Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 4

“My lady, you praise me too much. I’m only doing housework and sweeping the courtyard,” Madam Tao replied expressionlessly, like a cold and ruthless old woman.

Hearing this, the woman stopped speaking and simply felt pleased with herself.

After handing over the young girl, the family had strictly instructed that she be sold far away. Although she was still in the capital for now, being under this old woman’s control meant she wouldn’t be seen by others. That way, the woman could say she had fulfilled her master’s orders.

Upon reaching the main hall, the woman did not go in.

Inside, Granny Lin was sitting at the front of the hall. Zhou Xiang Ning stood nearby, her hands tied behind her back. There were no tears on her face, nor was she dirty. Her clothes were no longer her own, replaced with coarse fabric, but her back remained straight, and her spirit was still strong.

Hearing that someone had come to buy her, she turned her head. If it was another wicked thug, she would make sure they suffered!

But when she looked up, she saw—her mother! Zhou Xiang Ning’s heart surged with emotion. However, her mother was wearing coarse cloth and subtly gestured for her to stay calm.

Suppressing her excitement, Zhou Xiang Ning only let out a low hum.

Zhang Xiaolan breathed a sigh of relief and took out the silver from her sleeve, offering it with both hands.

“Ming-ge’er agreed on the price with you—ten taels of silver,” Madam Tao said firmly, her back straight. “Here is the money. Give me the contract.”

“Twenty taels?” Madam Tao’s voice turned hoarse and urgent. “The price was already agreed upon. How can you suddenly raise it?”

Granny Lin and her people remained silent, simply watching the two women standing before them.

Madam Tao felt anxious, but they were on someone else’s turf—if they resisted, they were powerless.

Without the full amount, Granny Lin would not release the girl.

“Madam Lin, I only brought ten taels with me. I’m afraid I’ll need to return home to get the rest. Could you let me take the girl first? Tomorrow, Ming-ge’er will bring you the remaining silver,” Madam Tao tried to negotiate. If it worked, she wouldn’t mind fetching more silver—having the girl safe was the most important thing.

Granny Lin watched the scene unfold with amusement.

In her years of business, she had encountered such deals before. Wealthy families often took the servant first and paid later.

Although the Tao family was small, Tao Yi Ming had a promising future—he was handsome and talented. She had even considered finding a suitable match for him. Otherwise, why would rumors about him spread so quickly after just one morning?

Granny Lin wanted to do them a favor, but she also didn’t want to lose out. She planned to raise the price further.

Just as she was about to speak, a woman approached and whispered something in her ear, making her eyes light up.

“You can’t take her yet,” Granny Lin said, leaning against the table. She pointed at Zhou Xiang Ning. “But for Tao Xiaolan-jun’s sake, I’ll keep her here for now. You have until the early morning tomorrow to bring the twenty taels. If you don’t, I can’t promise she’ll still be here.”

This was outright extortion.

Zhang Xiaolan and Madam Tao both understood, but with the girl still in Granny Lin’s hands, they had no choice but to agree.

They calculated their funds—they could come up with twenty taels.

Seeing that Zhang Xiaolan didn’t object, Madam Tao nodded in agreement.

The two hurried out of the Lin residence, seeing that the sun was already setting.

If they could return before the curfew, they could safely bring the girl home.

However, as they rushed along the road, a woman sat in a carriage behind them, listening to her maid’s report.

“That Granny Lin is truly cunning! Madam ordered her to sell the girl far away, yet she kept her here and now plans to sell her to someone in the capital!” The maid pouted, finding Granny Lin too arrogant.

“What did she say when you met her?” Shen Ting idly played with a hairpin, seeming unconcerned.

“She said she already had a buyer from the Huihu people but had also promised the Tao family. Since it’s business, she…” The maid glanced at Shen Ting hesitantly before quickly lowering her head.

“What did she say?” Shen Ting asked impatiently, putting the hairpin back into its box. This was a unique design personally drawn by Zhou Quan and custom-made just for her.

“Granny Lin said she only handles business. If Madam wants to take matters into her own hands, that’s up to you.”

“That makes sense. If I want something, I must secure it myself.”

Snap! Shen Ting closed the box, waved her hand, and whispered a few words to her maid before sending her away.

Returning to the Zhou residence, she resumed her role as the beloved and pampered Lady Zhou.

Zhang Xiaolan hurried along the street, moving faster and faster.

Finally, they arrived at Madam Tao’s courtyard. Zhang Xiaolan rushed inside, grabbed the silver, and was about to leave when Madam Tao stopped her.

“If you walk there, you won’t make it before curfew. Rent a carriage. I’ll wait at home.”

Holding the silver that Madam Tao handed her, Zhang Xiaolan wasted no time. She asked for directions to a carriage rental and left in haste.

Madam Tao returned to her room to pack some things.

The sun was now low in the sky, casting a dim glow.

While she was tidying up, someone silently crept into the room, covering her mouth with a cloth. Within moments, Madam Tao lost consciousness.

Zhang Xiaolan returned from the carriage rental, calling out several times, but there was no response. She stepped into the courtyard to look for her.

She found Madam Tao lying on the bed, eyes closed.

Her heart tightened in fear, and she rushed over.

Madam Tao was in an unusually deep sleep—no matter how much Zhang Xiaolan shook or called her, she wouldn’t wake up.

A terrible thought struck Zhang Xiaolan, her face turning pale.

Summoning all her strength, she hoisted Madam Tao onto her back and moved quickly toward the door.

But just as she stood up, a white cloth suddenly appeared in front of her.

The cloth was pressed against her nose and mouth.

Her consciousness faded.

The two women were lifted onto the bed.

Oil was poured across the floor.

Once everything was prepared, the intruder tossed a lit firebrand into the room, opened the window, and slipped away.

Night had fallen. Smoke curled from chimneys across the neighborhood as families prepared dinner.

The smoke rising from the Tao residence was unusually thick.

Neighbors joked that the Tao family must be wealthy—why else would they need such a large fire for cooking?

Someone approached the house, laughing along.

Suddenly—

“Fire!”
A frantic shout sent the neighbors into action.

“Quick, bring water!”

“Li family’s boy, run to the Wuhou station and call the fire brigade!”

Zhang Xiaolan coughed awake, choking on the smoke. Her vision was blurry, and an unbearable heat surrounded her.

Outside, voices shouted in panic.

It took her a while to grasp their words.

Fire!

Zhang Xiaolan snapped into awareness, though her head was still spinning.

She looked at the unconscious Madam Tao on the bed.

She had to wake up and get her nanny out!

Thick smoke filled the room.

She pinched her thigh and waist hard to stay conscious.

Then she remembered—there was still bathwater from last night.

Staggering, she reached behind the bed, scooped water into a basin, and poured it over herself and Madam Tao.

The rest—she threw onto the blazing doorway!