CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44 GENDER CRIMES 44

Qin Shuangshuang wanted to comfort Mrs. Bai, but it was no use. Mrs. Bai still looked anxious, and she grabbed Qin Shuangshuang, ready to rush outside, saying hurriedly, "It’s not going to work. Initially, I thought that if I died, the clan would certainly not let those beasts sell you into such a place, but now that I’m not dead, it’s uncertain. I must take you and escape! We must escape immediately!"

"Mom! Mom!"

Qin Shuangshuang held tight to Mrs. Bai, who had already put on her shoes and was trying to pick her up and run, "Mom, Mom is fine now. Those people can’t harm us anymore. We’ve escaped from our hardships; we’re safe now! From now on, no one can bully us, no one can sell me anymore..."

Qin Shuangshuang embraced Mrs. Bai tirelessly and soothed her, gradually calming her emotions. Slowly, Mrs. Bai’s previously tense body softened, and she hugged Qin Shuangshuang back, crying softly.

Mrs. Bai is a kind and gentle person, always wanting to be kind to others. Even though the Qin Family bullied her, Mrs. Bai thought that if she was more compliant and patient, she would eventually touch their hearts, and life would get better.

However, Mrs. Bai’s kindness only brought increased bullying; her own daughter was to be sold into a brothel! The phrase "a woman becomes strong for her child" is perfectly embodied in Mrs. Bai.

While Mrs. Bai could endure the excessive torment from the Qin Family, she could not tolerate anything involving her daughter, which led to her outburst!

After crying thoroughly, Mrs. Bai regained sanity and noticed there was still an Eldest Lady in the room. Finding herself crying like this in front of someone other than her daughter made her blush with embarrassment!

Seeing Mrs. Bai calm down, Qin Shuangshuang took the initiative to recount the events that happened while Mrs. Bai was unconscious. As expected, Mrs. Bai’s first reaction upon hearing the story was relief, and she felt joyous despite the issue of being expelled without anything. As long as she could leave the Qin Family, she was willing to pay money!

Having comforted Mrs. Bai, Qin Shuangshuang pulled the Eldest Lady closer and said to Mrs. Bai, "Mom, since we’ve left the Qin Family, I think you should quickly set up a household with daughters, and I want the Eldest Lady to be registered under your name as your daughter, so we will be the three of us, mother and daughters, from now on."

After speaking, Qin Shuangshuang sought confirmation from the Eldest Lady, "Do you think it’s a good idea?" The Eldest Lady was more than willing; of all the Qin Family, only Mrs. Bai and Qin Shuangshuang truly cared for her, and she was overjoyed to call Mrs. Bai her mother!

Setting up a household with daughters requires a trip to the government office, something that can’t be rushed. After her excitement subsided, Mrs. Bai returned to reality and began calculating how to earn some money.

The three of them had already received the severance letter, agreed to leave with nothing, which means they now have no relation to the Qin Family and can happily treat them as strangers without any gossip. However, it also means they can’t take even a needle or thread from the Qin Family.

Their current predicament is that they have no money, no changing clothes, and nothing necessary for living. The biggest problem is, they have nowhere to stay. The village chief is kind-hearted, but they can’t impose on others and cause trouble!

Neither Qin Shuangshuang nor the Eldest Lady would take advantage of others’ kindness or act brazenly!

Mrs. Bai thought about learning from the idle women in the village, taking laundry jobs in the town. Her embroidery skills were good, so she could sell small items to embroidery workshops.

However, Mrs. Bai knew those earnings were small; the real money-maker was Qin Shuangshuang.

It’s just that in this season, there aren’t many wild fruits or goods from the mountains, the main income is from chopping firewood and selling it in town. Luckily, this task, though tough for others, is easy for Qin Shuangshuang; otherwise, Mrs. Bai would be reluctant to let her do it.

But distant water can’t quench present thirst. Even if there’s a way to earn money, their immediate crisis still needs resolving! Without money, food and shelter become issues. Seeing her mom worried, trying to figure things out, Qin Shuangshuang took out a bulging, coarse cloth purse from her bosom.

Opening the purse, three shiny, round ingots, each weighing ten taels, spilled out! Mrs. Bai and the Eldest Lady, who was worried with her, widened their eyes and were so shocked that they couldn’t even close their mouths!

After the shock, Mrs. Bai’s first reaction was to find something to cover the silver, then, with a furrowed brow and without any joy, she asked sternly, "Where did you get this silver? Did you... did you..."

Mrs. Bai knew her daughter was extraordinarily strong, even a man couldn’t beat her, so she feared the money might have been stolen by Qin Shuangshuang.

The last part, no matter what, Mrs. Bai couldn’t vocalize, but tears welled up in her eyes. She knew her daughter was always sensible and obedient, and if she really did such a thing, it would be for her mother’s sake, but she absolutely didn’t want her daughter to commit such an immoral act!

Seeing Mrs. Bai’s reaction, Qin Shuangshuang understood her mother’s misunderstanding and hurriedly explained, "Mom, what are you thinking? I earned this money properly."

Then Qin Shuangshuang recounted how she met Fang Zhongyi, caught a male deer, and asked him to help sell it. The Eldest Lady, who went through the whole process afterward, corroborated Qin Shuangshuang’s story, finally erasing Mrs. Bai’s bad assumptions.

Although she no longer doubted the origin of the money, Mrs. Bai still had concerns, "I know venison is very expensive, but it’s only worth a little over ten taels of silver. How did your deer sell for thirty taels?"

"Mom, you’re talking about the price of a dead deer. My deer was valuable because it was alive, and a male deer too."

"What’s so special about a live deer? It’s only so much meat, albeit fresher, but it shouldn’t be twice the price." Mrs. Bai really didn’t know why live male deers were so much more expensive.

Qin Shuangshuang had to continue explaining, "Mom, don’t forget, deers have antlers, and a good set of antlers is worth more than ten taels of silver. This is a live deer; buy it and raise it well, and you can harvest antlers every year!"

Moreover, a deer can grow two sets of antlers a year; calculate how much profit this deer could bring the buyer. Thirty taels is not expensive at all; it’s actually a bargain! If we weren’t unable to sell in the county, and if the buyer hadn’t pressured us, this deer could have easily sold for fifty taels!"

Now Mrs. Bai understood; not only wasn’t her daughter overcharging for the thirty taels, but she had actually lost a lot. It’s just that her nature wasn’t to haggle, so she gave Qin Shuangshuang a couple of awkwardly comforting words before turning cheerful again. With these thirty taels in hand, their predicament was basically solved!

While the three were planning what to buy for living necessities and considering who in the village might have extra rooms to rent to them, Aunt Hao frowned, pushed open the door, and said to the three, "There’s a bit of trouble; I need to ask the Second Lady to go to Uncle Qin’s."

Aunt Hao referred to Uncle Qin as Mr. Qin! As soon as she spoke, Mrs. Bai, Qin Shuangshuang, and the Eldest Lady all felt their hearts sink!