"Sir, what are you doing?" Matchmaker Li asked, her face pale with fright.
"What are you doing? You know perfectly well what you've done!" The leading officer sneered. "Human trafficking is a serious crime! Come with us!"
"I'm innocent, sir! I didn't kidnap anyone!"
Matchmaker Li wailed and cried, grabbing Gan Tao Niang and saying to the officials:
"Look, this is the child's mother. She wanted to sell the child herself. I was just helping her make the connection!"
Upon hearing this, the officer sneered, "Nonsense! Do you know that this wealthy merchant claims to want to adopt a boy as his son, but secretly he wants to keep him as a male prostitute? This has spread throughout the town. What kind of heartless parents would sell their child to such a person? Do they even want to live as human beings?"
These words struck a nerve with Gan Tao Niang. Last time, because of those things, the villagers almost wouldn't let her in. If this got out, wouldn't she and her daughter be kicked out immediately?
Feeling incredibly guilty, and seeing that the matchmaker was still swearing that she had agreed to the arrangement, and the official casting a suspicious glance at her, Gan Tao Niang immediately exploded, jumping up and down as she retorted:
"You're talking nonsense! You clearly encouraged me to sell my child! You heartless bastard, you've ruined my whole family, and now you want to sell my son too! Bah!"
As he spoke, still feeling it wasn't enough, he turned to the officials and frantically tried to defend himself:
"Sir, please don't believe her! How would a woman like me know these things? She's just lying to me! Xiao Si, don't you agree?!"
She tugged at her son's hand forcefully, urging him to prove himself.
A hint of struggle appeared on Xiao Si's face, but she finally nodded.
Gan Tao Niang was overjoyed at the sight, and then pretended to be relieved and scared to the officials: "It's a good thing you arrived in time, otherwise my son and I would have been harmed by this matchmaker Li!"
When the matchmaker saw that she was actually trying to pin the blame on her, she became anxious and quickly retorted.
The two argued back and forth, neither willing to give in, their spittle flying everywhere, causing chaos in the entire teahouse and attracting a large crowd of onlookers.
In the end, the constables had to forcibly separate the two men to barely control the situation and take them all to the county town.
After Magistrate Lu left, a new official had not yet taken office. Fortunately, the case was not complicated. After a trial, Matchmaker Li was found guilty of human trafficking and sentenced to prison.
When the townspeople heard about this, they all clapped and cheered, especially those families who had been cheated by Matchmaker Li before. They were overjoyed and exclaimed that it was a great relief.
Because of insufficient evidence and the testimony of her son Xiao Si, Gan Tao Niang could only conclude that she had been deceived. After persuading and educating her, she released the person.
After Gan Taoniang was released, she took Xiao Si and left without looking back, fearing she would be caught and taken back. She only breathed a sigh of relief when she was quite a distance away from the county government office.
Without money, they couldn't even afford to rent an oxcart, so they had to walk back. Gan Tao Niang cursed and swore all the way, wishing that the matchmaker Li would die a horrible death, and that she had actually tried to drag her down with her at this crucial moment.
Xiao Si followed silently behind her, head down, without uttering a word.
When the news reached Gan Kee, Gan Li felt a mix of emotions upon hearing it.
She thought to herself, no wonder Gan Tao couldn't let go of this younger brother. Now it seems that Xiao Si is really like Gan Tao, both of them are soft-hearted.
However, it was precisely their gentleness that moved Gan Li to pity. She decided to go and see Gan Tao Niang to see if she could bring Xiao Si over.
The next day, Gan Li took Gan Quan to Gan Tao's house.
Gan Taoniang was sitting on a small stool in the yard, with a large basin in front of her, piled high with clothes.
As she washed, she hissed and gasped for air; her hands were already cracked from being soaked in water, but she dared not rest.
When she saw Ganli arrive, her eyes were filled with resentment, and she asked angrily:
"What are you doing here? You've already tricked Gan Tao away, haven't you hurt me enough?"
It's the same old routine: never mentioning their own mistakes and shifting all the blame onto others.
Gan Li was too lazy to waste words with her and went straight to the point: "I came to take Xiao Si away."
"Take Xiao Si away? Xiao Si is my son, why should I give him to you?"
As Gan Taoniang spoke, her eyes darted around, and she said with a forced smile, "You can take him away, but this child is the apple of my eye. How can I just give him away like that?"
"Your darling?" Gan Li sneered. "The last darling you lured in with a man almost ruined her life. This darling you almost sold to the Nanfeng Pavilion to be a male prostitute."
Gan Tao Niang's face changed: "What nonsense are you talking about! Who sold their son!"
Ganli mercilessly exposed her: "Stop pretending. Others may not know these things about you, but I know them all."
Upon hearing this, Gan Tao Niang suddenly realized: "I was wondering why the officials were there! It was you! Why do you always have to meddle in our family's affairs?"
Enraged, she retorted, "You want to take him away? Fine! But don't even think about taking him unless you give me a thousand taels of silver!"
"If you're not willing to spend this money, then shut up! From now on, whatever I do to him, whether I beat him or sell him, that's my business, and it's none of your concern!"
Gan Tao Niang had a fierce expression and spoke as if she were dealing with a kitten or puppy.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Si trembled violently and looked at his mother in disbelief.
He never expected that, despite his earlier defense of her in the yamen, she would not only be unmoved but would also turn around and try to sell him for a thousand taels of silver!
A chill ran through him as he felt utterly disappointed in this 'mother,' and a complex mix of fear and confusion welled up within him.
Gan Li was not related to him. He only called her "little aunt" because of his older sister's past relationship with Gan Quan. She had no obligation to pay him this money.
Even if she wanted to pay, he wouldn't agree! Xiao Si pursed her lips tightly, her heart aching but her resolve firm.
It's a pity Ganli can't read his mind, otherwise she would definitely burst out laughing.
Hilarious! She had absolutely no intention of paying!
Let alone a thousand taels of silver, she would rather throw it into the water and hear the splash than give it to someone like Gan Tao Niang!
Gan Li sneered and said, "Silver? I'm not giving it. The person? I'm taking them with me."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
