Chapter 25 Begging for a Place to Stay by Playing the Victim
After finishing her explanation, Song Li pressed her advantage and said, "Zhao Youchang, how about you teach me lightness skill? If you're willing to teach me, I'll prepare a separate apprenticeship gift."
One thing at a time: the air cushion was a thank-you gift to Zhao Youchang for saving her life, but learning light kung fu would definitely cost her extra.
However, she didn't want to spend money prematurely, so she wanted to wait until he agreed to teach her before giving him the apprenticeship gift.
Zhao Youchang looked at her with a half-smile, then suddenly asked, "Where's your knife?"
"What knife?" Song Li didn't react immediately.
"That night I clearly saw you holding a knife to Wang Laocai's neck, why didn't you just kill him?"
At the time, his view was limited by the beam, so he couldn't see it clearly and wasn't entirely sure if it was a knife, but he was certain that the girl must have been holding a sharp weapon, otherwise Wang Laocai wouldn't have compromised so easily.
She clearly had a knife, yet she didn't know to kill to protect herself; what a foolish girl.
"Uh... this..."
Song Li didn't know how to answer.
She only meant to scare him, not to kill him, but she was wrong.
She let others off the hook, but they thought of taking advantage of her vulnerability to kill her.
If Zhao Youchang hadn't arrived in time, she would have been nothing but a skeleton, while Wang Laocai would have been completely unharmed and would still be at large.
No, they weren't even out of the loop, because Wang Laocai's actions were permitted by the laws of this era, and the blame fell on the victims.
But if she had to do it all over again, she knew she still wouldn't be able to do it, nor would she be allowed to.
Song Li said seriously, "So will you teach me? If I know how to use light-body skills, I can escape."
If you can't afford to mess with them, then just run away.
Zhao Youchang scoffed: "Becoming a disciple requires kowtowing."
"..."
Song Li paused for a moment, then looked up at Zhao Youchang.
She was twenty-eight when she died in an earthquake in her past life, while this young man in front of her was only eighteen or nineteen. He wanted her to kowtow to him? What a joke!
Even disregarding his age from their past lives, he's only a few years older than her, so why should she kowtow to him?
It's wrong to act arrogant and pretentious just because you have some special skills!
This kid is clearly making things difficult for her; he doesn't want to teach her...
Then, thinking about the other two people in the family, "Old Man Zhao" and "Aunt Zhao" in disguise, Song Li felt it was more and more likely.
Song Li pursed her lips, neither saying she would kowtow nor not, and simply asked, "Then can you guarantee you'll definitely teach me?"
She'd be willing to learn if they promised to teach her everything. In this dog-eat-dog world, only by mastering real skills can one feel secure.
Zhao Youchang shook his head: "No."
Song Li silently twitched the corner of her mouth.
Zhao Youchang countered, "And you, are you sure you can learn it in one go?"
That's something that can't be guaranteed.
What if learning light-body skills is difficult?
After thinking about it carefully, Song Li tentatively asked in a questioning tone, "Why don't you give it a try?"
In an instant, the problem was thrown back to Zhao Youchang.
How cunning!
Unfortunately, without courage, even the smartest person can only be fish on someone else's chopping board.
Zhao Youchang chuckled and raised his eyebrows: "I'll pay for that later, when I've learned it."
Song Li said cheerfully, "Okay, it's settled then."
It's just kowtowing three times, why is she bothered by it when she's already dressed up? At worst, she can just treat it as a performance.
Song Xiaoxiao was still asleep, and someone had to stay at home, so Song Li prepared to go back after finishing her business.
Zhao Youchang suddenly stopped her: "Wang Laocai's matter is not over yet. There's a lot of gossip in the village lately, so you'd better stay home. If anyone bothers you, come find me."
Song Li looked indifferent.
Is there anything to be afraid of in a bunch of fools who hold the victim-blaming theory?
Besides, this guy disguises himself and hides in anonymity, so what makes him better than her except for his lightness skill? Why should we look for him?
The Song family home is divided into two courtyards, front and back. Zhao Youchang and his family of three lived in the front courtyard, while she and Song Xiaoxiao lived in the back courtyard, connected by a passageway.
But the old house had been uninhabited for a long time and no one had cleaned it. The passageway was covered in too much dust, so Song Li didn't leave because she thought it was dirty. Instead, she went out through the front gate of the yard.
Pushing open the wooden gate to the backyard, they unexpectedly encountered Qian Hudan again, but this time it was different; Qian Hudan strode straight into the yard.
Moreover, he had a stranger with him.
Song Li's brows immediately furrowed, and he asked in a deep voice, "How did you get in?"
In reality, this statement is meaningless. Farmhouse gates are only about half a person's height and are never locked, making it easy for outsiders to enter the yard.
That's so impolite!
Why are the people here like this?
Song Li was really angry!
"go out!"
She wanted to send Qian Hudan away, but in the next frame, Qian Hudan suddenly knelt down in front of her with a thud.
"Big Sister, it was all my fault before. Hit me if you want, but please, have mercy and take my sister in."
I'll do any work for you, chopping wood, carrying water, collecting seashells—I'll do whatever you want with me, just please let my sister stay."
Song Li's eye twitched, and she instinctively took a step back.
An apology? A request for shelter?
What is all this nonsense?
She didn't ask any questions, nor did she want to. Ever since she transmigrated here, the villagers had never given her a kind look. Why should she care about their trivial matters?
Song Li didn't ask, but Qian Hudan ignored her cold expression and started crying uncontrollably:
“Big Sister Daya, actually my grandma has been sick in bed for a long time. Our family is poor, and she has been reluctant to take her medicine. She saves the medicine she gets from the pharmacy and can take one dose of medicine for five days with water…”
She's getting sicker and sicker, and she can't even eat brown rice anymore. Last time, I gave all the money I earned from collecting seashells to my parents, and they bought half a liter of wheat flour, but even after drinking it, she still doesn't get better...
Later, my parents had no choice but to secretly sell my sister to Old Man Wang to pay for her medicine. I wanted to earn money to redeem her, but I couldn't. Why is money so hard to earn? Waaah…
He cried incoherently, his sobs growing more and more heartbroken.
“My sister was only released a few days ago after Wang Laocai got into trouble, but my parents and grandma all think it's shameful that she was touched by someone else, so they won't let her stay at home, sob sob sob…”
The crying was so loud, as if she was trying to vent all the grievances in her heart in one go, that it hurt Song Li's ears.
She was really angry.
There's no way you can beg for shelter by playing the victim!
She still has Song Xiaoxiao, who is in a coma, at home, okay?
"roll!"
She said angrily.
The commotion was quite loud, and since it wasn't snowing and the weather was fine, the villagers who were at home during the off-season all came over to watch the excitement, their hands tucked into their sleeves.
"Hey, isn't this Hu Tao, the eldest daughter of Qian Dahan?"
"I just heard that Qian Dahan secretly sold his daughter to Wang Laocai in order to pay for his mother's medical treatment."
"Selling it secretly shows that she still has a sense of shame and integrity."
"Hey, this Qian Dahan has backbone, but his daughter is far inferior. She's been touched by a man and still has the nerve to come back. If it were me, I would have smashed my head against a wall long ago."
"Qian Hutao went after Song Daya, it's like fish find fish, shrimp find shrimp, turtles find turtles, all the filthy and smelly things gather together!"
The crowd started talking all at once, eager to see what would happen.
All the women that Wang Laocai raped were legally purchased, and the government did not pursue the matter. Since the government recognized Wang Laocai, the villagers also recognized him, and now they all spoke in his favor.
Song Li, impatient with their clamor, snapped, "Are you done yet? Get out of here!"
The crowd immediately retorted, "You were also bought by Old Man Wang, what gives you the right to be so fierce?"
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