“You dare ask why? Because I’m your mother—your elder! You crawled out of my womb. If I want to sell you, I’ll sell you!”
Song Zhishu looked at Wu Yulan’s cold face and, for a fleeting moment, felt it was unbearably unfamiliar.
“No—you’re not my mother. My mother would never sell me!”
“Mother only dotes on me. You’re not… you’re not my mother!” Song Zhishu’s feet kicked frantically against the ground, trying to move away from her.
“I truly regret ever giving birth to an animal like you!”
Wu Yulan slapped him across the face. “Wake up! Since you’re so fond of selling your niece, you can personally have a taste of what it’s like to be a servant!”
Seeing the Liu family’s carriage arrive, Wu Yulan strode toward it without hesitation.
Realizing she was serious, Song Zhishu panicked.
“Mother, I know I was wrong! Please don’t sell your son!”
“I’ll study hard from now on and never anger you again!”
Finding his cries grating, Wu Yulan shot Wang Guiqin a look.
“Eldest daughter-in-law, take his shoe and stuff his mouth with it!”
Wang Guiqin pulled off Song Zhishu’s shoe. After a brief hesitation, she stuffed it into his mouth.
Listening to Mother-in-law can’t go wrong!
When she saw Wu Yulan give her an approving look, Wang Guiqin relaxed inwardly. I knew it—listening to Mother-in-law is always right!
…
“Steward Liu, I have a matter I’d like to ask Liu Yuanwai to help with.”
Steward Liu cupped his hands politely. “Physician Wu, please speak. If it’s a small matter, I can decide on the spot.”
“It’s like this—my youngest son is somewhat rebellious. I’d like to find a place to temper his disposition, to let him understand that being a servant is no easy life.”
Steward Liu waved a hand dismissively. “That’s all? Simple!”
“Just tell me how you’d like him disciplined, Madam Wu, and I guarantee it’ll be arranged properly.”
Hearing this, Wu Yulan’s smile grew warmer.
“Then many thanks to Liu Yuanwai and Steward Liu.”
Steward Liu waved again. “A trivial matter. I’ll make the arrangements.”
Song Zhishu was tossed onto the carriage. His whole body felt drained of strength. He couldn’t believe his mother was truly going to heartlessly sell him.
“Zhishu, don’t be upset. At home you can only drink thin porridge. Selling you to the Liu household is so you can eat well and live well there!”
Wu Yulan used his own words against him.
She spoke with such sincerity, as though she were truly a mother carefully planning for her son’s future.
Song Zhishu looked at his mother’s gentle expression and felt momentarily dazed.
Had he really been wrong?
But he truly believed that the way that girl lived at home—she might as well go serve someone else as a maid!
No. He wasn’t wrong. He was doing it for her own good!
Seeing the look on his face, Wu Yulan knew exactly what he was thinking. Without another word, she covered his head with a cloth—out of sight, out of mind.
Upon arriving at the Liu residence, Wu Yulan explained the whole matter to Liu Yuanwai.
With dozens of servants in the household, one more or one fewer made little difference. Liu Yuanwai was naturally happy to help her. If such a small favor could win Wu Yulan’s goodwill, why not?
“Physician Wu, for such small matters, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will certainly handle it well.”
“Many thanks, Liu Yuanwai.”
Wu Yulan smiled gratefully.
“A small matter, a small matter. My wife will still need you to take great care.” Liu Yuanwai led Wu Yulan to his wife’s room and stayed to accompany her during the examination.
Wu Yulan checked the wound and prescribed some additional medicine.
“She’s recovering well.”
Madam Liu looked much more spirited today. After hesitating several times, she finally voiced the concern weighing most heavily on her heart.
“Physician Wu… will my abdomen be left with a scar in the future?”
Ever since childhood, even the smallest injury left a large scar on her body. She dared not imagine what kind of terrifying scar such a large wound on her abdomen would leave.
“Madam Liu, with wounds of this size, some scarring is generally inevitable. However, with proper care, the scar will not be too noticeable.”
At Wu Yulan’s words, Madam Liu’s eyes brightened slightly as she turned to look at her husband.
Master Liu looked at his wife’s misty, spring-like eyes and felt a pang of heartache. He gently patted her hand in comfort.
“Doctor Wu, I, Liu, lack nothing—especially not silver.”
Wu Yulan understood immediately. Money is no issue. As long as you can ensure my wife’s abdomen won’t scar, any price is acceptable.
Was this the confidence of the truly wealthy?
All of a sudden, Wu Yulan knew exactly how she would make money in the future.
Selling ointments!
Scar-removal cream, acne ointment—she could make them all. As long as her reputation spread, she’d never worry about sales.
With that thought, her gaze toward Madam Liu softened. “Madam Liu, rest assured. Focus on recovering and regaining your strength. Later, I will prepare a special scar-removal ointment just for you. As long as you apply it regularly, no scar will remain.”
“Thank you, Doctor Wu!”
If anyone else had claimed to possess an ointment that could completely remove scars, Madam Liu would never have believed it.
But Wu Yulan said it.
And she believed her—completely.
“Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Wu.”
Master Liu then had someone bring out more silver.
“This is today’s consultation fee. I’ll trouble you to come again tomorrow.”
This time, Wu Yulan declined. “Master Liu, the one hundred taels from before already covered my fee. There’s no need to pay extra for the follow-up treatment.”
“However, the scar-removal ointment will be charged separately~!”
“Hahaha!”
Master Liu laughed heartily. “Naturally, naturally.”
“In that case, Doctor Wu, please stay for a simple meal! Allow me to express a bit of my gratitude.”
One dish after another was served—each fragrant, colorful, and enticing enough to make one dizzy with hunger.
…
“Useless girl! You take forever just to carry a dish!”
At the woman’s sharp scolding, the young girl shrank her neck and quickened her steps.
But after only a few paces, she heard the young master’s giggling. A bad premonition rose in her heart. Before she could react, a plump foot suddenly shot out and tripped her.
Crash!
The dishes scattered across the floor.
The little girl turned pale with fear. When she looked back, she saw the young master laughing so hard he was nearly doubled over.
“Hahaha! Stupid servant girl! You can even trip over nothing!”
At that moment, a middle-aged woman stormed out. Seeing the mess on the ground, she grabbed a nearby stool and hurled it over.
“You wretched little slut! How dare you spill my food? I’ll beat you to death!”
The girl lay on the ground, trembling as she squeezed her eyes shut.
Yet the expected pain never came. Instead, the middle-aged woman suddenly let out a shriek.
“Ow—!”
She had been slapped across the face and stood there stunned. Turning around, she saw a woman in her forties or fifties glaring at her.
“Who are you? Why did you hit me?”
She clutched her cheek, utterly bewildered.
Wu Yulan glared at her furiously, as though they shared some deep-seated grudge. “You shameless thing! How dare you seduce my husband? I’ll beat you to death!”
As she spoke, she grabbed the woman by the hair, yanked her to the ground, then straddled her and began slapping her repeatedly.
Her mouth didn’t rest either. “You vixen! Go on, try seducing someone again! I’ll beat you to death!”
The middle-aged woman was so stunned by Wu Yulan’s ferocity that she didn’t even think to resist.
“Help! Help! Where did this crazy woman come from?!”
Seeing his mother being beaten, the chubby boy rushed forward and grabbed Wu Yulan’s sleeve.
“What little brat—how dare you lay a hand on me!”
Wu Yulan backhanded him with a slap, sending the boy rolling twice across the ground.
Only then did the little girl on the floor get a clear look at who had come.
“It’s… Grandma…”
Why was Grandma here?
Had she come to redeem her and take her home?
No.
That couldn’t be right.
Grandma had personally sold her in the first place.
How could she possibly come to redeem her?