Lu Sufeng tiptoed closer to eavesdrop, and heard Su Daqiang's voice coming from inside.
"It's all that bitch Liu's fault that your family is in this state. Now that bitch is living a prosperous life, but what about you?"
"You really can swallow this insult, having to scrape together every meal from her fingers?"
However, Zhu Erqiang did not show much emotion after hearing Su Daqiang's words; instead, he seemed to have resigned himself to his fate.
"So what?"
"Now she is the Lady of Lihe Township, and I am just a commoner. Haven't you seen what happened to those who opposed her?"
At this point, Zhu Erqiang seemed to suddenly remember something, and looked at him with a hint of suspicion.
"I remember you have no grudge against Liu, so why are you asking me to help you deal with her?"
Upon hearing this, Su Daqiang's forehead veins throbbed. He had originally thought that Zhu Erqiang was just a simpleton who was easily swayed by his wife, but he hadn't expected him to have such a clear mind.
He immediately explained, "Who said I have no grudge against her? She was the one who plotted against me, which is why I was expelled from the village!"
Speaking of this, Su Daqiang gritted his teeth in hatred.
"Then... how exactly did you offend her?" Zhu Erqiang asked, still puzzled.
"Hmph!" Su Daqiang snorted coldly, naturally he wouldn't reveal the truth about that matter.
"As you know, my life is just as difficult during this famine, but that Liu woman manages to catch wild rabbits and find wild eggs in the mountains every few days. She's so lucky!"
"I just wanted to...you know, tell me, why would she go to such lengths?"
I see...
Zhu Erqiang immediately stopped suspecting anything.
He still remembers how Su Daqiang was beaten half to death back then!
"So what do you want to do?"
"Hmph!" A sinister glint flashed in Su Daqiang's eyes as he began to whisper in his ear.
Outside, Lu Sufeng bit her lip anxiously because she couldn't hear the last key word.
Her family's good life is all thanks to her sister-in-law. If those two things inside really harm her sister-in-law, wouldn't her good life be ruined?
No! We absolutely cannot let them succeed!
She'll go tell her sister-in-law right away!
"You mean, Su Daqiang not only secretly returned to the village, but also colluded with Erqiang to murder me?" Liu Yingying asked calmly, a playful smile curving her lips.
"That's right!" Lu Sufeng clapped her hands in exasperation.
"Unfortunately, I didn't get to hear their plan, but it's definitely aimed at you, so you'd better be careful!"
"Okay, I understand. Starting tomorrow, you and Third Sister must keep a close watch on this courtyard and absolutely not let any suspicious people sneak in!" Liu Yingying solemnly instructed.
"Yes, I know!"
Nothing happened that night. The autumn harvest was about to begin, and while the villagers were helping Liu Yingying with her work, they also had to harvest their own rice, making them even busier.
Liu Yingying made a batch of Seven Star Wenchang Sauce, intending to bring it to Tingxianglou when she went into the city.
The night before she set off, she called Xianglian to the courtyard for a heart-to-heart talk.
"What do you think? I've already asked Boss Bai, and that young master Tao hasn't been causing trouble at the theater lately, so I think we can let this matter rest."
"Last time, your boss Bai asked me to ask you when you planned to go back?"
"I..."
Xianglian was clearly a little uneasy. After glancing at her, she quickly lowered her head, revealing a sorrowful look.
Seeing her reaction, Liu Yingying suddenly realized what was going on.
No wonder this girl hasn't mentioned going back since she settled in.
It turns out she never intended to go back to the theater!
"Your indenture is still in Boss Bai's hands. If you really don't want to go back to performing, I believe Boss Bai won't make things difficult for you, but..."
"This world has no place for women. Have you ever thought about how you will make a living if you don't go back to the theater?"
Xianglian kept her head down, biting her lip, and clutching the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
Liu Yingying didn't urge her to give her an answer, but waited for her to think about the problem on her own like a very patient older sister.
"Sister Liu... I went to the theater when I was ten years old and witnessed firsthand how those girls were played with and abandoned by men. Even someone as powerful as Boss Bai was still not tolerated by the Ye family..."
"Sister Liu, I don't want to be a plaything! I can endure hardship, I can support myself with my own hands... I..."
She became more and more agitated as she spoke, but was suddenly interrupted by Liu Yingying.
"Okay, I understand!"
"I'm planning to open a milk tea shop in Furong County, but I don't have enough time to keep an eye on it myself. If you're interested in doing business, you can come and help me!"
"Really?" Xianglian suddenly raised her head, her eyes lighting up immediately; "But what should I say to Boss Bai?"
Boss Bai is a good person; he has always treated his sisters well.
Although Xianglian was grateful to the theater for taking her in, she did not want to be saddled with gratitude and have her life buried!
"Come to the city with me tomorrow!" Liu Yingying made her decision.
Since Xianglian has this ambition, she is willing to lend her a hand!
The next morning, the two went to the Dragon and Phoenix Theater and told Bai Mudan about Xianglian's desire to redeem herself.
The matter was resolved smoothly, mainly because Bai Mudan was easy to talk to.
The ransom for redemption is ten taels of silver.
However, Xianglian couldn't come up with that much money, so Bai Mudan agreed to let her pay in monthly installments until the debt was paid off.
Xianglian immediately burst into tears of emotion and kowtowed three times to Bai Mudan.
"Thank you, Mr. Bai. You're a good person; you'll surely be rewarded!"
"Alright, alright, now that you've been redeemed, you're no longer a member of my Dragon and Phoenix Theater. Hurry up and pack your things!" Bai Mudan waved her hand impatiently.
"Yes!" Xianglian cried tears of joy as she got up and went inside with her sisters to pack their luggage.
In the courtyard, Bai Mudan cracked melon seeds and looked at Liu Yingying with a mocking expression; "How can you be so stingy? You've made so much money, and you still want to snatch people from me, but you can't even spare ten taels of silver to redeem the maid!"
Liu Yingying smiled and gently shook her head; "You can't say things like that. When did I steal your person? It was clearly Xianglian who wanted to redeem herself."
"Then tell me, where did Xianglian go after she was redeemed? Did she stay by your side to work for you?" Bai Mudan glared at her, pretending to be angry as she questioned her.
However, Liu Yingying did not deny it; "Xianglian will continue to work for me, that's true, but I will also pay her wages. Of course, she can also choose to do something else, anyway, she is free!"
Bai Mudan was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth.
This woman is such a sophist. She clearly stole his person, but he can't produce any evidence that she did.
Just as Liu Yingying said, Xianglian was free after that; she redeemed herself, and it had nothing to do with Liu Yingying.
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