Chapter 51

“Save her!” Xiao Wanling shouted.

Holding her belly, she ran to the riverbank, grabbed a branch, and extended it toward the struggling woman.

A passing Jin family servant recognized Xiao Wanling and helped drag the woman ashore before quickly departing.

Grateful, Xiao Wanling made a mental note to thank Jin Jiaran later. She asked bystanders to help carry the woman to a nearby clinic.

Once inside the clinic, Xiao Wanling thanked the helpers and entered the inner chamber.

Li Die’er helped change the woman into dry clothes, wiping her face with a handkerchief. But suddenly, she pulled her hand back and whispered to Xiao Wanling, “You should leave. Don’t let Ping’er recognize you!”

Ping’er? Xiao Wanling didn’t recall her at all. She handed twenty taels of silver to Li Die’er and quietly left.

When Ping’er woke up, she immediately recognized Li Die’er. “Sister… You’ve grown up!”

Tears welled up in Li Die’er’s eyes. “What about brother-in-law and your son?”

Ping’er burst into tears. “They’re all dead! After my husband died, my father-in-law threw me out, saying I was cursed to bring death to men!”

The sisters hugged each other and cried but soon noticed someone spying on them. Li Die’er took Ping’er to rent a small courtyard for her to settle down.

Li Die’er wiped her tears. “I work as a servant in the Zhang household. You stay here for now. I even found you a job washing clothes. If you need anything, come find me.”

She decided to keep quiet about their fourth sister. After all these years apart, she wasn’t sure if her eldest sister could keep that secret.

Ping’er treasured this opportunity, diligently doing laundry day and night. She delivered freshly cleaned clothes early every morning. Li Die’er warned her, “If you run into anyone from the Li family on the road, don’t let them intimidate you.”

Ping’er nodded.

But one day, on a delivery run, she was suddenly surrounded by a few beggar-like people—her parents and brothers from the Li family had recognized her.

Madam Li burst into tears. “My dear Ping’er!”

Father Li muttered, “Looks like you’re living well. Lend me some silver.”

Li Yao bluntly ordered, “Go buy me a chicken. I’m starving.”

Li Mo rolled her eyes. “Big sister, where do you live now?”

Ping’er had long rehearsed this moment. “I’m just a servant. I don’t have money to help you!” Then she walked straight up to the door of a wealthy household and knocked.

The Li family members watched with anticipation. “Is this your master’s home? Introduce your third brother.”

The doorman took the bundle Ping’er handed him, gave them a strange look, then shut the door.

Ping’er walked right past them without looking back.

The Li family’s expressions soured. “You don’t even work here?”

They chased after her, shouting, “Ping’er! How could you be so heartless? We’re your family!”

“We’re family!” they chorused.

Ping’er turned cold. “You are commoners. I’m bond-servant class. We’re not family.”

Madam Li looked at her in disbelief. “Are you still my Ping’er?”

“I’m no one’s property,” Ping’er replied, her face like stone. “If you follow me again, I’ll scream for help.”

Some passersby saw a group of beggars crowding a woman and shouted, “What are you doing?”

The Li family was scared off. Ping’er thanked the crowd and ran back to tell Li Die’er, excitedly relaying the story. “Did I say it right?”

Li Die’er nodded. “Perfect. You stay with me for a few days so they don’t find where you live.”

But the Li family kept asking around and eventually found the Zheng household.

Inside, Madam Zheng was just scorched by hot oil, her face burning. Seeing the Li family eating and drinking in her house infuriated her. “What in-laws? Li Die’er works as a cook in Ruyi Pavilion; don’t blame me for spilling the beans!”

The Li family was thrown out. Father Li, stuffing a pastry in his mouth, muttered, “Ruyi Pavilion!”

Li Mo shouted with glee, “So many pastries at Ruyi Pavilion!”

Nearby, Xue Cui overheard the name “Li Ping’er” and found it familiar. She suddenly realized, “Are you looking for Li Die’er?”

Father Li’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Where is she?”

Xue Cui replied, “At Ruyi Pavilion.”

The Li family barged into Ruyi Pavilion, looking for their daughter, only to be thrown out again. The shopkeeper pointed at Li Yao. “Arrest him! Report him to the authorities!”

Li Yao panicked and shoved a silver chopstick at Li Mo. “You gave this to me!”

Li Mo was taken away and thrown into jail.

Watching this unfold, Xue Cui thought the family was utterly foolish. “Why don’t you look for Xiao Wanling instead?”

Madam Li, still in shock over her daughter’s arrest, said, “We don’t know her.”

Xue Cui rolled her eyes. “Madam Xiao is Li Die’er’s younger sister!”

Suddenly, the Li family realized she meant that brat—Li Wan’er.

They were stunned. To think they’d cross paths with Wan’er again. Father Li’s eyes gleamed. “Where is she?”

Xue Cui rubbed her fingers. “Money first.”

She had learned her lesson. After getting two cents, she led them out of the city, even paying some herself. She was determined to expose Xiao Wanling’s true identity.

On the way, they ran into Jiang Ting driving an oxcart.

Jiang Ting recognized the group and didn’t stop. “I’m making a delivery. Let’s talk later!”

Xue Cui pointed at her back. “That’s one of Madam Xiao’s workers. That cart belongs to her!”

Greed and excitement lit up the Li family’s eyes. Li Yao even volunteered to carry things for Xue Cui but was nearly crushed under the weight.

He trudged on until they reached a village and sneered at the sight of earth caves. She said they were rich! Could it be a lie?

But as they exited the village and reached the market, they were stunned. It was packed with people.

There were rows of fancy shops and food stalls. The crowd was even larger than the city’s.

“So many people!” someone muttered.

Xue Cui dropped off her goods, saw them still standing there like fools, and said proudly, “Of course. Folks from ten miles around come here!”

She laid out her rice cakes and pointed toward the teahouse. “Madam Xiao is over there!”

The Li family had already spotted Xiao Wanling. She wore a pale blue robe and a light green skirt, her hair in a neat bun under a white cloak. Her gaze swept over them like a noble lady—too intimidating to approach.

They watched as her three shops took in a steady stream of money, more than they’d ever seen.

Seeing how refined she looked, the Li family hesitated.

But Xue Cui shouted, “Madam Xiao! Your parents are here!” Then shoved the Li couple forward.

Father Li, his eyes glinting with greed, called out, “Wan’er! Father’s finally found you! You were kidnapped by bad men; we’ve been so worried about you!”

They had clearly sold her off but now twisted the story into a kidnapping. Xiao Wanling turned and ordered, “Throw them out.”

But the Li family refused to leave. They ran up and scattered the crowd around the stall.

Aunt Wu blocked them. “What do you think you’re doing? Someone, help!”

Villagers pushed the Li family aside while customers looked on curiously.

Xue Cui sneered, “Madam Xiao, you are so cruel that you don’t care about your own parents!”

Xiao Wanling shot back, “Just because you brought them, I’m supposed to accept it?”

She turned to Sister-in-law Lu and asked, “What’s Xue Cui selling today?”

Sister-in-law Lu whispered, “Rice cakes.”

Xiao Wanling nodded. “Then let’s make some.”

Chen Gui’s heart sank. Uh-oh.

He abandoned the teahouse and ran off to buy vegetables and meat for buns—determined to beat her to the punch.

Xue Cui smugly told Chen Gui, “What are you so nervous about? Rice cakes aren’t that easy to make!”

Xiao Wanling dissolved some yeast cakes in warm water, added water to the glutinous rice flour, and milled it again. After waiting half an hour, the dough still wasn’t ready, so she decided to make rice pancakes instead.

She ladled batter into the pan. The pancakes turned golden and crisp. Stuffed with red bean paste, they sold for 3 wen each; plain ones for just 1 wen.

She wrote signs for each price, so there’s no need to ask repeatedly. Regular customers already knew the difference.

Gu Yaofang brought out a basket of fresh rice pancakes and hung up a new sign while removing the rice cake one.

Across the way, Xue Cui gloated, “Didn’t she say she was making rice cakes?”

Gu Yaofang shouted, “Freshly-out-of-the-pot rice pancakes—one wen each!”

People who had just approached Xue Cui’s stall turned back to the bakery. Soon her stall was deserted, while queues grew at the teahouse and bakery.

Chen Gui finally brought out steamed buns. “Freshly-out-of-the-pot buns!” and drew a few customers.

Xue Cui huffed, “Big shops bullying the small ones!”

Chen Gui snapped, “You were selling rice cakes, and Madam Xiao didn’t say a word. Why are you so hostile?”

“Besides, how do you know that’s really Madam Li and not an imposter?”

Xiao snatched Shen Qing away, and Shen Qing is now a general.

Chen Gui scoffed. “You believe whatever those beggars say?”

Xue Cui really was gullible. Madam Xiao still tried reasoning with her, but Shen Qing, that living hellion, wouldn’t be so patient.

“Steamed buns, fresh and hot steamed buns!” Chen Gui hollered again.

Xue Cui hadn’t sold another rice cake. Furious, she cursed the Li family for crouching like quails and being silent and useless.

The scent of rice pancakes filled the air. Xiao Wanling, seeing there was still half a bucket of batter left, decided to save it for tomorrow’s rice cakes. After eating a pancake, she left the market to rest.

But before she got far, the Li family blocked her path.

Father Li and Li Yao both dropped to their knees, wailing, slapping themselves. “Wan’er, it’s all our fault!”

Madam Li sobbed, “It’s your useless mother’s fault; please don’t blame me.”

She reached for Xiao Wanling, who pulled her cloak tight and sidestepped them.

Suddenly, Li Yao lunged at her. Xiao Wanling recoiled in alarm; they really were mad!

Just then, Shen Qing appeared and kicked Li Yao aside. Radiating menace, he barked, “Who are you?”

Father Li blinked, seeing this strong young man guarding Wan’er. “You’re her husband?”

Li Yao exclaimed, “Brother-in-law! I’m Wan’er’s older brother!”

“Get lost,” Shen Qing snapped.

He turned to follow Xiao Wanling. Who were these people trying to take advantage of her?

Father Li gritted his teeth. “All three daughters you gave birth to are cold and heartless!”

Madam Li thought of their youngest son. “Our Mo’er is still in jail. We can’t just be abandoned!”

Father Li barked, “Why are you still standing there?”

They followed Xiao Wanling up the hill, peeking through the gate and spotting two strange things in the courtyard.

Inside, Xiao Wanling placed a brazier in the greenhouse and went to the kitchen to wash up.

Shen Qing copied her, placing another brazier inside and following her.

He gently lifted her into a chair. “Let me.”

Xiao Wanling, tired, leaned back and stretched her legs.

Shen Qing brought a basin of warm water. “Wipe your face first.”

She accepted the warm cloth just as Grey Wolf bolted from the courtyard.

The Grey Wolf chased the father and son of the Li family and bit them from behind, scaring Li Yao so much that he grabbed his belt.

Madam Li screamed, “Wan’er, help us!”

Irritated, Xiao Wanling frowned slightly. Shen Qing noticed and turned toward the door. “I’ll go take a look.”