Chapter 836: Chapter 836: Turning the Tables
The three of Xiao Cui were both shocked and fearful, but upon examining their expressions, there were differences. The other two girls were bewildered in their fear, but the look on Xiao Cui’s face was not fear, but an instinctual dread of Cui Sanniang, with not a hint of surprise, as though she had known all along.
Cui Sanniang’s oppressive power was profound. Upon seeing her, the legs of the three instantly turned weak, and hearing her reprimand, Xiao Cui hurried forward to drag Xiao Hua Mei, while the other two girls had an impulse to flee in an instant.
Just as the two turned their bodies, Second Master Liu with a face full of festering sores, took off his cloak and squinted his sinister and lecherous eyes at them, looking at them as if they were prey, no one knew when he had arrived.
The two girls felt a chill across their bodies and no longer had the desire to flee. Under Xiao Cui’s lead, trembling, they carried Xiao Hua Mei obediently despite their fear.
Only then did Second Master Liu quickly walk to Cui Sanniang’s side, approaching Xiao Lian Hua with a lecherous smile while soothingly coaxing, "Xiao Hehe, don’t be scared, just sleep peacefully. Second Master will be gentle so as not to hurt you, come on..."
These words ignited a fire within Cui Sanniang, yet fearing that speaking out in anger would release the tension and lose control over people.
As soon as Second Master Liu finished speaking, he swiftly raised a hand and struck Xiao Lian Hua’s neck. Xiao Lian Hua stared wide-eyed in terror, struggling desperately to evade, but ultimately couldn’t escape and was knocked out.
After knocking her out, Second Master Liu took the cloak and covered her head entirely, picked up the unconscious Xiao Lian Hua onto his shoulder, standing firm waiting for Cui Sanniang to lead the way, his demeanor extremely lecherous.
Cui Sanniang let out a breath; if not for Second Master Liu arriving timely, she nearly couldn’t hold on a moment ago. She squeezed her arms standing up, the ordeal leaving her sore.
Their movements naturally attracted some attention from onlookers.
Cui Sanniang first glanced at Xiao Cui and the others with veiled threats, watching them tremble like quails and then felt satisfied.
She then switched faces, smiling apologetically at the surrounding people, "The bought girls almost ran away, made a joke for everyone, let’s keep busy, keep busy..."
Finally, with Cui Sanniang taking the lead, Xiao Cui and the others following, Xiao Hua Mei carried by Xiao Cui who was the oldest and experienced in farm work, while the other two shivered beside helping, the group heading towards the boat Cui Sanniang found.
Second Master Liu steadily carried Xiao Lian Hua at the rear, soothingly speaking to the person on his shoulder, "Xiao Hehe, it didn’t hurt when I hit you earlier, Second Master tried to be gentle, fearing to hurt our little Xiao Hehe, don’t be scared, next time Second Master will be even gentler..."
All the way mumbling softly, as if the unconscious person could hear, while Xiao Cui and the others walking ahead heard with trepidation, feeling Second Master Liu was extremely abnormal, very frightening.
The group followed Cui Sanniang winding left and right along the riverside towards the rented boat. Here the noise was clamorous, all kinds of people were present, such as them did not attract attention.
This time, the two switched roles, with Cui Sanniang finding the boat and Second Master Liu in charge of tracking Xiao Lian Hua.
Second Master Liu was indeed abnormal but was highly skilled among the lowly ranks, originally a thug from the Drunken Fairy Tower, having dealt with all sorts of dirty work, naturally capable of tracking these inexperienced young girls like Xiao Lian Hua.
However, this time it was beyond his expectations, almost being discovered several times, and the others were fine, but the perceptive Xiao Lian Hua was truly sensitive, always suddenly turning around, nearly spotted if not for quick evasion.
But with Xiao Cui as an informant, he wasn’t afraid of losing track, merely following from afar was sufficient.
To put it simply, it was playing into an elaborate scheme. Last night when Xiao Lian Hua woke to swap the medicine bag of Cui Sanniang, Xiao Cui unintentionally woke up and discovered it.
She was already envious of Xiao Lian Hua, and at the time being occasionally intimidated by Xiao Lian Hua with a Bamboo Whip, feeling extreme resentment, thus when she saw Xiao Lian Hua stealthily flipping through Cui Sanniang’s bag in the middle of the night, she immediately felt the urge to secretly tattletale.
At that moment, she only wished for Xiao Lian Hua to receive a severe penalty from Cui Sanniang, ending up the same as them.
But later, the development of events was beyond her expectations, the following day she quietly informed Cui Sanniang early, yet Cui Sanniang’s reaction was different than she imagined; she didn’t act out immediately.
Cui Sanniang first cautiously rummaged through her bag without noticing anything missing, eventually remembered the medicine bag, opened it to sniff and discovered it had been swapped.
This situation, being a seasoned old hand, Cui Sanniang instantly realized Xiao Lian Hua intended to escape, should have guessed she would drug the girls and take them on the boat.
At the time, Cui Sanniang’s gaze was extremely fierce, recalling Xiao Lian Hua’s behavior all along, becoming increasingly suspicious, realizing Xiao Lian Hua seemed sensible, and recognized from the start they were abductors, yet never attempted to flee.
She had thought it was her persuasion that was good, yet it turned out the person had long decided to escape, possibly intending to save all the girls too.
Hidden deeply, nearly pecked by the falcon one trained, how could Cui Sanniang possibly endure?
After understanding, she was immediately about to subdue Xiao Lian Hua, yet upon seeing Xiao Lian Hua, she changed her mind.
She couldn’t help but admire a bit; indeed, a lady nurtured from a wealthy family, so young yet clever with ideas and wit, looking radiant and obedient, nearly fooled her too, what skills.
Perhaps more appreciative than Water Fairy back then, Water Fairy only had looks but foolish mind, easily deceived, such a mistake she didn’t want to repeat, and Xiao Lian Hua’s shown wisdom was precisely what she required!
If such a girl is completely tamed and brought under control, she wouldn’t worry about rising again.
Yet such a girl probably couldn’t be tamed by usual methods, intimidation, beatings, etc., could only make one obey on the surface, yet may escape later, one had to make them understand the consequences of escape all at once, so they never bore the thought again.
In Cui Sanniang’s eyes, none of the other girls compared to a single finger of Xiao Lian Hua, she was the little girl carrying all her hopes, the brand she wanted to cultivate carefully, the Oiran embodying beauty and methods, the girl to restore her name!
Thus, Cui Sanniang changed her mind, quickly came up with a strategy, she played into the plan allowing Xiao Lian Hua’s wish to be drugged unconscious, letting Second Master Liu who was supposed to find a boat secretly return to awaken her after leaving, the sedative was theirs, obviously equipped with means to counteract.
Once awake, she was responsible for finding a boat, at the largest pier in Dangtu Town where she knew people, Second Master Liu tasked with trailing, as long as Xiao Lian Hua wasn’t lost, the others didn’t matter.
After deciding, she stealthily brought Xiao Cui aside, first terrifying Xiao Cui with the girl who fled and perished before, then luring her with promises of wealth and status when returning to Yangzhou.