Forget it, let them insult me if they want—it's still better than running into those bandits again... If it's just a certain kind of harm, Edward Thompson can still accept it.

"For now, just stay in the village and rest easy. If you want to read, just let me know and I'll have someone bring you books." The woman looked at Edward Thompson and spoke calmly: "From now on, in front of outsiders, you and I will call each other husband and wife. You can go anywhere around the village as you please. After some time, when the moment is right, I'll let you go."

"H-husband and wife?"

Edward Thompson stood there in a daze. Only now did he realize that all along, he seemed to have misunderstood something.

Could it be that the "chieftain" everyone mentioned is actually this stunning beauty in front of him?

In an instant, the image of a burly, rough man that Edward Thompson had conjured up in his mind began to blur, replaced by an exquisitely beautiful face. A graceful woman bowed to him and softly said, "Husband, your humble wife greets you..."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Don't get the wrong idea, that's just the sound of someone knocking on the door.

The sudden noise snapped Edward Thompson out of his fantasy and back to reality. Then he saw the wooden latch on the door suddenly break as if struck by something, and a barrel-waisted woman and a young man in his early twenties burst in from outside.

"Grace, who is he?"

Seeing Edward Thompson sitting on the bed with his clothes half undone, the young man's face changed dramatically and he blurted out the question.

Chapter 4: My Wife Is a Bandit!

Seeing the young man pointing at him with a look of deep resentment, as if Edward Thompson had stolen his prized possession, Edward Thompson felt extremely frustrated inside.

Dude, do we even know each other?

Is it really necessary to give me that look the moment we meet, as if I've picked the peach you've been eyeing for ages? We're not even close!

The stunning woman ignored the young man. Looking at the barrel-waisted woman, she turned to Edward Thompson and said, "Husband, let me introduce you. This is Second Aunt."

"Husband!"

Hearing the beautiful woman call him that, the young man's face changed again, and he shot Edward Thompson a cold, piercing glare. Meeting his eyes, Edward Thompson couldn't help but feel a chill deep inside.

"Grace, you can't—" The young man had just started to speak when the woman called Grace suddenly turned cold-faced and slapped her palm down on the rosewood table beside her.

"What, do I need to report everything I do to you?"

Bang!

Under Edward Thompson's terrified gaze, the sturdy-looking wooden table instantly shattered into pieces, leaving nothing but debris on the floor.

The teacups, bowls, and other porcelain on the table were all smashed to bits as well.

Witnessing this, Edward Thompson's expression gradually turned blank, his entire worldview shaken to the core.

At that moment, only one thought filled his mind.

Is this some kind of martial arts drama?

Thinking about how he had just considered subduing this woman and making a run for it, Edward Thompson couldn't help but shiver and quietly edged a little further toward the foot of the bed.

He wasn't the only one who shivered—so did the "robust" woman.

"Grace, you..." She pointed at the woman who had just smashed the table and was now standing there as if nothing had happened, her face pale. She had meant to scold her, but now her tongue was tied and she couldn't get the words out.

"Does Second Aunt have any further advice?" The woman casually dusted off her hands, looked at her, and said coolly.

"You, you're a young lady, how can you do such, such disgraceful..." The middle-aged woman's face flushed red. Halfway through her sentence, seeing the woman's hand rise again, she shuddered and hurriedly dragged the young man out of the room.

If a single palm could shatter a wooden table, what would happen if it landed on her? It would be the end of her!

The sound of their panicked footsteps faded away, and the room instantly fell silent.

"May I know my husband's name?"

"Li... Li Yi." Edward Thompson took a deep breath and replied.

A moment later, a pleasant but utterly emotionless voice reached Edward Thompson's ears again.

"It's getting late. Husband, you should rest early..."

Light footsteps gradually receded. After hearing the door close, Edward Thompson looked up and saw a faint shadow lingering outside for a few seconds before a voice came through.

"Your humble wife... Grace Walker."

...

...

After the woman left, aside from the occasional unknown insect chirping, the room was completely silent.

Edward Thompson stared blankly at the simple roof. After a long time, he let out a deep sigh and lay flat on the bed, but his eyes remained open.

Even though he was already exhausted, Edward Thompson's nerves weren't so dull that, after everything he'd been through, he could just fall asleep without a care...

The library fire, the unbelievable transmigration, almost being caught and burned by a stranger, narrowly escaping, then being captured by bandits and made their forced husband—who knows what tomorrow will bring...