The “Great Philanthropist Qian” mentioned by Madam Liu Chen was none other than the owner of Juxian Tower—the very man who had framed Zuixian Tower. Unexpectedly, a momentary whim on his part had actually helped Zuixian Tower instead. A case of accidental success.
If anything happened to her mother, then neither Juxian Tower nor the entire Qian family would have any reason to continue existing.
Calling himself a benevolent man while secretly engaging in coercion, poisoning, murder, and framing others—since she had stumbled upon this matter, Shen Danyun was determined to rip away that hypocritical mask.
With that thought, Shen Danyun decided to go hunting in the mountains again tomorrow and use the chance to sell game in town as cover to rescue her mother from the Qian family estate.
Having made up her mind, Shen Danyun cast a cold glance at the unconscious Madam Liu Chen before turning and dashing away.
Early the next morning, Shen Danyun came down the mountain carrying a large basket full of game. Although she had caught several wild boars today as well, she was in a hurry to save her mother, so she kept the boars in her spatial storage to raise them and only brought out a few pheasants and rabbits to sell.
“Yun girl, you’re back from hunting so early? Catch anything?” Uncle Shitou asked in surprise when he saw her return so soon.
“Just a few pheasants and rabbits. Uncle, this chicken is for your family. I’ll need to trouble you later to look after Danyue and Yuntao while I take the game to town to sell.” Shen Danyun pulled out a five- or six-pound pheasant from her basket and handed it to him.
“If you’re busy, just let the two children stay at my house. They can play with Gou Dan and Zhaodi. I can’t take your chicken—you should sell it.”
“Uncle, don’t be so polite. Let the kids have a good meal for once.” Shen Danyun stuffed the pheasant into his hands without giving him a chance to refuse, then turned and headed home.
“Big Sister’s back!” Shen Danyue had been busy in the kitchen. Hearing footsteps, she hurried out and said, “Breakfast will be ready soon. Go rest for a bit first.”
“You got up so early to cook again? Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?” Shen Danyun sighed emotionally at how sensible and hardworking her little sister was.
Just then, Shen Wentao came stumbling out of the room, rubbing his sleepy eyes with his tiny hands. “Big Sister, Second Sister.”
“Wentao’s awake? Come here, Big Sister will wash your face.”
“Big Sister, I want to brush my teeth,” Shen Wentao said with a yawn.
“Wentao is so good! You know brushing protects your teeth. Big Sister will put toothpaste on for you.”
Ever since he learned that not brushing his teeth would make worms grow in them, the little boy had become obsessed with brushing. Last night he’d begged his sister to teach him, and she told him teeth should be brushed twice a day—once in the morning and once before bed.
After he finished brushing, Shen Danyun wiped his face clean. Shen Danyue then came out to call them to eat.
Inside, Shen Danyun saw a pot of porridge, a plate of cabbage, and three bowls of steamed egg custard on the table.
The cabbage came from the family’s backyard garden. If everyone hadn’t stopped them, the shameless Liu family would have long since stripped the garden bare and carried everything away.
The two children were malnourished and couldn’t keep eating cabbage every day. Shen Danyun felt troubled. Her space contained all sorts of vegetables, fish, and shrimp, but she had been too busy lately to bring any out.
Thinking of this, Shen Danyun took out three cartons of high-calcium milk from her basket, inserted straws into them, and placed them before the two children.
“This is called milk. Try it and see if you like it.”
Wentao had already been staring eagerly at it. Hearing this, he immediately took several gulps.
“Big Sister, the milk is so delicious! I love it!”
Seeing this, Danyue also took a drink. Her eyes instantly lit up.
“Big Sister, this milk tastes amazing. I’ve never had anything like it before.”
“Right? From now on, Big Sister will buy some for you every day. But you can’t tell anyone about it, okay?” Shen Danyun said with a smile.
“Mhm! We won’t tell. If bad people find out, they’ll steal our milk!” Wentao raised his little finger to his lips in a shushing gesture. Combined with his adorably delicate face, he was almost unbearably cute.
Unable to resist, Shen Danyun planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
“Wentao is so smart!”
The little boy narrowed his eyes happily, clearly enjoying the affection, then turned the other cheek toward her, silently asking for another kiss.
Shen Danyun laughed and kissed him again. Since she’d kissed one child, she couldn’t neglect the other, so she also kissed Shen Danyue twice on the cheek. Danyue’s face immediately turned red with a mix of shyness and happiness.
Looking at the two beautiful and adorable children, Shen Danyun felt her heart melt. So this was what it felt like to have a motherly heart.
After breakfast, Shen Danyun stored the empty milk cartons back into her space and took out more than a dozen large red apples.
Wentao’s eyes immediately brightened at the sight of them. He ran over eagerly and asked, “Big Sister, what is this?”
“This is called an apple. Do you want to eat one?” she asked with a smile.
“Yes!”
The little boy was practically drooling at the sight of the shiny red fruit.
Shen Danyun handed him an apple and gave another to Danyue.
“These apples are very sweet and delicious. Try them.”
The two children immediately bit into them.
“Big Sister, apples are so sweet and tasty!” Danyue’s eyes curved like crescents.
Wentao spoke with his mouth full, “Big Sister, apples are sooo good. I want to eat them every day.”
“Alright. As long as you behave, Big Sister will buy apples for you every day.” Shen Danyun also picked up an apple and began eating.
The three of them ate apples all the way to Uncle Shitou’s house. Shen Danyun handed the apples she carried to Auntie Shitou and asked her to look after the children. Then she boarded Old Wang’s horse cart and headed for Phoenix Town.
After arriving in town, Shen Danyun asked around until she found the Qian family estate. By sheer coincidence, it happened to be the old madam’s birthday celebration that day. The entrance was crowded with guests coming and going, while servants rushed back and forth in a lively bustle.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Shen Danyun blended into the crowd and slipped inside. The gatekeeper assumed she was a servant accompanying a guest with birthday presents, so he let her pass without question.
Inside the estate, the place was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, radiating festivity. Maids and servants hurried everywhere nonstop.
But where exactly was her mother?
Faced with the enormous estate, Shen Danyun could only follow the crowd deeper inside.
Gradually, she lagged behind the others and quietly slipped off to one side, entering the rear courtyard. Trusting her instincts, she continued inward.
The birthday hall and banquet tables were all in the front courtyard, leaving the back relatively quiet. Occasionally, someone would pass by.
Just as Shen Danyun was thinking about grabbing someone to ask for directions, a maid walked toward her and barked, “Who are you? How dare you enter the rear courtyard? What are you trying to do?”
“Big Sister, I urgently need the toilet. I accidentally took the wrong path. Could you please show me where the latrine is?” Shen Danyun said.
The maid stared at her sharply before saying, “Follow me. Once you’re done, leave immediately.”
“Thank you, Big Sister. I’ll leave as soon as I’m done.”
The maid led her to the latrine and pointed toward it.
“It’s over th—”
Before she could finish speaking, a pill shot into her mouth.
“You—!”
The maid clutched at her throat, but before she could say another word, the medicine took effect. Her expression became vacant and dull.
“Tell me where Zhang Guilan is,” Shen Danyun demanded.
“She’s in the woodshed,” the maid replied blankly.
“Take me there.”
The maid turned around mechanically and walked deeper into the rear courtyard, with Shen Danyun following closely behind.
Since nearly everyone had gone to the front courtyard for the old madam’s birthday celebration, the rear courtyard was deserted and silent—not a single person in sight.