good season

The doorman was overjoyed. Although he was just a doorman, he had seen many good things while working in the Wei family.

It was nighttime, and the bead emitted a lustrous glow in the darkness.

baby!

This is baby!

The doorman bent down to pick it up, but a cat suddenly appeared out of nowhere. With a flick of its paw, the bead rolled to the side, and the cat caught it in its mouth and ran away.

The doorman panicked: "You damn cat, put the beads down right now!"

The cat looked back at him and actually spat out the bead.

Menzi pounced, trying to pick up the bead again, but the cat swiftly swiped at him, and the bead rolled away. The cat chased the bead, and Menzi chased the cat; they shared a common goal.

Seeing that the man had run far away, Wen Qing waved behind him. Wei Ya'er walked unsteadily out of the shadows of the trees and followed Wen Qing out through the side door.

Once outside, Wen Qing complained, "Stop dawdling, hurry up!"

Wei Ya'er gritted her teeth. She also wanted to move as fast as she could, but she had been hungry for three or four days and was now only surviving on the small bowl of thin porridge that Qing had given her before she left. She had no strength left.

The side gate leads to an alley that has long been abandoned and is covered with a thick layer of broken branches and leaves.

Wei Ya'er had only taken a few steps when her shoes and socks were pierced by tree branches, making each step difficult.

Wen Qing didn't wait for her and walked ahead on her own. Wei Ya'er gritted her teeth and said, "You carry me on your back!"

Wen Qing snorted coldly, not stopping in her tracks. Wei Ya'er said, "You don't want those four gold ingots anymore?"

Wen Qing finally stopped in his tracks: "The price has gone up now, six gold ingots!"

Wei Ya'er thought to herself, "When we get to the Liang Prince's mansion, the first thing I'll do is beat this ugly monster to death."

"Six it is, hurry up!"

Wen Qing readily agreed to the price and then carried Wei Ya'er on his back.

She was two or three years younger than Wei Ya'er, thin and small, but very strong, and carried Wei Ya'er out of the alley.

A donkey cart was parked outside the alley, driven by a tall, dark-skinned man whose face blended into the darkness. It wasn't until he opened his mouth to speak, revealing his snow-white teeth, that Wei Ya'er realized there was someone there.

"This is Princess Changling?"

Wen Qing hurriedly asked, "Are you Uncle Fan?"

The big, dark-skinned man grinned and said, "Just call me Lao Fan."

Seeing that they had started chatting, Wei Ya'er angrily said, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help this county princess into the carriage."

When Wei Ya'er saw the donkey pulling the cart, she looked disgusted: "What kind of cart is this? What kind of animal is pulling it? Can you even ride in it?"

The big black guy was unhappy. Does this guy even know how to talk?

This donkey is named Shi Congcong. It was bought by the old master for a thousand taels of silver. It has a terrible temper. The old master raised it like a son. Today, the second young lady tried her best to persuade it for a long time before she finally convinced Shi Congcong to come out and pull the cart. The old master was so heartbroken that his eyes turned red.

Before Lao Fan could speak, Shi Congcong splattered a puddle of liquid, which was hard to tell if it was snot or saliva, onto Wei Ya'er's face.

Shi Congcong: You're the beast! Your whole family are beasts!

Wei Ya'er screamed loudly, but before she could make a sound, a handkerchief was stuffed into her mouth. She mumbled twice and asked Qing coldly, "I think you don't want to leave and want someone to drag you back, right?"

Wei Ya'er finally quieted down. Of course she didn't want her father to find out that she had run away. Even if he was deterred by her status as a county princess, he would definitely beat her severely. Even if he didn't kill her, he would beat her half to death, just like he beat her mother.

Wei Ya'er finally obediently got on the donkey cart. It was the first time in her life that she had ridden in a donkey cart. It was cramped and uncomfortable. In her heart, she wished she could strangle Wen Qing, along with the dark-skinned driver, and oh yes, the snotty donkey. She wanted to kill them all!

Shi Congcong: You old man Shi Congcong, you're the stupid donkey, you're the stupid one!
It wasn't until they left the alley where the Wei family lived and walked quite a distance that Wenqing finally took the handkerchief out of Wei Ya'er's mouth.

Wei Ya'er gagged a few times, almost vomiting up the small bowl of thin porridge.

"This is not the way to Prince Liang's residence!"

Although she had never been to the Liang Prince's Mansion, she had lived in the capital for several months and knew where it was.

Wen Qing said, "I've already rescued you, but you still owe me six gold ingots. Are you trying to renege on your debt?"

"I'll give it to you when we get to the Liang Prince's residence," Wei Ya'er said.

Wen Qing sneered: "I'd be a fool to believe you. Uncle Fan, let's go to Willow Alley."

Wei Ya'er was taken aback. Willow Alley? What kind of place is this?
Seeing that she was unaware, Wen Qing mocked, "You don't know yet, do you? Your trusted Granny Guan, knowing you can't be relied on anymore, took advantage of your time in the dungeon to send your things out of the mansion bit by bit. Her son lives in Willow Alley. Haha, don't you know that Granny Guan's son has already come to the capital?"

Wei Ya'er couldn't believe it. Had Granny Guan also betrayed her?

impossible!
That was her wet nurse, how could she possibly betray her?

"I don't believe it. Last time it was the gold hairpin, and this time it was the indenture. Didn't Granny Guan take them out immediately? If she sent the items out of the manor, how could she just take them out like that?"

Wen Qing laughed heartily: "The gold hairpin has an imperial mark on it. This thing can't be sold or pawned. Ordinary people can't wear it out. What use is it? As for the indenture, we maids who came with you from your hometown, some died, some ran away, and there's me, who's disfigured. In Granny Guan's eyes, our indentures are just waste paper. Since they're useless, of course she won't take them out of the manor."

Wei Ya'er was struck dumb. She couldn't believe that Granny Guan would treat her like this, but she couldn't deny that what Wen Qing said was true.

She finally stopped talking and asked Qing Ergen if it was quiet.

The donkey cart stopped outside Willow Alley. Wen Qing got off and went into the alley. Seeing that Wen Qing had left, Wei Ya'er suddenly came to her senses. Now that she had left the Wei residence, why should she be manipulated by this ugly girl anymore? She could go to the Liang Prince's residence by herself!
She said to Lao Fan, "How much did that ugly girl pay you? I'll pay three times that amount. Now take me to the Liang Prince's Mansion!"

Old Fan seemed not to hear her and remained motionless. Wei Ya'er grew anxious, but the driver looked fierce, and she dared not provoke him. So she simply got out of the carriage. She could flag down sedan chairs or horse-drawn carriages on the road. Once she reached the Liang Prince's Mansion, someone would pay her.

But before her feet even touched the ground, a foot shot out from the side and kicked at her leg.

Wei Ya'er winced in pain, and Lao Fan said in a gruff voice, "Stay in the car quietly. If you dare to move, believe me, I'll throw you into the sea to feed the fish."

Wei Ya'er's legs were throbbing with pain, and she didn't even realize why this big, dark-skinned man would say he'd throw her into the sea to feed the fish. People from the capital would never say something like that.

A moment later, Wen Qing emerged from Willow Tree Alley.

She had eight gold ingots tucked in her bosom!

Six of them were hers, and the other two were obtained by her on behalf of Lao Fan. She originally thought that Granny Guan's son would try to renege on his promise, but to her surprise, he was a coward. She simply said that her uncle was waiting outside and would report to the authorities if she didn't come out. Granny Guan's son obediently complied and counted out eight gold ingots as she requested.

Although these gold ingots were also made by the emperor, they could be melted down. Melted gold is still gold, and it can still be used as money.

As for the gold hairpin, Sister Jiandeng has already found a buyer for it. It's a second young lady who doesn't mind that it has an imperial mark on it and is willing to pay eight hundred taels.

Eight hundred taels! Wenqing thought that eight hundred taels was enough for her to buy several men. She would choose carefully, and she had to buy one who was obedient, hardworking, skillful, and able to take care of the children, do housework, and do some handicrafts to supplement the family income.

Wen Qing walked with a brisk pace, and even the strands of her hair exuded energy and spirit.

She got on the donkey cart, and the donkey cart continued on its way.

Wei Ya'er had never been to Willow Alley before, and before today, she didn't even know that such a place existed in the capital.

After leaving Liushu Hutong, Wei Ya'er was completely lost.

This driver and Wen Qing are clearly in cahoots, not hired. Judging from Wen Qing's smug look, he must have gotten the gold ingot.

If she didn't get the gold ingot, she could continue to keep Wen Qing hanging and have him send her to the Liang Prince's mansion.

But now that we have the gold ingot, Wenqing is out of control. What should we do if we don't send her to the Liang Prince's Mansion, or send her somewhere else?
Wei Ya'er wanted to question him, but she didn't dare. She wasn't afraid of Wen Qing, but she was afraid of the driver, Lao Fan.

It was only then that she realized that this old Fan was no ordinary driver; he exuded a murderous aura.

Killing intent, yes, that's killing intent!
He has killed people!

Wei Ya'er broke out in a cold sweat and asked Qing why he knew such a person.

She had so many questions, but she didn't dare to ask them, she really didn't dare.

She felt a pang of regret; perhaps she shouldn't have run away.
The donkey cart turned onto a street lined with shops. During the day, the street must have been bustling with activity, but at night it became eerily quiet.

For some reason, Wei Ya'er felt a sense of familiarity; it was as if she had been here before.

When did she come?
She didn't remember; she wouldn't normally come to places like this.

At this moment, the donkey cart finally stopped, and Wen Qing said, "We've arrived. Get off."

Wei Ya'er remained motionless. Although she didn't know where she was, she knew that this was definitely not the Liang Prince's mansion.

Wen Qing reached out to pull her, but Wei Ya'er shouted, "Help! Someone help me! Help!"

Her piercing screams echoed through the night streets, answered only by the barking of a few stray dogs.

Old Fan got annoyed and slapped Wei Ya'er on the head, causing her to faint.

"Young lady, this person has wronged you. While she's still alive, take your revenge if you want. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Just now, under the moonlight, Lao Fan saw Wen Qing's face. She should be a pretty girl, but she has several burn scars on her face and her front teeth are gone. What a pity.

Wen Qing looked at the person she had served since childhood. Once, this was the person she respected the most, but also the person who hurt her the most.

Thinking of this, Wen Qing no longer hesitated. He took out a tinderbox, lit a branch, and pressed it hard against Wei Ya'er's face, just like Wei Ya'er had done to her face that day.

Unfortunately, she wasn't as ruthless as Wei Ya'er; she closed her eyes while doing all of this.

Then, she knocked out Wei Ya'er's front teeth with pebbles. Of course, she kept her eyes closed, so she didn't aim accurately and knocked out two more.

After doing all this, she got on the donkey cart and left with Lao Fan.

In the early morning, the porcelain street returned to its usual hustle and bustle. The shops on both sides opened their doors, and vendors set up their stalls one after another, and a lively and busy day began.

"Hey, where did Shusheng go? I brought him some meat buns from home."

An elderly woman who runs a stall searched the entire street but couldn't find the poor tree.

What a good child! He was fair-skinned, handsome, and filial. At such a young age, he knew how to help his grandfather with his stall. But no one knows what powerful person he offended, which led to the destruction of his family and the death of his sister. Although Shusheng survived, he became mentally impaired. The old neighbors felt sorry for him. One neighbor would give him a steamed bun, another a piece of bread, and they would always remember to bring him some of the good food they made at home.

The woman who ran the stall was frantic because she couldn't find Shusheng. Shusheng usually sat in the spot where his grandfather ran his stall, but instead of finding him there, she saw a crazy woman.

The woman was disheveled, with wounds on her face, and blood mixed with dirt stuck to her face, making her look filthy and disgusting.

"Oh dear, we have a crazy woman on the street now. If she scares our customers, it will affect our business."

"That's right. Although Shusheng isn't very bright, he's a well-behaved child who just sits there all day, unlike this madman. If he goes crazy, it'll be terrible."

Seeing the crowd pointing and whispering at her, the madwoman finally spoke, her words escaping through the air: "Nobody county rat, nobody county rat, wash away your muddy dreams!"

The madwoman opened her mouth, revealing her gums missing four front teeth. In the crowd, a child cried out in terror. It was too horrible; she looked like a monster that preyed on children.

"Oh dear, this crazy woman's madness is quite severe. I hope she won't harm Shusheng."

"You mean Shusheng? I know him. I closed my stall late yesterday and saw Shusheng being picked up by a chubby old man. By the way, the old man was riding in a very luxurious carriage. You were all closing up your stalls at the time, so you didn't see him."

"Oh my god, could Shusheng have run into human traffickers?"

Have you ever seen human traffickers riding in fancy carriages?

"That's true. People who can afford to ride in fancy carriages wouldn't bother coming all the way to our porcelain street to kidnap a fool."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the madwoman on the ground suddenly stood up: "Qi Qi Qie (street)? Qie (meaning) Qi Qi Qie (street)?"

No one knew what she was talking about, and the crowd continued to discuss Shusheng being picked up in a magnificent carriage.

The madwoman grew anxious and grabbed someone, asking, "Qi Qi Qie? Qie means Qi Qi Qie?"

The man was startled, shoved her away, dusted himself off, and cursed, "Bad luck, what bad luck!"

Everyone laughed.

Wenqing took the money from the gold hairpin from Jiandeng. With her excellent embroidery skills, she found a job in an embroidery workshop not far from Zizhu Temple. Although she was disfigured, being an embroiderer did not depend on one's appearance, and no one here mocked her.

She spent five hundred taels to buy a small courtyard. The courtyard was very dilapidated, but Wenqing was very satisfied. She made some simple repairs and moved in.

She went to the embroidery workshop to officially start work. A few days later, she brought ten gifts to the village head, who was very pleased with the gifts she brought and took her to the government office to register her as a woman. (End of this chapter)