After returning to the County Yan’s backyard, Jinchai was taken to a group room and confined alone.
To prevent her from escaping or causing trouble, Old Granny Wu found a rope and tied her securely, then stationed a newly bought coarse maid to watch over her.
As soon as the maid and those coarse won returned, Wang Yongzhu kept her word and imdiately gave each person a month’s wages. Feeling delighted with the paynt, when they heard they had to watch over Jinchai, they eagerly complied.
In fact, another one was called, and the two took turns on duty, afraid that an oversight might lead to trouble.
When Jinchai woke up, the surroundings were dim; only a small oil lamp flickered on the table not far away. The heated bed wasn’t cold, just a bit dark.
As soon as she moved, a voice faintly erged from the corner of the room: "You’re awake—"
In this pitch-black night, waking up in an unfamiliar place, and hearing such a lifeless voice from the darkness, even a young man would be scared out of his wits.
Let alone Jinchai?
She was so frightened at the scene that she almost died on the spot.
A sharp scream: "Ghost—"
Then she saw a pair of hands erge from the darkness, adjusting the lamp wick. The room brightened a bit, revealing the owner of those hands.
A young maid, rubbing her eyes, picked up the oil lamp and approached, muttering, "What are you shouting for? In the middle of the night, you slept well, but can others still sleep?"
Jinchai tried to move and realized she was tied up tightly. Looking at this maid, she seed sowhat familiar. Then she looked at the oil lamp casting a long shadow of the maid on the wall. Rembering the old saying that ghosts have no shadows, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But she soon realized, "Where is this place? Why am I tied up? Quickly untie —"
The maid picked up the oil lamp, looked closely at Jinchai’s expression, and relaxed, thinking that if she could scream upon waking, she could hardly be in real trouble.
Upon hearing Jinchai’s demand to be untied, she sneered, "I advise you to behave! Don’t think you’re still the beloved concubine of the Yuan Family’s second young master. Even the Yuan Family’s second young master doesn’t want you now, so be obedient! If you scream again, don’t bla for stuffing your mouth with a rag!"
She had heard that this woman was no good.
The whole family were ingrates and troublemakers! Luckily, their madam was generous, still considering sending soone like her back ho!
If it were up to her, such a person shouldn’t have been redeed and kept at the Yuan Family to suffer!
Seeing the maid’s impatience, Jinchai couldn’t help but say, "Am I in the County Yan now? Let tell you, I am your madam’s niece! Even if I’m not good, I am still a mber of the Wang Family! Blood is thicker than water! It’s not for you, a re maid, to bully !"
The maid rolled her eyes. No wonder Mama Wu repeatedly warned that nothing this troublemaker said should be believed. She was long no longer part of the Wang Family, neither the old lady nor the madam favored her. If they treated her well, even the rewarded silver would be taken back.
Therefore, she just sneered and ignored Jinchai.
Jinchai spoke for half the day and saw that the maid wasn’t falling for it. She gritted her teeth and softened her tone, "Sister, I’ve been tied up for most of the day, and my whole body aches. Be kind and untie for a mont, won’t you? I’ll make it worth your while. How about I give you the bracelet on my hand?"
"It was a gift from the Yuan Family’s second young master, and this bracelet is solid silver, worth a dozen taels!"
When threats didn’t work, she tried bribery.
Although the maid was tempted, rembering the lady’s impressive display of tossing the stone stool yesterday, her thoughts scattered instantly.
She shook her head like a rattle-drum: "Don’t think about hurting ! Don’t be so wicked, and lie still. Madam said you’d be sent ho early tomorrow morning."
Upon hearing this, Jinchai beca anxious. She was no longer the Jinchai she used to be.
If her family was indeed as Wang Yongzhu described, wouldn’t her return be akin to walking into a lion’s den?
With such a father and a poverty-stricken family, if she returned, she’d either be sold again or have to support four elders.
That wouldn’t do! For the past year, she had been pampered by the Yuan Family’s second young master, her hands never touching spring water, and her food, clothing, and supplies were all of the best quality.
Like a delicately raised orchid, returning to her ho in Qi City County would be like throwing a tender orchid into a pigsty to be trampled upon.
"I won’t go back! Tell your madam I won’t go back! I’d rather die than return! If you dare send back, I’ll die to spite your madam! I’ll bite my tongue to death! I’ll hang myself or bash into the wall! Your madam wants to harm , but I’ll drag her down with , hm——"
The rest of her words were muffled by the rag the maid had stuffed back into her mouth.
The maid tightly stuffed Jinchai’s mouth, then clapped her hands, "Why so much nonsense? It’s annoying!"
Jinchai struggled with muffled sounds for a long ti but couldn’t make a sound and fainted from holding her breath.
The maid got startled, leaned forward to check her breathing, and was relieved to find her still alive.
Early the next morning, Jinchai was startled awake by an ice-cold towel, which almost made her jump out of her skin, but being tied up, she could only flip like a fish and give up.
Opening her eyes, she saw the sa old wife who had yanked her hair fiercely the day before, wearing a stern stepmother face, "Awake? Great! The carriage outside has been waiting for half the day. You’re going ho today! Don’t be too grateful to our madam and the old lady. They are kind-hearted and still consider blood ties with ingrates like you. Once you go back, stay good and don’t think of causing trouble again!"
Jinchai almost choked on her anger! Kind-hearted?
How could no one see through Wang Yongzhu’s malicious intentions? It’s not kindness or consideration for kinship; she just wanted to send her back to suffer!
She wanted to roar, to curse, to tell everyone that it was all Wang Yongzhu and her mother’s conspiracy!
But she was tied up like a dumpling with a rag in her mouth, and could do nothing but think.
Whether she was willing or not, Old Granny Wu loosened the rope on her legs and motioned her to get moving.
Jinchai wanted to flee, but outside the door, she saw several robust won watching her intently, and realized escaping was futile.
Reluctantly, she was prodded by Old Granny Wu out the back door.
A carriage had long been waiting by the back door.
Seizing the mont when no one was watching, Old Granny Wu pushed Jinchai onto the carriage, then boarded as well.
She was instructed to escort Jinchai back to Qi City County and keep watch over her to prevent escape.
Old Granny Wu knew this task was a mark of trust from the masters, and she vowed emphatically to keep Jinchai under strict surveillance throughout.
The rest will co later.
When Song Chongjin returned and heard Wang Yongzhu’s account, he laughed heartily.
He gave a thumbs up to Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu.
Old Granny Zhang had so concerns, worried that Yuan Majian might find Song Chongjin to demand an explanation.
While smashing and screaming felt satisfying at the mont, thinking back after returning ho gave her a bit of worry about causing trouble for her son-in-law.
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