Chapter 843: Chapter 843: Piercing the Heart and Lung
Upon saying this, Xiao Lian Hua bared her teeth, ready to charge at Cui Sanniang, as if demanding her life.
She wanted to avenge Xiao Hua Mei!
Cui Sanniang was startled and instinctively stepped back, trembling as she stammered, "S-stop her!"
Xiao Lian Hua’s sudden burst of strength nearly toppled Xiao Cui and the others.
The three of them pressed down with all their might, "Madam, we can’t hold on much longer."
Cui Sanniang was panicked, "Second Master, Second Master, come in quickly."
Second Master Liu had been waiting outside all along, considering this a necessary process in training girls, something he was accustomed to. However, hearing the commotion, he bent down to enter and was shocked to see Xiao Lian Lian behaving like a madwoman, showing no signs of submission.
He strode over hastily, exclaiming, "Sanniang, have you gone too far?" Don’t drive her mad, what a pity it would be, she could be a good catch too.
Cui Sanniang ignored Second Master Liu’s questioning. Xiao Lian Hua’s gaze filled her with terror, and she shouted, "Hurry, quickly, stop her."
At that moment, one of the three restraining Xiao Lian Hua was thrown to the ground, creating an opening that Xiao Cui and the others could no longer suppress.
Xiao Lian Hua, with murderous intent, ferociously lunged at Cui Sanniang like a vicious beast, with only one target in her eyes.
Just as she was about to pounce, she was tightly held back by the approaching Second Master Liu. Although the Flower Boat was larger than a small boat, it wasn’t much bigger, and the cabin was packed full.
Some people were about to throw themselves in front of her, and Cui Sanniang gasped for breath, shocked.
She relaxed for a moment, seeing that Xiao Lian Hua could no longer advance, then breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed on the floor of the cabin, patting her chest to steady her breathing.
Suddenly realizing something, her heart sank, and she quickly looked up at Xiao Lian Hua, seeing that fierce look of an enemy in her eyes, and her heart shook with fear.
She shook her head in disbelief, murmuring to herself, "No, it shouldn’t be like this!"
A ten-year-old girl, no matter how brave, would fear such a situation. Her method was specifically targeted at Xiao Lian Hua, making one fearfully dread death while filling the heart with guilt, forever shackling them and daring not to escape.
This was the best method for a young girl inexperienced in the world, full of emotions and righteousness!
But how could it be...
Could it be that her intimidation went too far?
No, it can still be remedied, she’s only ten, still young...
Thinking of Water Fairy, Cui Sanniang became even more flustered and quickly softened her tone, suppressing her intense unease, and explained, "Xiao Hua Mei has been dead for a while, she had no pulse when you were asleep. Even if she wasn’t hit, she stopped breathing. Xiao Lian Lian, my dear, don’t blame me for being hard-hearted, I’m just afraid you’ll be reckless and cause trouble again."
If someone resents her to the extreme, sees her as an enemy, how would they still listen to her in the future, how could her grand plans be implemented?
But her explanation was useless, Xiao Lian Hua didn’t listen to any of it, still howling and struggling desperately to pounce on Cui Sanniang.
Seeing this, Cui Sanniang became more and more anxious, her voice unconsciously carrying a harsh tone, and she sternly rebuked with the authority of a madam, "Stop fooling around, you have no father or mother, nowhere to go, you still have to rely on me to give you food! Obediently come back to the building with me, you’ve been taught from home, you’re skilled in poetry and song, I’ll definitely make you the Oiran, making all the young masters go crazy for you. I promise, as long as you don’t make a fuss, I’ll treat you well in the future."
These words mixed softness and toughness, fully demonstrating her skill as a madam.
"I don’t believe, I don’t believe!" Xiao Lian Hua shouted with all her might as she couldn’t break free.
Cui Sanniang was anxious and regretful, knowing that breaking her promise to heal Xiao Hua Mei made them lose trust in her.
But she was telling the truth, Xiao Hua Mei had indeed died long ago, her body was already weak, she had endured inhumane torture, worry, exhaustion from the journey, surviving until today was already a miracle, further treatment was useless, so she thought of this trick, to squeeze the last usefulness out of Xiao Hua Mei.
At this moment, Cui Sanniang was filled with regret, wanting to coax further, even thinking of letting Xiao Cui and the others testify that Xiao Hua Mei stopped breathing not long after boarding the boat.
However, Xiao Lian Hua suddenly stopped struggling, breathing heavily, as clarity hit her, quickly grasping the crucial point in Cui Sanniang’s words.
She stared at Cui Sanniang intently, nonsensically saying, "The teacher said I was clueless in poetry and song!"
Everyone in the boat was taken aback, the others didn’t understand why Xiao Lian Hua suddenly blurted this out.
But Cui Sanniang understood immediately, her mind exploded; this little brat knew exactly what mattered to her the most, intending to stab right at her heart, aiming to infuriate her!
This was a psychological tactic, and she fell for it!
Cui Sanniang trembled with anger, pointing at Xiao Lian Hua with a shaky finger, asking, "Trying to deceive me again? Didn’t you say you had learned?!" Her voice rose sharply at the end, her face twisted like a menacing hag, terrifying and hideous.
Xiao Lian Hua loudly challenged, "Learned, but couldn’t master it! The teacher said I’m thick-headed, ignorant and incompetent beyond help!" She shouted even more provocatively.
Cui Sanniang was like struck by a heavy blow, her body swayed, hurriedly holding onto the cabin wall to steady herself.
She had pinned all her hopes on this little brat, deliberately currying favor along the way, going to great lengths with this act, and all for nothing, trying in vain to subdue her, just to nurture her into an Oiran, so she could fulfill her wishes in the future.
Unexpectedly, she had indeed learned poetry and songs, but couldn’t master it. She appeared so smart, how could she fail to learn?
She couldn’t believe it and asked, "What about lyrical music, calligraphy, chess?"
If not poetry and song, mastering lyrical music, calligraphy, chess would suffice, at worst, she’d have less renown in literature, the main thing was being talented, that was the priority.
"None! I only know how to play, I don’t know any of what you want, not a single bit." Xiao Lian Hua yelled with all her might.
Seeing Cui Sanniang severely affected, she should feel happy, but she was sorrowful instead, not even the slightest satisfaction of venting.
"You, you, you..." Cui Sanniang pointed at Xiao Lian Hua, her chest heaving with anger, so much that she momentarily couldn’t speak.
She thought she found a treasure, only to realize this girl was like a rogue, utterly clueless, utterly clueless!
"You little rascal!" she shrieked, suddenly turning ferocious and fierce, madly lunging forward, but abruptly halted midway, "I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it, you’re trying to drive me insane, haha, you want to drive me insane, don’t you."
Overwhelmed with anger, even Cui Sanniang’s lips quivered from rage. She squatted to search through the cabin, creating a chaotic mess, all the while muttering words of disbelief.
She couldn’t believe it, being a daughter from such a wealthy family, she should have been well-educated, how could she not know, how?
Soon, she found what she wanted, slamming it open on a small table by the small window of the cabin in the Flower Boat. It was a set of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone used for show on the boat.