Buying Tang Xiaobei for a hundred and eighty taels, Jin Feng secretly felt pleased, thinking he’d got a bargain.
But when he saw the contract, he realised he’d been naive. Chunfeng House had bought Tang Xiaobei for just seven taels. In a few short years, they sold her for nearly thirty times that amount, a massive profit.
“Mr. Jin, though we bought Xiaobei for seven taels, we spent a lot training her. If not for your genuine affection, I wouldn’t have sold her for just over a hundred taels,” the madam said, feigning heartache. “Come back to Chunfeng House to support my business, sir.”
“Sure,” Jin Feng replied. With the contract in hand, he didn’t want to stay a moment longer. “Madam Zhou, can I take Miss Xiaobei now?”
“Of course, she’s yours from now on,” the madam said, winking at the maid by the main room’s door.
“Young lady, please give me the clothes and shoes,” Runniang said, handing over the bundle.
The maid took it and went inside. Though the madam called Tang Xiaobei her dearest daughter, she wouldn’t let her take even a thread when leaving. The maid was there to collect Tang Xiaobei’s clothes and jewellery.
When Tang Xiaobei emerged, she wore only the clothes Jin Feng provided. Runniang hadn’t anticipated the madam withholding even a hair tie, forgetting to buy a hairpin, so Tang Xiaobei’s hair hung loose.
In his past life, Jin Feng had heard of leaving with nothing, but now he truly saw what it meant. Yet Tang Xiaobei didn’t care. Her heart brimmed with joy and gratitude toward Jin Feng. She knew from today, she’d escaped the brothel’s cage and her tragic fate, all thanks to this unassuming scholar.
“Thank you, sir!” Tang Xiaobei knelt and respectfully kowtowed.
“Xiaobei, we’re family now. No kneeling in our household,” Jin Feng said, gesturing for Runniang to help her up.
Noticing her loose hair, he removed the cord from his jade pendant and handed it to her. Smiling, she tied her hair into a simple ponytail. Though the clothes were less ornate and slightly ill-fitting, Jin Feng found this Tang Xiaobei far more appealing.
After a moment, he realised why. Before, even her smiles carried a faint gloom, but now she radiated joy and hope for the future.
“Let’s go,” Jin Feng said.
“Madam Zhou, I’m leaving!” Tang Xiaobei gave a slight curtsy and followed Jin Feng confidently.
Redemptions were rare in brothels, and as they passed through the first-floor hall, all the girls who’d heard rushed over.
“Xiaobei’s so lucky. Mr. Jin actually redeemed her!”
“He’s young, handsome, and talented, the perfect gentleman.”
“What I admire most is his devotion. He stayed upstairs for days, ignoring all the girls throwing themselves at him, waiting for Xiaobei.”
“I saw him at the window, always watching her courtyard.”
“If only I had a gentleman like that to redeem me!”
The girls looked at Tang Xiaobei with envy. Two who’d entered with her came forward, crying, to say goodbye.
“Xiaobei, don’t forget us!”
“Xiaobei, be good at Mr. Jin’s house. Don’t upset him or his wife, okay?”
Respectable women couldn’t visit brothels, so this was likely a final farewell.
“Xiaoru, Sister Ting, I understand,” Tang Xiaobei said, her eyes reddening as she held their hands.
“It’s a happy day. No crying,” Sister Ting said, releasing her and curtsying to Jin Feng. “Sir, I’m too lowly to speak to you, but please treat Xiaobei kindly.”
“Don’t worry,” Jin Feng said with a smile.
Sister Ting smiled back, nudging Tang Xiaobei. “Go with Mr. Jin. Live well.”
“Mm!” Tang Xiaobei nodded, eyes red, and left Chunfeng House.
At the inn’s courtyard, Guan Xiaorou, Tang Dongdong, and Qing Mulian anxiously watched the road. When the carriage returned, Guan Xiaorou and Qing Mulian rushed out. Tang Dongdong tried to follow but felt her legs heavy as lead, unable to move.
Though Tie Chui had said Jin Feng settled with the madam, she feared something might go wrong. Only when Tang Xiaobei jumped from the carriage did her heart finally settle, and she collapsed to the ground.
“Sister!” Tang Xiaobei ran into the room, embracing Tang Dongdong.
“Xiaobei!” The sisters clung to each other, sobbing.
Reunions are joyful, and Jin Feng, Guan Xiaorou, and Qing Mulian stood at the door, smiling. The sisters cried for five or six minutes before stopping.
Tang Xiaobei wiped her tears and curtsied to Guan Xiaorou. “Xiaobei greets Madam.”
Bought by Jin Feng, she’d live under Guan Xiaorou’s roof and wanted to make a good impression.
“That madam, not even leaving you a hairpin,” Guan Xiaorou said, smiling as she took a hairpin from her own hair and placed it in Tang Xiaobei’s ponytail. “Use this for now.”
“Dongdong, here,” Jin Feng said, handing Tang Dongdong her contract.
Tang Xiaobei’s eyes lit up. Though she liked Jin Feng, no one wanted to be a servant. Even if she married him, she’d prefer to do so as a free woman.
“Thank you, Brother Feng!” Tang Dongdong took the contract. “Deduct Xiaobei’s redemption from my wages.”
“A small matter,” Jin Feng said with a smile. “Take Tie Chui to the county office to process her release. Hurry back, and we’ll buy some house slaves. We can leave tomorrow.”
“Okay!” Tang Dongdong, eager to act, called Tie Chui, and the three headed to the county office.
Processing a release with a contract was usually simple, just a matter of paying a fee, but by mid-morning, they hadn’t returned. As Jin Feng prepared to send someone to check, Tie Chui limped back, his face covered in blood.
