Damn! Jumping from that height—does he have a built-in wire or something? Ethan Grant watched, heart pounding with fear.

But then the wild child suddenly reached out both hands, grabbed a lower branch, used the momentum to leap again, landed steadily on the ground, and grinned at Ethan Grant.

What the hell! Are you kidding me? This kid seems even more impressive than Jackie Chan! Ethan Grant gasped, cold sweat running down his back, a trace of regret appearing between his brows. Although he had the advantage physically—being a bit older, and David Grant was tall and big, so he’d inherited his father’s height—though thin, he was over 1.7 meters, while the wild child was at most about 1.45 meters. But with those moves, he really wasn’t sure he could win, especially since his body was still very weak.

But the words were already out—he had to grit his teeth and face the challenge! The current Ethan Grant was no coward. Clenching his fists, he let out a loud shout and charged forward. After all, he’d been a chivalrous thief; you couldn’t survive in that line of work without some skills.

But the wild child took a step, suddenly glanced sideways, then dashed away, climbed up a big tree, leapt to another, and after two or three jumps, disappeared from sight.

Ethan Grant stared blankly at the wild child fleeing like a mouse. What’s going on? Did I scare him off with my kingly aura?

Just then, someone suddenly shouted, “Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi!”

Ethan Grant turned his head and saw a villager in his forties running toward him anxiously. This villager was Ethan Grant’s father David Grant’s good friend, William Clark. Since he was the second child in his family, everyone called him Second Clark. He was the one who’d gone to inform the bride that night.

To be honest, Ethan Grant still felt some resistance to his current identity. The key was, he still didn’t know how to face all this. His brows furrowed, and he turned to leave—he needed some time to himself.

But then he heard William Clark calling after him, “Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi, something’s wrong! Young Master Young Miller from the city has come to your house to collect a debt, and he says he’ll take your wife as collateral. You’d better hurry home!”

Damn it, why is it always this kind of melodramatic plot? Did I really transmigrate? Feels like I’m acting in a play! I wish a director would just yell ‘cut.’

Ethan Grant stopped, and suddenly a wave of inexplicable sadness surged in his heart. He knew it was this body acting up. He thought of that beautiful woman and muttered to himself, Even though I’m not the old Ethan Grant anymore, if that beauty gets taken away, I’ll definitely be the one wearing the green hat. No matter what I think, everyone else will see it that way. How could I ever hold my head up again? No way.

Thinking of this, he suddenly turned around, his face dark as he looked at William Clark.

In William Clark’s memory, Ethan Grant had always been a good kid—frankly, a bit of a coward. But now, Ethan Grant’s gaze was frightening, nothing like the old Ethan Grant, and William Clark was stunned.

After a moment, Ethan Grant suddenly broke into a run toward home.

Chapter 3: Chop him! Chop him!

“Young Miller, Big Grant just passed away, and you’re already here to collect a debt? Isn’t that a bit heartless?”

“Aren’t you just bullying people?”

“Big Grant was your family’s hired hand when he was alive—this is just too cold and unfeeling.”

...

“What are you doing, what are you doing? You lowlifes, what do you want? Either pay up the debt, or get out of my way. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.”

In the small clearing in front of the Han family’s house, more than twenty people stood. Over a dozen villagers blocked the door, all dressed as peasants. In front of them stood five or six men, led by a fat man in a blue brocade robe, with a few thugs behind him. Though the fat man’s group was small, their arrogance was overwhelming. He pointed at the villagers at the door, cursing them out with a haughty air.

“Forget it, forget it, they’re not people to mess with.”

“Don’t try to be a hero. Let’s wait for Xiao Yi to come back.”

Mei Village was small, with few people, so the villagers were very united. Ethan Grant’s father, David Grant, had helped many people in the village when he was alive, so many stood up to defend the family. But after the fat man’s threats, their wives or elders grew timid, pulling their loved ones back, urging them not to be reckless.

Seeing the villagers start to retreat to the sides, the fat young master’s smile grew even wider. His lustful gaze shot straight into the house as he grinned and said, “Little lady inside, don’t be afraid. I, Paul Miller, am well-read and reasonable. As long as you pay back the money, I won’t make things hard for you.” His tone was frivolous and lecherous.

There was silence inside the house.

The fat young master, Paul Miller, spoke again: “Lady, how about I come in and discuss things with you? Anything can be negotiated. —If you don’t answer, I’ll take it as a yes.”

Still, the house was utterly silent.

Paul Miller stepped forward.

The villagers on the side were angry but dared not speak, cursing in their hearts: You, Paul Miller, are notorious for bullying the good and fearing the wicked—everyone knows it. The old man’s body isn’t even cold, the husband isn’t home, and a lone woman is inside, yet you barge in—what kind of logic is that, damn it!