After Lu's mother, Yingniang, and Lu Xiaomei finished their meal, they went to Meiwuzhai, while Lu Yanzhao also went to the academy.

Gu Nanjiao rested at home for three or four days. On this day, after Yingniang and her younger sister returned from Meiwuzhai, they saw Gu Nanjiao sitting under the big tree in the courtyard practicing calligraphy.

Lu Xiaomei couldn't help but praise, "Sister-in-law, your handwriting has become so beautiful! I remember before it looked like a dog's crawl."

Upon hearing this, Gu Nanjiao put down her calligraphy brush and chuckled, "I'm just saying that diligence can make up for lack of talent. As long as you follow Master Ying and study hard, you can also learn to write well."

Lu Xiaomei pouted: "I'd rather have a stick so I can practice how to hit people. I guarantee I can hit them every time."

Yingniang chuckled and said to Gu Nanjiao, "If I were a man, I would definitely be the top martial arts scholar. It's a pity I'm a woman. How can a girl wield a sword and spear?"

Gu Nanjiao was taken aback. Every child has their own strengths. Lu Xiaomei wasn't interested in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, and she drove Yingniang crazy every day. Instead, she was very interested in wielding swords and spears. Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but recall the swiftness with which Lu Xiaomei killed the bullfrog with a knife; her hand moved swiftly and cleanly, it was truly beautiful.

She found a female tutor for her younger sister, and they spend their days learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting with graceful, delicate movements. Did she make the wrong choice?

But where can young women practice swordsmanship and spear fighting?

"Manager Gu, I've noticed some people acting suspiciously at the entrance of Meiwuzhai these past few days. I wonder what they're up to?" Yingniang's words interrupted Gu Nanjiao's thoughts. She continued, "After my little sister went and threatened them with a knife, those suspicious people haven't appeared since."

Gu Nanjiao "..."

Little sister is awesome!

Lu Xiaomei: "Don't you even know who I am? If I knew martial arts, I would definitely beat these freeloaders to a pulp."

Gu Nanjiao teased, "You're so skilled, why don't I send you to a martial arts school to train?"

To everyone's surprise, Lu Xiaomei was overjoyed: "My dear sister-in-law, really? You've hit the nail on the head! I want to scream at the thought of playing the piano and painting every day!"

Yingniang's expression changed instantly: "It's my fault for not teaching her well!"

If Manager Gu really dismissed her, she would have no complaints, because Lu Xiaomei was simply too difficult to teach. Teaching her was exhausting for her. But if she were dismissed, where would she find such a good job? She would probably be adrift again, like duckweed, without a fixed abode.

Thinking of this, Yingniang glanced at Gu Nanjiao cautiously: "Manager Gu, if I can't teach my little sister, could you please not fire me? I can work as a waitress at Meiwuzhai."

Gu Nanjiao smiled and said, "How could I fire you? You've done your best. If you can't teach my little sister, you can teach me. I'm interested in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I wonder if it's a bit late to learn at this age?"

Yingniang said repeatedly, "It's not too late, it's not too late. As long as you are willing to learn, diligence can make up for lack of talent." After a pause, she added, "In my spare time, can I help out at Meiwuzhai? Manager Gu has been a great benefactor to me, and I can't just sit idly by waiting for you to have time. When Manager Gu is busy, I will help out, and when Manager Gu is free, I will teach you the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. This way, it will save time and I can learn something."

Gu Nanjiao nodded: "Your suggestion is good! But don't call me Manager Gu anymore. You're older than me, just call me Nanjiao."

Yingniang was quite straightforward, calling out "Sister Nanjiao" without any hesitation!

After they had some free time, the group started discussing who those suspicious-looking people were.

Could it be someone from Wang Dafu's faction? Or sent by Madam Wang?

Or is it that someone is jealous of Meiwuzhai's business and wants to sabotage it?

I don't think anyone will cause trouble. Right now, with Bai Cai protecting her, no one would dare to mess with her.

Who exactly is it?

After discussing for a long time without coming to a conclusion, Yingniang and Lu Xiaomei returned to Meiwuzhai to help out when it was time to prepare for dinner.

Gu Nanjiao felt she was almost fully recovered and insisted on going with them. Lu Xiaomei and Yingniang looked at her wrist, which had not yet scabbed over, and insisted that she rest for a few more days.

...

Wang Fu's erratic behavior broke the hearts of Wang Dafu and his wife. No matter what they asked her, she kept muttering, "Village woman, slut!"

Enraged, Madam Wang vented her anger on Wang Dafu, who was so frightened that he hid outside and dared not go home.

Having nowhere to vent her anger, Madam Wang bribed the jailer with some money, determined to have Yang Meiqin tortured to death.

To her surprise, Yang Meiqin did not suffer a fate worse than death, but instead, officials came to the Wang family.

Wang Fu was terrified and kept trying to crawl under the bed.

Upon seeing this, Madam Wang quickly put on a smile and said, "Officers, what exactly happened? Has that bitch Yang Meiqin been sentenced and my daughter is being asked to give a statement?"

"Should that vile woman be exiled or beheaded?" Madam Wang said, secretly slipping a handful of silver into the official's hand. "Sir, could you please make an exception and have someone slash that vile woman's face and cut off her limbs? My poor daughter has been so cruelly murdered..."

The official waved the silver in his hand and sneered, "Hmph, you're the ones crying 'stop thief' now. For the sake of the silver, I'll tell you: Yang Meiqin's plea for justice alarmed the higher-ups. The county magistrate had no choice but to reopen the case, and what he found out was that Wang Fu actually dared to collude with the brothels in the city to traffic innocent women. Your Wang family even tried to pin the crime on your concubine."

"What?" Madam Wang staggered to the ground, unable to believe the official's words.

How could Wang Fu possibly collude with brothels to traffic women? She was clearly a victim, harmed by Yang Meiqin.

"Sir, my daughter is also a victim. She couldn't possibly have done this!" Madam Wang grabbed the officer's leg and cried her heart out, completely abandoning her former dignified and sharp demeanor.

"Impossible? Everyone in the brothel can testify that it was she who hired people and paid to kidnap the manager of Meiwuzhai and various respectable women. Do you know who else was a victim? The prefect's daughter? Of all the people she could have kidnapped, she had to pick a fight with a tough nut to crack."

boom!

Lady Wang was thunderstruck. Impossible!

She didn't believe a word the officials said. Her daughter was a bit willful, but it was impossible for her to collude with brothels to traffic women.

Who would want to harm them? Wang Dafu offended many people in his business dealings in the past, and it's unknown whether these people were the ones who took advantage of their misfortune.

The officials' commotion was quite significant, and a large crowd had already gathered around the Wang family to watch the spectacle. Upon hearing the news, the crowd erupted in excitement.

"This is outrageous! Could the Wang family have made their fortune by trafficking women?"

"I never expected someone so young to be so vicious."

"Stay away from this family from now on. Don't buy anything from them."

The officials searched high and low for Wang Fu, and finally found her under the bed.

Wang Fu was terrified, her body went limp, and the officer grabbed her, saying, "Get up, let's go back to the yamen!"

Wang Fu immediately burst into tears and lay prostrate on the ground: "I won't go, I won't go, Mother, save me, please save me! That bitch Yang Meiqin framed me. I didn't kidnap any other respectable women, much less the prefect's daughter. It was Yang Meiqin who suggested that I kidnap Gu Nanjiao and sell her to a brothel. I didn't do anything else!"

Everyone saw that Wang Fu spoke clearly and didn't seem crazy, but when they heard her confess without being asked, they were very confused. Was she crazy or not?

Would a normal person confess without being asked?