Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 144 - 142: Do a Good Deed Every Day

Chapter 144: Chapter 142: Do a Good Deed Every Day

Mrs. Liu turned her back and whispered in a voice audible only to the two of them, "I can’t sleep, Xiao’er, did you hear what the two next door were saying? I’m thinking about how to help those two pitiful children. What if we buy them? Would they agree?"

"Mother, try to sleep. We will try tomorrow." Xiao’er replied quietly. Walls have ears, and this place was certainly not for conversations, as they just found out.

The next day, before dawn, Shen Chengyao came to wake them. Mrs. Liu got up and relayed to him the conversation from last night. Hearing this, he agreed with Mrs. Liu that keeping the two children here would only delay their fate. Sooner or later, they would be sold.

"Father, go find their uncle, and mother, you go to the children. Tell them what happened yesterday and that you want to buy them. See if they are willing." Xiao’er suggested.

A purchase requires agreement from both sides, otherwise, there is no deal at all.

Chengyao found the male head of the household and informed him softly about the discussion from the previous night, and then expressed his family’s intentions.

The man was certainly enraged after hearing the news. His mother-in-law was always on his kids’ back, not only egging them on to hit their cousins but also constantly making them do labor without providing food. It was sheer madness!

Had he not returned abruptly home one day, he wouldn’t have discovered the plight of his nephews. And his own children had been utterly corrupted by their grandmother.

Now she even considered selling his nephews, it was absolutely outrageous! The man wished he could take her to task immediately.

"Brother, no matter how much you make a fuss, they might not admit it. And you can’t watch them all the time. What about next time? I’m here passing through on my way to the Imperial Capital on official duty. When I’m out, you can come to find me at the Marquis Mansion by the name Shen Chengyao. If I am not in the Imperial Capital, you can contact me at my home..." Shen Chengyao interjected and introduced himself.

"Sir, I understand your intentions are good. You’re right, I can’t watch over them all the time. It might be better for them to stay with you, rather than being sold off unknowingly. Let me tell you about their parents." The man expressed his gratitude.

Shen Chengyao halted his actions, he could not accept such a grand gesture.

As it turned out, their father had gone to the Imperial Capital to participate in the martial arts examination of the Imperial Examination and never returned. Their mother, too, had gone to the Imperial Capital to search for their father two years ago and hadn’t returned either. His mother-in-law assumed they are dead and hence unabashedly tortured his nephews. He also started to believe the same since they hadn’t heard from them for years. Surely, it was an ill-fated situation!

Upon hearing the story, Chengyao said, "we are just two kind souls who can’t help but intervene when we see those two children in need. We don’t want to enslave them, think of it as hiring them as long-term workers. We are also headed for the Imperial Capital, and we may help search for the state of their father."

One good turn deserves another, as Xiao’er always says: don’t let a wrong slip because it’s small, nor neglect a virtue because it’s small. Love is rewarded with love, fortune reciprocates with fortune. We help those who deserve it; perform good deeds for good people, for you never know who may prove to be a noble person in the future.

If it weren’t for rescuing Young Master Shangguan and Young Master Di in the mountains, they wouldn’t be as privileged as they are today. He firmly believes in good deeds being rewarded!

The man, upon hearing this, thanked Chengyao profusely.

After the man and Chengyao agreed upon an arrangement, the man proposed to sell his nephews to Chengyao’s family to his mother-in-law. Initially, she disagreed. But when she heard the offer of ten taels per child, she immediately accepted. This price was five taels higher than the price she had in mind. She never stopped praising her son-in-law for the transaction, and he felt more than ever that his decision was right.

The two siblings too, consented to the plan. They much prefer this to being sold as child brides to grow up in slavery and being made eunuchs. Being a eunuch would mean their father’s lineage would terminate!

Upon hearing the decision, Xiao Fuzi admired Shen Chengyao’s family for their kindness. If only someone had bought him at a high price back in the day, he wouldn’t have ended up like this.

Later, when he learned that his father had gone to the Imperial Capital to participate in the martial examination and never returned home, Xiao Fuzi asked for his father’s name.

"My father’s name is Zhao Yong, do you know him?" The boy asked hopefully, looking at Xiao Fuzi.

Upon hearing the name, Xiao Fuzi’s eyes flickered briefly, but he couldn’t escape Xiao’er’s keen sight, "I don’t know him."

Then he addressed Chengyao, "Shen Master, please take good care of these two children."

Xiao’er raised her eyebrow. This conversation held some mystery. Whose favor was he asking? It seemed she needed to question Xiao Fuzi about what was really going on.

At this time, Mrs. Shen and her party also walked over, hearing that Chengyao had spent twenty taels to buy these two little brats who couldn’t even lift weights or do manual labor!

She was furious immediately: "Just to buy these two little kids whose hair hasn’t yet grown properly, and twenty taels for them? Is this highway robbery?"

That woman was not happy to hear these words, and she was not one to hold her tongue, "What do you mean by little kids? Are you in such need of a few taels of silver? These two nephews of mine can do housework. They did all the chores in our house. Ten taels is too little, I would have asked for twenty taels per child, had I known!"

"Really? Well, we don’t want to buy them anymore. Return our money, please!" Mrs. Shen held out her hand to the woman to demand the silver back.

"Oh, I sold them, how can I back out now? Why are you still staying at my place? It’s getting light. If you don’t leave soon, I’ll charge you a copper plate fee, thirty copper plates per person."

"Thirty copper plates per person? You are the robber. This is a trap!"

"Three..."

"Old Three, hurry up and ask her for the money."

"Two..."

Upon hearing that it had gone down to two, Mrs. Shen rushed out of the courtyard, "Let’s go. This country woman is causing trouble for no reason!"

Not to be outdone, the woman retorted, "You mean old woman!"

Everyone: "..."

This can cause a quarrel too? Xiao’er expressed her admiration.

The episode flew by quickly. When they arrived at the next town, Mrs. Liu bought the children some new clothes.

Xiao’er found an opportunity to ask Xiao Fuzi about what was going on.

Xiao Fuzi was initially hesitant and kept beating around the bush, but ultimately, he ended up revealing that Zhao Yong used to work under Shangguan Xuanyi.

"Miss Xiao’er, please don’t ask me any more questions. I really can’t say anything more."

"I don’t intend to ask more," Xiao’er innocently responded.

Upon hearing her response, Xiao Fuzi breathed a sigh of relief.

"I know he’s not dead, and that’s enough. Later, let him come pick up his children! Remember to bring food expenses with him, or I will not let him in!" Xiao’er slyly said.

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