Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Buoyed by Lu Wei's promise, Lady Xia left the manor with a heart full of joy. Just moments ago, when she heard that she couldn't return, she was momentarily gripped by despair and even considered death. In ordinary times, she wouldn't have reacted so drastically for a mere job.

Recently, their young servant girl had fallen gravely ill, requiring a significant amount of money for doctors and medicine without showing any improvement. Many people had advised the couple to let her go, reminding them that she was just a servant girl; abandoning her would be for the best. Even if they raised her to adulthood, she would only be a financial burden. By letting her go now, perhaps she could be reincarnated into a wealthy family and have a better life, remembering their kindness as parents.

She couldn't bear the thought, for that child was born from her own womb after ten months of pregnancy. Talk of reincarnation was merely an excuse to justify their cruel intentions. Nevertheless, she understood their dire circumstances. Life at the bottom rung of society meant survival depended on one's labor; an illness could crush an entire family. She couldn't bring herself to insist on saving the child.

Fortunately, her husband was deeply affectionate towards his daughter. He ignored the outsiders' "well-meaning advice," emptying their savings and even borrowing silver to treat the young girl, ultimately saving her life.

Her in-laws didn't object, nor did her married elder and younger sisters-in-law say anything. The younger sister-in-law, whose family was slightly better off, even secretly slipped her a silver tael.

Thinking of this, Madam Xia couldn't help wiping away another tear. Her husband was an honest and simple man; he would be uneasy even if he owed someone two copper coins. Now that he owed several taels of silver, he was eager to work around the clock to pay off the debt as soon as possible.

Upon learning of her new job, her mother-in-law made sure everything at home was tidy and in order, so she could focus on her work. Whenever she returned home at night, a warm meal would immediately be ready for her.

While the entire family was putting all their effort into earning money to repay the debt, she had been swayed by others and quit such a good job. How foolish she had been.

"Madam Xia, Madam Xia..."

In her sorrow, Lady Xia paused in her steps and, wiping away her tears, she blinked at the approaching women with her slightly swollen eyes.

Lady Zhang and a few other dismissed ladies wore ingratiating smiles. "Lady Xia, what did Miss Lu Wei say? Can we go back?"

After this incident, Lady Xia had become more cautious. "If you want to go back, why don't you ask for yourselves? Why come to me?"

A hint of awkwardness flashed across the faces of the women. Lady Qi stepped forward. "Lady Xia, who doesn't know that you're among the top three fastest workers among our thousands? Miss Lu Wei and the others have tasks to fulfill; with your efficiency, they must surely appreciate and respect you more. How could we compare to you?"

Lady Xia gave a bitter smile. "Yes, I was quick, wasn't I? That's why I was the first to be targeted by their scheming group. They've all used me as a pawn."

Madam Qi's face fell, though in truth, her hands were quite quick. She might not rank within the top three out of three thousand, but she was surely among the first hundred – she just didn't realize it.

The expressions of several ladies around her turned even more grim. They had initially been puzzled as to why they were being targeted, but now they understood. Their speed was appreciated by Miss Lu Wei and her ilk.

Madam Xia swept her gaze over the group, noticing their swollen, red-rimmed eyes and dark circles, with two even bearing injuries on their faces. The anger that had just flared in her heart dissipated instantly. "I asked Miss Lu Wei, and she said this isn't a place one can enter or leave freely. It's certain that we can't all return right now."

As soon as she finished speaking, several of the women around her began to weep.

Madam Xia sighed. "Don't cry just yet. Miss Lu Wei also mentioned that once the factory in the city is completed, they will recruit a large number of workers again. At that time, we can register without being affected by what happened today. But for now, let's not spread this information."

Lady Qi seized Lady Xia's hand, "Really?"

Lady Xia nodded, "Indeed. Come on, let's all go home first and don't shed any more tears. Take care of your eyes. If we're fortunate enough to return, we'll work hard every day and remain silent as if we were mute. We mustn't be foolish again."

Lady Qi hastily wiped away her tears, "Of course. If I'm foolish again, I'll give myself two hearty slaps. Lady Xia, does your husband work at the factory? Has he mentioned when it might be completed?"

Lady Xia shook her head, "I'll ask him when I get home today." At that moment, Lady Xia was conflicted. She both eagerly awaited the completion of the factory so she could resume her work as a weaver, yet wished for it to take longer so her husband could continue earning good wages and have meals provided there – such a favorable job was hard to come by.

Upon returning home, her in-laws were relieved to learn that they still had a chance to work again. That evening, when Lady Xia's husband, Yu Youquan, came back, she couldn't help but inquire, "How much longer will it take before you finish the work?"

Yu Youquan, fully informed of the situation, spoke while slurping his noodles, "I doubt it will take long, at most two and a half months, and if we're lucky, just two."

Madam Xia was astonished, "That fast? All those houses can be built? They're all made of green bricks!"

Yu Youquan replied, "Second Grandma is willing to spend the money. Not only did she hire bricklayers from the capital, but also from a few surrounding counties. With so many hands working together, how could it not be quick?"

Madam Xia nodded, "Indeed, Miss Lu Wei mentioned today that the estate isn't spacious enough. We'll need to recruit more silk reeling and dyeing workers, as well as weavers, once the factory is ready. It's no wonder they're in a rush to build it."

Yu Youquan's mother, Liu Shi, felt a stir in her heart, "They're hiring for the silk reeling and dyeing too?"

"It seems we have no choice," Madam Xia pondered. "From Miss Lu Wei's tone, it appears we must recruit quite a few."

Madam Liu's eyes lit up. "Then I'll do it... No, you should be the weaving mistress. But if I'm not home, who will take care of the household?"

The room fell silent.

After a long while, Yu Yu said, "What else can we do? Yu Quan and I won't starve to death, will we?"

Madam Liu glanced at him. "Who knows about that?"

Yu Yusheng choked, "Can't I at least make it edible? Back then, I worked while you cooked. Now, you work and I'll cook. Perfectly fair. For the next two months, teach me. I refuse to believe that I can build houses but not cook a meal." Yu Yusheng was originally a bricklayer. After falling from a house and breaking his leg, leaving him with a disability, he could only find odd jobs here and there. As he grew older, these jobs became harder to come by.

Madam Liu still hesitated. Yu Yusheng gave her a subtle nod. Following his gaze, she saw her granddaughter, Little Ya, who had recently recovered from an illness, diligently planting flowers in a corner of the yard.

While she was sick, Little Ya overheard people advising her parents to abandon her. Despite being only five years old, she understood what 'abandon' meant. She knew how much money the family had spent on her treatment. Determined to contribute, she wanted to work hard, cultivate flowers to sell, and earn money for the family.

Pain filled Madam Liu's eyes as she said, "Alright, I'll register. If luck is on our side and I get chosen, you take care of cooking at home."

Yu Youquan replied, "Mother, don't forget about me. Once the factory work is done, I'll help with the harvest. It's tough for me to find jobs in winter too. I'll learn how to cook as well. Then, both your son and I will rely on Mother and our wife for sustenance."

Yu Yusheng shot him a disdainful glance. "You're not afraid of being ridiculed for relying on a woman to feed you." After saying this, he chuckled, feeling that there was hope for their family's future.

When Lu Wei had woven a complete silk carpet, she found time to visit the marquis residence and report to Meng Die. "We've woven quite a number of silk carpets already, and the quality seems good. Xue Qing has also given her approval. Head Wang is now contemplating how to expand the mulberry forest. From his attitude, he won't be satisfied until he uses every hill in the village."

Meng Die chuckled. "He really is... let him be, let him do as he pleases. There are only so many hands available anyway. I heard there were some weavers causing trouble?"

Lu Wei replied, "Yes, I promptly dismissed those who impulsively quit. However, the real troublemakers were clever enough not to stand up and resign. I believe they have two motives. One, they want to control me and Xue Qing, so they can do their work however they please in the future. Two, with us hiring so many people recently, they probably assume we won't hire more."

Meng Die understood. "They missed the opportunity to get their friends and relatives in during this large-scale recruitment. You plan to deal with them all at once, then?"

Lu Wei beamed with delight. "I didn't want to catch them all at once; I already have. Birds of a feather flock together. Those troublemakers are the type who manipulate others like tools and deliberately incite chaos. They're truly wicked to the core. Anyone who associates with them can't possibly be innocent. I won't allow any slip-ups that might spoil my entire broth."

Meng Die nodded in agreement. "We already have many eyes on us. Such villains must be rooted out entirely. We can't let them hide among the honest folk."

Lu Wei responded, "Yes, Mei'er and Li'er are also sorting through their acquaintances. When I return, I plan to do it twice more to ensure that all the untrustworthy ones are expelled before we move to the factory."

Meng Die nodded in approval.

After discussing this matter, Lu Wei suddenly added, "Hulu, you should personally guard the entrance."

The figures clad in Meihong, Hulu green, and Xing Huang within the chamber were all taken aback for a moment. They exchanged glances, then silently withdrew from the room, with Hulu personally taking up the post to guard the entrance.

Meng Die was also taken aback. "What could be such a major matter?"

Lu Wei pondered for a moment before saying, "In the past couple of days, two former courtesans have privately shared some words with me."

Meng Die's heart trembled. "Could it be related to trafficking?"

Lu Wei: "Yes, they said that the mastermind behind the Cui and Zhao families is none other than Shi Huanli, the Right Minister of Justice. It was his eldest son, Shi Yao, who lashed out during that spring outing."

Meng Die looked at Lu Wei and said, "Shi Huanli? He comes from an educated family with vast wealth and numerous properties. Kidnapping for such a small amount of money…" Noticing the fleeting distortion on Lu Wei's face, Meng Die had a sudden realization. "Is it not for money, but for some other purpose?"

Lu Wei nodded, opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it again, her complexion alternating between pale and flushed.

Meng Die's heart sank. "What does he want with young girls?"

Lowering her voice, Lu Wei explained, "Shi Huanli believes, believes that deflowering an untouched woman can rid him of his bad luck."

Meng Die's face darkened instantly. This belief had existed through the ages, though it was not recorded in serious literature, but often mentioned in anecdotal or historical accounts. Some men were even willing to spend dozens or even hundreds of taels of silver in brothels to specifically deflower virgins in what they called a 'purity-breaking ceremony.'

No, still not right, Meng Die looked at Lu Wei again, "In the pleasure houses, there are virgins untouched by men."

Lu Wei took a deep breath, "He believes that a woman who has started her menses is no longer pure, unable to dispel the ill omens."

"Damned scoundrel," Meng Die's face turned ashen, her fists clenched tightly.

Lu Wei jumped in surprise, "Second Aunt, please release your grip, you might hurt your palms."

Dazzled by a flurry of golden stars before her eyes and a buzzing in her ears, Meng Die couldn't make out what Lu Wei was saying. In her mind, nothing but the desire to see Shi Huanli suffer a slow and painful death.

"Madam Hua, let go, please release your grip..."

Lu Wei's voice sounded as if from afar, and Meng Die's dizziness gradually subsided, allowing her to loosen her hold. In the paleness of her palm were four deep crescent-shaped marks, with traces of blood seeping through. Had Meng Die been one to keep long nails, it might have been a far more gruesome sight.

Lu Wei hurriedly poured a cup of tea. "Madam Hua, calm down, please calm yourself..."

Meng Die sipped the tea from Lu Wei's hand, and her dizziness vanished entirely. "Do you know when this wretch started this? And how did the original courtesan find out? Was she one of the abducted?"

Lu Wei took a deep breath. "Hua Rui didn't specify when it began; she probably doesn't know herself. She was indeed one of the kidnapped. Originally from the capital, she lived in the West District. With a large family, being a girl with both older and younger sisters, she wasn't much favored, often going hungry, which made her thin and weak. When she was thirteen, she was playing with her sister when two men suddenly appeared, attempting to abduct them both."

Hua Rui fought back, biting the man who held her. She then rushed to save her sister, biting that man too. Her sister seized the opportunity to escape, but Hua Rui was recaptured, gagged with cloth, and stuffed into a sack. The two men had barely walked a few steps when they started arguing and stopped. Back then, she was young and didn't understand their conversation; all she cared about was the hope that if they lingered, her sister might call for help, thus rescuing her.

Meng Die slammed the teacup down on the table. "A wolf in sheep's clothing."

Lu Wei let out a long sigh. "Indeed, her sister didn't go for help. Hua Rui was just taken away like that. For a few days, she was well-fed and cleaned up before being delivered to a bed. All she could recall from that time was pain."

"Afterward, she was sent to a brothel in Yangzhou. There, she learned to sing, dance, and please men. Gradually, she understood what those two men were discussing."

Meng Die lowered her gaze. "Those men must have targeted her sister. It was likely someone familiar with them, aware of their ages."

Meng Die was well aware that in this world, due to the lack of advanced technology, the common people lived rather impoverished lives, unlike the more prosperous and affluent citizens in her dream world where young girls, nourished by better food, often experienced puberty as early as ten or eleven. In the Great Yi Dynasty, it was not uncommon for girls to reach puberty at thirteen, though most did so earlier.

Lu Wei nodded. "Yes, those two men were targeting her eight-year-old sister."

The room fell silent for a moment. Lu Wei continued, "Hua Rui was raised in a brothel in Yangzhou for three years, blossoming into a beautiful young woman. Then, she was purchased by a wealthy merchant at the price of an untouched virgin."

Meng Die was confused. "Untouched virgin?"

A mocking curve formed on Lu Wei's lips. "Young girls naturally have strong recuperative abilities. They claimed... they claimed that certain parts could also recover, allowing her to be passed off as a virgin." Lu Wei's face flushed as her voice lowered slightly. "Not every girl will have a hymen. The madam who trained her taught her some tricks, making it easy to deceive others." Lu Wei quickly changed the subject. "After the merchant bought her, he sent her to the residence of a government official in the capital city."

Meng Die: "Which family did they send her to?"

Lu Wei playfully teases, "Can you guess, Second Aunt?"

Meng Die, taken aback by Lu Wei's eager expression, muses, "The Shi family?"

Lu Wei confirms with a nod, "It's quite a coincidence – the wealthy merchant sent Hua Rui as a gift to Shi Huanli's legitimate son, Shi Yao."

Meng Die's gaze drifts, momentarily unsure how to react. A wave of discomfort washes over her stomach. She quickly sips some cold tea to calm herself, "She recognized Shi Huanli."

Lu Wei: "Yes, she mentioned that she happened to encounter him in the garden once. She instantly recognized him. At first, she was terrified, but she eventually calmed down after returning to her room. With her appearance now so vastly different, let alone those who only spent less than two hours with her, even her own parents might not recognize her as she is now."

Meng Die nodded. "She's quite composed."

Lu Wei continued, "After learning about this, she began to subtly inquire. From the son of the Grand Eunuch, she discovered Shi Huanli's involvement in trafficking young girls. Fearing that she might be exposed, coincidentally, Shi Yao also lost interest in her, being fickle-minded. She took the opportunity to quarrel with a newly favored concubine and was accordingly expelled from the residence. However, Hua Rui didn't expect that not only would Shi Yao kick her out, but he would also sell her into a brothel for a sum of silver."

Meng Die's expression, which had just started to soften, turned grim once more. "They squeeze every last drop of blood from women, truly not sparing any chance to exploit them."

Lu Wei sneered repeatedly. "Like father, like son – a pair of despicable scoundrels. They initially pretended to pity and cherish women, but in reality, they're nothing but villains."

Meng Die: "There's no such thing as cherishing beauty; it's merely a way to show one's compassionate side. Cherishing beauty, ha! It's a joke in itself."

Lu Wei poured herself a cup of cold tea and drank it. "She was clever. While she was still favored, she secretly saved quite a bit. When she was sold to the brothel, she pretended to be deeply affected, behaving as if she had lost her mind. This way, the price for her body wouldn't be high, nor would the ransom to free her. Originally, she planned to stay in the brothel for a few more years, saving some money while also being cautious in case something happened to the Shi family, which would make her hesitant to buy her freedom."

A hint of a smile appeared on Meng Die's face. "I guaranteed protection for them, and she redeemed herself."

Lu Wei also chuckled. "Yes, but she truly has many schemes. When she came to our side, she told Nurse Fan about another matter. During the incident where those weavers caused trouble, they wanted me to fire those who had been prostitutes. I refused and instead praised their work, which reassured her. She then observed that our old master was investigating a case of human trafficking, having already arrested people from the Cui and Zhao families. Knowing that our old master has a good reputation, she watched me for a while to ensure there were no issues before finding an opportunity to tell me everything."

Meng Die nodded repeatedly. "Having a few tricks up her sleeve is a good thing. One can never truly know what others are thinking or planning. When it concerns matters of life and death, extra caution is never too much."

Lu Wei: "I share the same thought. The other one is called Sweet Apricot. Her family sold her to a broker for a bit more silver, not an official one but a private one. She was first sent to a bed and then later sold to a brothel. This year, she caught a cold and developed rashes from some unknown cause. The madam of the pleasure house assumed she wouldn't survive and expelled her."

"She used her meager savings to seek medical help, but doctors in the capital considered her bad luck and refused to treat her. Just when she thought she was doomed, fortune turned around as she met a kind traveling physician who prescribed some medicine. Miraculously, her illness was cured, and the rashes on her body disappeared. Penniless once again, she heard about our acceptance of their past and hurried over."

Meng Die let out a long breath. "She truly encountered a doctor with a good moral compass."

Lu Wei sighed in agreement. "When she was first ejected from the pleasure house, she had nowhere to go and wandered the streets. One early morning, she happened to see Shi Huanli riding his majestic horse to the imperial court. The pain she endured back then was so intense that she remembered him vividly, even though he was much older now. After recovering, she discreetly inquired and, upon meeting Hua Rui in the mountains, the two began exchanging information."

Meng Die lowered her gaze. "It seems Shi Huanli has someone within the private broker network. Is it possible to locate that same broker now?"

Lu Wei shakes her head. "The incident with Sweet Apricot happened ten years ago. She's inquired about it herself, and that broker disappeared from the capital without a trace around five years ago."

Bang! Meng Die slams her fist on the table. "Ten years ago!"

Lu Wei hastily takes Meng Die's hand to examine it, deliberately saying, "If you're angry, be angry. The table hasn't wronged you."

Meng Die is speechless, her overwhelming rage dissipating significantly due to Lu Wei's interruption.

Shifting the subject, Lu Wei says, "Hua Rui mentioned that the Shi family has long been dissatisfied with Second Aunt. Can you guess why, Second Aunt?"

Meng Die raised an eyebrow. "A nursery?"

Lu Wei nodded. "Indeed. Ever since Second Aunt established that nursery, any parents with a shred of conscience left, who haven't completely lost their humanity, would abandon their young daughters and infants near our manor, rather than before."

Meng Die nodded, her residual anger dissipating entirely. She had been greatly agitated just now, partly because she imagined the countless girls who had suffered under Shi Huanli's torment over the past decade. But more so, she was infuriated that such atrocities had persisted for so long without being exposed.

Was it because Shi Huanli had been secretive? Not really. The son of the household steward knew, as did the private brokers. While not openly advertised, it was evident that this was not a well-guarded secret. Yet, such a perverted act persisted for over a dozen years. Why?

In the end, it boiled down to a lack of concern. Some of the girls came from private brokers, who had already sold them off by their own parents. Who would question where they were sent? Another portion were abandoned children, for whom even fewer cared about their whereabouts. Should Shi Huanli's deeds ever come to light, it was likely that some lunatic would argue that, regardless, he had at least given those girls a chance to live. Only the last group, which had been illegally kidnapped, would be considered truly unlawful.

Meng Die closed her eyes, but would anyone truly care about this aspect? For parents to report their missing daughter to the authorities already indicated their love for her; who could constantly follow up on the investigation, urge the officials, and attend to all the subsequent matters?

Most parents who lost their young daughters merely rallied their neighbors to search, grieved for a while, and then moved on with their lives. Even that was considered having a conscience. Then there were those without any conscience, who didn't even bother when their daughter vanished, as she was just a financial burden anyway.

No matter how much one spoke about it, in this world, young girls were of lower status than some livestock. Very few families valued them, especially those who were already struggling financially. For such people, giving their daughters food to eat was already a kindness.

With a determined expression, Meng Die vowed to make the silk rug project a resounding success, attracting many women to work in the factory. This way, there would be a steady income every month and year, and society would come to understand the true wealth that women could generate. It must not resemble the situation with silk worms in the south, where women's earnings were seen as insignificant because they were in small amounts, thus remaining unknown to the world.

As long as people acknowledged that women could provide stable annual income, perhaps no immediate change would be noticeable in a year or two. But after ten, twenty years... one day, women in peaceful times would no longer be treated as worthless as grass.

Meng Die abruptly opened her eyes, her gaze shimmering with determination. "We still need to inform Grandfather about this. Knowing the mastermind behind it will make the investigation smoother."

Lu Wei replied, "When I return, I'll first go to the workshop and tell Mother Fan about this. She can then report back to Elder Master Fan."

Meng Die nodded. "This year has been favorable for agriculture, so there are fewer homeless people coming to the capital. Ask Mother Fan to have someone keep an eye out, especially for those with young girls. At the right moment, hint to the homeless that my estate takes in girls of any age for adoption. Also, promote this in the Western District. When the workshop is ready, girls around seven or eight can assist with silk reeling and other tasks, earning a wage."

Lu Wei pondered for a moment. "Second Aunt is trying to cut off the legitimate channels for these girls?"

Meng Die affirmed, "Exactly. Regardless of whether the families of the abducted girls care or not, child trafficking is illegal. As for those who are sold or abandoned, whatever Shi Huanli does won't be considered a crime. Even if something happens, they can't pin anything on him."

Lu Wei nods. "This will force the other side to take risky actions. If Grandfather has someone watching, we'll have evidence in no time."

Meng Die responds, "There's one last thing. Shi Yao was scolded by me and his future was almost ruined. I imagine he hasn't been holding back in criticizing and slandering me among his family and friends these days. If that's the case, it's not enough for just a few people to hear. Ask Nurse Fan to carefully choose a few individuals to spread the rumors about me, making sure that everyone in the capital knows."

Lu Wei pauses. "Are you planning to use this incident to confront the Shi family, to vent your anger?"

Meng Die nods. "You understand me, Lu Wei. If I don't let out this resentment now, I won't be at peace even if he's eventually sentenced to death."

Lu Wei hesitates. "Using this as an entry point won't arouse suspicion from the other side. However, Second Aunt's reputation might…"

Meng Die interrupted Lu Wei directly: "Reputation? What use is it to me? I don't rely on my reputation to survive. Besides, I've long lost any semblance of a good name. There's little difference between being slightly tarnished or utterly ruined."

Lu Wei was speechless but eventually nodded. She knew Meng Die too well; she wouldn't let go until she had her say.