Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 39

That evening, when Zhang Xiaolan returned to Qinghua Workshop, she saw the concubine waiting at her doorstep.

She stepped forward, opened the door, and invited the concubine inside, sharing her meal with her.

After they finished eating, Zhang Xiaolan had a general understanding of the concubine’s situation.

Her name was Rou Niang. She used to be an embroiderer and was saved by Zhou Quan when she was harassed by some thugs. Zhou Quan had claimed he was unmarried and pursued her, and she agreed.

Zhou Quan even went to her home to discuss marriage, and they held a wedding ceremony like a legal couple.

However, the marriage contract was never signed. Zhou Quan said that noble families always did things this way.

It wasn’t until that day, when Shen Ting came to cause trouble, that Rou Niang realized she was just a concubine.

Zhang Xiaolan remained silent.

She had yet to heal from her own heartbreak and didn’t know how to comfort Rou Niang.

She could only give her the key to a side room in the backyard, letting her stay for now.

“Madam Zhang, I am deeply grateful for your kindness. I will repay you by working tirelessly.”

Rou Niang suddenly knelt down. Zhang Xiaolan couldn’t stop her but managed to prevent her from kowtowing.

As night fell, Zhang Xiaolan lay in bed, tossing and turning, worrying about her daughter. She didn’t know where she was or if she had enough to eat.

“Buddha, I have never harmed anyone with ill intent and have often helped others. Please protect Xiang Ning and bring her back to me soon.”

Tears slid down Zhang Xiaolan’s cheeks.

The night passed quickly, and when she got up in the morning, she found that Rou Niang had already boiled water and cooked breakfast.

“You don’t have to do this. You are not a servant. I usually have breakfast at the restaurant’s kitchen.”

As soon as Zhang Xiaolan finished speaking, Rou Niang’s face turned embarrassed.

The color drained from her cheeks, and the light in her eyes dimmed. She twisted her hands together anxiously.

Seeing that she was about to retreat into the kitchen, Zhang Xiaolan couldn’t bear it.

“Well, since you’ve already cooked, let’s eat together this morning. But you don’t need to cook for me in the future.”

Hearing this, Rou Niang’s eyes lit up again, and dimples appeared in her sweet smile. She quickly went to fetch the bowls and chopsticks.

Zhang Xiaolan thought to herself that Rou Niang was indeed the type Zhou Quan would like.

Gentle, considerate, and devoted to him.

But when love was mixed with lies and schemes, would Rou Niang turn back?

“A good horse does not eat the grass it has left behind. I will never see him again. Even if he didn’t know about my parents’ deaths, everything happened because of him.”

Hearing Zhang Xiaolan’s question, Rou Niang put down her chopsticks and swore solemnly.

“I will never have anything to do with Zhou Quan again. If I break this oath, may lightning strike me down!”

Zhang Xiaolan may have felt reassured, or perhaps not. Rou Niang couldn’t tell.

She thought Zhang Xiaolan only saw her as a stranger.

A casual question over a meal was nothing to take seriously.

After breakfast, Zhang Xiaolan prepared to leave.

Before she left, Rou Niang asked if she would return at noon.

“Noon is the busiest time at the restaurant. I will be back in the afternoon.”

“When you return, I have something important to tell you.”

Zhang Xiaolan was puzzled, but since it was time to go, she left in a hurry.

Rou Niang’s behavior was too strange, making Zhang Xiaolan uneasy all morning. When the afternoon arrived, she quickly grabbed some food and hurried home.

“Madam Zhang, where are you headed? Let me give you a ride.”

As soon as she stepped out of the alley, she saw Tang Lifeng leaning out of a carriage. He still had a righteous expression, his demeanor upright.

Zhang Xiaolan hesitated.

They weren’t close. When someone offered help for no reason, they often had hidden motives.

She lifted her foot, intending to leave.

“Wait, Madam Zhang. I have something important to tell you.”

Another important matter?

Could it be about her daughter?

Zhang Xiaolan’s heart pounded.

It was just sharing a carriage—she wouldn’t lose anything. Convincing herself quickly, she climbed into the carriage.

Once inside, she realized how soft and comfortable it was.

“What is this?” The moment she sat down, Zhang Xiaolan felt something unusual.

“The padding is cotton, brought from Anxi. But it’s difficult to grow, and the yield is very low,” Tang Lifeng said casually.

If it was rare, why waste it on cushions? Zhang Xiaolan felt he was just showing off his wealth.

“Is there news about my daughter?” She was anxious. Seeing Tang Lifeng remain silent, she asked directly.

Tang Lifeng shook his head. “Not about your daughter. It’s about you.”

“That errand boy Tian Dong caught the other day—he seems to be under orders from the Zhou family. He’s about to make a move.” Tang Lifeng sat upright, his brow slightly furrowed.

“You’ve been keeping an eye on him?” Zhang Xiaolan was surprised.

Why? They had no connection.

“Do you want me to handle it directly?” Tang Lifeng didn’t answer her question but instead asked another.

Zhang Xiaolan lowered her head in thought, then shook her head. “No need. When you rustle the grass, you see the snake. And when you see the snake, you must kill it.”

Tang Lifeng felt she didn’t need to go through such hardships and wanted to persuade her not to take risks.

“Madam Zhang, we have arrived at your residence,” Tian Dong reminded her from outside.

Tang Lifeng sighed. His words were interrupted. He wanted to send Tian Dong to Anxi to grow cotton.

Zhang Xiaolan had no idea what he was thinking. She softly said goodbye and prepared to leave.

“Madam Zhang, don’t push yourself so hard.” Tang Lifeng grabbed her wrist. “I admire you. Let me help you, okay?”

Zhang Xiaolan thought he must have hit his head. She gently pulled her hand away, picked up the food box, and jumped off the carriage.

She waved at Tian Dong. “Did your master injure his head? You’d better find a good doctor to check on him.”

Then, she ran into her house.

Tian Dong stood frozen for a while. What had his master and Madam Zhang talked about? Why was she asking him to take his master to see a doctor?

Zhang Xiaolan was still unsettled when she entered the house. But as soon as she stepped inside, she regained her focus.

Her daughter’s whereabouts were unknown. Finding her was the most important thing.

Hearing the door open, Rou Niang took Zhang Xiaolan’s food box and went to the kitchen.

When she came out, the meal was already served.

After Zhang Xiaolan finished eating, Rou Niang cleaned up and returned to the table, handing her a silk handkerchief.

Zhang Xiaolan knew this must be the important matter she mentioned.

She took the handkerchief and unfolded it.

After reading just a few lines, she quickly closed it.

“Do you know what is written here?”

“I only recognize a few characters. I can’t read this,” Rou Niang shook her head. “But Zhou Quan always carried this handkerchief and never let anyone touch it. That day, when Madam Zhou arrived suddenly, he accidentally left it behind. I hid it in a secret place and retrieved it after I was freed.”

“I originally planned to use it to make him redeem me when I was sold that day,” Rou Niang’s voice turned heavy, but she quickly brightened up. “But since you saved me, Madam Zhang, this handkerchief belongs to you now.”

She wiped her tears, got up, and prepared to leave, knowing that Zhang Xiaolan probably wanted to rest.

“Rou Niang.” Zhang Xiaolan stopped her. “I saved you, and you gave me this handkerchief. From now on, we are sisters.”

She knew Rou Niang was grateful and wanted to repay her, but this handkerchief was of great significance to her.