Chapter 18: Which One to Redeem?

After hearing Wen Ye’s words, the first and second families rushed out the door, seized the donkey cart, cracked their whips, and hurried toward Xindong County.

They had barely gone fifteen minutes when they happened to see two enforcers walking back. The group quickly blocked their path, pleading and crying until the enforcers agreed to come home.

Wen’s eldest brother and the two enforcers got off the cart in Wen family’s courtyard, but the two enforcers tightly held onto Wen Mei and Wen Liyue inside the cart, refusing to let them move.

“Master Qian, you’ve got the wrong people. This is my daughter...” Madam Fang sobbed.

Qian San laughed scornfully, “Pah! I thought something was off the last time we inspected the goods. Turns out we grabbed the wrong ones.”

Madam Fang and Wen’s second brother’s faces stiffened; how dare they say their daughter was ugly?

“Then where are the girls we requested?”

Madam Fang’s expression shifted slightly. Now she couldn’t sell them even if she wanted to. Stammering, she said, “Master Qian, we won’t sell anymore... We’ll return your money!”

She trembled as she held out a pouch containing seventy taels of silver.

Because Wen Ye and Wen Lan were beautiful and from a brothel, their selling price was exceptionally high.

Zhao Qiang rubbed his chin and snarled, “You say you won’t sell? No matter who, they’re definitely your daughters. You took the money, so they’re my goods now. If you want to redeem them, it won’t be at this price! Double!”

Madam Wen and Lady Luo gasped in shock. Double?

Qian San chuckled and stepped forward, tapping the palm of his hand with the donkey whip. “Two girls, one thirty taels, one forty taels, total seventy taels! Double that, you owe me one hundred forty taels!”

Madam Fang almost fainted, clutching Wen Liyue on the cart, wailing, “We’re honest, simple farmers. Where are we supposed to get seventy taels? You’re asking for our lives! Wuwuwu...”

Qian San spat heavily at her, “Honest and simple? Hah! If you were honest, why the knockout drug and the trickery to sell your niece up the mountain?”

Zhao Qiang coughed, “Disgusting! Shameless!”

Madam Fang was speechless.

Qian San grew impatient, “Are you going to redeem or not? If not, we’re taking them away.”

“No, no, no! We’ll redeem! Of course, we will!” Madam Fang screamed, clinging to the cart. “But we really don’t have that much money! How about we give an extra two taels each and you let us off?”

“Two taels? Are you trying to bribe beggars? Double is double! Not a penny less!” Qian San sneered and cracked the donkey whip sharply. “Let’s go! Selling to the brothel!”

“No, no, no! Don’t leave!” Lady Luo and Wen’s eldest brother hurried to block them.

Zhao Qiang kicked both aside fiercely.

Those who do this kind of business are no kind souls; naturally, their skills are excellent.

Wen’s eldest couple were kicked flat on their backs.

Madam Wen and Wen’s second brother gasped and dared not approach.

Madam Fang’s eyes reddened, fully aware of these enforcers’ nature.

She hurriedly said, “Alright, alright, double it is!”

Then she dashed back to her room and soon returned with a pouch of money, thrusting it into Qian San’s hand.

“Here’s the money! This redeems my daughter! Thirty taels doubled, sixty taels total!”

Lady Luo clutched her sore chest and rushed over, eyes wide. “Second sister-in-law, what do you mean? What do you mean redeeming your daughter? Aren’t you redeeming my Mei?”

Madam Fang quickly said, “I’ll give you the forty taels from selling Mei! Take it!”

She stuffed a few silver ingots into Lady Luo’s hand.

Lady Luo’s eyes widened in shock for a moment, then she shouted angrily, “I spit on you, you old harlot! I may not be as cunning as you, but I’m no fool! You first acknowledged the smallest sum, then gave me forty taels? Does that mean I have to come up with another forty? Don’t even think about it. If you sold her, you have to redeem her.”

Madam Fang gritted her teeth. “I’m out of money! Truly! We work in town, but the husband only earns eight hundred wen a month; I cook and earn four hundred wen. Together it’s one tael and two qian. We still have to send seven hundred wen home each month, leaving only five hundred wen for the family’s food and drink.”

“Don’t lie to me! Just enough to eat, yet now you’re suddenly able to come up with thirty taels? I don’t care. If you don’t redeem my daughter, I’ll report you to the authorities for selling her.”

Hearing the threat of a report, Madam Fang was frightened but shook her head firmly. “Heavens, I really don’t have that much. I’ve already given all my savings.”

“I don’t care!” Lady Luo suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Madam Fang by the neck and yelling, “If you don’t redeem her, even if you go to jail, I’ll kill you!!!”

Madam Fang’s eyes rolled back as Wen’s second brother rushed to help, but Wen’s eldest brother punched him down to the ground.

“If you don’t redeem my daughter today, I’ll beat you until you’re toothless.”

Wen’s second brother stared, eyes red, too scared to breathe.

Madam Fang, choking, looked to Madam Wen for help.

“Mother, mother! I really have no money... Please, mother, have mercy and cover that forty taels!”

Madam Wen, already close to bursting with anger over the family division, was almost beside herself when asked to pay. She roared:

“I have no money! Not a single copper coin.”

“Then what do we do? What do we do? Wuwu... Heavens!” Lady Luo collapsed, crying as if the sky was falling.

Wen Ye and Lin’s family were packing in the cottage. Seeing the commotion in the courtyard, they gasped.

Especially Lady Luo’s pitiful appearance stirred deep sympathy in Wen’s third brother and Lin’s family.

Wen Ye chuckled and stepped out, saying, “Aunt, since you’ve been wronged too, let me give you some advice.”

“Quickly give the forty taels in your hand to Second Aunt. That way, the money the enforcers took just now is the redemption for Mei. After all, the one selling the girls was Second Aunt, so naturally it’s her daughter.”

He then looked toward Qian San and Zhao Qiang and smiled.

“Brothers, think carefully. The ones who accepted the money and stamped the contract were Madam Fang and Wen’s second brother. If one is sold, it must be their daughter. Otherwise, if you report this to the authorities, you’ll find yourselves in trouble.”

Qian San and Zhao Qiang exchanged glances, both a bit wary, then nodded.

“That makes sense. Then this sixty taels is for redeeming your daughter,” Qian San said, pointing at Lady Luo.

“Ah, thank you, brothers!” Lady Luo wept tears of joy and hurried to the donkey cart, calling to Wen’s eldest brother as they pulled the unconscious Wen Mei down.

“No, no, no!” Madam Fang’s eyes widened. Her Liyue must never be sold to the brothel! Absolutely not!

Without hesitation, Madam Fang dashed back to her room and soon returned with four small silver ingots—forty taels.

Madam Wen and the first family stared wide-eyed. The second family actually had this much money?

“Oh, so you do have money. Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Qian San eagerly snatched the money, rubbing his hands and laughing heartily as he counted one hundred forty taels.

This trip was a goldmine!

If they had only sold those two girls to the brothel, they could have made five or six taels at best. Now, they earned seventy taels at once — like manna from heaven.

Qian San shoved Wen Liyue off the cart, climbed aboard the donkey cart, and glared fiercely at Madam Fang.

“You’re lucky today. Next time you try to trick me, I’ll strip you naked and hang you at the village gate. Let’s go.”

The two enforcers tossed the money pouches and whistled as they left.

Just before leaving the gate, Qian San turned back, looking at Wen Ye with a smirk.

“Ugly girl, thanks. Next time something like this happens, remember to come find me.”

Apparently, they recognized Wen Ye as the one who had called them to move the girls at noon and realized it was all part of Wen Ye’s plan.

Wen Ye raised an eyebrow. “You’re welcome. If anyone deserves thanks, thank those three big brains!”

The two enforcers took the money and hummed as they walked away.