Niu Laoda has been married to her for many years, and naturally understands what she ans. After pretending to hesitate for a while, he said, "Fine, then you can stay at ho for a while, but you’ll have to pay for room and board."
"Don’t worry, you won’t be shortchanged on the room and board," Mrs. He Niu knew Niu Laoda well and felt reassured when she heard he wanted paynt for room and board.
After paying for room and board, she thought Niu Laoda wouldn’t resort to outright robbery for their silver, but she had to be wary of Niu Laoda and his wife stealing money.
There’s no denying that Mrs. He Niu and Niu Laoda are truly siblings. Niu Laoda was indeed eyeing the silver with the intention of stealing it from Fourth Son He’s family.
However, Fourth Son He’s family wasn’t easily bullied either. They moved into Niu Laoda’s house using the excuse of the silver, and started making various demands, not only asking for a doctor but even eating at.
But Niu Laoda’s family wasn’t foolish; they wouldn’t indulge them indefinitely. They agreed that if they didn’t get the silver in three days, they would resort to force.
Yet, Fourth Son He’s family was even more ruthless, having already thought of a way to counterattack.
...
On the fourth day of the fifth month, Mrs. Lai and Niu Laoda went to deliver festival gifts to Mrs. Hua, and also discussed selling Niu Qiao’er.
He Jinwa waited for Niu Laoda to leave and then tricked Niu Qiao’er with a tael of silver. When Niu Qiao’er ca in for the silver to serve him food and dicine, he grabbed her and forcibly accomplished his deed.
Niu Qiao’er was nearly driven mad. She only wanted to co in to earn so money and then head to the county with the tael of silver to sell herself as a maid in a wealthy household. But unexpectedly, she was violated by He Jinwa.
"Boohoo, you beast, I’m your cousin, how dare you do this to ? When my parents co back, they will not spare you, you beast!" Niu Qiao’er cried and cursed, using tattered clothes to cover herself, wishing she could tear He Jinwa apart.
He Jinwa, having taken a huge advantage, lay lazily on the bed, looked at Niu Qiao’er and sneered, "What kind of good people are your parents? Just a pair of old beasts who sell their daughters for a living. Compared to the evil deeds they’ve done, what I did is nothing."
Niu Qiao’er was rendered speechless by this; indeed, her parents weren’t good people. But: "You ruined my purity, and you’re still here making sarcastic remarks. I’ll beat you to death!"
He Jinwa, a shaless character, spread his arms and said, "Go ahead, let’s see who dies: you or ?"
As he spoke, his eyes roved over Niu Qiao’er, making her almost faint with rage, her cries becoming more hysterical.
"Sis, sis, what happened to you?!" Niu Qiao’er, who had been sent to the market to buy at by Mrs. He Niu, returned ho to hear Niu Qiao’er’s cries, sensed sothing was wrong, and urgently pounded on the door from outside.
Hearing this, Mrs. He Niu imdiately ca out from the next room, grabbed Niu Qiao’er, and laughed, "Your sister is fine, she’s just serving your cousin dicine. Your cousin has a bad temper and scolded her to tears. Don’t go in, or you’ll get scolded by your cousin too."
Fourth Son He and his wife were in the next room, and today’s event was planned by the whole family, having He Jinwa take care of Niu Qiao’er so she would have no choice but to marry him.
As long as Niu Qiao’er marries He Jinwa, their family can settle in Niu Fu Village, leeching off Niu Laoda’s family.
Niu Qiao’er wasn’t stupid. Growing up in such a ho, she was well-versed in dirty jokes and realized sothing was wrong imdiately. She shook off Mrs. He Niu’s hand, shouting into the room, "Sis, what happened to you? Did He Jinwa bully you? Don’t be afraid! I’ll find soone to save you and beat He Jinwa to death!"
Upon hearing this, He Jinwa laughed, got up wearing only pants, and headed towards the door.
Seeing this, Niu Qiao’er shouted in fear, "Qiao’er, run!"
But it was already too late. He Jinwa had already opened the door, yanked Niu Qiao’er in, and slapped her twice, cursing, "Stupid girl, what’s all the yelling for? Do you want to gather people to beat up? Believe , I’ll kill you first!"
He then slapped her two more tis, sending Niu Qiao’er flying out, her face bruised and swollen, spewing blood, with two teeth knocked out.
Niu Qiao’er didn’t cry, glared viciously at He Jinwa, quickly got up, and fled.
"Qiao’er, where are you running to? Co back here to your aunt!" Mrs. He Niu shouted at Niu Qiao’er’s back, wanting to chase her, but was stopped by He Jinwa: "Mom, don’t worry about her. Just a little girl, what trouble can she possibly cause?"
Mrs. Hua’s family was almost destitute in Niu Fu Village, and not even Village Chief took notice of them. Even if soone died in their family, no one would care.
Niu Laoda’s two sons were heartless; they had left for the Lai family half a month ago to wait for the Dragon Boat Festival. Today being the fourth and tomorrow the Dragon Boat Festival, they wouldn’t return to support Niu Qiao’er.
Mrs. He Niu thought it over and decided not to chase after Niu Qiao’er.
"Mom, you should go back inside, I have things to do," He Jinwa said and slamd the door shut, pulling Niu Qiao’er back inside to continue what he started.
"Beast, get away from , move again and I’ll die in front of you!"
"Die then, go on, die! What’s the use of just saying it?"
He Jinwa didn’t let Niu Qiao’er go, taking advantage of Niu Laoda and his wife’s absence to bully her once again.
Niu Qiao’er cried ceaselessly, continually calling for help.
Fourth Son He and his wife listened from the next room without intervening, instead feeling happy that their son had gained a wife for free.
By evening, Niu Laoda and his wife ca ho happily, carrying a piece of pork belly, saying, "You really have a way with words, darling. When Mrs. Hua wasn’t around, we imdiately got a better price for Qiao’er than the previous two tis."
Mrs. Hua had seen Qiao’er and thought she was good-looking and a virgin girl with lucky birthdate, born on January 9th, so she willingly offered twenty taels of silver, even throwing in an extra tael as a down paynt.
The at they were carrying was bought with that down paynt.
"Of course, our Qiao’er was born under a lucky star, associated with the number nine, a sign of good fortune," Niu Laoda was very pleased with the good price for selling Niu Qiao’er and instructed Mrs. Lai, "Later go to the village chief’s house and get a jug of wine, let him see that our life isn’t worse than his!"
Mrs. Lai laughed, "Sure, I’ll stew the at and then get you so wine, so you can have a good drink."
She added, "Mrs. Hua said those officials at the Prefecture love girls with auspicious birthdates. If a wealthy family takes a liking to Qiao’er and makes her a concubine, our family can live a life of luxury, much better off than marrying First Place Gu."
The couple was dreaming happily as they returned ho, but they were almost driven mad with anger upon arrival.
At ho, Niu Qiao’er was still wailing, cursing He Jinwa: "Beast, you beast, return my purity, boohoo..."
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