After flirting with the aloof prince, the concubine ran away pregnant.

She suddenly realized. When she first transmigrated, the original owner of this body had been beaten twenty times and was almost dead. Her uncle and aunt were called to collect the body, and they brought A-Zhen with them.

The five-year-old girl witnessed her older sister covered in blood, leaving her with psychological trauma.

Afu took a deep breath and gripped Azhen's hand even tighter.

"She's just scaring you. Your sister is perfectly fine now; no one can kill her without your permission."

The door to the Jiang family's house was ajar. When Afu pushed the door open, Jiang Caifeng was sitting in the courtyard eating melon seeds, wearing a brand-new crimson jacket and skirt, with a gold hairpin in her hair.

As soon as Jiang Caifeng saw her, a smile immediately spread across her face. Her shrewd eyes first swept over the bundle in her hand, and her hand followed suit: "Oh, Afu is here! You're here, so what did you bring? Quickly give it to your aunt—"

Afu's hand veered, causing her to miss her target.

Jiang Caifeng's smile froze on her face.

"Is Aunt's family really that poor?" Afu took Azhen's hand, showing her her two small, red, and swollen hands from the cold. "So poor that they have to send an eight-year-old to wash clothes at the alley entrance to earn money?"

Jiang Caifeng's expression changed. She glared at Azhen first, then immediately put on a wronged look: "Afu, don't misunderstand. Azhen is a sensible child. She insisted on helping with the family's burdens, and I couldn't stop her."

Afu looked at the gold hairpin in her hair: "You can't stop the child from doing laundry, but you can stop the hand from taking away the gold hairpin."

Jiang Caifeng choked for a moment, then began to complain again: "You don't know the cost of firewood and rice when you're not in charge of the household. Raising children costs money for everything. How could you know the hardships outside when you work in the Marquis's mansion?"

Afu almost laughed in anger.

She sends two taels of silver to the Jiang family every month, which is enough for their family's food expenses for a month and more than enough to support an eight-year-old child.

Where the rest went, everyone knows the answer.

When Jiang Caifeng realized that complaining was useless, she started to talk about the kindness she had received. She said that when she and her sister went to the capital alone, they would not be where they are today if it weren't for the Jiang family taking them in. She said that it was okay for Azhen to eat and live at home and help with some chores.

Just then, footsteps came from the courtyard gate.

My cousin Jiang Deshun walked in carrying a book box, followed by Jiang Chenghuai, who was wearing a blue cloth long gown and carrying a bag of candied plums.

Upon seeing her, Jiang Chenghuai's eyes visibly brightened, his ears turned slightly red, and he called out, "Sister Afu."

Afu didn't want to go around in circles anymore; she couldn't vent her anger by arguing, and Jiang Caifeng wouldn't listen to reason either.

To make this kind of person feel sorry for you, you have to hit her most sensitive spot: her son's future.

She looked at Jiang Chenghuai and smiled calmly: "Your cousin studies at Qingshan Academy, where the academic supervisor values ​​character the most, you should know that, right?"

Jiang Chenghuai paused for a moment, then said, "I...I know."

"I suddenly thought of something," Afu said, her voice low but clear, "If I were to write a complaint to the school supervisor, saying that the Jiang family had embezzled the property of two orphaned girls to fund their son's education, cousin, what do you think the supervisor would do?"

The courtyard fell silent.

Jiang Caifeng's expression froze, then she shrieked, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Afu didn't look at her.

She laid out the accounts one by one: "Over the years, whether it's the silver notes my parents left behind when I went to the capital, or the monthly allowance after I entered the Marquis's mansion, or the gifts for festivals and holidays."

She paused, her gaze falling on the gold hairpin in Jiang Caifeng's hair. "Including this hairpin, they are all mine."

"My uncle has no job, and my aunt doesn't work either. Where will the money come from for the Jiang family's food, clothing, and other necessities, as well as my cousin's tuition and school fees?"

Jiang Chenghuai's face gradually paled, and his fingers gripping the book tightened: "Sister Afu, I...I didn't know any of this."

He didn't know?

Afu sneered inwardly. After enjoying the benefits for so many years, she thought she could just wash her hands of it with a simple "I don't know".

But she didn't press the issue; she simply laid out the consequences clearly: "The student council will investigate, and then a notice will be posted at the entrance of Qingshan Academy. Auntie, do you think my cousin will be able to continue his studies?"

Jiang Caifeng's face finally turned pale, and she swallowed back the harsh words she was about to say.

She immediately changed her tone, forcing a smile: "Ah Fu, we're all family, why say such harsh words? Ah Zhen's matter was because your aunt didn't take good care of her, and your aunt will change. But your cousin's studies weren't easy, and when he becomes successful in the future, he can take care of you sisters."

Afu sneered, "He can't even take care of Azhen now, what future is he talking about?"

Jiang Chenghuai's face was full of self-reproach as he looked at Azhen.

The little girl hid behind Afu, her eyes and fingers red and swollen.

Uncle Jiang Deshun was also embarrassed and glared at Jiang Caifeng: "You really made Azhen do the laundry?"

Seeing that even the men in her family were blaming her, Jiang Caifeng blurted out angrily, "I was only doing it for the family! Cheng Huai's education costs money everywhere! What's wrong with her doing some chores, she's just a girl!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chenghuai's expression darkened even further.

Afu laughed; she had finally told the truth.

"What's wrong with doing some work?" she retorted. "Then why don't you start doing laundry at the alley entrance from today? A grown man, he's quicker and faster than Ah Zhen, he'll definitely earn more."

"What nonsense are you spouting! Cheng Huai is a scholar!"

This is exactly what Afu was waiting for.

"Isn't A-Zhen human? A scholar's hands are precious, but a young girl's hands are just destined to rot?"

The courtyard was so quiet you could hear A-Zhen sniffling. Jiang Chenghuai growled, "Mother, you've gone too far."

Jiang Caifeng retorted as if someone had stepped on her tail: "I'm being unreasonable? I'm doing this all for you! Do you think the tuition fees for Qingshan Academy just fall from the sky? All those books, those writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones of yours, none of them are free."

"That's enough." Jiang Chenghuai's voice was strained. "From now on, I won't need my family to pay for my schooling."

Afu didn't pursue the matter further; that was enough.

She took out two taels of silver from her bundle and placed them on the stone table, then put down a bolt of silk, clearly stating her conditions one by one.

"From today onwards, A-Zhen is not allowed to work in your house. She needs to see a doctor for the chilblains on her hands, and the cost of the medicine will come from these two taels of silver."

She looked at Jiang Caifeng and said in a calm and unhurried tone, "If it's not enough, deduct it from my cousin's money for writing materials."

"I'll come to see her every ten days. If I see Ah-Zhen injured again, or hear the neighbors say she's being forced to work again," Ah-Fu said, looking at Jiang Cai-Feng. "Auntie, Qingshan Academy isn't far from here, is it?"

Jiang Caifeng's face turned ashen: "I understand."

When Afu left, she slipped a small purse into Afu's arms when no one was around.

She lowered her voice and said, "There are some copper coins inside. Keep them safe and don't give them to anyone else. If you get hungry, go next door and buy a hot pancake. Got it?"

Ah Zhen nodded obediently.

"Very good." Afu patted her head. "Our Azhen is very capable. She will definitely be able to take good care of herself."

Just as Afu was about to leave, Azhen grabbed her sleeve. "This is for you, sister. It's a kitten pouch I embroidered for you. It's from the little orange cat we fed before."

The kitten's pouch is a bit dusty and the pattern isn't particularly exquisite, but the yellow orange cat looks incredibly adorable.

A warmth filled her heart, and she said to A-Zhen, "A-Zhen's embroidery is so beautiful. I want to carry it with me and take it out to look at it whenever I miss you."

Afu touched her face and didn't linger any longer.

When they reached the alley entrance, Afu walked over to the laundry woman again, took out a handful of copper coins, and stuffed them into her hand.

Please keep an eye on A-Zhen for her. If anything happens, send a message through the side gate of the Yongning Marquis's residence to find A-Fu of Shi'an Courtyard.

This aunt was very kind; after receiving the money, she patted her chest and promised to visit her aunt's house every day.

When Afu returned to the Marquis's residence, dusk had already fallen.

Bai Zhi was squatting under the eaves peeling lotus seeds when she saw her coming in from afar. She immediately ran up to her and said in a low voice, "Sister, you're finally back! The young master came back to the manor today and has already asked about you twice."

Afu paused, "What did you ask me?"