality pieces commanding seventy or eighty. Beautiful ones easily went over a hundred. Paintings and calligraphy, which were difficult to preserve, and expensive jewelry like agate and jade, demanded even more money. Sellers held onto their items, hoping to find wealthy buyers; selling just a few pieces at a high price could allow them to buy a job in the city.

Su Yijia understood their mindset and felt no ill will. With her newfound wealth, she was buying others’ treasures without hesitation. As long as Qin Kaize didn’t have issues with Ming Xinlu, she was happy to let her gather whatever she wanted.

Once everything was sorted, Su Yijia and Qin Kaize prepared to head to the northwest. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Stop! You, come here!" Suddenly, a furious shout broke through the crowd.

A disheveled woman burst from the crowd, running toward Su Yijia. Qin Kaize quickly pulled Su Yijia to safety, while Gao Huabin guided Grandpa and Grandma Lin aside. The five of them dodged just in time as the woman rushed past them, disappearing into another throng.

Following her were four or five villagers dressed in patched burlap clothing, their expressions menacing.

"Looks like another educated youth trying to return to the city," Grandma Lin sighed as she watched the scene unfold.

Su Yijia had little interest in such matters and didn’t voice an opinion, heading straight onto the train. Gao Huabin, who had been busy for half a year, was ready to return home for the New Year. His task this time was just to help them stow their luggage before heading off.

Trains in this era often stopped for a long time, especially in a major transfer station like Hu City. As they finished loading their belongings, someone burst into their sleeper compartment.

"Please! Please help me!" The girl from earlier fell to her knees, hands clasped in desperation.

Su Yijia remained silent, observing the woman quietly. The woman seemed a bit flustered under her gaze, redirecting her attention to the other three. Without Su Yijia’s encouragement, Grandpa and Grandma Lin weren’t inclined to intervene, and neither did Qin Kaize. Normally, he wouldn’t stand by as someone was bullied, but he understood that today’s situation was complex; household disputes were notoriously difficult to untangle.

The compartment fell into a heavy silence, and the woman began to sob. "The ones chasing me are not good people. They ruined my reputation and forced me to marry. Now that I’ve finally gotten into college, they won’t let me go and even want to sell my admission letter." Her story was delivered with such anguish it felt as if all misfortunes were hers alone.

Grandpa and Grandma Lin listened, feeling distressed and looking to Su Yijia and Qin Kaize for help. But both appeared unfazed, their expressions impassive, prompting the elders to swallow their words and remain silent.

"Comrade, we’re about the same age. Can you really stand by and watch a fellow woman suffer such injustice?" the woman pleaded, her desperation mounting. Yet Su Yijia was unmoved. "Is it fair to blame everything on them?" she countered.

The woman’s face froze at the question, before she erupted, "How dare you say that? Clearly, you’ve never lived in the village and don’t know how terrible those people are!"

"Get lost! Leave now, or I’ll personally hand you over to them," Qin Kaize warned, his voice darkening as he responded to the woman’s shout directed at Su Yijia. While he preferred not to involve himself in others’ family matters, he could see through her façade.

The woman trembled but shot back defiantly, "You’re just enabling them! You want me dead!"

Despite her anger, her voice lost some strength. Su Yijia suddenly chuckled lightly. "I know what they’re like when they’re truly vicious, and you’re trying to play us for fools. If life in the village was so terrible, how come your complexion is so good? The ones chasing you wore patched clothes, yet you have new cotton clothes. If they really didn’t want you to go to college, how did you even participate in the National College Entrance Examination? If they forced you to sell your admission letter, why are you completely unscathed? Look at you—healthy and well-fed. The villagers have supported you well, and yet you’re here slandering them?"

Her words became increasingly incisive, laden with mockery. The woman, caught off guard, stood frozen, her face turning red with shame and rage as she struggled to refute. "You don’t know anything! Stop talking nonsense!"

After shouting, she turned to flee. Qin Kaize’s expression grew even more severe, and he started to pursue her, but Su Yijia pulled him back.