Once she finished with all of that, the sun had already set.
One day, she accidentally broke a concubine’s teacup and was harshly scolded by the woman. The concubine even had the household nanny slap her several times. Her face remained swollen for days, and she was also beaten with a board on her buttocks.
The concubine thought she was useless and sent her back to the human trafficker’s agency.
The agency boss was furious. Even though Hua Ying’s buttocks were still aching terribly from the beating, she was forced to continue working at the agency.
Half a month later, she was sold again, this time to an official’s household—the county magistrate’s family in Yong’an County—to work as a rough servant girl.
She worked as a rough servant in the county magistrate’s residence for more than a year. At first, she thought everything was finally heading in a better direction.
But the county magistrate’s younger son had been spoiled rotten since childhood. He was a wicked young wastrel, and after taking a liking to Hua Ying, who was a year older than him, he constantly harassed and teased her.
When the magistrate’s wife discovered this, she angrily berated Hua Ying for being a shameless temptress.
Later, the magistrate’s wife sent Hua Ying back to the human trafficker’s agency and harshly reprimanded the agency boss. Afraid of offending the magistrate’s wife, the agency boss could only apologize submissively and pay her some compensation.
Afterward, the agency boss was even more furious. He harshly berated Hua Ying, accusing her of being incapable of doing anything right and ruining everything she touched. He threatened to sell her to a brothel.
Coincidentally, Wei Linye needed to buy a servant girl to take care of Liu Muli and Huang Shi. He went to the agency with Liu Muli, where they saw Hua Ying crying her eyes out.
After learning what had happened, Liu Muli said she wanted Hua Ying.
Wei Linye had no objections, so they bought Hua Ying.
Liu Muli also helped her change her name. From then on, she was no longer called Da Ya, but Hua Ying. She hoped Hua Ying could bloom like a flower, live independently, and have a beautiful life for the rest of her days.
After buying Hua Ying, she went with them to the capital. Later, they bought several more maids and servants.
Gradually, Hua Ying became her personal maid.
But Liu Muli never expected that Hua Ying would ultimately sacrifice her life for her.
Thinking of that sweet-smiling young girl, Liu Muli’s heart clenched painfully, and waves of deep sorrow surged through her.
Carefully calculating the timing, Hua Ying should be sent back to the human trafficker’s agency by that merchant’s wife sometime this month.
She had to buy Hua Ying before the agency sold her to the county magistrate’s residence.
Two days later, the household ran out of rice and flour, and there was no coarse rice left either.
Huang Shi said she was going to town to buy some more, and Liu Muli went with her.
As before, Ergou drove the ox cart to take them there.
Yong’an County bordered Yongning County. There was a fork in the road along the way, and following that road would lead directly to Yong’an County.
Liu Muli said to Huang Shi, “Mother, I heard there are lots of Chinese olives in Yong’an County. I’d like to go over and have a look. Is that all right?”
Huang Shi froze for a moment. “If we go there after buying the rice and grain, it’ll take quite a bit of time. Will we make it back home before dark?”
Liu Muli smiled lightly. “Mother, we can just buy the rice and grain in Yong’an County. We can also ask around about the Chinese olives while we’re there.”
Huang Shi thought about it. “That works too. Since you want to go have a look, I’ll go with you.”
“Thank you, Mother!” Liu Muli said gratefully. Then she asked Ergou, “Ergou, do you know how to get to Yong’an County?”
Ergou grinned. “Of course. Quite a few of the aunties in our village are from Yong’an County. Sometimes they go back to their parents’ homes, and I drive them there. I’ve been there several times.”
Only then did Liu Muli relax. “Good. I’ll leave it to you today.”
“Ah, it’s no big deal!” Ergou waved his hand and drove the ox cart toward Yong’an County.
It took them about an hour to reach Yong’an County town.
Yong’an County was closer to the prefectural city than Yongning County and was also somewhat more prosperous. The streets were bustling with people, and there were plenty of stalls, shops, and restaurants. Peddlers could be seen everywhere, walking through the streets and alleys while calling out their wares.
Huang Shi’s family home was in Yongning County, so she had never been to Yong’an County town.
Everything looked fresh and fascinating to her. Liu Muli remembered visiting this place in her previous life, so she took Huang Shi around Yong’an County town.
Following the streets she remembered from her previous life, Liu Muli eventually arrived at the street where the human trafficker’s agency was located.
Looking up at the sun, she said, “Mother, it’s already noon. Let’s find somewhere to eat.”
Huang Shi also looked up at the sun and nodded. “Mm, all right. What do you want to eat?”
Liu Muli looked around and, sure enough, spotted a familiar noodle shop. In her previous life, they had eaten there, and the food had been quite good.
She pointed ahead. “Mother, that noodle shop looks pretty good. Why don’t we eat there?”
Huang Shi naturally agreed. Whatever Liu Muli wanted to eat, she wouldn’t object. She simply agreed.
The two of them entered the noodle shop, and the waiter immediately came over to greet them warmly and poured each of them a cup of tea.
Liu Muli ordered two bowls of chicken noodle soup. After sitting for a while, she made up an excuse.
“Mother, I suddenly feel like eating sesame flatbread. I just saw a stall selling them on the street. I’ll go buy two. Wait here; I’ll be right back!”
After leaving the noodle shop, Liu Muli hurried to the human trafficker’s agency. She gave ten copper coins to one of the servants and asked him to bring out the agency boss, claiming that she wanted to buy a servant girl.
The servant quickly brought out the boss.
The man was over fifty, with gray-white whiskers.
Liu Muli quickly asked him about Hua Ying. But, just as she had expected, Hua Ying had not yet been returned by the merchant’s wife.
She then told the boss Da Ya’s background, her hometown, and why she had been sold to the agency.
The boss frowned and thought for a moment. “I really don’t remember whether we have a girl like that. Ah, well, our agency gets new girls every day, and I’m getting old. I can’t remember everyone.”
Liu Muli naturally understood. She quickly worked herself into an emotional state, and before long, her eyes reddened.
“Da Ya is my younger sister. I want to find her and bring her home. If you hear anything about Da Ya, please make sure to keep her here. I’ll come back and buy her.”
Seeing her like this, the boss seized the opportunity to raise the price.
“I see… It’s not impossible. It’s just that the price…”
Liu Muli knew that showing such desperation would give the boss an opportunity to take advantage of her. But she didn’t care about spending a few extra taels of silver.
“I understand. I’m willing to pay ten taels of silver. As long as you can find Da Ya and keep her here for me!”
Ten taels of silver was no small amount. Normally, a servant girl like Da Ya would sell for no more than five or six taels, even after being resold. Ten taels would be difficult to get.
Liu Muli took out a piece of silver and tucked it into the waistband of the agency boss’s clothes, smiling as she said, “I’ll trouble you, then.”
Seeing this, the boss’s expression immediately softened. Stroking his gray-white beard, he readily agreed.
“Done! Young lady, rest assured. If I hear anything about Da Ya, I’ll definitely find her for you and take good care of her!”
Having received his promise, Liu Muli felt somewhat relieved. She immediately headed back, stopping along the way to buy two sesame flatbreads.
When she returned to the noodle shop, the two bowls of noodles had already been served.
Huang Shi hadn’t touched her chopsticks. She had been waiting for Liu Muli to return so they could eat together.
Warmth spread through Liu Muli’s heart. She smiled and said, “Mother, hurry and eat, or the noodles will get soggy.”
Seeing that Liu Muli had returned safely, Huang Shi finally breathed a huge sigh of relief and began eating.