Zhong Muyu smiled and said, "I was just kidding, but if Dazhuang doesn't come back, we really will need your help tomorrow."
"This is my duty."
Zhong Muyu nodded and stomped her foot on the ground again. When she changed her dressing that evening, the swelling in her foot had gone down. Although it still hurt a little when she walked a few steps, thankfully she didn't need anyone to help her anymore.
Just then, there was a rapid knocking on the back door.
Zhong Muyu hurriedly left the living room and saw Liu Ping had already opened the door, and Fang Dazhuang rushed in, covered in sweat.
Before she could understand what was happening, Fang Dazhuang suddenly knelt down in front of her, pleading, "Please, Madam, save me! Save my sister!"
Zhong Muyu helped him up and asked, "Don't rush, tell me slowly, what happened?"
Fang Dazhuang wasn't very good at speaking, but through his intermittent explanation, Zhong Muyu understood the whole story.
It turned out that during the famine, Fang Dazhuang's parents owed money to the Sun family to feed them. However, the Sun family demanded an exorbitant sum, asking for fifty taels of silver, including principal and interest. Fang Dazhuang had worked for the Li family for many years and finally saved enough money, but the Sun family claimed it was too late and the debt had ballooned to one hundred taels. Now, unable to pay that much, they kidnapped Fang Dazhuang's sister, intending to sell her to a brothel to pay off the debt.
Fang Dazhuang was both anxious and heartbroken; this tall and strong man was crying his eyes out.
Chengfeng said, "It's obvious they've got their eyes on your sister. Do you know when she was sold, or where she was sold to?"
"It must have been a few days ago. I don't know where she was sold. I searched all the red-light districts today, but... I can't find her at all."
Zhong Muyu patted his shoulder: "Don't cry. I'll help you find your sister, but searching in the red-light district won't help. The most direct way is to go to the Sun family and ask them where they sold her."
"The Sun family... Madam, you must be careful. The Sun family is notorious for being shrewish and thuggish; they are not people to be trifled with."
Unexpectedly, Liu Ping said, "Don't be afraid. Do you know that our master's true identity is the Princess Consort of Ling? In this Lingqing territory, which rogue dares to mess with the Princess Consort!"
Zhong Muyu's face darkened. Knowing the truth, they seemed quite proud of themselves.
Fang Dazhuang was very surprised, clearly unable to believe it: "What do you mean? Madam is the Princess Consort of Ling?"
"It's true, even Prince Ling is here today, there's no mistake. This young man, oh no, Guard Chengfeng, is the prince's personal guard!"
Fang Dazhuang looked at them, then kowtowed several times: "So it's the Princess! I was blind and didn't recognize you. Please, Princess, save my sister!"
"Why are you kneeling down again! I already said I promised to help. Stop crying and get some rest. I'll help you find it tomorrow."
The crowd helped Fang Dazhuang up. He wiped away his tears and nodded solemnly.
After sending him back, in the room, Zaochun asked, "Your Highness, if you take Dazhuang to find your sister tomorrow, what will happen to our restaurant? It's not good to be closed for two consecutive days."
“That’s true. By the way, why don’t we sell some desserts tomorrow? You and Granny Zhang can make them together, and Xiao Ya and the others can help out.”
"That's a good idea! But, is it really okay to just have Chengfeng go with us? The Sun family looks like they're not to be trifled with."
Zao Chun looked worried, and Zhong Muyu patted her to reassure her: "It's alright, Chengfeng is skilled in martial arts. Besides, the Sun family does all this just to make money. At worst, we'll just have to spend some money."
However, Zhong Muyu would not give money to that kind of person unless absolutely necessary.
...
The next morning, Zhong Muyu and Chengfeng arrived at the Sun family's doorstep, led by Fang Dazhuang.
The Sun family had always been in the seafood business and were considered a relatively wealthy merchant family. When Fang Dazhuang knocked on the door, the Sun family members, upon seeing that it was Fang Dazhuang, glared at him and were about to close the door.
"It's you again! How many times have I told you? If you don't come up with the money, don't even think about finding your sister!"
Fang Dazhuang's eyes reddened with anger: "But you've already sold my sister! I won't rest until you tell me where she is!"
"So what if you sold it? You brought this on yourselves! If you don't leave, we'll make things difficult for you!"
Just as the gatekeeper was about to close the door, Chengfeng immediately stepped forward and blocked it.
Seeing that Fang Dazhuang had brought men with him, the gatekeeper became even more arrogant: "What? You're not satisfied and have brought people here? Let me tell you, bringing people won't do you any good!"
Zhong Muyu said, "Whether it's useful or not isn't up to you. Go and inform your master that we want to see him."
"Go away! My master is busy and doesn't have time to deal with you!"
"Chengfeng, if he won't let us go, we'll just break in!"
At Zhong Muyu's command, Chengfeng pushed the door open and, ignoring the stunned doorman, the three of them rushed inside.
"Wait! You can't do this!"
The gatekeeper tried to stop them but couldn't. At that moment, Mr. Sun, who was playing with his birds inside, heard the noise and asked impatiently, "What's going on? Why are you making such a racket!"
"Master, Fang Dazhuang has sent people to trespass on our property, and we can't stop them."
Master Sun sized up Zhong Muyu and Chengfeng. Neither of their clothes nor their demeanor were those of ordinary people.
Unsure of the situation, Master Sun did not immediately turn hostile. Instead, he asked with a smile, "What brings you two to my residence?"
Zhong Muyu said, "We are Dazhuang's friends, and we're here to ask him where you sold his sister?"
Master Sun glanced sideways at Fang Dazhuang, then looked at Zhong Muyu: "Friends? I've never heard of him having any friends."
Zhong Muyu didn't mince words: "Just because you haven't heard about it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Does he need to report to you whether he has friends or not?"
"Of course not. It's just that you've trespassed into my residence without permission, which is against etiquette, isn't it?"
"Why don't you say it's against propriety to steal someone else's sister? I'm not here to argue with you today. You sold his sister, which means he has paid back the money he owed you. So we just want to know where his sister is. We won't bother you anymore."
Old Master Sun rolled his eyes, looking troubled: "Who said it's all paid off? His sister is just an ordinary peasant girl, she doesn't sell for much money. He still owes me money! I'm just being magnanimous and won't settle the rest with him."
Hearing this, Chengfeng was also very angry: "This is clearly extortion! Don't you have any respect for the law?!"
"What extortion? Go ahead and sue me if you dare! I'm just lending money and charging interest normally; I haven't broken any laws!"
Master Sun looked fearless. He had thought that even if these two were not ordinary people, since they were friends of Fang Dazhuang, a poor man, how powerful could they be?
Zhong Muyu raised an eyebrow: "It seems that Master Sun has a very powerful backer."
"That's all. If you want to know Fang Wan's whereabouts, it's not difficult. Just chat with me for a bit, and if I'm happy, I might tell you."
As he spoke, Master Sun's eyes darted around Zhong Muyu.
The woman's hairstyle and clothing were simple and neat, making it difficult to tell whether she was married or not. However, since a woman was showing her face in public like this, she was probably just the daughter of a merchant, so there was nothing to be afraid of.
Moreover, the woman in front of him was not old, and she was both spirited and beautiful, far surpassing the concubines in his household.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
