CHAPTER 491: CHAPTER 491: KIDNAPPING

Nanny Yao didn’t really mind: "If you want to succeed, spending some capital is necessary."

The master had said that after the task was accomplished, they would be given two hundred taels of silver, so from this deal, they could earn a total of five hundred taels.

However, Nanny Yao wouldn’t spend too much capital, only agreeing to use a silver hairpin as bait.

Wan Lifang thought that Gu Yumei, greedy for money and fond of beauty, might be easily lured out by a single silver hairpin, which would be sufficient, so he agreed.

But before taking action, they needed to carefully plan and scout the location.

Nanny Yao and her group did not trust Wan Lifang, and after finishing their discussion, called over two strong men: "Old San, Old Si, follow Young Master Wan and serve him well."

Though it was said to serve, it was actually surveillance, fearing that Wan Lifang might renege and report to the authorities.

"Yes." Old San and Old Si entered from the yard, closely following Wan Lifang wherever he went.

Initially, Wan Lifang was displeased, but after Yang Laosan and Yang Lao Si helped him beat Ni Ruiniang, he was pleased and took them everywhere with him, acting like the young master of a big family with two protectors, behaving recklessly.

Ni Ruiniang, having been beaten, could not let the matter rest. She tore her hair and clothes intending to make a scene on the streets, but was caught by Master Yang, who grabbed her by the neck and dragged her to Wan Lifang’s yard: "Wan Lifang, come out and control your woman. If she ruins things, you won’t be pleased."

Upon hearing this, Wan Lifang anxiously rushed out, pulling up his trousers.

Seeing this, Ni Ruiniang froze, then immediately burst into the house. Seeing the disheveled Ni Shiliu, she screamed and charged at Wan Lifang, hitting him: "You beast, you monster, isn’t Old Lady enough for you, and now you hook up with the maid, are you still human?!"

Wan Lifang pushed Ni Ruiniang away: "Shrew, try cursing again and I’ll bury you."

Moreover...

"Since ancient times, which young master hasn’t slept with a maid? Shi Liu was originally meant to become my concubine maid, this was approved by my mother, so don’t make a fuss."

"I’m making a fuss, you beast. You think you’re the young master of some grand family? We’ve been eating nothing but vegetables for ten days straight at home, and you still think of sleeping with the maid. If this results in a fatality, can you afford that?" This time, Ni Ruiniang was genuinely heartbroken. It’s one thing to not match up to Gu Yumei, but to be inferior even to a maid—considering Ni Shiliu is actually from the Ni family itself—was too much.

"How miserable is my life."

If only she had known, she would have been better off not affiliating with the Wan Family and marrying into a well-off family in Xianggui Town. Her fate would have been better than it is now.

Ni Ruiniang was almost cried to death, but in the end, she compromised, thinking of her own difficulties in bearing children, letting Ni Shiliu help with childbirth seemed better than letting another woman do it.

Master Yang, not trusting Ni Ruiniang, locked her in Wan Lifang’s yard, with plans to release her once everything was settled.

The Wan Family was fraught with undercurrents, but Ms. Ni was solely focused on earning money, and Scholar Wan had completely stopped managing household affairs. Nanny Yao’s group moved about the Wan Family unobstructed, almost as if they owned the place.

Three days later, under the leadership of Wan Lifang, Master Yang and his group finally surveyed and cleared the route from Da Feng Village to Qingfu Town and Daxing Town.

In these three days, Wan Lifang also learned that Nanny Yao and her group were not from the Jiangnan Yao Family at all. They were just a gang of child kidnappers, specializing in taking young girls to sell to brothels to make money.

"This business requires no capital. After doing a dozen or so deals, the money earned is enough to buy an entire compound. Plus, if we come across young women of good looks, we can enjoy ourselves a few times before selling them off. It’s a very profitable deal," Yang Laosan said smugly, convincing Wan Lifang to be moved by the idea.

"Old San, stop blathering here, let’s hide quickly." Master Yang, dressed in peasant clothes, came over and said to Wan Lifang: "This is the silver hairpin and a few taels of broken silver, along with a hundred copper coins given by Nanny Yao. You use this to trick Gu Yumei into coming out."

Wan Lifang hurriedly accepted them and laughed: "Don’t worry, Master Yang, Gu Yumei is greedy. This hairpin will be enough to lure her out."

After taking the items, Wan Lifang wore a broad straw hat and stealthily headed towards a wild field near Da Feng Village, then around to a pond.

The pond, unowned, was often visited by children from Da Feng Village to catch small fish to add to their meals. This was the place he had previously arranged for messages to be delivered by Lu Shuiwa.

This time, he encountered Lu Shuiwa again. He dashed forward several steps, grabbing him and a three-year-old little girl next to him, and ran towards a clump of grass.

As soon as he reached the bushes, he slapped Lu Shuiwa hard twice, cursing, "You little bastard, dare to deceive me. Here’s your chance to redeem yourself. Take this silver hairpin to Gu Yumei and tell her to meet me. Tell her that if she’s willing to come out and listen to my explanation, I’ll give her another golden hairpin."

He then threatened with the three-year-old little girl by his side: "If you dare to pocket the silver hairpin, or run away like last time, I will throw your sister into the pond and drown her!"

Lu Shuiwa, just over eight and despite being smart, was frightened. Seeing Wan Lifang use his sister to threaten him, he immediately cried and agreed: "Young Master Wan, I was wrong, I shouldn’t have kept your ten copper coins. This time I will surely lure Gu Yumei out; please don’t drown my sister."

"Hmph, I dare you not to. Take these things and go quickly," Wan Lifang gave him the items and continued to threaten, worried that Lu Shuiwa might call for adults: "If you dare to call the adults from the village, I will report you to the authorities. You stole my silver coin, and my father is a scholar. Just a word from me, and the county government will send soldiers to arrest you."

Lu Shuiwa was terrified, trembling as he said: "Young Master Wan, rest assured, I dare not, I dare not..."

"Hurry up, don’t waste my time," Wan Lifang urged.

"Eh, eh, eh, I’m going right away," Lu Shuiwa hastily took the items and ran to find Gu Yumei.

When dusk fell and Gu Yumei finished her work, Lu Shuiwa burst out and pulled her aside.

"Why is it you again!" Gu Yumei angrily threw off Lu Shuiwa’s hand, cursing: "You’re finished! Today, I will have my Auntie come to your house and complain to make your parents beat you."

Gu Yumei was slow at her work. Although Mrs. Chen would help her, Mrs. Chen would return home early to cook, meaning Gu Yumei was always the last to finish. Hence, there were almost no other people around, giving Lu Shuiwa the chance to speak boldly.

He handed the cloth bag to Gu Yumei: "Inside is a very heavy silver hairpin, given by Young Master Wan. He also has a golden hairpin, and says that if you go out to meet him and listen to his explanation, he will give the golden hairpin to you."

After saying this, Lu Shuiwa directly knelt down to Gu Yumei: "Miss Gu, please go meet Young Master Wan... I lied to him about ten copper coins last time. If you don’t meet him, he won’t let me off."

Lu Shuiwa, fearful for his little sister’s safety, did not mention that Wan Lifang had captured her.

Seeing Lu Shuiwa kneeling before her, Gu Yumei felt somewhat pleased. Seeing the silver hairpin in the bag made her even happier. She also thought about the golden hairpin mentioned by Wan Lifang.

Thinking, if she secretly met Wan Lifang and immediately returned after getting the golden hairpin, without forgiving him, her father probably wouldn’t be angry, right?