Chapter 839: Chapter 839: She Can Only Choose One...
Meanwhile, Xiao Lian Hua was like a trapped little beast, struggling while making what she thought were fierce roars, constantly demanding to be released. However, her voice was clear and childlike, sounding adorable and completely non-threatening.
Cui Sanniang glanced over, her anger raging like fire, unable to contain the wicked fire within her heart, she decided to go all out in her act.
As she walked over and pulled out a handkerchief, she scolded Xiao Lian Hua fiercely: "He Hao, your parents have sold you to me. From now on, you belong to this place and cannot act recklessly. Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"
She spoke with righteous conviction, making it sound as if it were true!
At this moment, she was calculating in her mind, thinking this method might be more believable, preventing Guo Shun from suspecting them.
As she spoke, she attempted to stuff the handkerchief into Xiao Lian Hua’s mouth but was nearly bitten.
Over with Guo Shun, upon hearing the name "He Hao", he paused.
The name sounded familiar, and he felt he had heard it somewhere before, causing him to cast his gaze back toward Cui Sanniang and the others.
At that moment, Xiao Cui, who had been knocked down and stomped upon, crawled up with the help of two other girls, furious toward Xiao Lian Hua.
Upon hearing Cui Sanniang’s words, she eagerly sought credit and tattled, shouting, "Mom, she’s not surnamed He, she’s surnamed Lian. We heard it on the way, she’s been deceiving you all along!" Her voice was sharp, almost morphing, evident of how angry she was.
Instantly, Guo Shun’s gaze shot toward Second Master Liu, who was holding Xiao Lian Hua, his expression indecisive, not revealing a cold smile until a good while later.
The words of the plump and nervous He Fuchang echoed in his mind: ’Please, this is my child, named Hao, he’s used to being spoiled and just accidentally entered the study and offended you. I beg Young Master Guo not to mind.’
"He Hao, surnamed Lian, interesting..."
He remembered!
How could there be such coincidences in the world, a girl with the same name as He Fuchang’s son, originally named Lian, aged around nine or ten?
Truth had surfaced here; it’s truly like searching aimlessly...
On Cui Sanniang’s side, Xiao Cui’s words were like adding fuel to fire, causing her face to flush red with anger, her rage surging uncontrollably.
She thought, what a little wretch, capable of acting even better than her, even her name was fake, deceiving her so bitterly from the start; what else could be fake?!
However, now was not the time for complications. She quickly turned to look at Guo Shun and the others, and upon meeting Guo Shun’s eyes, shivered, knowing they were drawing attention.
She turned back and fiercely glared at Xiao Cui: "Shut up, what nonsense are you spouting, hurry up and get on the boat, I hardly believe I can’t handle this little wretch."
No time to waste, we need to leave quickly.
Xiao Cui responded timidly, dragging the other two girls, disdainfully glancing at Xiao Lian Hua, before heading quickly toward the gangplank.
This largest ferry dock at Dangtu Town, located at the intersection of Guxi River and Yangtze River, has a pointed triangular terrain; both along the west bank of Guxi River and the east side of Yangtze River lead here.
The dock gradually evolved into today’s scale, it was expanded along with the large boats, and the dock edge was built higher than the water surface. Small boats parked by needed a gangplank to be placed down onto the boat, allowing people to walk across onto the boat. Of course, experienced sailors and boatmen would jump up and down without fearing to fall into the water.
Perhaps driven by anger, or something else, Xiao Cui approached the shaking gangplank without being afraid, confidently stepping onto it. Midway through, it wobbled twice, but she managed to crouch down carefully and crossed without incident.
No errors occurred this time, and the remaining two girls boarded the boat smoothly. After getting on, they leaned against the boat rail, supporting each other amid the rocking waves, achieving steadiness.
Second Master Liu, carrying a person, approached the gangplank. The intense struggle required even more strength to keep hold of someone; on flat ground, it wasn’t a problem.
But the gangplank wasn’t wide to begin with and wobbled from the waves’ impact, whereas Xiao Lian Hua was struggling fiercely, Second Master Liu feared carrying her across might lead to falling.
Normally, it would be fine to throw her directly from the shore onto the boat, but in Xiao Lian Hua’s current state, unattended, she might cause another incident once on the boat.
Thus he hesitated, contemplating the movement.
Feeling the scrutinizing gaze coming from the big boat, the pressure on Cui Sanniang grew increasing, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead.
After failing to gag Xiao Lian Hua, and noticing the difficulty Second Master Liu faced, she had no choice but to lower her voice and threaten: "Xiao Hua Mei is already on the boat, do you want to leave her behind?"
She was merely testing, yet didn’t anticipate the immediate effectiveness of her words.
Upon hearing, Xiao Lian Hua ceased her struggles, straining her neck through disheveled hair to look around, finding no one.
Forcing her small head toward Cui Sanniang’s direction, she asked loudly: "How is she?" The struggle left her sweating profusely, face flushed, with sweat and hair sticking on her skin.
A sharp glint crossed Cui Sanniang’s eyes, not expecting this little wretch to be so sentimental and loyal, which made things easier.
Continuing her threats: "What becomes of her you’ll know if you get on! If you don’t want her to be in trouble, get on the boat obediently for me."
Xiao Lian Hua’s small chest heaved, fearing Xiao Hua Mei would encounter problems and fearing she won’t escape in the future.
If she couldn’t escape, how would she find her Clan Uncle, what about her father, what about her mother, her brothers, and sisters, they were waiting for her to rescue them.
The image of her family in shackles flashed in her mind, in that moment, Xiao Lian Hua felt so sad she wanted to cry.
Only ten years old, she didn’t understand to choose; she wanted everything, but was cruelly beaten down by reality, making her so sad she couldn’t breathe.
She didn’t want Xiao Hua Mei to be in danger; she promised to take Xiao Hua Mei home, but if she boarded the boat, with the mothers and that vile man on guard, escape in the future would be impossible.
For now, she can only take care of one...
Her eyes were red like a young beast, her heart in turmoil, flooding with sadness and despair, that faith holding her up waned a bit, dizziness and vertigo washed over.
She forced herself to nod, losing strength under the dizziness of despair gradually.
"That’s more like it, listening obediently is good for both of us." exclaimed Cui Sanniang joyfully, hastening Second Master Liu: "Quickly get her on the boat."
Second Master Liu immediately took action, preparing to carry her onto the boat.
Cui Sanniang felt greatly relieved, ready to observe the reactions of the others, yet heard Xiao Lian Hua’s faint voice: "Xiao Hua Mei is sick, will you get a doctor for her?"
At the time, Xiao Hua Mei fell and hadn’t responded, Xiao Lian Hua was very worried, gritting her teeth against the dizziness and stringing her nerves tight to ask this question, desperately wanting to ensure Cui Sanniang would save Xiao Hua Mei...