Chapter 175: Estrangement
After Xie Fengting returned from patrol, Xie Yunqing went back to her parents' home and told Shen Xiuhe about Xue Surong: because the issue of investigating loan sharks was at the height of public controversy, the victim who was forced to death was making a big fuss, and if anyone wanted to rescue Xue Surong, they would have to pay three thousand taels of silver.
This is not a small amount, and Shen Xiuhe's face turned ugly for a moment.
But he knew that the person had to be saved.
However, Shen Xiuhe was very cautious and did not make the decision himself. Instead, he asked the old lady to make the decision. When the old lady Shen heard the three thousand taels, she felt distressed, but she still had to save him.
If she didn't save her, who knew whether Xue Surong would expose her in desperation? By then, the matter would become a big deal and affect her son's career. If Xie Yunqing knew about it, it would be a waste of time.
It hurts to spend this money, but I still have to spend it.
Just as the Shen family was raising cash to rescue Xue Surong, Xue Surong had been in jail for two days without a drop of water.
She had never known that the torture of thirst was so painful... When could she get out?
Would the old lady not save her?
No, that shouldn't happen. The Shen family has the upper hand over her. If she makes a fuss in front of Xie Yunqing, the Shen family will have no peace.
Besides, the old lady couldn't escape responsibility for the usury. If she started to blame them, none of them would be able to stay out of it.
But why is it so slow!
The jailer was obviously torturing her on purpose, giving her food but not water... When a person is extremely thirsty, it is difficult to swallow food.
But at this time, Xue Surong discovered that the jailer gave water to the man in the next cell, who was also detained for usury.
She banged on the wooden fence and cried out hoarsely, "Why does he have water to drink but I don't?"
The jailer yelled, "Why are you yelling? His family paid the money and naturally they can drink water. If you want to blame someone, blame your family."
Xue Surong gritted her teeth and asked, "How much silver?"
"Twenty taels!"
Twenty taels...
She suffered in prison for the old lady, but the old lady was reluctant to give her even twenty taels of silver and let her suffer like this.
Xue Surong was tortured by thirst and was in extreme pain. She struggled to pull off her bracelet from her wrist and handed it to him, saying repeatedly: "Brother, please give me some water too. I am so thirsty that I can't stand it anymore."
The jailer snorted, snatched the bracelet from her hand, but then turned and left.
Xue Surong was anxious: "Why don't you give me some water? I gave you the bracelet."
The jailer sneered and left: "What bracelet? I have never seen a bracelet before!"
Someone had specifically instructed that this person must be taken good care of, so the jailer naturally did his best to torment him.
Seeing the jailer leave, Xue Surong slowly slid down to the ground. Her throat was so dry that she didn't even have the strength to shout, and her head was buzzing with pain.
She thought that if no one rescued her before dark, she would not care about anything else... She would not let them suffer any better if they made her suffer like this.
"She hasn't had any water for two days. I'm afraid she's living a life worse than death."
In the carriage outside the Jingzhao Prefecture dungeon, Li Yushi sighed, "Your method is truly bloodless... I'm lucky I didn't actually make an enemy of you and let you bear a grudge."
Shen Ning raised her eyes and looked at her with a smile: "How do you know I don't hold a grudge?"
Li Yushi was a little dumbfounded: "Didn't we agree to put aside our past grudges? How could you change your mind?"
Qiyue chuckled, and Li Yushi realized that Chen Ning was teasing her on purpose. She patted her chest and sighed, then begged for mercy: "My Lord, please be magnanimous. It is I who am narrow-minded."
Shen Ning didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Is he really playing you?"
Li Yushi also smiled, then straightened her expression slightly. "I've been a little hesitant these past two days, but since I happen to be working for you, I didn't want to bring it up now, lest it seem like I'm trying to repay a favor... But time is running out, and I want to study medicine. I wonder if I could become your disciple?"
Li Yushi looked at Shen Ning seriously: "If I can get what I want, I will study hard, save the dying and the wounded, and carry forward the medical skills of the township master."
Shen Ning knew that Li Yushi had always been interested in medicine. It wasn't a big deal, but Shen Ning had too many things to do right now and couldn't spare the time and energy.
If I accept it like this, it will delay her.
After thinking for a while, Shen Ning said: "I'm afraid I don't have the energy now. If you really want to study medicine, I can find a teacher for you."
Li Yushi first thought that Shen Ning was unwilling, but when she heard Shen Ning say that she could find a teacher for her, her eyes suddenly lit up: "That's fine. In the eyes of the township lord, a doctor who can be a teacher must have superb medical skills."
Shen Ning smiled and nodded: "His medical skills are good, but his temper is a bit straightforward... I will go and talk to him. If he has no objection, I will ask you to meet and become his disciple another day."
Li Yushi smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Mr. Xiangjun."
"You're welcome."
Shen Ning glanced at the cell, then said: "She was released before dark. I'll go back first. I'll send someone to tell you about the apprenticeship."
As dusk fell, Xue Surong opened her eyes in the cell.
In just two days, she was not tortured or abused, but she just didn't have water. However, the pain she felt was worse than being tortured. Her lips were chapped, her eyes were dull, and her head was throbbing with pain.
She couldn't bear it any longer, and she wanted to drag the old woman down with her... Those people watched her suffer so much, but they were unwilling to give her even a mere twenty taels of silver to help her.
Even if she became a ghost, she would never let them go...
"Someone come, someone come..." Xue Surong spoke hoarsely, and her throat felt like it was being cut by a knife.
At this moment, the cell door was kicked open.
"Xue Surong, you can go now."
Xue Surong was stunned for a moment, and her eyes suddenly lit up.
When she went outside, she found a servant from the old lady's courtyard waiting for her. The servant was startled when he saw her appearance: "Manager Xue, what's wrong..."
Before he could finish his words, Xue Surong rushed over like crazy, snatched the water bag from the carriage frame, tilted her head back and started to drink it down.
The servant stared in amazement as the usually arrogant shopkeeper Xue drank the full bag of water from the groom's water bag without blinking.
Only then did Xue Surong feel alive again. She threw away the water bag and climbed onto the carriage, panting.
The coachman didn't dare to say anything more and drove the man back to the Shen family.
Xue Surong washed up briefly and ate voraciously before meeting Old Madam Shen. She held her hand and said to her affectionately, "Surong, you've suffered this time... Although it cost three thousand taels to rescue you, as long as you're okay, that's all that matters."
Xue Surong looked at the old lady's benevolent look and felt a cold hatred in her heart.
Three thousand taels?
She clearly heard the loan shark next door say that only two hundred taels would be enough to redeem the person... Besides, he was reluctant to even give her twenty taels for water, making her suffer so much that her life would be worse than death. How could this old woman be willing to spend three thousand taels on her?
Over the years, she knew this old woman too well, but she had used those tricks on others before, but now she was using them on her.
It goes without saying that this is two hundred taels of silver, but he wants her to accept a favor of three thousand taels!
Xue Surong felt cold and sarcastic in her heart, but her expression remained calm and she still looked as gentle as water.
At this time, the nanny came in and said, "Madam, the lady is here."
Madam Shen's expression suddenly became tense, and Xue Surong no longer cared to continue cursing the old woman in her heart, and her whole body tensed up.
They all knew that after this incident, it would be difficult for them to take over Hua Yingxue's affairs.
A moment later, Xie Yunqing came in with Chen Ning.
"I heard that Shopkeeper Xue had returned, so I hurried over to see how he was doing. Did he suffer any hardship?"
Xie Yunqing's eyes were cold, but his smile was impeccable.
Of course she knew that the concubine was punished by her daughter... She had not been given any water for two days, and there was no injury or evidence on the surface, but she was in pain worse than death.
Xue Surong forced a smile and replied.
After a few pleasantries, Xie Yunqing stated his purpose directly. His words were tactful, but his meaning was very clear: Manager Xue had lent money at high interest and even caused trouble in Jingzhao Prefecture. Next, he should sort out his own affairs and not worry about Hua Yingxue.
The old lady had expected this, but she was still unwilling to accept it. She forced herself to argue, "After years of doing things, mistakes are inevitable. Even if they occasionally make mistakes, they are definitely more reliable than the younger Shen Ning."
Chen Ning just smiled and said nothing, while Xie Yunqing spoke in a leisurely tone: "Although Ning Ning is young, she has never made such a mistake since she started her business. It can be seen that reliability is not determined by age or qualifications. She should manage her own business. We can talk about it later if she can't manage it anymore."
After saying this, Xie Yunqing pulled his daughter to her feet and said, "This matter has been decided. Shopkeeper Xue, go back and have a good rest for a few days. Mother hasn't had a good rest these past two days because of you, so let the old lady have a good rest as well."
Xue Surong forced a smile, but her heart was almost unable to bear it anymore.
She was the one who suffered in jail, and the money she earned was spent by her whole family. Now they say that the old lady couldn't rest well because of her jailing... So they are just a family?
The old woman couldn't even say a word at this moment. Was she the only one suffering from all this emotional trouble?
Xue Surong was so angry that she was not as respectful to the old lady as usual before leaving.
After everyone left, Madam Shen sighed deeply, her expression extremely grim. The nanny beside her quickly poured her a cup of tea and said, "Don't be angry, Madam. Things have come to this point. We can think of other solutions later."
Madam Shen finally couldn't help but said: "How can I not be angry!"
She had lost a jade bracelet and three thousand taels of silver for no reason... She didn't even get the shop, and Xue Shi was ungrateful and obviously had a grudge against her.
Even though she was imprisoned for two days, she was not abused... Three thousand taels of silver were used to rescue her, yet she still dares to feel resentful?
What a heartless thing!
Do you really think that an old woman like her doesn't know that Xue Surong has done a lot of tricks to profit from the business?
In the past, she had never checked the accounts, thinking that she was a woman who had given birth to two children without any status. She thought that if Xie was kicked out of the house in the future, they would become mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and be a real family...
Does that short-sighted woman think that he doesn't know her little tricks?
Instead of being grateful, she even had the audacity to give her a cold shoulder out of resentment... She really thinks she is that important.
After a moment, Madam Shen spoke in a deep voice, "Go and arrange for someone to check Xue Surong's accounts. There's no need to get too serious and hurt her...just give her a warning."
Lest she forget who she is.
The nanny retreated...
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