Meng Zhao imagined everyone as someone who had touched her house, but there were always things that didn't make sense.
Meng Jianqiu and He Jianxia hadn't been there long, and since arriving at her house, apart from occasionally helping with cleaning in the front hall, they had mostly been grinding flour in the backyard and had never gone out. They had very little contact with customers, let alone the people from Zhao's Braised Pork.
She did suspect that Lin Qiuniang might be working with Chef Zhou to lure Zhao Shida away from their home, but neither Chef Zhou's disgusted expression towards Zhao Shida today nor Lin Qiuniang's daily reports on her neighbor's movements seemed like an act, not to mention that none of the spice packets in the house were missing.
As for Xiao Chuan, having followed her for so long, he had plenty of opportunities to steal money or ingredients, so there was no need to choose to act at a time when she might turn back. Besides, she didn't believe Xiao Chuan would do such a thing.
Meng Zhao's gaze slowly wandered around the room, finally landing on the bookshelf. She concentrated and recalled for a moment, then reached out and took down a book. After flipping through a few pages, she indeed saw the two contracts of sale, which she had signed with Meng Jianqiu and He Jianxia at the city gate.
In her previous assumption, she had placed the visitor's target on money or the supply package. But perhaps the visitor's purpose was not money or the supply package, but something else entirely.
After figuring this out, Meng Zhao called Meng Jianqiu and He Jianxia to come see her.
The two cautiously stepped into the house. Before they could even stand properly, they saw Meng Zhao sitting at the table with a cold expression and an undeniable air of authority in his eyes. He then asked coldly, "Which of you entered my house just now?"
Meng Zhao was usually kind and gentle. Even when he reprimanded everyone at a meeting a while ago, his tone was never this cold and hard. But when he spoke now, his voice was full of solemnity.
He Jianxia was startled and subconsciously turned her head to look at Meng Jianqiu. She saw that Meng Jianqiu's eyes were shifting and uncertain. He Jianxia immediately understood what was going on, but faced with the serious Meng Zhao, she dared not say a word.
Seeing their silence, Meng Zhao's face grew even darker. He continued, "What, you dare not admit it? I have many valuables in this house, and naturally I wouldn't be at ease just locking it with one lock. You don't think you can leave no trace of everything, do you?"
After a pause, he swept his sharp gaze over the two of them. "Confess now, and I can be lenient with you because it's your first offense. But if I had found out on my own, it wouldn't be such a simple matter."
Although the imperial court explicitly forbids masters from arbitrarily beating or killing servants, Meng Zhao is the holder of their indentures. If she wanted to, she could find countless ways to punish them. Who would speak up for these two orphaned girls and seek justice for them?
He Jianxia felt a chill spread throughout her body, and her hands began to tremble uncontrollably. Finally, with a "thump," she knelt straight down on the ground and said in a tearful voice, "It was me. I saw you come back and the room wasn't locked. I was momentarily bewitched and sneaked in."
When Meng Jianqiu saw He Jianxia suddenly kneel down and say that she was the one who did it, she was shocked and her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something.
Meng Zhao's gaze was sharp as he stared at He Jianxia kneeling on the ground, and he asked coldly again, "Why did you come to my room? What is your purpose?"
He Jianxia stammered, unable to offer a convincing reason. Meng Zhao, seemingly scrutinizing He Jianxia, was actually keeping a close eye on Meng Jianqiu's every move out of the corner of her eye. She noticed that Meng Jianqiu's lips were tightly pressed together, as if she were enduring something.
Seeing He Jianxia's appearance, Meng Zhao snorted coldly and pretended to threaten, "Since you can't say it, then there's no need to say it anymore. Since you're so restless, I might as well send you out of the city as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, He Jianxia shook her head violently. She didn't want to leave. These past few days at Meng Zhao's shop, although she had to get up early to work every day, she was well-fed and warmly dressed. The owner was kind, and the shop's workers took good care of her. At first, they only let her do simple tasks and never made things difficult for her. She didn't want to leave.
Thinking of this, He Jianxia, with tears streaming down her face, prostrated herself at Meng Zhao's feet, hugged Meng Zhao's calves with both hands, and pleaded, "Master, please forgive me! I really know I was wrong. I was just confused for a moment. I will never dare to do it again. Please, don't send me away."
Meng Zhao forced herself not to get up, turned her face away as if she hadn't seen her, and said, "The thing I hate most in my life is betrayal. Since you are unfaithful, what's the point of keeping you around?" Her tone was full of disappointment.
The atmosphere inside the room was extremely heavy, making He Jianxia's sobs even more heart-wrenching. Meng Jianqiu, who had been standing to the side, finally couldn't hold back any longer.
“It wasn’t her. She was working inside the house the whole time. I told her I needed to go to the outhouse, and when I went out, I saw your room wasn’t locked and there was no one else in the yard, so I sneaked in. She didn’t know anything from beginning to end.”
Meng Jianqiu's eyes revealed a hint of determination and honesty. If He Jianxia were driven out of the city, she probably wouldn't live long.
Meng Zhao's gaze shifted to Meng Jianqiu's face, her voice still icy, "What were you doing in my room?"
"I want to know where you hid my indenture so I can find out in advance and then find an opportunity to steal it. I haven't touched any of your other things," Meng Jianqiu said, sticking out his neck.
Meng Zhao frowned, somewhat puzzled. "Why did you run away? I've always treated you well. The clothes you wear, the shoes you wear, weren't they all given to you by me?"
With a stubborn glint in her eyes and tears in her eyes, Meng Jianqiu said, "If I have the chance in the future, I will repay you a thousandfold for your kindness, but I will never willingly sell myself to someone else."
“Once I sign that contract of servitude, it means that from now on I will not be in control of my own life. Even if I have children in the future, my children’s life and death will be decided by you, the master. I am not willing to do that.”
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