“Miss, why are you here?”
The girl called Xiao Yuan grabbed Tang Dongdong’s sleeve, her face full of worry, “Miss, are you being sold too?”
Realising her mistake, she noticed Tang Dongdong’s clothes and hair ornaments were as fine as when she was at the Tang household.
“I’m doing well now,” Tang Dongdong held Xiao Yuan’s hand, “But you, didn’t I free you from servitude? Why are you selling yourself at the brokerage?”
When Tang Dongdong’s father realised the Tang family was tricked by the Zhou family, he planned to sell all the servants for funds to escape. Fearing Xiao Yuan, her childhood companion, would end up with a cruel master, Tang Dongdong stole her bond contract and used her savings to free her at the authorities, making her a free person.
“After leaving you, I went home. At first, my brother was kind, but when the silver you gave me ran out, he kicked me and my mother out.”
Xiao Yuan sobbed, “My mother died a few days ago, and I wanted to buy a coffin to bury her…”
She broke down, unable to continue.
“Don’t cry, Xiao Yuan, I’ll give you money for the coffin.”
Tang Dongdong pulled the straw marker from Xiao Yuan’s hair, “If you’ve nowhere else to go, stay with me.”
“Thank you, Miss!”
Xiao Yuan knelt, kowtowing to Tang Dongdong, “I’ll repay your kindness by serving you like an ox or horse.”
“No need for that,” Tang Dongdong lifted her, tears in her eyes, “My family’s gone, you’re my only kin now.”
“Miss, Miss Xiao Bei is alive, didn’t you know?” Xiao Yuan asked, surprised.
“What? Xiao Bei’s alive?” Tang Dongdong’s eyes widened, “Do you know where she is?”
Soon after freeing Xiao Yuan, the Tang family went bankrupt, lost a lawsuit, and all their possessions, including the family, were awarded to the Zhou family.
Before this, Tang Dongdong’s father, anticipating the outcome, bribed a registry official to remove some younger family members’ names from the household.
The official said the Zhou family was watching the male heirs closely, so Tang’s father could only remove Tang Dongdong and her cousin Tang Xiao Bei, securing new registries for them.
This spared Tang Dongdong and her cousin from being sold as slaves.
But while heading to Guan Family Village, they encountered mountain wolves, got separated, and only Tang Dongdong reached the village.
She searched for her cousin but learned the Tang family, sold to Xichuan by the Zhou family, was attacked by bandits, leaving no survivors.
Thinking she had no family left, hearing her cousin was alive overwhelmed her.
“I saw Miss Xiao Bei outside Chunfeng Tower last year, but she went inside before I could speak,” Xiao Yuan said, concerned.
“Chunfeng Tower…”
Tang Dongdong’s legs buckled, nearly collapsing.
“Miss!”
“Dongdong!”
Xiao Yuan and Guan Xiaorou caught her.
Jin Feng sighed, a flicker of worry in his eyes.
Chunfeng Tower, by its name, was clearly a brothel.
Her only kin in such a place was worse than death for Tang Dongdong.
“Dongdong…”
Jin Feng wanted to comfort her but didn’t know how.
Hearing his voice, Tang Dongdong clung to his sleeve like a lifeline, “Brother Feng, please, you must save Xiao Bei… she’s my sister… my only family…”
Since meeting, Tang Dongdong had always been calm, this was the first time Jin Feng saw her so frantic, her words incoherent.
“Dongdong, don’t worry, we’ll go redeem your sister soon.”
Jin Feng could only offer this comfort.
“Yes, redeem Xiao Bei!”
Tang Dongdong wiped her tears, ready to leave.
“Miss, I’m afraid you can’t redeem Miss Xiao Bei…” Xiao Yuan cautiously held her back.
“Why not?”
“I heard Miss Xiao Bei is one of Chunfeng Tower’s top girls, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. They want her to compete for the title of flower queen.”
“Compete for flower queen?”
Tang Dongdong’s face, just regaining colour, turned ashen again.
Qing Mulang’s expression darkened too.
Jin Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Though he didn’t know what competing for flower queen meant, from Xiao Yuan’s tone and expression, redeeming Tang Dongdong’s sister wouldn’t be easy.
Tang Dongdong had helped Jin Feng greatly and was one of his few friends.
For whatever reason, he didn’t want her to suffer or be broken by this, so no matter the difficulty, he’d find a way to get her sister out.
To free Tang Xiao Bei, he needed to understand the flower queen competition.
Asking Tang Dongdong now was inappropriate, and Guan Xiaorou and Tie Chui were clueless, so Jin Feng quietly pulled Qing Mulang aside.
“What’s the flower queen competition?”
“Every county city has several brothels, naturally competing and comparing. Each year, they select top girls for a contest to choose a flower queen,” Qing Mulang whispered, “The flower queen brings huge business to her brothel, so those eligible are their treasures, their money trees.
If Chunfeng Tower has Dongdong’s sister in the contest, they won’t let you redeem her, or if they do, it’ll cost a fortune!”
“That’s tricky,” Jin Feng frowned, “What if her sister doesn’t win?”
“The contest happens yearly, if she doesn’t win this year, there’s next year,” Qing Mulang said, “Dongdong mentioned her sister is only sixteen, she could compete for years.”
“Brother Feng, you’re resourceful, please help me,” Tang Dongdong, now panicked and confused, pleaded with Jin Feng.
“Dongdong, this needs careful planning, this isn’t the place to talk, let’s return to the inn.”
Jin Feng had Guan Xiaorou support Tang Dongdong, then told Tie Chui, “Go with Miss Xiao Yuan to bury her mother.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Xiao Yuan bowed to Jin Feng, then looked at Tang Dongdong, “Miss, I’ll bury my mother, then join this brother to find you.”
Tang Dongdong, her mind in chaos, nodded slightly. Supported by Guan Xiaorou and Run Niang, she followed Jin Feng back to the inn.
“Dear, what’s your plan?” Guan Xiaorou asked, worried, after settling Tang Dongdong in her room.
“I’m at a loss, let’s wait for Tie Chui to return and have him check on Chunfeng Tower first.”
Unfamiliar with the area, Jin Feng didn’t even know where Chunfeng Tower was and felt out of his depth.
“That oaf Tie Chui will get lost in Chunfeng Tower, charmed out of his wits, what can he find out?” Qing Mulang urged, “Sir, you should go yourself.”
