They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 425 Mother Wu

Xu Zhichun suddenly sensed something was amiss. She remained vigilant and did not let her guard down, so she quickly noticed the woman with a scar on her face secretly observing her.

She initially thought the woman was wary and suspicious of her because she was afraid she was some kind of bad person, so although she felt uncomfortable, she didn't say anything.

The other party is an elderly woman or a young woman, while I am dressed as a young man. It's understandable that the woman would scrutinize and be wary of me.

But Xu Zhichun quickly realized that it didn't seem quite right. She couldn't help but give the woman a cold glance, a silent warning: Don't go too far.

The woman smiled at her and tentatively began, "This lady—cough cough, you must be a young woman? It's certainly inconvenient for a young lady to travel alone, and this attire is quite fitting. But why are you alone? Where are your family? How can I leave them at home?"

Xu Zhichun suddenly looked at her, but didn't say anything.

She doesn't like people meddling in her affairs. Who are you? Do I even know you? Why are you being so nosy?

The woman smiled at her, seemingly unconcerned about her attitude, which only increased Xu Zhichun's dislike, making her feel that the woman had ill intentions.

She glanced outside; the rain was pouring down harder, and the damp air rushed in with the wind, making her feel slightly clammy. Just a meter outside the door, everything seemed to melt into a thick fog, and she couldn't see anything clearly.

Otherwise, she would have to leave.

The woman lowered her head sadly when she saw that Xu Zhichun ignored her attempts to strike up a conversation.

I don't know what she was thinking, but she suddenly got up and walked towards Xu Zhichun.

"stop!"

Xu Zhichun took two steps back, glaring at her warily and demanding, "What do you want to do?"

Don't force her to take action.

"I am Zhichun! You are Zhichun, aren't you?"

Xu Zhichun's mind went blank. He stared at the woman and suddenly realized that she looked somewhat familiar.

who is it?

The name is almost there, but I just can't bring myself to say it.

"Zhichun, it's me. I'm Mama Wu from Jinhua Tower in Lingyang."

Lingyang County? Wu Mama of Jinhualou?

Yes!

After her adoptive parents died unexpectedly, she was sold to the Golden Flower Brothel by her aunt and uncle. It was there that she met Ji Yingxuan. Later, when Ji Yingxuan's mother fell ill and he rushed home, she overheard Wu Mama plotting with two men from the capital before he returned. So she set a fire and fled.
Xu Zhichun's eyes grew even colder. He hadn't expected the madam to have fallen to such a state; it was quite satisfying.

Who did it?

Is this Ji Yingxuan?
It must have been his revenge after he returned to the Golden Flower Pavilion to find the original owner but failed.

Xu Zhichun could only say "Serves him right" to this.

The original owner's adoptive parents were a well-off family. The adoptive father was a scholar who worked as a tutor. Although he didn't earn much money, they lived a decent life. The adoptive mother was weak and unable to have children. The adoptive father was an open-minded person and had a deep childhood friendship with the adoptive mother. After adopting her, the family of three lived happily together.

The original owner had learned to read and write from her adoptive father since childhood and was quite talented. One can imagine the pain and despair she felt after being sold into a brothel and her fierce resistance.

This caused her mother a lot of trouble. If she hadn't happened to meet Ji Yingxuan, given the original owner's personality, she might not have survived.

Now, half of Wu's hair has turned white, and her hair, which is a mixture of black and white, is dry and dull like a clump of withered grass. Her face is haggard, and the horrifying scar adds to her sorrow. Seeing her like this, Xu Zhichun felt a sense of satisfaction.

No wonder she could recognize herself dressed as a man.

The madams in brothels naturally have a good eye for these things.

Xu Zhichun continued to look at her coldly, without uttering a single word.

Mother Wu suddenly choked up, "I know I've wronged you, but now I've ended up like this. I... I'm afraid I don't have much time left to live. Zhichun, can you forgive me?"

As she spoke, Mrs. Wu covered her mouth, bent over, and coughed repeatedly.

The little girl rushed forward to help her, holding her arm tightly and calling out anxiously, "Grandma Wu, Grandma Wu!"

Xu Zhichun looked closely at Wu Mama's face; she was haggard and ashen, and it seemed that she was indeed having a very hard time. Perhaps it was true that she said she wouldn't live much longer.

Xu Zhichun's gaze fell on the little girl, and he said coldly, "Don't you dare do anything bad!"

Although the little girl looks young, she has delicate features and will surely grow up to be a beauty. She is intelligent and quick-witted, with big, bright eyes. She probably has a difficult life, as her expression shows a maturity and composure beyond her years.

What can a woman like Wu's mother do with that little girl around? Isn't she just treating her like a cash cow or a potential investment?

Mrs. Wu sat weakly on the ground, clutching her chest and panting for a while before she recovered. She smiled at Xu Zhichun and said, "I only took her in because I felt sorry for her. I can't take care of her for much longer. Why don't you take her away?"

The girl almost burst into tears, "Grandma Wu!"

Mother Wu patted her gently. Perhaps it's rare for a person to show kindness when they're about to die. "I never thought I'd see you again. Maybe it's fate. No matter how many mistakes and sins I've committed, Qu Ling is innocent. If I'm gone, who knows what will happen to her? Take her with you. Even if she's just a little maid, it's better than her staying with me."

"No, I won't leave, Granny Wu!"

Qu Ling burst into tears, tightly hugging Wu Mama's arm and throwing herself into her arms.

Mother Wu didn't take the child's thoughts seriously at all. She was so young, what did she know? She hadn't been that good to her. She had only bought her because she felt sorry for her being sold off by her stepmother. At least she would have someone to keep her company and take care of her.

She had never thought about what the child's future would be like.

She never expected the child to be so genuinely kind to her. Human hearts are made of flesh and blood. As they spent more time together, her health deteriorated day by day, and she couldn't help but feel sorry for the child and worry about her future.

Mrs. Wu was both surprised and delighted to run into Xu Zhichun today.

She genuinely wanted to entrust Qu Ling to Xu Zhichun.

Looking at Xu Zhichun, Aunt Wu continued, "Zhichun, don't you want to know about your background? Don't you want to know why those people want you dead?"

Xu Zhichun suddenly looked up.

If it were her, she might not really want to know. There's no need to dwell on the past. She can simply consider it a new beginning, and there's nothing wrong with that.

But she couldn't bring herself to disregard the original owner of the body.

"What kind of Lady Hou is she? Why would she treat me like that?"

She remembered that the original owner had overheard the two people from the capital talking to Mama Wu. They used both soft and hard tactics, threats and inducements, to order Mama Wu to immediately arrange for the original owner to entertain guests. They were determined to keep the original owner trapped in the Golden Flower Brothel and not allow her to leave. They said things like, "If you dare to disobey us, our Lady Hou is not someone to be trifled with!" and "Think about how the Xu family couple died."