Zhang Xianglian turned around and saw three brothers and sisters of different heights, fatness and thickness.
There is Zheng Ruqian, there is Changyan, and there is Jiang Sheng.
They stood behind her, with different expressions on their faces, but they all had smiles in their eyes, like naughty children who secretly rejoiced after teasing their elders.
"You three..." She caressed her chest, showing a rare hint of anger, "Why are you here in the middle of the night? It's so scary."
"Auntie didn't tell us why you appeared here." Jiang Sheng pouted, very unconvinced.
This time it was Zhang Xianglian's turn to be embarrassed.
She murmured for a moment, and finally chose to tell the truth, "The two women came to Jiuzhenfang to beg for food. I saw that they were pitiful, so I helped them a little. The food was all leftovers from the previous meal. It was a pity to throw it away, so I gave them some. "
"Before Ruqian asked me to recruit a pastry chef for Jiuzhenfang, I thought about asking Sister Miao to come over to help, but she was trapped by the child and there was really no way."
Zhang Xianglian smiled lonely.
There were too many women who had similar experiences to her, and she couldn't help but reach out to help. Unfortunately, her strength was low, and the most she could do was give away food, not even a roof over her head.
Just like six years ago, she wanted to adopt little Jiang Sheng, but was beaten and kicked by Zhou Zhiqiang. She had no choice but to put the little girl in a ruined temple at the entrance of the village and occasionally take care of her.
Later, she divorced, made money, and even opened Jiuzhenfang with Zheng Ruqian.
But that's just her life alone.
She couldn't help Miao Zhaoying, nor could she help the many women who were beaten, scolded and humiliated in their husbands' homes.
Kind people are like this. After breaking out of the quagmire themselves, they always want to help more people break out.
Maybe some people will rebuke them, maybe some people will complain that they are nosy.
But that’s who they are, and that’s where they shine.
Gentleness is nature, kindness is choice.
It's a pity that kindness cannot buy ability. She can't change the world, nor can she save many Miao Zhaoying. She can only take a deep breath and let out a long sigh.
It seemed like unwillingness and helplessness.
On the empty street, the young man's cold voice was particularly abrupt, "Auntie, why didn't you tell us?"
Zhang Xianglian was stunned.
"Yes, Auntie, tell us, there will always be a solution." Zheng Ruqian also agreed.
Even Jiang Sheng nodded seriously, "There is strength in numbers. Every time my second brother and I encounter difficulties in business, we have to ask my brothers."
Maybe the brothers don't understand business, but they have their own unique ideas and insights, and they can always find a way out of the tangle of twists and turns.
"I..." Zhang Xianglian hesitated, "I'm afraid of disturbing you, or that you think I'm nosy."
Technically speaking, she was meddling.
But aunt, it is precisely because of nosy people like you that the world has light and warmth, and the little Jiang Sheng is now.
There is nothing wrong in helping the weak within your ability.
As long as you don't mean too much, as long as you don't cause trouble, as long as you can carry it clean enough.
As long as you can accept it and help people, there will also be white-eyed wolves.
"I accept everything." Zhang Xianglian said softly, "Help is help. I have never thought about repaying it, and I will never pester someone who can't handle it."
It can be seen that the aunt is really afraid of causing trouble to the children.
Chang Yan finally felt relieved and said calmly, "Auntie can ask that aunt to sell her daughter before she reconciles."
"Ah?" Zhang Xianglian raised her head in shock.
Zheng Ruqian added from the side, "Sell her to Jiang Sheng as a maid first, and then give her her freedom after her mother saves enough money to redeem her body."
The household registration after the sale is a free person and is not controlled by any of the parents.
Miao Zhaoying, who no longer had any fear, proposed a divorce and could still get half of the money from the sold girl, which was the way to escape with the least loss.
Zhang Xianglian thought about all these twists and turns, and was suddenly surprised and delighted, "The children are still smart, and you are smart."
"I, I, I, I'm going to tell Sister Miao right now." She turned to go back, but was stopped by Jiang Sheng.
The little girl pretended to be mature and said, "It's getting dark. Auntie, let's go back and rest first. What if we meet a bad guy?"
"Yes, okay, it's all up to you." Zhang Xianglian burst into tears with joy. She held little Jiang Sheng with one hand and walked much more briskly, "Let's go home. Auntie will stew a big elbow for you tomorrow."
The group of four walked easily, and occasionally the clear laughter of the little girl could be heard, echoing in the street and lingering for a long time.
Not long after they left, the guards responsible for night patrol walked out of the darkness.
The two leaders among them held swords and looked at the direction in which Chang Yan and others were leaving, looking at each other in confusion.
"Did you feel that the way the kid spoke just now was a bit like..." The thinner guard frowned in confusion.
The fatter one shook his head, "How is that possible? He has been missing for many years. We almost turned Fengjing over and couldn't find him."
"Hush, it's better not to mention it." The thinner guard kept silent, "This is a taboo in heaven and cannot be spread."
"Let's go, let's continue patrolling."
Several people walked forward carrying lanterns, not only to check whether Fengjing streets were clean, but also to prevent theft and robbery.
In a blink of an eye, the new year is over.
As a public pastry shop for the common people, Jiuzhenfang has to open on the tenth day of the Lunar New Year.
Zhang Xianglian offered her a plan to Miao Zhaoying, and she went back on the fifth day of the lunar month and suggested selling Daya for some money.
The men in the family were overjoyed and kept shouting that she was enlightened.
At this moment, the dandy Mr. Zheng appeared, waving his folding fan. He was picky about it, and finally reluctantly smacked his lips and was only willing to pay ten taels of silver for Daya.
The man in charge still wanted to raise the price, but was frightened by Jiang Sanjiang Si who followed him, and reluctantly made the deal.
Twelve taels of silver sold the life of a twelve-year-old girl.
After the signed painting passed through the Yamen's open road, Zheng Ruqian threw out half a silver coin and took Da Ya away gracefully.
The man in charge was still holding the still-warm silver and testing the authenticity with his teeth. Miao Zhaoying turned around, proposed divorce, and asked for half of the family property.
The other bits and pieces in the house can be hidden, but the ten taels of silver in the man's hand are clearly visible. All the people in the village have seen it and cannot fake it.
If I really report it to Fengtian Mansion, according to the laws of the Dayu Dynasty, I can't keep this money.
In order to marry the new wife and give birth to a fat son, the man gritted his teeth and reluctantly agreed, and signed the divorce letter.
After passing the Yamen Ming Road, Miao Zhaoying took her household registration and 5 taels of silver and drove to Jiuzhenfang. She signed a ten-year work contract with Zhang Xianglian. Finally, she paid 5 taels of silver in advance and received her share. He had five or two properties and directly redeemed his daughter.
For this reason, the yamen servants of Fengtian Mansion often looked at Zheng Ruqian and Jiang Sheng's brother and sister strangely.
It is rare for a slave deed to be made and released on the same day.
Fortunately, Jiang Sheng was thick-skinned. When she came out of Fengtian Mansion and looked at Miao Zhaoying and her daughter, who looked like newborns, she grinned and said, "Second brother, the New Year is over and Jiuzhenfang has opened. We should also talk to Youran Ju." Let’s talk about cooperation in supplying pastries.”
"Okay." Zheng Ruqian shook his long hair and coaxed, "Let's go now."
After a few days of reunion dinner, the second brother seemed to be 70% mellow again. Standing together with Jiang Sheng, they were really brother and sister who couldn't be more close.
Especially the two men's arrogant and coquettish walking styles are exactly the same.
Youranju was not far from Fengtian Mansion, so the brother and sister walked there without riding in a carriage.
As soon as they stepped into the restaurant, a carriage pulled up behind them, and two brothers and sisters also stepped out.
A tall and handsome man.
A delicate and peaceful one.
