In half an hour, the news of Qi Qingyao distributing rice at the village head’s home had been passed throughout the whole Linquan Village. The village folk had begun gossiping among themselves, their point of discussion naturally the old Qi family.
Their daughter had struck gold but the Qi family could not lay a single finger on the profit at all. Everyone laughed when they thought about this.
Those who had loaned money to Qi Qingyao regained double their money in just a few days, even getting seven to eight catties of rice. They were also the ones who had cursed out Madam Wu and the entire Qi family behind their backs.
They were calling Madam Wu ‘heartless’ and Old Man Qi an individual who was not even comparable to human scum for not raising his own child. They were cursing Qi Yuancheng and his siblings for aiding Old Man Qi in his cruelty and ruthlessness.
Old man Qi’s brothers—Qi Qingyao’s uncles—also suffered from his actions and were lumped together with the rest of the Qi family.
Each and every one of them was the target of their ire.
…
Qi Qingyao’s plan was to pay back the money and distribute the rice to everyone, then stay there for a while before traveling directly to Baishui Town by horse-drawn carriage. She would be staying in Baishui Town for one night and then take the horse-drawn carriage directly to Qingzhou City the next morning. She would bring the kids to take in the sights of the provincial capital! For anything beyond that, she would make the plans later.
Unexpected by anyone, a crying young girl suddenly ran in from outside even before Qi Qingyao could drink two cups of tea. She did not seem to have noticed anyone else there. Her teary eyes were already swollen and one could tell that she had been crying for a long time.
She immediately threw herself in front of Ma Sanye, hugging his legs as she began to bawl.
“Village head, please I beg you, you have to talk to my father. I really don’t want to marry Master Liu, I don’t want to become his seventh concubine.”
Qi Qingyao was shocked. To be wed as someone’s seventh concubine…
Who was this?
The person must surely have a good physique.
“Oh Cuiyun, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but it’s that I can’t.” Although Ma Sanye was the head of the village, there were still some things he could not do. Not to mention, this was a Zhang family matter.
“Village elder, it will be inevitable that I marry Master Liu if you don’t help. I have no desire at all to get married to that seventy-year-old man at all! Boo-hoo…” The lady named Cuiyun was crying at full throttle with tears and snot covering her face.
Qi Qingyao almost fainted when she heard the old man’s age. Seventy years old and he could still take on his seventh concubines! Impressive!
Ma Sanye felt a little awkward. “Cuiyun, look. I have a guest here. You head back first if there’s anything…”
He was, after all, an old man and it was not appropriate for him to hug and comfort her. After she stood up, he patted the young girl on the shoulder helplessly.
Qi Qingyao looked at the young girl’s crying face and felt it was a little familiar. After pondering for a moment, she recalled from her original host’s memories the time that she had been driven out by her family when she was pregnant four years ago. This young woman seemed to have given her two pieces of steamed bread then.
Back then, the original host had hungered for three days and the two steamed buns were life-saving.
The young woman had also been crying back then…it seemed that she was often beaten by her drunk father!
Zhang Cuiyun’s father was Zhang Tieyuan, a well-known gambler in the village who liked to gamble his money in the town’s casino. He lost often and would drink whenever he lost money, beating his daughter in his drunken state.
They also had a son at home. The son was quite diligent and honest while all five daughters had been sold off. This Zhang Cuiyun was the youngest daughter! She was about to be sold off for money in the immediate future.
Perhaps that money would also be spent on gambling.
Qi Qingyao thought to herself, what a poor child.
She could not help but speak out.
“Are you Zhang Cuiyun?”
Zhang Cuiyun, who had been crying miserably, lifted her head and looked at the luxuriously dressed young woman in front of her. Teary-eyed, she asked, “You are?”
“I’m Qi Qingyao,” Qi Qingyao introduced with a faint laugh.
“Qi Qingyao?”
The young woman’s mind stalled for a second.
It was clear that she still had not returned to his senses even after a few moments.
Qi Qingyao did not mind it. She brought out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped the young woman’s tears. Qi Qingyao was confused by her gentle gesture. Where did this beautiful lady come from?
Calmly, Qi Qingyao asked, “How much did Master Liu pay for you?”
“Two, two taels…” Zhang Cuiyun noticed Qi Qingyao was giving her the handkerchief. She held onto her silk handkerchief, confused.
Qi Qingyao squeezed the girl’s soft face. Smiling, she said, “Please call your father over and let him know that I have a big business deal I want to discuss with him.”
