Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 2 

The tallest of the leading men, upon seeing Lu Sheng, lowered his raised eyebrows, stepped forward, and put on a smiling face, “Oh, little sister Lu, you’re home?”

“What is your business?” Lu Sheng stood in the doorway, not letting them in.

Besides the burly men at the door, there were also many villagers standing behind, whispering to each other, clearly there to watch the show.

“Little sister Lu is forgetful, we’ve come today to take possession of the house.” The man had a smile on his face, but there was no hint of amusement in his eyes, only a trace of disdain.

A bad feeling rose in Lu Sheng’s heart, but she didn’t recognize who this person was.

“Take possession of what house?” A cool, clear female voice came from inside the courtyard.

“Scholar Qi.” The man clasped his hands towards Qi Zhenshu, his tone much more respectful.

Qi Zhenshu walked over, stood beside Lu Sheng, lightly glanced at her, and then turned to the man, saying, “Steward Zhang.”

The man called Steward Zhang smiled and pulled out a piece of paper from his bosom, handing it to Qi Zhenshu, “Scholar Qi, little sister Lu, you came to Longsheng Pawnshop the day before yesterday and pawned this house to us. Please take a look, this is the pawn ticket.”

Hearing this, Lu Sheng’s heart sank.

The original owner, that scumbag, pawned the house first, then sold her daughter.

This was a clear-cut case of taking the money and running.

Lu Sheng instinctively looked at Qi Zhenshu. Qi Zhenshu was carefully examining the pawn ticket, not sparing her a single extra glance.

Lu Sheng craned her neck to try and see, but Qi Zhenshu had already refolded the paper, still ignoring her.

She awkwardly withdrew her gaze, turned her head to look outside the courtyard, feeling incredibly wronged.

It was the original owner who did the awful deed, but she was the one taking the blame.

More than a dozen people walked up the slope. Lu Sheng was a little speechless; these villagers were truly gossipy enough.

Qi Zhenshu handed the paper back to Steward Zhang and said unhurriedly, “Steward Zhang, if I’m not mistaken, for a house to be pawned, before the deed is transferred, this pawn ticket can be redeemed.”

“What does Scholar Qi mean by that?” Steward Zhang’s face changed, losing his smile.

Qi Zhenshu did not speak, merely shifting her gaze from Steward Zhang to outside the gate.

The people who had just come up the slope had reached the junction.

Seeing their appearance clearly, Lu Sheng for the first time matched them with the people in her memory fragments.

The old woman walking at the very front was the lizheng (village head) of this village, and also the younger sister of the original owner’s grandfather.

“What are you all blocking here for?” The old woman’s hair was gray, and she was leaning on a cane, but her voice was strong and commanding.

As soon as she spoke, the onlookers parted to both sides, clearing a path.

Steward Zhang also turned back when he heard the voice, and his brow furrowed when he saw who had arrived.

When they got closer, Steward Zhang respectfully bowed to the old woman, “Lizheng Lu.”

“Oh, you’re the second son of Zhang Lao Si’s family, aren’t you? It’s been a long time since I saw your father, is he still healthy?” Lizheng Lu asked with a smile.

The wrinkles on the old woman’s face gathered together, making her look particularly kind and amiable, but the imposing aura about her did not diminish, but rather increased.

“He’s been fine recently, thank you for asking. How have you been lately?” Steward Zhang replied with a forced smile.

“My health is getting worse year by year. There are many things in the village, and the younger generation in the family, alas, none of them are worry-free.”

Lizheng Lu glared at Lu Sheng. Lu Sheng pretended to lower her head in guilt.

She had no memory of selling the house, but if even Qi Zhenshu didn’t know, then the original owner probably hadn’t told anyone else either.

Lizheng Lu reached out and patted Steward Zhang’s shoulder, “You’ve grown so sturdy. I haven’t seen you for many years. Why do you have time to visit our Luer Zhuang today?”

“Well, the other day, little sister Lu pawned this house to us, and told us to come today to take possession.” Steward Zhang said with a smile.

“Oh? Is that so?” Lizheng Lu spoke to Steward Zhang, but her eyes were on Lu Sheng.

The old woman’s gaze was sharp, and Lu Sheng was speechless, once again lowering her head to silently take the blame.

“I remember that after Chenger left, the house deeds should all have been kept by Shuer, right?” The old woman turned and asked Qi Zhenshu.

“Grand-aunt, the house deed is still with me.” Qi Zhenshu nodded.

Lizheng Lu’s expression eased a little. She turned back and asked Steward Zhang, “How much silver did Xiaosheng pawn this house for?”

Steward Zhang hesitated for a moment, “Fifty taels.”

“Fifty taels?” A woman behind Lizheng Lu exclaimed in surprise.

Lu Sheng looked up. It was the original owner’s cousin, Lu Huaying.

“When my second brother built this house, he spent over one hundred and fifty taels. You only gave fifty taels? Isn’t this robbery?” Lu Huaying yelled in a sharp voice.

“This price was discussed and agreed upon. Little sister Lu signed and initialed to confirm it.” Steward Zhang said, taking out the pawn ticket from his bosom again, preparing to hand it to Lizheng Lu.

Lizheng Lu waved her hand, smiling, and said, “I believe you.”

Steward Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and tucked the document back into his bosom.

Lizheng Lu glanced at Lu Sheng, then turned back to ask Qi Zhenshu, “After Chenger left, I said that although you married into the Lu family, Xiaosheng is incapable, and you will be the head of this family from now on.”

Hearing this, Lu Sheng understood. The old woman had said so much, specifically to inform Steward Zhang that Qi Zhenshu was the one in charge of the family, and Lu Sheng did not have the authority to sell the house.

As long as the house deed hadn’t been given out and Qi Zhenshu disagreed, the document signed by the original owner could be revoked.

However, Lu Sheng didn’t quite understand. Since the pawning was only complete upon handing over the house deed, why did the pawnshop give the original owner the money just based on a signature?

Upon hearing Lizheng Lu’s words, Steward Zhang also grew a little anxious, “Lizheng Lu…”

Lizheng Lu raised her hand to interrupt him, “Sanwa, I’ve dealt with your father for so many years. I know the rules of your trade and I won’t let you come all this way for nothing.”

Bringing up his father directly, what more could Steward Zhang say? He just felt that today’s trip was likely to be a fruitless effort.

Lizheng Lu continued to ask Qi Zhenshu, “What are your thoughts on this matter?”

“Grand-aunt, when Father built this house, he said it was to be left to Lu Qi in the future.” As Qi Zhenshu spoke, her gaze lightly swept over Lu Sheng. “I have seen the document. The pawn for the house is fifty taels, and the penalty for breach of contract is ten taels.”

“Steward Zhang, allow me one day. I will personally deliver these sixty taels to the counter tomorrow.” Qi Zhenshu bowed to him.

Steward Zhang secretly pondered the situation.

He had heard about the Lu family’s affairs a while ago: Lu Huacheng had died and owed a large amount of debt.

He was not from Luer Zhuang and only knew that Qi Zhenshu was a son-in-law who married into the family, so he naturally assumed Lu Sheng was the one in charge.

He had deliberately suppressed the price for the Lu family’s house, planning to buy it for fifty taels and then sell it for a hundred.

At the time, fearing that Lu Sheng might go back on her word, he directly signed the pawn ticket even without the house deed. He thought that since the Lu family was so poor now, they would never be willing to pay the ten taels penalty.

When his subordinates mentioned seeing Lu Sheng in Bazi Hutong earlier, he vaguely felt something was wrong. Fearing complications, he hurriedly brought people to the Lu family.

He didn’t expect that he was indeed tricked by Lu Sheng. Pawning the house was a pretense; getting money from him to run away was the real motive.

If Lu Sheng really ran away, and he didn’t have the house deed, then with just the pawn ticket in his hand, if Qi Zhenshu refused to acknowledge it, his fifty taels would be completely lost.

He had deliberately brought more people today. After deducting the expenses for the errands, there wouldn’t be much money left from the ten taels penalty.

Steward Zhang was unhappy, but he was in the wrong in this matter, so he had no choice but to lead his men away, considering it as saving face for Lizheng Lu.

Lizheng Lu had a daughter who was an official in the capital, and even his father did not dare to easily offend her.

Once Steward Zhang and his men had left, Lizheng Lu instructed the people behind her to go out and close the door.

When it was just the three of them in the courtyard, Lizheng Lu struck Lu Sheng with her cane, “You unfilial daughter, what exactly do you want to do?”

The old woman was old, but the strength in her hand was considerable.

It was fortunate that Lu Sheng had survived in the apocalypse for so many years and reacted quickly. As the cane scraped her leg, she twisted away in the direction of the force.

Otherwise, her leg would have been severely injured, if not completely crippled, for some time.

Lu Sheng fell to the ground, pretending to be gravely injured, and forced out two streams of tears, confessing in a soft voice, “Grand-aunt, I was wrong. I will never dare to do it again.”

When the cane hit Lu Sheng’s leg, Lizheng Lu immediately regretted it, but she was genuinely furious.

Her brother had died young, leaving only one son, Lu Huacheng, who in turn had only one daughter, Lu Sheng.

She had watched Lu Sheng grow up since she was a child. When Lu Huacheng died, she knew that if Lu Sheng managed the household, the family fortune would sooner or later be squandered. That’s why she had spoken up and let Qi Zhenshu take charge.

Yet, only a few days later, Lu Sheng treated her words as deaf ears and even started plotting against the house.

Lizheng Lu was both anxious and angry, feeling she had failed her deceased brother and parents.

“Grand-aunt, I was foolish before. I will definitely live a good life with Ashu from now on.” Lu Sheng said, her eyes red, holding her ‘beaten’ leg, looking truly pitiful.

“If I ever mess up again, you can beat me to death, and I’ll accept it.” Her tone was sincere, and her eyes were firm, showing a complete determination to mend her ways.

Lu Sheng’s behavior was partly an act, but she was not the original owner, and she genuinely would not run away with the money.

Since the apocalypse, living a simple and leisurely life was Lu Sheng’s greatest wish.

Seeing her like this, Lizheng Lu’s heart had long since softened. She sternly reprimanded, “What kind of sight is a grown person sitting on the ground like that?”

Lu Sheng remembered her ‘injured leg’ and deliberately stumbled when she got up.

Lizheng Lu sighed, and her tone softened, “What good does telling me do? The one you wronged the most is Shuer.”

Lu Sheng limped over to Qi Zhenshu, tugged at her sleeve, and apologized softly: “It was all my fault before. I will definitely turn over a new leaf. Can you forgive me?”

Qi Zhenshu did not answer, merely gazing quietly at Lu Sheng, her eyes calm like a clear pool, as if trying to see into her heart.

Lu Sheng felt uncomfortable under her gaze, biting her lip and hesitantly saying, “I will definitely treat you and Tangtang well from now on.”

“Remember what you said today. If you ever do such an outrageous thing again, watch your leg!” Lizheng Lu sternly warned again, “Is the money from pawning the house still there?”

This was the critical question. Lu Sheng had no memory of that period, so how would she know if the money was still there?

The anger that had been suppressed flared up again. Lizheng Lu rolled her eyes at her and said to Qi Zhenshu, “See how much is missing, and go to my place to borrow the rest tomorrow.”

After giving Qi Zhenshu a few more instructions, Lizheng Lu finally left.

The two of them saw Lizheng Lu to the door. Lu Sheng closed the door and turned around only to find Qi Zhenshu staring intently at her.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Sheng was perplexed by her gaze.

“Your leg is fine.” Qi Zhenshu’s tone was certain, a trace of mockery flashing in her eyes.

Lu Sheng: …

This person was not only good-looking but also highly intelligent.

Before she could answer, Qi Zhenshu said faintly, “Come with me.”

Lu Sheng lowered her eyes and watched her retreating figure for a long time, her expression changing repeatedly, before she finally raised her foot to follow.

Qi Zhenshu led her to the north-facing room in the East Wing.

“Wait for me.” Qi Zhenshu said, then sat at the table and picked up a brush to write.

Lu Sheng nodded and began to observe the room.

The interior decoration was also simple. The only furniture in the room was a set of table and chairs. Against the north wall, there was a row of suspended wooden boards flush with the ground, neatly filled with books.

After a quick look around, Lu Sheng focused her attention back on Qi Zhenshu.

The person’s back was perfectly straight, her left hand slightly arched and resting on the edge of the paper, and her right hand was suspended, the fingers holding the brush handle slender and long.

The tip of the brush moved across the paper unhurriedly, the movements elegant and graceful.

Lu Sheng was somewhat mesmerized until Qi Zhenshu put down the brush. Only then did she turn her head, pretending to look at the inkstone on the table.

Qi Zhenshu gently blew the ink dry, handed the paper to Lu Sheng, and said with a calm gaze: “Have a look. If you have no objection, sign your name.”

Lu Sheng paused when she saw the three large characters on the right side.

It was a Deed of Separation (Helishu – an agreement to end a marriage).

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