Chapter 8

"Chapter 8: Confrontation at the Door"

"Mrs. Zhang held Ding Xiang close, her eyes scanning for a place to hide the child, her voice trembling as she whispered, 'Be good, Xiang Xiang, you can’t cry...'"

"Ding Zhao stepped out, carefully closing both the bedroom and the main room doors."

"Shortly after, Ding Zhao returned, beaming with joy."

"'It was Li Lao Er from the next alley over. His carbuncle has healed; he gave me fifty wen as a thank you.'"

"In the year he spent grinding medicines, Ding Zhao had learned how to treat carbuncles."

"He was diligent and nimble, sweet-talking, and always eager to help. Whether it was his job or not, he would lend a hand whenever asked. He mostly helped Doctor Fang, including work at the clinic and heavy chores at home."

"Mrs. Zhang would also visit Doctor Fang’s house once a month to wash their blankets and sheets. Their way of showing gratitude was simple, offering services since they had little money."

"Doctor Fang had a special method for treating boils and was particularly fond of the hardworking young man. Whenever Ding Zhao asked, he would explain a thing or two."

"Visiting the clinic for carbuncle treatment would cost at least three hundred wen. Their neighbor Li Lao Er sought Ding Zhao’s help, and to their surprise, after being cured, he brought over fifty wen as payment."

"Even though Ding Xiang couldn’t see, she could hear the relief and joy in Ding Zhao’s voice. This father was quite clever, acquiring a valuable skill while working as a temp."

"Did you also secretly learn how to make medicinal pills there?"

"Mrs. Zhang's eyes crinkled with a smile as she bent down to kiss Ding Xiang, saying cheerfully, 'Xiang Xiang, you’re our family’s lucky star. Ever since you arrived, daddy has started earning money.'"

"She then said to Ding Zhao, 'Tomorrow, buy a few yards of good cotton fabric for Xiang Xiang, make sure it’s soft.'"

"Ding Zhao nodded, 'Alright, and I’ll buy some sugar cane too, to sweeten her rice soup. My poor little girl, only having to drink rice soup, it’s quite pitiful.'"

"Hearing this, Ding Xiang felt a surge of sweetness in her heart. Despite her father’s robust appearance, he was surprisingly tender-hearted."

"At the hour of Xu, Ding Zhao and Mrs. Zhang had already gone to bed when there came another knock on the door."

"The couple grew tense again."

"Mrs. Zhang held the child close, while Ding Zhao got dressed to go outside."

"The night was deep, with only a few small stars in the sky."

"Ding Zhao called out to the gate, 'Who is it?'"

"A loud voice from outside replied, 'Officers on duty. Someone reported a theft, and the thief was seen running this way. We need to check if they entered your home.'"

"Two more loud knocks on the door, echoing in Ding Zhao's heart and sending chills down his spine in the silent night."

"Ding Zhao had no choice but to open the door, letting in two officers."

"They looked around and asked, 'Have you found a baby recently?'"

"Their attitude softened significantly; they were asking about a baby, not a thief."

"Ding Zhao was terrified out of his wits. These people must be here for Xiang Xiang, and likely harbored ill intentions. If a child was lost and they reported it to the authorities, they would search openly and honestly, without needing to lie to get someone to open their door, and state their true purpose."

"If Xiang Xiang were taken by them, she would be in grave danger!"

"Ding Zhao steadied his nerves and spoke loud enough for Mrs. Zhang to hear, 'A baby? No, we haven’t found one.'"

"He was alerting Mrs. Zhang to soothe and hide the child quickly. Though he knew Xiang Xiang rarely cried, he feared the unexpected."

"The officer further inquired, 'Did you see anyone nearby find one? If you find the child, the owner will reward 500 taels of silver; even for a clue that leads to the child, you’ll get 100 taels.'"

"Ding Zhao’s eyes flickered with temptation but he shook his head, pained, 'To be honest with you, officer, we haven’t found any, nor seen anyone who has.'"

"The officer still entered and looked around the house, then gave a meaningful glance towards the door of the bedroom."

"Ding Zhao opened the door, and the officer glanced inside. There was no child, just a woman."

"As the officer left, he flicked a small silver coin to Ding Zhao, 'If you find anything, send word to Ma Hong at the Wucheng Soldiers and Horses Command. Remember, don’t tell anyone else, just find Ma Hong. You’ll be well rewarded. That much money, you couldn’t earn in a lifetime.'"

"In their view, a baby wasn't worth five taels of silver, and these poor folks couldn’t resist such a huge temptation. If they found the child or a clue, they’d surely rush to report it."

"Ding Zhao bowed respectfully, 'Yes, yes. If we're that lucky, we’d make a fortune.'"

"After leaving his home, the officers went to knock on the door of the neighboring courtyard."

"Ding Xiang, hidden by Mrs. Zhang in the kang cabinet, was so frightened she soiled herself."

"The henchmen of the wicked Old Lady Xun had actually found their way here."

"The old witch from the Xun family, doing such a despicable thing, it's unlikely that the head of the Xun family, who is my biological grandfather, knows about it. The old witch and Xun San Ye have limited abilities and only dare to search secretly. Choosing a poor neighborhood for their search, they would only dare to come at night."

"Those two constables were probably subordinates of the person they referred to as 'Ma Hong,' who worked at the Wucheng Soldiers and Horses Division and was a man of the old witch and her son."

"I must remember this name firmly."

"Ma Hong, red horse, reversed. To reinforce her memory, Ding Xiang came up with this analogy."

In Ding Xiang's eyes, Ding Zhao and Zhang's radiant images grew even more towering and majestic. Their delight was boundless when they earned fifty copper coins, yet they refused the temptation of five hundred taels of silver so decisively, saving a milk baby they had never met before.

Had she fallen into someone else's hands, she might very well have been handed over.

Ding Xiang pledged in her heart, "You won't have saved me in vain; I will earn far more than just five hundred taels in the future."

Zhang was scared into a cold sweat. Only after hearing the courtyard door locked did she gently lift Ding Xiang out. Seeing the little girl gazing at her with bright, sparkling eyes, a smile lingering at the corners of her mouth, brought relief.

Zhang, still frightened, said, "Thankfully, Xiang Xiang didn't cry. If she had, all three of us would have been doomed."

Ding Zhao returned, his forehead and the tip of his nose covered in sweat.

He embraced Ding Xiang and said, "Good child, you are fortunate to have escaped a disaster and found refuge in a humble family like ours. Though not wealthy, we will treat you well. Just one thing, you mustn't cry loudly; once we leave the capital, it will be safe."

Mrs. Zhang clasped her hands together and prayed, "Amitabha, the heavens are merciful, may the Bodhisattva bless us."

Ding Zhao added, "Those two officers went to the neighboring house. We must not let our neighbors discover we have a child."

Mrs. Zhang asked, "Will those people search the docks?"

Ding Zhao replied, "Aside from our neighbors, Doctor Fang's family, and the embroidery workshop people, who knows you didn’t give birth last month? Many people board ships with babies. We should leave early and take every precaution to avoid drawing attention to Xiang Xiang."

Despite saying this, the couple remained anxious and uneasy.

Unable to sleep, Ding Zhao went to the courtyard to listen for any sounds from outside.

After those officers finished searching the alley and another hour had passed, they finally went to bed to rest.

That night, Ding Xiang, lying on the kang (a traditional Chinese bed), witnessed an indescribable “drama” unfolding right beside her.

This made Ding Xiang's face turn crimson with embarrassment and her heart beat wildly.

It was truly an awkward situation.

In her previous life, she had lived to thirty-three as a virgin. Despite having many suitors, she never considered marriage or childbirth, and hadn’t even dated.

She could only silently think that the affection between this young couple was a good thing, a harmonious family, far better than her parents' relationship in her previous life.

Thank you to Wen Rou Dian and 20180507143132326 for the monthly tickets, and thank you all for your support.