Xiao Lian Hua hurriedly used her small hands to rest on Xiao Hua i’s shoulders, half hugging her, hoping to warm her, her brows tightly furrowed.
After these few days together, Xiao Lian Hua was the only one who didn’t make Xiao Hua i feel afraid, faintly aware that Xiao Lian Hua was always protecting her.
Xiao Hua i wasn’t originally called Xiao Hua i; Second Master Liu had given her the na. Before the age of ten, this little girl lived a smooth life, her family well off, her parents affectionate, and she was sowhat timid. Later, she got separated from her family on the street and was kidnapped by Cui Sanniang and her people.
From then on, the nightmare began. Xiao Hua i initially cried every day, crying out for her parents. But whenever she cried, Cui Sanniang would beat her, hitting her until she dared not cry anymore, only daring to sob in her dreams. And Second Master Liu was even less humane, tornting her whenever he had the chance.
Now, looking at Xiao Hua i, one could tell she wasn’t well. The little girl seed dazed all day, eating little, sotis waking up from nightmares shouting for her parents.
When Xiao Lian Hua first arrived, she noticed Xiao Hua i. Hearing her cry for her parents made her nose sting, nearly bringing tears to her eyes. She understood that feeling, she missed her parents too, missed them dearly.
From then on, she had a very strong urge: she wanted to save Xiao Hua i. Although she herself was not safe, Xiao Hua i was like her, both yearning to see their families. She felt that saving Xiao Hua i was like saving herself.
When she arrived, Xiao Hua i’s situation was already bad, but even so, that beast Second Master Liu did not want to spare her.
And for Cui Sanniang, asking her to spend silver to treat Xiao Hua i was nothing but daydreaming; dicine costs more than Xiao Hua i is worth, so of course she wouldn’t. When Xiao Lian Hua suggested it, Cui Sanniang just smiled without saying anything.
Xiao Lian Hua naturally took note of all this. Walking along the road like a little beggar, she experienced much of life’s warmth and chill, gaining many insights into the hardships of this world.
She knew the two kidnappers appeared decent but were rotten inside. Cui Sanniang looked at her as though seeing silver, while Second Master Liu looked at her like a hungry wolf eyeing at. Their gazes made her very uncomfortable.
She had co to avoid those hunting her, thinking of escaping after crossing the Yangtze River. But now, she increasingly felt that escape was difficult; the two kidnappers were very vigilant, watching them more closely than anything else, even drugging them initially.
When she first got on the carriage, she felt strange. Why were these girls all sleeping so heavily, unable to be awakened by such noise? Later, the Shaded Eyes Lady persuaded her strongly to eat, and after eating, she fell asleep.
Initially, being tense all over, Xiao Lian Hua didn’t notice. It was only afterward she suspected the food was drugged, so she ate less and secretly consud the dried at she had saved, waking up faster than the others.
The Shaded Eyes Lady appeared very kind to her, so she played along, ultimately convincing the lady to abandon the idea of drugging them.
Previously, she had protection, ignorant of the evil in people’s hearts. Now she understood, and Xiao Lian Hua dared not reveal her desire to escape, burying it deep in her heart. Even when she saw opportunities to run, she abandoned them because she wasn’t confident.
Her third brother had taught her that so things couldn’t be approached directly. To ambush soone, one must strike swiftly; once they are alerted, it becos difficult to act.
If only her third brother were here, he always had a way...
But now it was just her, and she had to head north to find her Clan Uncle. She couldn’t be as reckless as before; she had to endure and think of a way, ideas buzzing painfully in her head until she ca up with one: she must make them think she’s one of them, first easing their guard, then doing other things.
This ti, Xiao Lian Hua learned to endure.
She originally looked obedient and clever; if she kept silent, she could deceive people well. After the family upheaval, she harbored many secrets, unwilling to speak. Outsiders didn’t know her character before, just assuming it was normal.
She wasn’t very adept at deceiving people, afraid of being exposed. So every ti, she chose her words carefully, sticking to the truth she could say, remaining silent about things she didn’t want to discuss or that were difficult to say, occasionally agreeing with the two kidnappers, flattering them, which pleased them greatly.
Maybe her thod worked; the two kidnappers hadn’t suspected her yet, treating her decently, even improving the situation for others, especially that lecherous man who often tried to make her talk. Through him, she learned a lot, which aided her escape plans.
Xiao Lian Hua’s mind remained tense, her small self filled with worry, exhausting herself every day. Seeing Xiao Hua i being dragged away by the lecherous man made her anxious inside, only able to use the childish thods she could think of to help Xiao Hua i out.
These efforts might have been noticed by Xiao Hua i, as one day, she was returned halfway through and quietly thanked her.
Yet Xiao Cui and the others also observed this. Once, after Second Master Liu was almost kicked by a startled horse, Xiao Cui stared directly at Xiao Lian Hua: "I saw it."
At that mont, Xiao Lian Hua was taken aback, foolishly asked: "Saw what?" It was the first ti Xiao Cui spoke to her, and she didn’t imdiately react.
"The horse got startled, was it related to you?" Xiao Cui actually wasn’t very sure; she just saw Xiao Lian Hua hide sothing, and then the horse spooked, just trying to trick her.
At that ti, Xiao Lian Hua blinked, gave Xiao Cui a strange look, then replied with an "oh" and ignored her.
She felt this person was stupid, claiming to have seen but asking a questioning statent next; it’s like when she tried to trick her mother but ended up confessing.
She had used a slingshot to startle the horse when no one was watching.
But that was just one thing; she stealthily did many others too, things that couldn’t be known to Second Master Liu and Cui Sanniang; otherwise, it would be difficult to run later.
At that ti, Xiao Lian Hua didn’t understand what Xiao Cui ant, but she felt the hostility from them.
So she kept those matters to herself, told no one, quietly executing them, helping others while also safeguarding herself.
Previously she only knew how to play, but now she was forced to grow, having to learn many necessary things.
Seeing Xiao Hua i like this now made Xiao Lian Hua deeply anxious. She had to escape quickly; soon to arrive at Dangtu Town would be an opportunity, when Second Master Liu went to find a boat, only Shaded Eyes would be watching them, as Second Master Liu had said.
Missing this opportunity, once aboard and sailing down the Yangtze River, reaching the destination would be hard. Moreover, she was internally anxious, feeling Xiao Hua i might not last, needing treatnt soon.
She still had a piece of silver ingot; by then, she could ask the doctor to prescribe dicine for Xiao Hua i. If unsuccessful, she would risk being a beggar for luck, escape first and talk later.
Seeing Xiao Lian Hua and Xiao Hua i huddled together, the three girls couldn’t stand it.
Led by Xiao Cui, her eyes filled with strong hostility and a bit of malice, she whispered audibly to the carriage: "So filthy."
Her aning was that Xiao Hua i was dirty; in her eyes, anyone touched by Second Master Liu was unclean, filthy, liable to be pointed at and criticized in the village.
Reviews
All reviews (0)