Chapter 14: Going to Town
Feng Lan suddenly stopped, turned around, and shot her icy eyes fiercely towards the east wing.
She walked a few steps to the door of the east wing, leaned against the door frame, and sneered at the useless man on the kang: "Chen Kangyun, do you really think you are a big shot? You want some water? Sure, crawl to the well and get it yourself. You want to see a doctor? Sure, ask your mother who sold her own granddaughter for your future to take the money and hire her. Don't say I didn't warn you, Doctor Liu from the Jishidi Hall in town doesn't come cheap for a visit."
She paused, the sarcasm growing stronger. "Also, don't call my daughter's name with that filthy mouth of yours. You don't deserve it! What right do you, a loser who's relying on my niece's hard-earned money to go to school, have to boss people around here? This leg of yours is retribution for your evil deeds! If you dare say another word of nonsense, I'll give your other leg a taste of the stick, too."
These words were cold and harsh, like knives piercing Chen Kangyun's heart.
Chen Kangyun's face turned pale and blue from being scolded, and he grimaced in pain, but he couldn't utter a word in rebuttal. He looked at Feng Lan's murderous eyes and huddled his head under the quilt in fear, not daring to say a word.
In the yard, Old Mrs. Chen, who had just been helped into the house, was so angry when she heard this that she almost fainted again. But when she thought of the cold kitchen knife, she could only curse in a low voice in the house and did not dare to come out to challenge.
The entire Chen family compound fell into an eerie silence. Everyone was stunned by Feng Lan's desperate madness.
Feng Lan no longer paid attention to those people in the yard who had their own ulterior motives, and took her daughters back to the west room which belonged to their main family.
With a "bang", the door was closed, isolating all the malicious intent outside.
The room was dimly lit, lit only by a small oil lamp, the small flame of which flickered softly. Erya, Sanya and the other younger daughters had long been frightened and were now huddled together like a group of frightened quails.
Feng Lan looked at the children's pale faces, feeling incredibly distressed. She took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound gentle and calm.
She walked over to Daya and pulled out a few copper coins from her pocket, ten coins in total, which were her only savings. She put the coins into Daya's cold hands.
"Daya, listen to what mother has to say." Feng Lan stroked her daughter's hair. "As soon as the road is open tomorrow, your father and I will go to town to explain things to the officials. It may take us all day. Take these ten cents and take your sisters with you to go to town for a walk."
She forced a smile and said, "Go buy some candied haws and some sweet-scented osmanthus cakes, find a place to have fun for the whole day, and come back later. Forget all the disgusting things that happened today."
This was both a soothing gesture and a strategic one. She wasn't sure what the outcome would be if she reported the matter to the police tomorrow. She wondered if the Chen family would attack her daughters again while they were away. Getting them out of this troubled place was the best option.
Daya lowered her head and looked at the heavy ten cents in her palm, but her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Instead of feeling her mother's love and protection, she was gripped by a deeper fear.
In her more than ten years of life, this family had never given her anything, only exploited her. Today, her mother had fought with the whole family for her, and now she was suddenly giving her money...
A terrifying thought formed in her mind: Was her mother feeling guilty because she hadn't been able to sell herself? Was this money compensation? Then... who would be sold next?
Is it Arya?
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