Zhang Xianglian turned around and saw three siblings of varying heights and builds.
There was Zheng Ruqian, Chang Yan, and Jiang Sheng.
They stood behind her with different expressions, but their eyes held the same smile, very much like mischievous children taking delight in teasing their elders.
"You three..." She lightly touched her chest, a rare hint of annoyance showing, "Why are you here so late at night, scaring me to death?"
"Auntie didn't tell us either why you're here," Jiang Sheng pouted, clearly unhappy.
Now it was Zhang Xianglian's turn to feel awkward.
She hemmed and hawed for a bit before deciding to tell the truth, "Their mother was begging at the Jiuzhen Store. I helped them out a little because I pitied them. The meals were just leftovers from the previous serving that would have gone to waste otherwise, so I brought them some."
"Earlier, Ruqian had me find a pastry chef to work at the Jiuzhen Store. I thought of asking Sister Miao to help, but she was tied down by her child and simply couldn't do it."
Zhang Xianglian gave a dejected smile.
There were too many women who shared similar experiences. She could never stop herself from lending a hand, but unfortunately her power was limited. At most she could provide a meal, not even a place to stay.
Just like six years ago when she wanted to adopt little Jiang Sheng. That only earned her a beating from Zhou Zhiqiang. In the end she could only leave the little girl at the dilapidated temple at the village entrance and occasionally look after her.
Later when she divorced and started earning money, she even opened the Jiuzhen Store with Zheng Ruqian.
But that was just her own life.
She couldn't help Miao Zhaoying, nor the many women who suffered beatings and humiliation from their husbands.
Kind people were like that. They escaped the mire themselves but still wanted to save more people.
Perhaps some would denounce them as being sanctimonious or nosy.
But that was their nature and where their light shined.
Gentleness was innate. Kindness was a choice.
Unfortunately, kindness did not bring capability. She could not change the world or save the many Miao Zhaoyings. She could only take a deep breath and sigh long.
It seemed helpless yet resigned.
In the empty street, the boy's icy voice was particularly jarring, "Auntie, why didn't you tell us?"
Zhang Xianglian was stunned.
"Yeah Auntie, if you told us we could have found a solution," Zheng Ruqian chimed in.
Even Jiang Sheng nodded seriously, "There is strength in numbers. Whenever I run into problems with the business, I always ask my brothers."
Perhaps her brothers didn't understand business, but they had unique perspectives and insights that could always cut through the tangled mess.
"I..." Zhang Xianglian hesitated, "I was afraid to bother you and thought I was meddling too much."
Theoretically speaking, she was in fact meddling.
But Auntie, it's precisely because the world has people like you who meddle that there is light and warmth, and now there is little Jiang Sheng. As long as you have the capability, there is nothing wrong with helping the weak.
As long as you don't become a busybody causing trouble, and as long as you know what you're doing.
And you must be mentally prepared that among those you help, there will also be ingrates.
"I accept all that," Zhang Xianglian said softly. "Helping is just that. I never expected anything in return and would never pester those who didn't know better."
It was obvious that Auntie was truly afraid of causing trouble for the children.
Finally reassured, Chang Yan said lightly, "Auntie could make that woman sell her daughter before leaving her husband."
"Ah?" Zhang Xianglian looked up in shock.
Zheng Ruqian explained at the side, "Sell her to Jiang Sheng first as a servant girl. When her mother has earned enough money to redeem her, give her freedom back."
The registry after a transaction would show her as a free person, belonging to neither parent.
Without anything holding her back, Miao Zhaoying could now file for divorce and take half of the money from selling her daughter. It was the strategy that minimized her loss.
After Zhang Xianglian understood all the twists and turns, she was both amazed and delighted. "You kids really are smart, so smart!"
"I, I'll go tell Sister Miao right now!" She turned to leave but was stopped by Jiang Sheng.
The little girl pretended maturity. "It's late now Auntie. Go back and rest first. What if you run into bad guys?"
"Yes, okay. I'll listen to you all." Zhang Xianglian's eyes brimmed with happy tears. She held Jiang Sheng's hand and her steps were much lighter. "Let's go home. Auntie will stew pork elbows for you tomorrow."
The group of four walked leisurely. Occasionally the crisp laughter of the little girl echoed in the street, lingering for a long time.
Not long after they left, the Fengjing patrol guards on night duty emerged from the darkness.
The two leading them wielding blades looked at the direction Chang Yan and the others had gone, exchanging puzzled glances.
"Did you feel like the way that kid was talking resembled..." The thinner guard knitted his brows.
The fatter one shook his head. "Impossible. He's been missing for years. We turned Fengjing upside down back then but never found him."
"Shhh. Don't mention it." The thinner one shut him up. "This is taboo to the imperial family and must not spread."
"Let's keep patrolling." Holding their lanterns, the few walked on, both to check Fengjing's streets were safe and prevent theft and robbery.
Time flew and the new year came.
As a bakery catering to common folk, the Jiuzhen Store had to open on the tenth day of the new year.
Zhang Xianglian offered her idea to Miao Zhaoying who indeed went back on the fifth day to propose selling her eldest daughter for some money.
The man of the family was overjoyed, praising her for having bright ideas now.
It was then that young master Zheng appeared, fanning himself. He first sized up the daughter from all angles before reluctantly clicking his tongue. He was only willing to pay ten taels of silver for her.
Her father still wanted to raise the price but was deterred by Third Jiang and Fourth Jiang who had come along. He reluctantly agreed.
Ten taels of silver for a twelve-year-old girl's life.
After signing and stamping the documents at the yamen, Zheng Ruqian threw out half an ingot of silver and swaggered away with the servant girl.
While her father was still testing the silver with his teeth to see if it was real, Miao Zhaoying turned around to file for divorce and ask for half of the family assets.
The chickens and dogs of the family could be hidden, but the ten taels of silver clear as day that the whole village had seen could not be faked.
If it really went to court at the Fengjing government office, the money could not be kept according to the Great Yu Dynasty's laws.
In order to marry a new proper wife and have a fat baby boy, the man reluctantly agreed and signed and stamped the divorce papers.
After going through the proper channels at the yamen, Miao Zhaoying took her registry, five taels of silver, and rode to the Jiuzhen Store where she signed a ten-year labor contract with Zhang Xianglian. She received an advance of five taels of wages and combined with her five taels share of family assets, immediately redeemed her daughter.
As a result, the yamen clerks of Fengjing gave Zheng Ruqian and Jiang Sheng a lot of strange looks.
It was truly rare to see emancipation contracts signed and cancelled on the same day.
Fortunately Jiang Sheng had thick skin. Coming out of the Fengjing office, seeing the almost reborn mother and daughter Miao, she grinned widely. "Second brother, the new year has passed and the Jiuzhen Store is open. We should also talk to the Yu'er Restaurant about supplying pastries."
"Alright!" Zheng Ruqian dramatically flipped his long hair. "Let's go!"
After several days of family reunions and meals, Second Brother seemed to have regained seventy percent of his roundness. Standing together with Jiang Sheng, the siblings simply could not look any closer.
Especially the ostentatious way the two walked, almost identical.
The Yu'er Restaurant was not far from the Fengjing office. The siblings walked over without taking a carriage.
They had just stepped into the restaurant when a carriage stopped behind them. Two more siblings stepped out.
One tall and heroic. One gentle and demure.
