Lady Zhou heard Yingzi call out "Mother" so affectionately, her face twitched, and she turned to walk inside with Old Master Lian.
In farmstead families, there has never been a precedent for taking a concubine while the wife is still alive. Originally in Taicang, far from ho, Lian Shouren was still an official then, taking in Yingzi wasn’t much of an issue. But now, back at Thirty Mile Camp, the family’s situation has beco awkward with Yingzi’s presence.
Lady Zhou kept a stern face, her mood quite complex. At that ti, letting Lian Shouren take in Yingzi was out of spite, wanting to retaliate against Lady Gu to prevent her from having her way. Lady Zhou was always headstrong, acting on impulse without considering the consequences. Certainly, Lady Zhou never anticipated the current state of affairs.
Lian Manman’s family was about to leave but beca imnsely curious about Yingzi’s situation. Just now, Yingzi’s tearful complaints were still unclear. How did Lady Gu sell Yingzi, to whom was Yingzi sold, and where? How did Yingzi return? These pressing questions prompted Lian Manman and Lady Zhang to follow back.
Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Young Master Qi exchanged glances for a mont and followed back into the room.
In the upper room, Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou sat on the kang bed, Lady Zhang and Lian Manman on the edge, Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi were seated on chairs on the ground, while others stood.
Lady Zhou sat cross-legged, steadily on the kang, began questioning Yingzi.
"That day people ca ho, and in the blink of an eye, you vanished. Everyone thought you were displeased with our family and ran off with that shaless Zhao Xiue," Lady Zhou said to Yingzi.
"No, no," Yingzi shook her head quickly, pointing at Lady Gu, "it was her, that scorpion-like wife..."
Scorpion-like wife, the nickna Yingzi gave Lady Gu, Lian Manman thought it truly fitting.
"Then tell us what really happened?" Lady Zhou prompted.
Yingzi repeated her earlier tearful account in more detail. That day, the household planned to return to Thirty Mile Camp but didn’t leave imdiately. First, Lian Shouyi and Lady He secretly went to Old Wang’s Large Cart Inn, only to be driven away. Amidst this chaos, Zhao Xiue left, and Yingzi was coaxed into leaving by Lady Gu.
As for how she was coaxed...
"...I saw her sneaking around, like doing sothing shaful. I followed her. I asked her directly; she had no choice but to say she hid so money sowhere and was going to fetch it. Knowing her cunningness, fearing she’d keep the money to herself and not spend it on others, I went with her."
Lady Gu led Yingzi with twists and turns into a secluded alley, entered a household at the end, claiming the money was hidden there. As they entered, Yingzi realized too late the situation was wrong. Only later did she discover it was a den for desperate salt smugglers in Taicang, willing to engage in occasional human trafficking.
Of course, their trafficking wasn’t officially sanctioned human trade of this era. The origins of their "goods" were usually "unspeakable," with destinations often in salt wells, coal pits, and other low-end establishnts.
Lady Gu knew of this place because of a conversation she once heard from Lian Shouren. Yingzi, however, was unaware of this place prior.
Yingzi thought, since they were both won and she herself being younger and stronger. Spoiled in the County Magistrate’s household, she was sowhat conceited, thinking herself smarter and more capable than Lady Gu. Any place Lady Gu dared to go, she wouldn’t fear. She didn’t anticipate overestimating herself and underestimating Lady Gu, who ended up selling her.
"...That scorpion-like wife, her heart is truly venomous..." Yingzi’s face was full of resentnt. If not restrained, she would’ve lunged back at Lady Gu.
"She’s lying," Lady Gu defended herself. After having fought with Yingzi, Lady Gu appeared even more disheveled. Her hair and clothes were tidied, but the scratch marks on her face couldn’t be imdiately erased.
"Yingzi, if I really sold you to that place, could you co back alive? Where did you co back from?" Lady Gu turned to Yingzi, a sinister gaze scrutinizing her, insinuating sothing.
Under such a gaze, Yingzi couldn’t help but shiver involuntarily.
"Yingzi, I know you hate . But you can’t make up false stories. Whether you got lost or strayed in confusion and regretted later, now that you’re back, if you explain clearly, our parents and Old Master are generous people and might not hold it against you," Lady Gu continued calmly, her tone surprisingly devoid of anger.
Lian Manman sitting on the kang’s edge couldn’t help but squint her eyes. Lady Gu’s scheming was truly deep; just monts ago, she seed ready to swallow Yingzi whole, yet now she could speak so peacefully.
And within Lady Gu’s words, there was a hint of reconciliation with Yingzi.
"How did I co back? They tied up; I found a chance to escape, begging for food all the way to return," Yingzi gritted her teeth, staring directly at Lady Gu, "I am a proper family’s daughter, genuinely entered as the second wife. You secretly sold , I’ll sue you, and you’ll end up in jail."
"Don’t think just because your daughter married into the Song Family, you can act all high and mighty. I’ll settle scores with you, including everything with Lian Huahua," Yingzi said coldly, glancing slowly at Lian Manman, "It’s perfect with Manman right here, perfect!"
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First, here’s one update; I’ll strive to add more later.
End of the month, if anyone has saved pink tickets, please extend your support to "Rebirth of the Little Landlord." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welco to vote for it on Qidian (qidian) with recomndation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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