Chapter Three: She Is My Sister-in-law

"Master, master, stop gawking! You’re practically drooling. That woman is your sister-in-law in this era, so you mustn’t let your thoughts run wild," the female voice reminded him.

"Sister-in-law? Then why does she call me Uncle?" Xiao Fei was puzzled.

But in the next moment, he understood. He was now living in the early years of the Republic, when the old feudal customs still held sway and women were afforded little status. To express respect for the men in the family, a sister-in-law would call her husband’s younger brother "Uncle," just as Pan Jinlian did with Wu Song in "Water Margin."

Yet Xiao Fei’s thoughts ran deeper than most. He recalled the ambiguous undertones between Pan Jinlian and Wu Song and couldn’t help but draw a parallel with himself, a sly grin curling at his lips.

In his memories, the Xiao Fei of this era had indeed been a scoundrel and harbored improper thoughts about this sister-in-law, even making a few flirtatious advances.

The beauty from before was the widow of his third brother, Xiao Teng—her name was Liu Susu, the cherished daughter of Squire Liu from the neighboring village.

Liu Susu and Xiao Teng had been betrothed as children by their parents—a custom where an engagement was arranged when the children were still infants, or even before they were born.

At the time of the engagement, the Xiao family’s reputation far eclipsed that of the Liu family. Unfortunately, as the generations of the Xiao family fell in battle for their country, and with the Qing dynasty’s collapse following the Xinhai Revolution, the family’s fortunes declined swiftly.

Few reached out a helping hand in their hardship; most only kicked them while they were down. Even Liu Susu’s father, Squire Liu Zhengang, not only refused to help but repeatedly made things difficult, even renouncing the engagement unilaterally. After Xiao Teng died on the battlefield, he went so far as to plunder what remained of the Xiao estate.

Strictly speaking, Liu Susu and Xiao Teng had never truly lived as husband and wife. Though childhood playmates, they’d only met a handful of times, and once Xiao Teng joined the military, they were separated for good. On their wedding day, Xiao Teng merely went through the motions—he didn’t even lift his bride’s veil before dashing off to Jiaodong Bay in Shandong due to urgent military orders, as the Japanese invaders were rampaging through the province.

Who would have thought that would be his final departure? Three months later, the grim news arrived.

Liu Susu could have left the Xiao family behind and sought a better life, but out of loyalty and a sense of duty, she swore to remain a Xiao in life and in death, even severing relations with her own family.

"Alas, all the fault of these feudal customs! Such a fine young woman, her youth wasted for nothing," Xiao Fei sighed.

Just then, a strong whiff of medicinal herbs drifted over, snapping him back to reality.

He rose and surveyed the room. Though a bit shabby, it was suffused with an air of antiquity, impeccably tidy and spotless. There was no doubt this was Liu Susu’s handiwork.

Xiao Fei picked up the herbal medicine and downed it in one gulp. It was bitter beyond words, and though he was in perfect health, he drank it willingly—he couldn’t let his sister-in-law’s efforts be in vain.

With no one else around, Xiao Fei quickly turned to more serious matters.

"Hey, little one, hurry out! Didn’t you say you could get me a couple of Brownings?" Xiao Fei’s voice was full of excitement; after all, the allure of a pistol for a man rivaled that of a beautiful woman.

"Hmph, Master, my name is Ling, not ‘little one’. How rude," Ling replied indignantly.

"Hey, you never told me."

"You never asked."

"Alright, alright, Ling’er, hurry and get me those pistols," Xiao Fei urged.

"Ah, Master, that sounds so sweet coming from you. I like it. Hehe. Very well, I’ll serve you right away. Look, what’s this?"

No sooner had she spoken than Xiao Fei’s eyes lit up and his hands felt the sudden weight. Looking down, he was stunned.

"Heavens! Brownings!"

He hefted the pistols, marveling at them. He’d only ever seen such guns in wartime dramas—never in real life, nor even in his dreams.

These were the powerful 9mm Brownings. Their most notable feature was the double-stack magazine, holding up to thirteen rounds. The sights consisted of a front bead and a curved rear sight with ten notches, each representing fifty meters. The grip had a groove for attaching a stock, allowing for shoulder-fired precision and increased range.

But as a military enthusiast born in the 1980s, Xiao Fei’s knowledge of advanced weaponry far exceeded these early Republican Brownings. He shook his head regretfully. "Pity these pistols are fitted with accidental discharge and premature fire safety mechanisms."

"Master, you truly are a military aficionado. You’re absolutely right. But these are the most advanced handguns I could generate with the conversion system. If not for the energy interruption, I could have produced weapons from the future—or even alien technology. Still, I can use the alien super-matter system to make these pistols automatically invisible. That should be quite convenient for you," Ling replied.

Xiao Fei knew he was to blame for the program’s interruption and, embarrassed, hurried to say, "It’s fine, Ling’er, you’ve done great. As long as the mountains remain, we’ll always have firewood. There’s plenty of time ahead. I wish I could try these pistols right now—let’s go up the mountain and hunt some rabbits!"

He was overjoyed, eager to test the guns.

But just as he was about to open the door, a woman’s shrill, commanding voice sounded from outside—grating and unpleasant.

"Hey, Liu! It’s the end of the month. When are you going to pay the rent? Don’t blame your Third Aunt for being heartless. The Xiao family’s already fallen this far. If you insist on staying, who’s to blame? If you ask me, you must have some filthy intentions. The servants have been gossiping that you and that little vixen’s brat live together every day—what, are you two up to something? Hahaha!"

"Enough!" Liu Susu retorted, her voice shaking with anger. "Third Aunt, I respect you as my elder, but your behavior these days is intolerable. The Fourth Young Master is the direct descendant of Lord Xiao and now the sole heir. Not letting us reside in the main house is one thing, but now you won’t even let us live in a hut? And you have the nerve to charge us rent? Truly shameless!"

"You! Insolent wretch! How dare you lecture me? I’ll tell you this: if you pay the rent today, fine. If not, get out at once!" Third Aunt snapped.

Xiao Fei’s father, Xiao Anguo, had four wives. The First Lady bore three sons; Xiao Fei was born of the Fourth Concubine, the very "little vixen" Third Aunt referred to. The Second Lady had a daughter, but, unable to stand the endless scheming in the Xiao household, left the country with her child eighteen years earlier. The Fourth Concubine, low-born and without family support, died soon after giving birth to Xiao Fei, hounded by neglect and especially by Third Aunt’s cruelty.

With the men of the Xiao family lost to war, the house fell swiftly. As the saying goes, when a wall collapses, everyone pushes; when a tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Those who remained, other than Liu Susu, were mostly there to fight over what little was left—like Third Aunt.

Third Aunt, named Li Qingfang, was the most beautiful of the four wives, but also the most malicious: petty, devious, and insatiably greedy. She’d repeatedly tried to chase Liu Susu away and even sent people to assassinate the Fourth Concubine’s orphan, Xiao Fei.

To protect what remained of the Xiao estate, Liu Susu endured humiliation and hardship, forced to bow and scrape, especially as her brother-in-law Xiao Fei was often ill.

Such was the sorrow of a feudal family. If Xiao Anguo’s three elder sons had not all perished in war, the family would never have valued Xiao Fei.

In Xiao Fei’s memories, he clearly recalled how Third Aunt had tormented him. But now, he was no longer the same Xiao Fei; he would not let this slide.

Still, he would never strike a woman—especially not a beautiful one like Li Qingfang.

And it had to be said, though Li Qingfang was already thirty-six, she remained stunning, her looks undiminished by time. Dressed in a silk cheongsam, she exemplified the classical beauty of the East. If not for her vile temperament, Xiao Fei would have counted her among the world’s great beauties.

"Liu, just you wait. If you anger me, I’ll sell you to a brothel! Who—who just touched my backside?!"

Li Qingfang, in the midst of her tirade, suddenly felt a hand grope her soft flesh—a hand that lingered and kneaded with relish.

She spun around, only to see the sickly Xiao Fei standing not far behind her in the doorway, grinning foolishly.