Chapter 196
196, Selling Oneself to Bury Mother (2nd Update)
After dinner, Xie Zhinuan returned to her room and had someone fetch water for her bath. Li Hengyi thought that since the evening was cool, it would be good to take Xie Zhinuan for a walk on the embankment and familiarize her with the county town where she would settle down and earn her living.
Once Xie Zhinuan was neatly groomed and had come out, Li Hengyi spoke, “Let’s go out for a walk!”
“…” Xie Zhinuan pondered a moment, noticing Yuanbao and Stupid Niu standing to one side, obviously having finished their meal.
She agreed, “Okay!”
The three joyful pets scurried out first, but Xie Zhinuan hmphed, and they quickly ran back, behaving and walking in front of Xie Zhinuan, not daring to frolic wildly anymore.
Seeing that Xie Zhinuan wasn’t taking them along, they whined pitifully.
Xie Zhinuan pointed to the yard, “Go back, I’ll take you out in a few days!”
The three looked at each other, dejectedly trudged back to the yard, and glanced back longingly at Xie Zhinuan.
Li Hengyi watched them, “You’ve trained them very well!”
He had never seen such clever animals, nor an owner like Xie Zhinuan who treated them as if they were children.
“They are naturally very smart!” Xie Zhinuan said softly, then thought for a moment and added, “Once my restaurant opens, can I go to the Governor’s Office to apply for a carriage?”
“There’s no need to apply. I’ll have Yuanbao take a trip to the Governor’s Office to make a note of it, and I’ll give you two horses. Do you know how to ride? Would you like to start learning?”
“…” Xie Zhinuan, ride?
She shook her head, “I can’t, but I’ll learn!”
She felt that horseback riding wasn’t especially difficult.
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Before riding a horse, however, she could start by riding a mule. She and Dahuang seemed to have an understanding, and riding Dahuang was different from riding an unfamiliar horse.“I’ll teach you!” Li Hengyi quickly offered.
His eyes burned with eagerness as he looked at Xie Zhinuan.
But Xie Zhinuan was already looking elsewhere at a large crowd, wondering what they were doing; it seemed to be a lively scene.
“We can discuss that later. Maybe I have a prodigious talent and will manage to learn on my own!” Xie Zhinuan said, pointing ahead, “Look over there, something’s happened. Let’s go and enjoy the excitement!”
“…”
Li Hengyi felt a stifling in his chest at how unromantic she was; such a girl was indeed a rarity. However, he still nodded, “Alright!”
He followed Xie Zhinuan over.
From inside came the sound of crying, mournful and pathetic.
Xie Zhinuan couldn’t see, but Yuanbao had already called out, “Excuse us, please make way!”
The onlookers were reluctant, but seeing Yuanbao’s imposing manner and then Li Hengyi’s distinguished appearance, they dared not offend and quickly made room.
Xie Zhinuan couldn’t help but marvel at how convenient it was to have power. With such a sense of security, everything seemed natural, commanding respect without inviting offense.
When she and Li Hengyi got to the front, they saw a girl in plain clothes selling herself to pay for her mother’s burial.
“…”
This was the first time Xie Zhinuan saw a real-life situation of a girl selling herself for a burial. She had thought the girl in plain clothes would be incredibly beautiful, but instead, she was of average looks, yet there was something pitiful about her crying that made one not help but feel compassion.
“…”
Many people were there for the spectacle, talking among themselves, but no one stepped forward to buy her.
In those days, buying a beautiful woman to bring home meant she could become a concubine or be given as a gift, but an average-looking girl didn’t have much appeal unless it was someone who couldn’t get a wife otherwise. Most people would not be interested in buying.
“Noble benefactors, I am a merchant’s daughter from the west. In earlier years, my family did business, and I learned a few big characters from my father; I also have a bit of understanding of business matters. Our family’s fortune declined; both my father and mother fell seriously ill, depleting our wealth. Now my mother has passed away and awaits her burial in the Charitable Estate. Out of sheer necessity, I must sell myself to bury my mother. If any kind soul could lend a helping hand, I would be eternally grateful and pledge my loyalty in return for your kindness!”
Chapter 197