The old man listened attentively and said, "No need for thanks. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. It's a good deed that brings blessings and longevity! Young lady, tell me, how do you want to save it?"
So Lan Yamei gave them a series of instructions, stuffed five hundred taels of silver into their hand, and escorted the grandfather and grandson to the entrance of Hua Man Lou.
As soon as the old man reached the door, he pulled his grandson to sit on the ground. The two of them cried, their noses running and their eyes brimming with tears, looking utterly pitiful, a stark contrast to the people passing by seeking pleasure. This attracted a lot of pointing fingers and whispering among the onlookers.
Seeing that someone was causing trouble, several people immediately came out and surrounded the two. "Hey, hey, old man! You're already so old, if you don't want to die, get out of here!" they said, shoving the grandfather and grandson.
"I'm looking for someone, I have something to do." The old man seemed to be doing this for the first time, a little unfamiliar and timid, and said dryly.
The gatekeepers chuckled maliciously, teasing, "Everyone who comes to Hua Man Lou has something to do." They looked the old man up and down, and seeing that he was penniless, they said impatiently, "This is not a place for poor people, especially since you have a child with you. Hurry up and leave, don't force us to take action."
Seeing that things were about to go wrong, the old woman suddenly pulled her grandson to kneel down at the door. As Lan Yamei had instructed, she said, "My daughter-in-law's name is Ling'er. She was sold here today. I will sell everything I own to redeem her." She then took her grandson's hand and said, "This is her child, Xiaobao. A child can't be without a mother! Please, kind people, help us." As she spoke, she burst into tears and wailed.
"This..." The gatekeepers, who had been doing this job for so many years, were seeing a girl's family come to their door for the first time. Seeing a little child still sucking his thumb, they felt a pang of sympathy. Thinking of the girls who had just come in yesterday, one of whom was a "second-hand" woman who had already given birth, they realized the seriousness of the matter and immediately turned to report it.
Back then, women who had given birth were worthless, and Hua Manlou didn't accept just any woman.
Fearing the old man's continued rambling would jeopardize their business, the two servants quickly pulled him to a side gate and told him to wait quietly. The two men did as they were told, somewhat flustered and timid, but they did not back down.
Not wanting to get too close, Lan Ya Mei crouched far behind the tall vat to observe.
Suddenly, someone gently patted her shoulder. Startled, she turned around and saw Qiu Zeyu. She scolded him, "Where did you run off to?"
"I wasn't at ease, so I went to my master's grave again to double-check," Qiu Zeyu said honestly.
"And then what happened?"
"Sigh!" He let out a heavy sigh, acknowledging the truth. Pointing to the Flower Pavilion across the street, he asked, "What are you doing sneaking around here?"
"Okay, do me a favor," Lan Yamei said with a chuckle.
"What kind of help?"
So Lan Yamei recounted her encounter with the fake Taoist priest, then pointed at Hua Manlou and said, "That scoundrel went in there, but I can't get in. Since you're a man, it's convenient for you to help me check."
"No problem," Qiu Zeyu said and then disappeared.
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