Jun 5, 2026
Chapter 100 — A Wild Goat • Ling Chenghu and His Wife
“Oh my—where did this wild goat come from?!”
At dawn the next day, before the sky had even fully brightened, the Ling family was already up and about. They hadn’t even finished washing up in the small washrooms attached to their rooms when Song Yang-shi’s startled cry rang out. One after another, doors were flung open as everyone stepped out to see what was going on.
“A wild goat?!”
“Awoo—awoo!”
Right in front of the main hall lay a fairly large wild goat, motionless on the ground. Several gruesome, torn wounds marked its neck, the blood long since dried. At first glance, it was rather terrifying. Just as the family stood there, puzzled, wondering what had happened, two wolf cubs suddenly appeared from nowhere, rushing to Ling Jingxuan’s feet and yelping incessantly.
His gaze sharpened. He quickly noticed that the black fur around their mouths looked sticky, as if matted with something. Crouching down, he stroked their heads, then after a moment pointed at the dead goat.
“You two caught this?”
“Awoo! Awoo!”
As if they understood, the two little wolves barked and wagged their tails eagerly, like children showing off a prize. Everyone stared in disbelief. They were still so young—how could they have possibly hunted a goat? No wonder they hadn’t been seen all night… had they gone into the mountains?
“Good. Go play with Xiao Wen and the others.”
Unlike the others’ astonishment, Ling Jingxuan’s expression turned faintly grave. He patted their heads again and stood up. “Old Song, Aunt Song—handle the goat. When Xinyuan’s fish cart comes later, have them take a leg to Shopkeeper Zhang. Send another to Mister Chu. We’ll keep the rest. If there are more catches in the future, don’t be surprised—just process them and use more salt to cure the meat.”
With that, he turned and walked away. Yan Shengrui, who had been watching him closely the whole time, quietly followed. A plump wild goat had practically fallen from the sky—Ling Chenglong and the others were grinning from ear to ear, none of them noticing anything amiss.
“What is it? Worried about the wolf cubs?”
Catching up to him as he jogged ahead, Yan Shengrui asked with concern.
“No. They belong to the mountains to begin with—it’s only natural for them to hunt there. It’s just…”
Ling Jingxuan trailed off, falling silent at the crucial moment. After a long pause, he continued, “That goat was no small animal. Goats are known for their agility and speed. Even if they’re wolves, they’re still just two immature cubs. How could they possibly take down a goat—and even bring it back?”
“You mean…”
Yan Shengrui understood at once. If the cubs hadn’t hunted the goat themselves, then something else must have helped them—something larger, far more dangerous. The more he thought about it, the more unsettling it became. Setting aside how the cubs might have encountered such a beast—or how they could have persuaded it to help—just the safety of the estate alone was enough to raise alarm. The entire side of the estate backing onto Yuehua Mountain had no defenses whatsoever. If a wild beast were to wander down from the deep forest…
“Mm. Exactly what you’re thinking,” Ling Jingxuan nodded. “But judging from the situation, we shouldn’t be in immediate danger.”
He wasn’t overly worried about their safety. If that beast had been willing to help Da Hei and Xiao Hei deliver the goat without disturbing them, it likely meant no harm—for now.
What truly concerned him was something else: if one beast could find its way here, others might follow the scent into the estate. Even though he had given everyone some medicinal powders for protection… one could never be too careful.
After all, there were still several little buns in the household.
“Then tonight, let’s quietly get up and take a look,” Yan Shengrui suggested. “Most beasts deep in the mountains are said to possess a certain spirit. Who knows—maybe we can communicate with it, just like we did with the wolf cubs?”
He understood Ling Jingxuan’s concerns, but for now, everything was just speculation. What the truth really was—they’d have to see it with their own eyes.
“Looks like that’s the only way,” Ling Jingxuan agreed.
And with that, the matter was dropped. No one else in the household had any idea what they were worried about. The day began as usual, filled with cheerful energy. After breakfast, once the children had been sent off, Zhao Han and his husband arrived. Aside from Ling Jinghan, all the men went up the mountain—even Song Shuisheng, who usually stayed behind to attend to Ling Jinghan, went along this time.
“What are you doing here? You’re not welcome.”
After dealing with the goat that morning—sending off the portions meant for others—Song Yang-shi took advantage of the men being away to quickly process the offal. Using the braising method Ling Jingxuan had taught her, she tossed everything into the seasoned broth. The remaining two legs were salted and placed into a basket, ready to be lowered into the well to keep from spoiling.
Just as she passed through the front courtyard with the basket, she caught sight—out of the corner of her eye—of Ling Chenghu and his wife lurking outside, peering in furtively. Without a second thought, she strode over to drive them away, lest they disturb Ling Wang-shi, who was inside stitching shoe soles with Song Shuiling.
“What kind of attitude is that? You’re just a servant! I’m your master’s own younger brother!”
Used to holding himself in high regard, Ling Chenghu was instantly enraged. Though the scholar’s household had long since fallen from grace, he could not tolerate being spoken to like this by a mere servant—especially a woman. Then his gaze landed on the fresh, tender goat leg in the basket. He swallowed hard despite himself.
Thinking of their own hard life, then comparing it to Second Brother’s household, jealousy and resentment surged within him. Just look at this estate—people in the county town probably didn’t even live this lavishly. And now they even had servants! They were brothers—so why did the second brother get to live well while they were left to be squeezed dry?
“I am a servant, that’s true,” Song Yang-shi replied, lips curling into a cold, mocking smile. “And a servant’s duty is to follow the master’s orders. Master Sheng has given clear instructions—if anyone from your family shows up, we beat them back every time.”
She was no pushover. Back when her master had been poor, had they ever thought to lend a hand? When Madam miscarried in that household, had they remembered they were family? Not only had they not helped, they’d kicked them while they were down, hoping to drive them into the dirt. And now that her master’s life had improved, they came crawling to the door?
As if things in this world were ever that convenient.
When there was hardship, you were nowhere to be seen. Now that there was prosperity, you think you deserve a share? Dream on.
“Oh please—anyone who didn’t know better would think you were the master here,” Ling Jiang-shi sneered, hands on her hips, chin lifted high. “My second brother and his wife haven’t said a word—since when does some stray nobody get to give orders? Hurry up and open the gate, or I’ll complain to them later and have your whole family sold off!”
With the troublesome Song Gengniu and Ling Jingxuan both absent, and only a woman standing in front of her, Ling Jiang-shi grew bolder. The farm work at home had only just eased up, and with the Old Lady feeling unwell today, they had seized the chance to slip away. No matter what, she had to see Ling Chenglong and his wife.
She was sick of the endless grind of labor. She wanted to argue things out with Ling Wang-shi—better yet, to break away just like them and move into this grand estate, the finest in the village.
The thought of fine clothes, good food, and servants at her beck and call made her resolve even firmer. In her eyes, Ling Chenglong and his wife were soft and easy to manipulate—getting what she wanted would be effortless.
“You? You’re not even fit to carry Master Sheng’s shoes,” Song Yang-shi shot back, her voice turning icy. “Get lost. The master and madam have no time for you.”
The moment she heard Yan Shengrui referred to as a “stray man,” Song Yang-shi’s temper flared.
“You—!”
Furious, Ling Jiang-shi pointed at her, her finger trembling wildly. Seeing the undisguised contempt on Song Yang-shi’s face only fueled her anger further. Suddenly, she grabbed the iron gate and began to shriek at the top of her lungs:
“Second Brother! Second Sister-in-law! Come out and see how your servant is bullying your own kin! This is unbearable—slaves daring to trample over us! Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, you have to stand up for us—!”
“You shameless shrew—shut your mouth!”
Seeing this, Song Yang-shi’s chest rose and fell rapidly with anger. On the other side, Ling Chenghu clearly relished the scene—hands clasped behind his back, chin lifted high, looking every bit as if he were the true master of this household.
“Oh, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law—did you hear that?” Ling Jiang-shi cried out even louder. “This wretched servant dares to insult me in public! Come out and see for yourselves—such a servant cannot be kept! Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law?!”
Not only did she not stop after being rebuked, her voice grew sharper and louder. Inside, Ling Wang-shi, who had been quietly sewing shoe soles, inevitably heard everything. Her face darkened instantly. Beside her, Song Shuiling—still an unmarried young woman—felt both anger and embarrassment, her cheeks flushing red.
“Madam, don’t pay them any mind. Once they tire themselves out, they’ll leave on their own,” Song Shuiling urged gently, though in her heart she was already wondering whether she should run to the pavilion and fetch the Second Master. They had long heard how shameless these people could be. Gentle and soft-hearted as Madam was, she would never be their match. With Master Xuan and Master Sheng absent, only the Second Master could take charge.
“Come. Let’s go see. I want to hear exactly what she has to say.”
Clearly ignoring the advice, Ling Wang-shi tossed aside the shoe sole and stood, striding out with barely concealed fury.
“Madam—!”
Song Shuiling had no choice but to follow. As they passed the main hall and saw her mother standing at the doorway, her eyes flickered. Without hesitation, she turned and ran toward the back courtyard.
“Second Sister-in-law, you’ve finally come!”
The moment she spotted Ling Wang-shi, Ling Jiang-shi grew even more animated. Tears and snot streaming down her face, she began wailing about Song Yang-shi’s so-called “misdeeds,” looking pitiful beyond measure. Beside her, Ling Chenghu’s eyes lit up as well. He had come secretly several times this past month without ever catching sight of them—this time, at last, he had succeeded.
“Madam, why did you come out?”
Hearing that Ling Wang-shi had arrived, Song Yang-shi, still seething with anger, quickly turned and hurried over with the basket in hand. In the past, she had only heard rumors about what scholar families were like and hadn’t quite believed them. After all, they were from a farming-and-scholarly background—surely better than ordinary peasants. But today’s encounter had completely overturned her understanding.
What “scholar family”? They were nothing but shameless rogues.
“I’m fine. Thank you for your trouble.”
Casting her an apologetic glance, Ling Wang-shi could not hide the discomfort on her face. Suppressing her anger, she walked to the gate.
“What are you here for? Our families severed ties long ago. How I manage my servants is my business—it’s not your place to stand here and shout.”
Since separating from that household, her husband and sons had deliberately limited her movements, rarely allowing her to go out alone. Fortunately, their home was large, and she herself had no wish to see those she detested. With Song Yang-shi and Shuiling keeping her company, she had not felt lonely.
So after more than a month, this was her first time seeing them again.
Just like the day she had left in humiliation, the resentment in her heart had not lessened in the slightest. If anything, it only stirred memories of the child she had lost, filling her with disgust at the sight of them.
Yet how could Ling Chenghu and his wife possibly give up such a rare chance? If they could persuade Ling Chenglong, not only would they themselves enjoy a better life, their children would benefit as well—especially their second son and daughter Xiaoying. Because of what had happened with Ling Jingwei and Ling Chenghua, the second son’s engagement had fallen through, and it had become difficult to arrange a marriage for Xiaoying.
But if they could move into this estate, who would dare look down on them then? Families with daughters would likely line up to marry into their household. As for Xiaoying, she might even secure a generous dowry.
The more they thought about it, the more dazzling their imagined future became—so close it seemed within reach.
Watching their expressions, Ling Wang-shi frowned deeply. A family rotten to the core—reduced to this state, yet still unwilling to leave them in peace, still scheming to take advantage of them.
Shameless beyond measure. Had they owed them some debt in a past life? Absolutely not.
“Madam, don’t mind them. Let’s go back inside. When Old Song returns, he’ll drive them away,” Song Yang-shi urged quickly, seeing through their intentions at a glance. She moved to usher Ling Wang-shi away, afraid the situation would only upset her further.
“Dog of a servant—what did you just say? Believe it or not, I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
Ling Jiang-shi exploded, shrieking without restraint. “A filthy, insolent cur! Since when is it your place, a lowly slave, to bark about your masters’ affairs?!”
At those words, Ling Jiang-shi sprang forward again, pointing at Song Yang-shi as she hurled abuse without restraint. From the way she carried herself, it was as if she had already claimed the estate as her own. Song Yang-shi was so furious she nearly choked on her breath. Spinning around, she shot back without holding anything in:
“Even if I don’t know my place, I at least know who’s master and who’s servant—not like some people who have no shame, no decency, no face left to lose! Back when Madam was bullied by you lot until she miscarried, did you ever remember they were your own kin? When the conscription came, and it was clear Master and Madam only had Third Young Master fit for service, didn’t you still push him out without a second thought for their lives?”
“And now? Now that Master and Madam are living well, you come crawling over hoping for a share? Bah! Keep dreaming! Let alone Master and Madam agreeing—Master Xuan, the Second Young Master, and the Third Young Master would never allow it either. Shameless trash like you deserve to suffer. If hardship kills you, then so be it!”
Ever since being bought into the household by Ling Jingxuan, Song Yang-shi had always kept to her duties and constantly reminded her husband and children to remember their master’s kindness, never to overstep their bounds. In this home, she had rarely even raised her voice. But today, she had truly been pushed too far.
“Dog slave,” “barking cur”—the insults had cut deep. Not even Master Xuan had ever spoken to them that way. What right did this woman have?
“You filthy servant—how dare you talk back to me!” Ling Jiang-shi shrieked, completely losing control. “I’ll tear your mouth apart! You dog-born wretch, sold-off trash—I’ll fight you to the death!”
Anyone with a shred of shame would have been mortified after such a blunt dressing-down. But Ling Jiang-shi only grew more hysterical, clawing at the iron gate, shaking it violently as if she might break through at any moment. Fortunately, Ling Jingxuan had been foresighted—though the gate was made of iron bars, the tops were forged into sharp spear-like points, and the surrounding walls were lined with jagged shards of broken tiles.
Meanwhile, off to the side—
Ling Jingxuan stood with his arms folded, glancing toward the commotion before breaking into an amused smile. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? What I can’t figure out is why people from so-called scholar families always treat everyone else like idiots. Do we really look that brainless?”
As the scene at the front gate grew more chaotic, the two brothers made no move to intervene. Instead, they bantered lightly among themselves. Song Shuiling, who had come along with them, was utterly bewildered. They were usually so filial toward Madam—so why were they just standing here now?
“Brainless?”
Ling Jinghan frowned slightly at the unfamiliar term.
Ling Jingxuan waved a hand dismissively. “Means their brains are defective.”
“Heh… not a bad description,” Ling Jinghan chuckled, picking it up at once. “But Big Brother, you’re mistaken. The brainless ones aren’t us—it’s them.”
As he spoke, he pointed directly toward the gate.
“If you ask me, they’re not just brainless—they’re downright idiots,” Ling Jingxuan added with a snort, not bothering to hide his disdain. If they weren’t idiots, how could they keep throwing themselves onto the blade again and again? Truly tired of living, it seemed.
“Whether they’re brainless or idiots, Mother’s the one being bullied right now. Aren’t you going to step in?”
A flicker of mischief passed through Ling Jinghan’s eyes—he was clearly waiting for a good show.
Ling Jingxuan shot him a sidelong glance and curled his lips into a faint smile. “Aren’t you also not planning to step in?”
Some things had to be handled by Ling Wang-shi herself. Just as parents couldn’t protect their children forever, sons couldn’t stand guard over their mother every moment of every day, solving every problem for her. If she couldn’t even deal with a shameless village woman like this, how would she face greater challenges in the future?
The two brothers exchanged a look and smiled, understanding each other perfectly.
One person being strong wasn’t enough—a whole family had to grow strong together to move forward side by side. And strength was never forged overnight. Only through experience could one truly grow.
Ling Wang-shi had been protected too well.
It was time she learned to stand on her own.
If you enjoy reading Poisonous Peasant ‘Concubine’, consider buying me a coffee! A little coffee goes a long way!
Translator: LazyHermitGal
Author: LazyHermitGal
A Lazy Hermit Gal wondering in the void and falling into the translation abyss.
