Chapter 828: Chapter 828: Jackals, Wolves, Tigers, and Leopards
As for those of great value, Cui Sanniang naturally shows a kind face, while for those of lesser value, she obviously shows no good face.
Regarding the girls captured with Second Master Liu, Cui Sanniang was quite dissatisfied, discontented with everything from their appearances, figures to their mannerisms.
That Xiao Hua Mei was alright, just that her courage was smaller than a grain of rice, and her physique was weak. It would take years of careful nurturing before she could entertain guests, so it was better to give her to Second Master Liu.
The other girls were also timid, resembling scared little mice. They stuttered and shivered while speaking, none of them presentable.
There was a girl from a farm family with coarse hands and feet, who could only engage in the lowest type of physical trade. Fortunately, she was old enough; she could earn Silver once brought back. Later, she could be taught how to entice, and then placed in the Flower Building to see her performance. If unable to attract customers, she would be sold directly for profit.
Thinking of this, Cui Sanniang gave them a sharp look, causing them to shudder and tremble all over.
Besides Xiao Hua Mei, who was around ten years old, the other three girls were aged between thirteen and fifteen, with the eldest Xiao Cui at the head, as the other two girls gathered around her.
Ever since they were abducted and tormented, they were frightened. Cui Sanniang would either beat or scold them, while Second Master Liu ogled at them with lustful eyes and occasionally took liberties, such a pair of wolves and tigers that frightened them to their bones.
A previous incident instilled deep fear for these two in their hearts. Before Xiao Lian Hua boarded, there were actually five girls among them, but later one girl tried to escape and was caught.
Cui Sanniang implemented collective punishment, using a Bamboo Whip to beat them all harshly. As for that girl, she was dragged into the room by Second Master Liu, and they never saw her again. They secretly guessed that she might be dead, perhaps tortured to death.
At this moment, the three of them, frightened by Cui Sanniang, lowered their heads, and Xiao Cui, looking toward Xiao Lian Hua, was full of envy in her eyes.
All of them were kidnapped, so why should Xiao Lian Hua receive different treatment? Second Master Liu and Cui Sanniang were utterly indulgent toward her, almost as if worshiping her, while they never even received a smile.
But...
Thinking of Second Master Liu’s filthy preference, Xiao Cui couldn’t help but feel a malicious joy. Just wait and see, Xiao Hua Mei wouldn’t last long, and then it would be this girl’s turn next.
Seeing Xiao Cui and others obediently lowering their heads, only then did Cui Sanniang avert her eyes and look at Xiao Lian Hua.
She couldn’t help reaching out to touch Xiao Lian Hua’s soft, silky hair, feeling that she was pleasing in every way. The daughter of a large household was indeed well-raised, as evident from her jet-black, silky hair. Even after drifting outside for a while, she recovered quickly in a few days.
She always habitually called and relied on Xiao Lian Hua when there was something, making Cui Sanniang even more satisfied. That’s the attitude a girl should have toward her mother. Mutual trust lasts long.
She amiably said, "Xiao Hehe, don’t want to sit outside anymore?"
For this little girl who embodied all her hopes, Cui Sanniang was very patient, willing to show her last bit of kindness.
Xiao Lian Hua endured the discomfort, shaking her head. She had seen what she needed to see, and Second Master Liu had also told her what she wanted to know.
She said, "Tired now. Shaded Eyes Lady, you smell nice, not like before."
Cui Sanniang couldn’t be happier; the little girl was straightforward with her words. Although in the future, she should be taught not to speak so bluntly to outsiders, she should be this sincere with her mother.
After some time together, she had long forgotten her anger when Xiao Lian Hua said she smelled bad before, being very pleased with Xiao Lian Hua’s praise now.
Regarding Xiao Lian Hua, not all Cui Sanniang’s feelings were distressing; there were pleasing times, too. For instance, once when she suddenly discovered Xiao Lian Hua was not around, and Second Master Liu also didn’t notice where she went, she was greatly shocked, fearing that Xiao Lian Hua had escaped while she was careless.
Who knew, before they could go to look, Xiao Lian Hua returned, holding many flowers, saying they were specially picked for her, to make Scented Cream, so she could smell nice, which only then eased her mind. From that time on, she changed the scent she used.
Another time, she wrongly calculated the Silver to pay to a shop, and it was the little girl who tugged at her sleeve to remind her, which made her aware of the mistake. The little girl treated them as her people, how could that not make her happy?
Knowing how to make Scented Cream and being good at accounts, that’s the pampered young lady from a wealthy family, taught to manage the household and accounts when becoming the head wife, nothing like those from small households.
At this moment, Cui Sanniang found Xiao Lian Hua pleasant in every way. After chatting with Xiao Lian Hua for a bit, she went to sit outside the carriage.
Second Master Liu had peculiar preferences, extremely fond of young girls. A little girl like Xiao Lian Hua was a deadly attraction for him, which made Cui Sanniang really uneasy, fearing she couldn’t guard against him.
If it were any ordinary little girl, it would be fine to let Second Master Liu have his fun, but such a girl, if not a good seed, would still need years of nurturing before she could entertain guests, which was costly and laborious. It would be better to let Second Master Liu have his fun. But Xiao Lian Hua was their capital for turning the tables; she couldn’t let Second Master Liu succeed at all costs.
Sitting at the front of the carriage, Cui Sanniang looked at Second Master Liu with a warning eye, making Second Master Liu extremely annoyed.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Lian Hua sniffed the air with her nose, nodded in satisfaction. Previously, nothing was comfortable in the carriage, and the scent on the Shaded Eyes Lady was simply too overpowering. She even thought of picking flowers to help improve the smell for her, but now that she had changed the scent herself, it was much better.
Sensing hostility, she turned to look at the people in the carriage, noticing Xiao Cui and the others staring at her with hostility in their eyes.
Xiao Lian Hua couldn’t understand why these people disliked her so much. Since her arrival, she heard their situation improved quite a bit. Yet, even so, these people still disliked her more and more, looking at her more unfavorably each day.
Finding no answers, she chose not to think about it and wasn’t too concerned. She looked toward Xiao Hua Mei, seeing her condition worsening. She had been ill for a long time without receiving treatment and had suffered a lot. It was already remarkable that she held on for so long.
Xiao Lian Hua was very worried, having never encountered a situation like this before, and she didn’t know what to do. When her third brother fell ill before, their mother and Blackbeard Uncle took care of it.
But she wasn’t a doctor. The only method she could think of was to request Shaded Eyes to get a doctor and medicine for Xiao Hua Mei, but Shaded Eyes only laughed and told her not to worry, offering no other solution.
Sitting next to Xiao Hua Mei, she touched her forehead and then her own. Luckily, it was not hot, but very cold.
Xiao Hua Mei reflexively shrank her body, awakening from her uneasy dreams in terror. Seeing that it was her, she relaxed, murmuring softly, "Xiao Hehe, I’m cold..."
She snuggled closer to Xiao Lian Hua, as if trying to draw warmth, her voice very small and light.