Chapter 4 Almost Sold to the Brothel

Chapter 4: Almost Ended Up in a Brothel

Zhao Wen was originally a local bully in Dayou Village. He had been hunchbacked from a young age. With no parents and a shiftless, gluttonous nature, he refused to farm or do any proper work. Instead, he wandered around the village and its outskirts all day, engaging in petty thievery and scams. When merchant caravans passed by, he would deceive newly arrived traders to swindle a few coins. The Patrol Officers of Yongning City had arrested him several times, but since he never committed any major crimes, they could only detain him for ten to fifteen days before releasing him. He had also been beaten countless times by the village men—once, after harassing a young man from a household, he was nearly beaten to death by the husband. But as the saying goes, "the wicked live a thousand years." He didn't die. After recovering from his injuries, he simply avoided provoking that family again, but everything else remained the same.

The villagers of Dayou Village kept their distance whenever they saw him.

Later, an army deserter arrived in Dayou Village. His name was Wang Wu. Because he was a deserter, he didn't dare seek work in the city and barely managed to hide in Dayou Village, fearing the villagers would report him to the authorities. It was at this time that Zhao Wen, seeing him as a stranger, mistook him for a passing merchant and tried to swindle him out of money. Wang Wu was a rough man and raised his fist to strike. Zhao Wen was beaten until he fled in panic, but he used this as an opportunity to rope Wang Wu in. From then on, Wang Wu changed his name to Zhao Wu, claiming to outsiders that he was Zhao Wen's cousin. Originally short and frail, Zhao Wen, with Zhao Wu's help and amid the chaos of the famine when the authorities had lost control, gradually became lawless. They gathered a group of refugees and even began openly robbing people of their money.

That day, while idling in the village, Zhao Wen saw the young man who had been robbed the day before yesterday hurriedly running past. He had been watching this young man for several days. He seemed to be married, but he always came out alone, with no husband accompanying him. Zhao Wen and his men had tested him by robbing him a few times. Apart from food, they only found medicinal herbs, so they guessed that perhaps his family was somewhere in the village recuperating from an illness. After several attempts, Zhao Wen realized no one was backing this young man, and his courage grew.

Seeing Wu Qiu dash into the sorghum field, Zhao Wen's mischievous intent was aroused, and he slipped in after him.

Zhao Wen followed Wu Qiu for a while, exhausting himself and panting heavily. Finally, when Wu Qiu stopped, Zhao Wen revealed himself, thinking the young man would be so frightened his legs would give way and he could do as he pleased. Unexpectedly, Wu Qiu was as agile as a rabbit in the sorghum field. After struggling free, he quickly left Zhao Wen behind.

Unable to catch up, Zhao Wen wandered aimlessly in the field for a few more circles, cursing in anger. He thought of simply fetching Zhao Wu so they could intercept the young man together and surely catch him. But just as he reached the edge of the field, he ran into a group of people. Looking closely, he saw it was the two physicians who had come to the village for the free clinic that day.

People like Zhao Wen were used to bullying the weak and fearing the strong. When he saw someone of some standing like Lei Xun or Lei Ding, he felt a pang of cowardice. He couldn't decide whether to leave or stay, so he could only shrink to the side with an awkward, ingratiating laugh. Lei Xun ignored him, walking past without even a glance. But Lei Ding, upon seeing him, felt an inexplicable surge of irritation. He recognized Zhao Wen and knew he was a village rogue. Already troubled by his failure to find Wu Qiu and help his family, Lei Ding felt even more disgusted at the sight of Zhao Wen. Frowning, he spoke up: "Since you're a man of this village, you should also contribute some effort for your neighbors. If you have free time, Mr. Zhao, please deliver this package of medicine to the village head's house."

Lei Ding simply found Zhao Wen an eyesore and wanted to send him away. He also knew Zhao Wen wouldn't dare steal the village head's things, so he tasked him with delivering the medicine. Zhao Wen was angry but didn't dare show it, not uttering a word. He meekly took the medicine and, seeing Lei Ding watching him, had no choice but to leave immediately. Unaware that Wu Qiu had fainted from weakness, he assumed the young man had long since run off after all that commotion. After delivering the medicine, he didn't return to the sorghum field to search but went straight on his way.

By the time Wu Qiu woke up, it was already pitch dark. Crying all the way, he stealthily made his way back to the dilapidated shrine. Yang Shu was still unwell, but worried about Wu Qiu's prolonged absence, she had grown anxious. She wanted to go out and search but felt dizzy and weak, unable to stand. Half-crawling on the ground, she managed to make her way to a small path outside the shrine after a few steps, trying to call for help. But her voice was completely hoarse, and no one came. Just as she was sinking into despair, Wu Qiu hurriedly ran back. Mother-in-law and son couldn't help but embrace and weep together.

Yang Shu had cried too much after Xue An's death, and embroidery, being hard on the eyes, had further damaged her vision. With no fire lit in the shrine, she couldn't see the injuries on Wu Qiu's face and body. She could only gently stroke his face with her hands, feeling the slightly raised scars. Startled, she asked, "Qiu Er, where have you been? What happened?"

Afraid of worrying her, Wu Qiu held back his tears and comforted her: "I was in a hurry coming back today and accidentally fell. It's nothing serious, just a bit painful. I didn't get seriously hurt."

Yang Shu then held him in her arms, stroking his hair as if he were her own son, while also feeling heartbroken herself. But Wu Qiu suddenly felt a surge of joy—despite the fright earlier, his mother-in-law was no longer feverish. It seemed her condition had significantly improved.

Perhaps because he caught a chill in the sorghum field, Wu Qiu woke up very late the next morning with a splitting headache. He looked up to see sunlight already streaming through the holes in the roof. Usually, Yang Shu would be up by this time, but today there was no movement. Alarmed, Wu Qiu hurried over to check. Yang Shu's eyes were still tightly closed. He called her several times, but there was no response.

Wu Qiu's hands turned cold with fear. Rushing over, he found Yang Shu burning with fever, even worse than the previous days, and completely unresponsive. Usually calm, Wu Qiu now panicked. Stumbling out, he stopped a passing villager to beg for help.

He looked so pitiful that a few kind-hearted people finally came in to take a look. They all shook their heads, saying there was nothing they could do. Countless refugees had died after entering the village. Seeing such a patient, the villagers had already silently concluded that this woman probably wouldn't survive the day—even the village doctor couldn't cure her. Someone reminded Wu Qiu to go to the city to find a physician; perhaps there was still hope. But fearing Wu Qiu might ask them for money for treatment, they quickly dispersed after speaking.

With no other options, Wu Qiu waited for an ox cart heading into the city, but none came. In the end, he simply ran on foot toward Yongning City. At this point, he no longer cared about propriety. He ran until half his hair came loose before finally encountering a cart halfway. Now was not the time to save money. But there was still quite a distance from Yongning City to Dayou Village. When he finally reached the city gate, he found additional soldiers had been stationed there, checking the identities of everyone entering and exiting. Refugees fleeing the disaster were not allowed to enter the city at all.

Misfortune never comes singly. Wu Qiu had no identification or travel documents with him, but he absolutely had to enter the city today to seek medical help. After thinking for a moment, he offered the cart driver double the fare, begging him to find a way. The cart was loaded entirely with vegetables from Dayou Village for sale. Finally, they stopped the cart in a secluded spot. Wu Qiu climbed into a vegetable basket, hiding under a large pile of greens, and only then managed to sneak into Yongning City.

Surprisingly, there was quite a crowd gathered in front of the clinic. Wu Qiu stood outside, frantic with worry. He grabbed the sleeve of the man in front of him, bowing and pleading: "Sir, could you please let me see the physician first? My mother-in-law fell unconscious this morning and is critically ill. I'm truly desperate."

The man in front had a short temper. Turning around, he said, "I say, sir, everyone in front of this clinic is desperate. I have a sick person at home too. Besides, it's already mid-afternoon. If you were truly in a hurry, why didn't you come earlier?" He glanced at Wu Qiu and suddenly grew wary: "Are you from Yongning City, sir?"

Wu Qiu had no choice but to explain: "My family is in Dayou Village outside the city. The journey was inconvenient, so I was delayed. Please, sir, show some kindness."

Wu Qiu was originally a very cultivated and polite person. But today, he couldn't afford to care about such things. Seeing there weren't too many people ahead, in his desperation, he tried to push his way forward. The man from earlier grabbed his arm and dragged him back: "How can you be so unreasonable?" Already suspicious of Wu Qiu's identity and afraid his presence might attract the Patrol Officers, he wanted to send him away: "Looking at you, sir, I'm afraid you haven't even brought enough for the consultation fee."

This reminded Wu Qiu. He had spent most of his remaining money just to enter the city. He hurriedly asked the man: "May I ask, sir, is the consultation fee for this clinic's physician to make a house call very expensive?"

Seeing that Wu Qiu was unaware of the situation, the man deliberately tried to deceive him, hoping to make him back down and leave quickly. He quoted an exorbitant amount and added: "Of course. This is a government doctor in the city, not some wandering village physician. They can't just make house calls casually. And they are most impartial. Whether you're royalty or relatives and friends, whether you kowtow, bow, burn incense, or pray—the consultation fee cannot be reduced. If you haven't brought enough money, sir, you'd better go back now to save yourself a futile effort."

Wu Qiu definitely did not have that much money on him. He steeled his heart. Rather than wasting effort only to see the physician and then be unable to ask him to treat his mother-in-law, it would be better to go get the money now, saving a lot of trouble.

He had one last place to go. At this point, he had no choice but to try it.

In the northern part of Yongning City, there was a small alley called Yanliu Alley. When Wu Qiu first arrived in Yongning, he had accidentally passed by this place. The northern district had many official courtesans, while Yanliu Alley was where unlicensed prostitutes gathered.

Wu Qiu was at the end of his rope. Previously, he had visited shops all over the city, but none were willing to hire him. Now, in urgent need of money, he didn't even have any items he could pawn. Steeling his heart, he knocked on the gate of a courtyard in Yanliu Alley.

As long as they would give him money to save his mother-in-law's life. Even if he had to stay here from now on, leaning against the door and selling smiles, he would have no regrets.

Wu Qiu was naturally quite handsome, but due to days of toil, hunger, and exhaustion, he was overly thin and pale. Moreover, to enter the city, he had hidden among vegetables, his head and face covered in mud and vegetable juice, his hair disheveled, and his clothes looking tattered and worn. Like a beautiful piece of jade fallen into a mud pit, its brilliance obscured by the mire. The madam looked him up and down several times but still issued an order to send him away.

Taking in a young man like Wu Qiu would require feeding him for at least half a month before he could start working—it wasn't cost-effective.

"Take the medicine on time. Be sure to keep your diet light these next few days."

After instructing the patient's family and giving them a slight bow with clasped hands, Lei Ding headed toward the clinic. There were many patients today. He had been out making house calls with Lei Tan all day without rest. Fortunately, none were seriously ill. Even though they were unrelated, Lei Ding was always glad to see others well. Lei Tan, having followed him all day, was already exhausted like frost-beaten eggplant, trailing limply behind him. He negotiated with Lei Ding: "Big brother, you go to the next house by yourself. I can't walk anymore."

Lei Ding smiled slightly at him and reached out to ruffle his hair: "If you can't walk, rest at the clinic after we return. Usually, you're the most energetic. I never thought I'd see the day you complain of being tired."

Lei Tan wasn't entirely convinced, but he didn't even have the energy to argue, shuffling forward step by step. Seeing how truly tired he was, Lei Ding took a shortcut. Lei Tan just kept his head down and followed. Suddenly, he bumped into Lei Ding's back. Rubbing his head, he complained: "Why did you stop so abruptly for no reason?" Peeking out from behind Lei Ding, he followed his gaze down the alley and exclaimed in surprise: "Isn't that Mr. Wu?"

The courtyard gate was open. The madam from the neighboring courtyard also came out, questioning Wu Qiu and hesitating about whether to take him in. Seeing a glimmer of hope, Wu Qiu knelt on the ground, begging desperately, only asking for some money so he could hire a physician. The madam who had come out earlier, though initially unwilling to take Wu Qiu in, didn't want to fall behind her competitor and started arguing with the neighbor.

The scene quickly descended into chaos.

Watching this, Lei Ding felt that merely seeing Wu Qiu in such a wretched state was a kind of desecration. That young man who had been as clear and bright as water upon their first meeting was now kneeling in the mud. Though unrelated, Lei Ding felt heartache for him. He could no longer concern himself with other matters and strode forward directly. He didn't speak, but the two madams, seeing him approach, simultaneously stopped their quarrel: "Oh, Young Master Lei! You never come to our place. What, are you in the mood today?"

Lei Ding didn't engage with them. Looking down at Wu Qiu, he asked: "Are you in some difficulty? If there's anything I can do to help, I'll certainly do my best. Get up first. Don't kneel here."

Little Lei Tan bounced over, took one look, and immediately shouted at the two madams: "In broad daylight, you dare force good people into prostitution? I'll report you to the authorities right now and have you arrested!"

"That's a false accusation! A false accusation! He came here on his own. We didn't force him!"

"Pah! You must have seen he has a gentle nature and bullied him!"

The surroundings erupted into a clamor, but Wu Qiu could no longer hear it. With tears in his eyes, he looked at Lei Ding and said: "Sir, please save my mother-in-law. As long as you're willing to save her, I'll do anything you ask."

After saying this, he tried to kowtow to Lei Ding. Lei Ding grabbed his arm and helped him up. In his urgency, Lei Ding didn't control his strength, and Wu Qiu was too thin—he was lifted up like a little chick, swaying unsteadily. Lei Ding quickly supported him by the shoulders to prevent him from falling.

Lei Ding gently patted his shoulder in comfort: "Come back to the clinic with me. We can talk slowly."

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