Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 105 Humanity Cannot Withstand the Test
After moving all the sacks inside, Cao Weida went into the study, closed the door, put all the gold bars into his spatial storage, took another seven thousand silver dollars, and left the rest in the room.

He left the study, closed the door behind him, and called Xinghong over, instructing her, "Xinghong, lock the study. Don't let anyone in until I'm back."

Money can be a powerful motivator. The old maid and Xiangzi in the mansion were both honest people, and Cao Weida generally trusted them.

However, once they find out how much money is in the sack, it's hard to guarantee they won't have some inappropriate thoughts.

Even with Xinghong, he wouldn't trust her completely.

Let alone a concubine, even brothers cannot withstand any test in the face of huge profits.

There's a saying that Cao Weida has always found quite insightful: never try to test human nature, because human nature cannot withstand such tests.

Do you really think everyone is born a good person?

No, we just choose to be good people!

"Oh, okay." Cao Weida gave such a solemn instruction that Xinghong immediately took a lock and locked the door.

Although she was incredibly curious, she didn't dare to ask any more questions since Cao Weida wouldn't say anything.

Having come from the Han family's Tan Yunji class, she is quite discerning, if nothing else.

Otherwise, do you really think that being good-looking is enough to become a top star?
Being good-looking is just a basic requirement; you also need to be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, know how to behave appropriately, and have high emotional intelligence!
If you don't have high emotional intelligence, and you say or do something wrong, those big shots, who don't have immense power, will surely end up in a bad situation.
"Master, please take the keys." Xinghong obediently and sensibly handed over the keys. Cao Weida was quite pleased with her sensible attitude, pinched her cheek, and said with a smile:

"You're so thoughtful. I'll stay here tonight."

Xinghong blushed, but her expression was very cheerful. She touched her belly, hugged his arm happily, and whispered, "Master, Xinghong has been living here for a while now, it's time for me to make some contributions to the Cao family."

Cao Wei Da was immediately delighted, "That depends on whether your belly is fertile or not. I'm overjoyed that you're thinking of contributing to the Cao family."

Xinghong's face lit up with joy, and her expression immediately brightened.

Polygamy was common during this period, but not all concubines in the family were allowed to have children.

For example, if the legal wife has a very strong position, it will be very difficult for the concubine to have her own children. Even if she does have children, it will be a problem whether she can raise them herself.

For example, families may prohibit concubines from having children due to considerations such as inheritance of property.

She had some understanding of the Cao family's current situation, but not in detail, and she always felt uneasy until she received a definite answer.

Now that she had received the master's affirmative reply, she was naturally overjoyed.

A mother's status rises with her son's, but that's not as simple as just saying it.

Putting everything else aside, if she grows old and loses her beauty and is no longer favored in the future, her child will be her only hope and source of confidence!
Thinking about how she would have someone to rely on after having children, her eyes gradually welled up with tears, and she bit her rosy lips, breathing softly into his ear, "Master, Xinghong is waiting for you to come back."

"Hiss~~ You little vixen!" Cao Weida gasped. As expected of the future top courtesan of Xiaguangyuan in the original story, she was surrounded by high-ranking officials and nobles. She was just too tempting!
Pa~~
He slapped her round buttocks, sending waves of pleasure through them, then pinched them affectionately, saying fiercely, "You just wait, when I get back, I'll give you a good beating!"

Her apricot-red face instantly flushed as red as the evening glow, and she gave a coquettish hum, protesting, "Master~~~ you're bad~~"

hiss~~
No, no, I have to get out of here right now, this little vixen is just too alluring.

"Xiangzi, take me to the police station."

When they arrived at the police station, Xiao Erduo was already waiting at the door. Seeing Cao Weida approach, she trotted up to him and whispered:

“Brother Cao, everyone is locked in the room. I brought the woman who owns the room with me without permission. Here is her information.”

"Well done." Cao Weida patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction. Having a smart subordinate is indeed very reassuring.

He took the note and read it as he walked. "Take me to see the lady of the house first."

Before long, Xiao Erduo led Cao Weida to a room. Cao Weida gave him a wink, and after Xiao Erduo went out, he arranged for two of his underlings to stand with him at the door.

"Boss, sir." The woman sat on the stool, her face showing some fear.

"Don't be afraid, I mean no harm. I just want to ask you a few questions. As long as you answer honestly, I guarantee you'll be fine." Cao Weida gave a fairly friendly smile.

Seemingly relieved that Cao Weida hadn't shown any ill intent or hostility upon entering, the woman's emotions calmed down slightly, though she was still somewhat frightened. "Boss, please...please ask."

Cao Weida sat down opposite her and then asked, "Are you Fu Decheng's woman?"

"Yes, I am the master's woman." After hesitating for a moment, the woman admitted it. She had already been brought here; if she dared to lie, who knew what would happen?

However, she quickly added, "But he hasn't come to see me in a long time. My boss, my husband..."

Cao Wei Da's face hardened. "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. I'll ask, and you answer."

The woman was startled and nodded hastily.

Seeing that she had calmed down, Cao Weida looked at the information again and asked, "Is your family from Shandong?"

"Yes."

"Fleeing from famine?"

"Yes." "What's your name?"

"Ma Ma Dongmei".

"What's your name?" Cao Weida looked up in surprise.

"Boss, Ma Dongmei." Ma Dongmei didn't know why Cao Weida had this expression, and shrank back a little in fear.

Do you know a man named Charlotte?

"Charlotte? Who's that? I don't know him." Ma Dongmei was a little confused. She was sure she had never heard of this name before and didn't know why the boss was asking about this man.

"You really don't recognize me?"

"Should I know him?"

"Alright, next question." Cao Weida laughed at himself. He was just being mischievous, but Ma Mei from later generations had given him a lot of laughs.

Do you know where Fu Decheng has been lately?

"I don't know, the master never tells me these things."

"Fudecheng has been entrenched in Tianqiao for many years and has had many women, but he has never revealed your existence. Can you tell me why?"

His eyes were fixed on Ma Dongmei, trying to find clues in her expression that she was lying.

Ma Dongmei bit her lip and shook her head blankly. "I don't know. I was bought by the master. I do whatever he tells me to do. I don't dare to ask."

At this point, her expression became somewhat downcast, whether from being bought or from having no official status.

Her expression was natural, and Cao Weida didn't notice anything. He nodded slightly and asked again, "Did he keep anything with you?"

"This..." Ma Dongmei hesitated, then asked cautiously, "He gives me twenty silver dollars a month for expenses, does that count?"

"Nothing else?"

"No, no, that's all." Ma Dongmei was a little flustered. "Boss, I haven't done anything wrong. What exactly do you want to ask? Can you just ask directly? Apart from the master coming to my place two or three times a year, I'm always alone. I really don't know anything."

"Don't be nervous, I'm just asking routinely." Cao Weida reassured her. Based on the information Xiao Erduo had given him and the questioning he had just received, he was fairly certain that Ma Dongmei was unaware that Fu Decheng had hidden money in the wall.

After all, he didn't believe in human nature, and an old hand like Fu Decheng was even less likely to believe in it.

Ma Dongmei was just a woman he bought; he only saw her two or three times a year, and there was basically no deep affection between them.

If he told Ma Dongmei about such a large sum of money, wouldn't he be afraid that Ma Dongmei would run away with the money?

Moreover, the boxes that were found were covered in dust, indicating that they hadn't been opened for a long time.

Since he judged that the other party knew nothing, Cao Wei Da naturally lost interest in asking any further questions.

He stood up and said, "Fu Decheng has already been killed by the anti-Japanese assassination team. You are still young, you should find someone to marry as soon as possible."

"What?! The master has been assassinated?!" Ma Dongmei felt as if the sky had fallen. Although she really didn't have any feelings for Fu Decheng, and although Fu Decheng only came two or three times a year, no matter what, her food, drink and toilet were all provided by the master.

To others, Fu Decheng was an outright traitor, but to him, Fu Decheng was his only support.

Now that her support has collapsed, how could she not feel despair?
"It's eliminating traitors, not assassinating them," Cao Weida couldn't help but correct. Such a major traitor deserved to be eliminated!

He understood Ma Dongmei's feelings, and he also understood a woman's helplessness in this situation, but he had no heart to pity her.

After all, pity is useless; he can't possibly take her in.

These days, there are too many pitiful people; can he possibly pity them all?

He shook his head, pushed open the door, and walked out. "Little Ears."

"Hey, Brother Cao."

"Let her go later."

He wasn't a serial killer after all; he simply couldn't bring himself to lay a hand on a woman who couldn't even kill a chicken.

They were already pitiful enough. Ugh, this damned world.

"this."

"Hmm?" Cao Weida raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Just say what you have to say. Why are you beating around the bush?"

"Yeah, Brother Cao, don't you think this woman is quite pitiful?" Little Ears said with a look of deep compassion.

"They were originally refugees who almost starved to death along the way. Because of their good looks, they were bought by human traffickers and then sold to that bastard Fu Decheng. They were helpless and alone in Beiping. Their background was quite pitiful."

Now that her husband has died and she has no job, how is she going to survive?

(End of this chapter)