The commotion didn't deter the madam. "I see," she said slowly, taking out the indenture and tossing it in front of Jiang Qianqian. "This was signed by your family on your behalf. With your signature and fingerprint, you are now a dancer in my Tianxiang Pavilion. Even if we go to the yamen, the master will order you to come to me. What are you making a fuss about?"
"I saw that you have delicate skin and are young, so I didn't bother with you, but you insisted on doing this," the madam said through gritted teeth, pinching Jiang Qianqian hard, and the poor little girl immediately screamed.
Downstairs, Zhou Qionghua heard the sound and stood looking up for a long time.
Finally, she slammed her hand on the table and stood up, exclaiming, "It's our Qianqian!"
"Qianqian? How could Qianqian be on top? You're dreaming."
"Blood is thicker than water, how could I not recognize her voice?" Zhou Qionghua got up and rushed upstairs in a few quick steps. There weren't many customers in the brothel during the day, but Zhou Qionghua's swaggering upstairs caught everyone off guard, and the two stared at each other in disbelief.
"That's my daughter, what are you doing?"
Zhou Qionghua was filled with righteous indignation and stepped forward to protect the tortured girl.
Jiang Qianqian was now in a daze, half-dead from the torment. Seeing Zhou Qionghua and her father arrive, Jiang Qianqian prepared to approach them. At that moment, Jiang Shixu also arrived.
He acted as if nothing had happened while his sister was being tortured.
"Your child? How can you prove it?"
The madam, with an arrogant air, looked at the two men with her arms crossed.
Zhou Qionghua gritted her teeth, pulled open the girl's collar, and pointed, "There's a birthmark here, like a butterfly. When she was seven, she injured her knee, and the wound looked like a leech. You can see for yourself."
Zhou Qionghua immediately lifted her trouser leg to show everyone.
Everyone who saw it was astonished.
"So, I've been tricked?" The madam was furious, throwing her handkerchief away forcefully. "This is outrageous! I've spent my whole life hunting eagles, and now I've had my eye plucked!"
A man nearby quickly leaned closer and whispered something in the madam's ear.
The madam seemed to have thought of something, and looked at Jiang Mingfu across from her with a grin.
Judging from Jiang Shixu's appearance and clothes, he seems to be a spoiled brat from a wealthy and noble family, but Jiang Mingfu's clothes are dirty and patched.
Zhou Qionghua's wasn't much better.
As for Jiang Qianqian, her shoes were noticeably too small, and they were even men's style.
When the madam first acquired the girl, she noticed that the girl had calluses on her hands, indicating that she was an experienced worker. Now, comparing them again, she understood perfectly. "Old sister," the madam smiled and moved closer to Zhou Qionghua. Zhou Qionghua was stunned and at a loss for words at being addressed as "old sister."
“I can do a blood test. Blood is thicker than water. I am his father. Even if we go to the yamen, we can still verify the kinship through a blood test.” Jiang Mingfu looked at Jiang Qianqian, reached out and grabbed the child’s hand. “Leave this place of trouble with your father.”
At this moment, the madam gestured for the two to speak privately.
Soon, Jiang Shixu and Jiang Qianqian were left looking at each other. The two siblings never said much. Seeing his sister with makeup on, looking like a young woman, Jiang Shixu's lips curled into a cold smile.
As for Jiang Qianqian, all she wanted to do at that moment was leave this place.
She listened intently to Zhou Qionghua's conversation with the madam.
She actually heard the two women laughing knowingly, followed by Jiang Mingfu's bargaining, "She's just a ten-year-old girl after all. When she blossoms into womanhood, you'll make a lot of money. Which family that comes here for pleasure isn't rich and powerful? If we weren't desperate, why would we sell our daughter to you?"
In the distance, Jiang Qianqian's heart skipped a beat.
She had thought her parents had come to save her from her suffering.
Little did they know that their arrival would only worsen the situation; not only did they ignore them, they even prepared to demand more money.
Once the madam has indeed given them enough money, they will probably leave.
Upon realizing this, Jiang Qianqian lost her balance and collapsed, leaning against the window.
Outside the window, cars and people were bustling about.
She wasn't sure if she had heard clearly or not, so she decided to wait and see how things would unfold. What if... what if her parents were really willing to sell her off and leave her to fend for herself here?
Then she has a way...
She leaped off from there and died.
Just as Jiang Qianqian was making her calculations, the three women walked out from inside, their faces beaming with smiles. Zhou Qionghua said, "You're right. My daughter has come to your brothel. How will she ever get married?"
"Yes, so listen to me and let her stay with me. It's better than her running around with you to escape the famine. It'll be ten taels of silver. It's settled then. If you have no problems, I'll write you a contract of servitude. This time, I want you to read it carefully. You have to sign it in black and white."
The madam smiled and said, "Zhang San, prepare ten taels of silver for this lady, and do it quickly."
The guy called Zhang San left quickly with a smirk on his face.
Jiang Mingfu, who had just been acting like he was about to die, immediately resumed his act upon hearing that there were ten taels of silver to be had. He approached Jiang Qianqian and began to feign concern, "Alright, it's good that you stay here. Where are you going with us? What will we eat, wear, and use?"
Zhou Qionghua smiled, preparing to pat her daughter's head.
But she managed to dodge it. "You brat, when you're living the high life and wearing gold and silver, you'll know I'm doing this for your own good. Alright, from now on I'm not your mother anymore. You only have one mother, and that's her. It's only natural."
"We're leaving." The couple smiled and grabbed Jiang Shixu's hand, ready to go.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Qianqian also smiled at this moment.
She would soon be tortured to death in this den of dragons and tigers. Now that her parents had completely given up on her, she opened the window with a whoosh. Just before she was about to jump, the madam gestured for Zhang San to come closer.
Zhang San was a tough guy, and he quickly subdued Jiang Qianqian.
"You came here and still tried to kill yourself?" The madam smiled coldly, stroking her chin. "If you serve men well, that's fine, otherwise, we'll make you wish you were dead."
Jiang Mingfu looked at Jiang Qianqian, his eyes now devoid of any pity.
As for Zhou Qionghua, she took the money, grabbed Jiang Shixu's hand, and tried to leave.
She had already stepped out the door when she heard a piercing scream behind her, "Mother!"
Zhou Qionghua turned around, her eyes filled with a profound meaning.
"Don't blame me. It's just that you were born a woman. It wasn't easy for your mother to raise you. You should be grateful. You want to go with your mother, but your mother is powerless to help you. I'm sorry."
Fearing that things might go wrong, the family quickly disappeared.
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