Wild Dogs

After delivering the food to his family, Yang Fan hurriedly returned to the Xu family's woodshed.

This time, he took two more steamed buns from home.

Although the two cornbreads contained bran and were a bit rough on the throat, Yang Fan treasured them.

This is much better than the stale cornbread we had before.

He carefully took out the small cauldron and carefully placed two steamed buns inside.

After a while, a fragrant aroma wafted out from inside.

"Oh no, we can't let them find out!"

Yang Fan hurriedly took out two cornbread buns. Looking at the golden cornbread buns, Yang Fan's mouth watered.

"for you!"

Yang Fan gave Xiao Hei a cornbread, and then they each took a piece and started eating.

Even though it was just a cornbread, Yang Fan felt a warm current flowing through his body after eating it, and all the fatigue of the day was swept away.

Little Black happily hopped around at his feet.

Yang Fan patted the puppy's head and picked up the copper coin.

"If only it were silver. With just one ingot of silver, I could go to town on my day off and take my mother and sister to the best restaurant in town for a feast."

Yang Fan couldn't help but fantasize about how he would go out and have a good time in town once he had money.

But now I only have one penny, so I can only dream about it.

"Saving money to buy your freedom is the right thing to do."

Yang Fan was about to put the copper coins away when he suddenly stopped.

"Since the small cauldron can turn stale cornbread into good cornbread and improve medicinal herbs, will copper coins also change?"

Yang Fan swallowed hard with excitement, and hurriedly put the copper coin into the small cauldron.

"Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, may a copper coin turn into gold and silver..."

After muttering to himself for a while, Yang Fan hurriedly reached into the small cauldron and grabbed something.

But what he touched was still a copper coin; it hadn't turned into a silver ingot.

"Does it not work on copper coins...?"

Yang Fan said in frustration, but when he fished out the copper coin, he was immediately dumbfounded.

"Golden!"

The copper coin in his hand had turned into gold!

Yang Fan was somewhat skeptical, so he took a big bite out of the copper coin and became extremely excited when he saw the teeth marks on it.

"It really is gold! We're going to be rich!"

Yang Fan excitedly clutched the copper coin to his chest.

This little cauldron can turn copper coins into gold. If I could get more copper coins, wouldn't I be rich?

Once he sells those medicinal herbs in town and turns all the copper coins into gold, he can redeem himself.

Even if they can't redeem themselves, they can give themselves to their mothers, and their lives will be much easier.

Yang Fan was so excited that he wanted to set off for the town that very night.

"No, we can't rush it!"

Yang Fan suppressed his excitement.

"I'll go to town on my day off, otherwise the manager will definitely notice something's wrong, and it would be really bad if he found out my secret."

Yang Fan paced anxiously, clutching the gold coin.

In any case, this gold coin must be kept safe.

After thinking for a moment, Yang Fan put the gold plate into the small cauldron.

Then, with a thought, the small cauldron shrank back to a tiny size.

"Make it smaller!"

Yang Fan stared at the small cauldron, his mind urging him on.

He had to make the small cauldron even smaller, so small that it couldn't be found during a body search.

But once the small cauldron reaches the size of a finger, it stops shrinking.

"Smaller, smaller!"

Yang Fan's breathing became rapid with anxiety.

This treasure is the key to his comeback; he must keep it hidden.

But the small cauldron remained unchanged, as if it had reached its limit.

"Damn it, if only I could hide inside my body."

Yang Fan muttered something, and the small cauldron suddenly shook and flew into his chest.

"Oh no, where did they go?"

Yang Fan searched his chest for a while, but found nothing.

"Could it really have entered my body?"

"come out!"

With a thought, Yang Fan immediately sent the small cauldron flying out again!

"It actually works!"

"With this, I can store any good things I get in the future without worrying about others finding them."

After putting away the small cauldron, Yang Fan happily patted Xiao Hei's head.

"Little Black, we're about to strike it rich!"

Xiao Hei didn't understand why Yang Fan was excited, but seeing Yang Fan happy, it jumped and danced with joy.

That night, Yang Fan slept exceptionally well.

As the days went by, Yang Fan continued to go out to collect herbs every day, then put away the good herbs and only gave the ordinary herbs to Steward Liu.

With Xiao Hei's help, Yang Fan found the medicinal herbs much faster.

More than half a month later, Yang Fan had accumulated a lot of medicinal herbs, including one that was already a thousand years old.

He carefully put the medicinal herb into the small cauldron, and temporarily hid the other medicinal herbs in the woodshed.

Although he could only eat one steamed bun a day, after half a month, his body had become noticeably stronger.

Yang Fan didn't tell his mother about it.

However, Yang Fan often used medicinal herbs to prepare tonics for his mother, and her health noticeably improved.

Everything seems to be changing for the better.

.......

That day, after finishing his meal, Yang Fan closed the door to the woodshed and carefully took out the medicinal herbs and gold plates.

Looking at these things, Yang Fan rubbed his hands together excitedly.

Tomorrow is his monthly day off, and he can leave the Xu family and go to town.

He had already decided that he would first go to town to exchange the medicinal herbs for money, and then buy a new outfit and have a good meal.

Then they turned that money into gold and took it to the Xu family to redeem the inmates.

"I've heard the roast chicken in town is delicious. When I go there, I'll definitely buy ten roast chickens and eat them all!"

Yang Fan was happily dreaming.

"Bang!"

Just as Yang Fan was having a sweet dream, the door to the woodshed was kicked open.

Several servants carrying torches entered amidst the wind and snow.

What!

Yang Fan was startled and hurriedly tried to put the medicinal herbs away.

Manager Liu rushed over, grabbed Yang Fan's arm, and pulled him aside.

Looking at the medicinal herbs, Manager Liu's eyes lit up with excitement, and he grabbed the herbs in one go.

"I was wondering why that little bastard had been working faster and faster these past few days; turns out he's been stealing from the master's house."

Yang Fan has been working faster and faster these past few days, which made Manager Liu suspicious, so he led his men to search the woodshed.

"Let go, these are the medicinal herbs I gathered!"

Yang Fan hurriedly went to grab those medicinal herbs.

"Snapped!"

Manager Liu slapped Yang Fan hard across the face.

"You're talking nonsense! Where would a penniless pauper like you get all these good medicinal herbs? They're clearly herbs that you gave to the master."

"Men, tie this little beast up!"

Several fierce-looking servants pounced on Yang Fan and held him down tightly.

"Let go of me!"

Yang Fan bit one of the servants' hands and tried desperately to break free.

He had become much stronger, and the men could barely hold him down.

"Beat them!"

Manager Liu's shrill voice rang out, and sticks rained down on Yang Fan, knocking him to the ground.

"Woof woof!"

Seeing Yang Fan being beaten, Xiao Hei pounced on him and bit Manager Liu hard.

"You little beast, you dare to keep a dog!"

Manager Liu picked up a wooden stick and struck Xiao Hei hard, sending Xiao Hei flying.

Although Yang Fan's body was much better than before, he couldn't withstand so many people beating him, and soon he was covered in injuries.

"What's all the noise about!"

Just then, a deep, resonant voice came from behind.

The servants all stopped and bowed respectfully toward the door.

"Master, this brat dared to steal the medicinal herbs from the manor! These herbs are meant to be sent to the young lady."

"It would be troublesome if it interfered with the young lady's cultivation."

As Steward Liu spoke obsequiously, Master Xu walked in from outside, his fox fur coat still damp with snow.

It's snowing heavily outside.

"Oh, really? Let me see it!"

Master Xu reached out his hand, and Steward Liu hurriedly handed over all the medicinal herbs.

Master Xu glanced at the medicinal herbs and discovered that they were all over a hundred years old.

One of them was even a thousand years old, and it greedily licked its lips.

He knew, of course, that these medicinal herbs didn't belong to his family, but that didn't matter anymore.

"You good-for-nothing lackey! I'll feed you, clothe you, and let you live in the Xu family!"

"If it weren't for me, you would have starved to death long ago. Instead of being grateful, you dare to repay kindness with enmity!"

"Guards, hang him outside! Call all the servants over to see what happens to those who dare steal from their master!"

With that, Master Xu tightened his fox fur robe and went out.

Yang Fan was dragged out by his arm.

Little Black whimpered as it crawled over from the side.

"Where did this stray dog ​​come from!"

Manager Liu kicked Xiao Hei away and then struck Yang Fan on the back with his stick again.

Looking at the heavy snow outside, he smiled smugly.

If we just hang this kid outside, he'll freeze to death!

He has helped the master obtain so many medicinal herbs; the master will surely reward him!

Thinking of this, Manager Liu became even more smug.

As for Yang Fan?

Bah! A slave who has signed a contract to sell himself into servitude is a worthless life to begin with. Even if he dies, the people won't complain and the officials won't investigate!

Inside the Xu family compound, Yang Fan's hands were bound, and he was suspended from a wooden frame.

At this moment, all the servants of the Xu family gathered around.

Although Master Xu was kind-hearted, he couldn't bear to see poor people starve to death.

But today, he was determined to watch Yang Fan die here himself!

"Everyone's here. Liu Quan, tell them what happened."

Master Xu sat lazily in his chair, holding a hand warmer.

He had already decided to get rid of Yang Fan and deliver the medicinal herbs to Qingyun Temple tomorrow.

Even at Qingyun Temple, medicinal herbs that are a thousand years old are rare.

"Yes, sir!"

Liu Quan pointed at Yang Fan with his whip.

"Yang Fan, a lowly servant, is cunning, lazy, greedy, and slippery. His master took pity on him and took him in."

"But instead of showing gratitude, he dared to steal from his master! Today, this thief will be severely punished!"

"Men, strip him of his shirt!"

Several servants stepped forward and stripped Yang Fan of his shirt.

The wind and snow grew heavier, and snowflakes fell on Yang Fan's head, turning him completely white.

"Yang Fan, do you plead guilty?"

Liu Quan questioned Yang Fan fiercely.

"I didn't steal anything; you've framed me with stolen goods!"

Yang Fan said through gritted teeth.

The wind and snow were cold, but his heart was even colder.

"Still dare to be stubborn!"

Liu Quan picked up his whip and lashed it at him.

With a single lash, blood seeped out, and the other servants, seeing this, all shrank back, watching him coldly.

"Tell me, did you steal it?!"

"I didn't steal it!"

He had already endured this for three months and didn't want to continue doing so.

"Serves you right for being so stubborn!"

Liu Quan picked up the whip again and continued to lash it.

But Yang Fan insisted that he hadn't stolen it.

Soon Yang Fan was covered in blood.

Just as Liu Quan was about to continue the torture, Master Xu stood up.

"Yang Fan, if you admit you stole it, I might give you a chance to live."

A chance to survive?

Yang Fan sneered.

He had figured it out; Master Xu was just trying to frame him.

With so many witnesses, if Yang Fan admits to stealing in front of everyone, he can use that as a reason to kill Yang Fan.

"Mr. Xu, if you want to frame me, just say so. I didn't steal anything from your Xu family!"

Yang Fan stared fiercely at Master Xu.

Seeing that Yang Fan showed no sign of backing down, Master Xu's eyes turned cold.

"Looks like he's refusing to admit anything. Liu Quan, stop hitting him. Hang him there. We'll release him when he confesses!"

"Everyone, disperse!"

Master Xu waved his hand, signaling everyone else to disperse.

The other servants could only disperse.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, soon covering Yang Fan's body.

The cold wind kept blowing, and Yang Fan swayed slightly. He was numb and couldn't even feel the cold.

Gradually, even the lackeys responsible for supervision went inside to avoid the snow.

"Woof!"

Little Black stumbled as it crawled from the woodshed to this spot, looking at Yang Fan and whimpering incessantly.

The snow gradually covered Little Black.

"Sound of something flying around..."

A sound came, and Yang Fan opened his eyes. A mouse was sitting on the wooden frame, staring at him.

Am I... dead?

Yang Fan spoke softly, his eyes almost closing.

"Poor child, how did you end up hanging here?"

A hoarse voice came from behind.

Yang Fan opened his eyes and saw an old Taoist priest dressed in black standing in front of him, looking at him curiously.

The old man was so thin he looked like a skeleton, and a rat was crawling on the back of his withered hand, its eyes gleaming green as it stared at Yang Fan.