CH 173

Ming Zhu felt that Yangzhou was a safe city, but Hong Ling had a point, two women living alone, it indeed didn’t seem very safe, it was easy for people to notice and target them.

“But how are we going to hire a guard?”

“I also don’t know.” Hong Ling wasn’t clear about anything related to spending silver, but she continued, “But it’s okay even if we don’t hire one, it’s not like I can’t beat intruders on my own.”

If Hong Ling didn’t have some skills with her fists and legs, she wouldn’t be able to survive to this day. She rummaged through the cupboard and found two axes used for chopping firewood. Holding the handles, she lifted her hands and slammed the blades on the surface of the table, saying, “I’d like to see who dares to bully us.”

Chapter 173

(62.2)

Ming Zhu, afraid that she would hurt herself, hurriedly told her to put the woodcutting axes away, “Be more careful.”

It was very strange, but Hong Ling always listened to her, probably because she always spoke in such a gentle manner. After putting the axes back obediently, Hong Ling awkwardly asked her, “Did your baby kick you today ah?”

The baby in her belly was now more than five months old, she seemed to be lively, for occasionally she would gently kick her belly inside.

Ming Zhu lowered her face, the side profile of her face looked especially gentle, as her hands softly stroked her belly, “No. Maybe she’s tired after kicking for a few days and needs to rest for two days.”

Hong Ling loudly clamored “ah” twice. She then very slowly took out from her sleeves a small silver bracelet. She was a little embarrassed, her face looked slightly red, but her mouth was sharp, “I went to buy flour at noon today, and I also bought this small bracelet on the way, I didn’t steal it.”

The style of the tiny silver bracelet was simple, and it looked a little crude.

Ming Zhu, delighted, took the small bracelet, and joyfully said: “This small bracelet is really cute.”

When she heard these words, Hong Ling also felt very happy in her heart, it had costed her a few taels of silver, and now it seemed that the money was not spent in vain, “When she is born, can she wear it?”

“Yes ah.”

Hong Ling seemed to like very much the baby in her belly, her eyes didn’t blink as she looked at her, with her hands resting on her chin. She asked, “Will she like it?”

Ming Zhu smiled and said, “She surely will.”

Hong Ling carefully touched her stomach, thinking that when the baby was born, she would have to buy her some more little bracelets to play with.

The Duan residence set up an evening banquet, Wei Chiyu wasn’t the only one invited, there were also several officials from the imperial court of justice who came from the capital all the way to Yangzhou in order to investigate a case.

Ming Zhu’s shop was not open today, she had prepared the pastries that Duan Sui wanted in the evening, and together with Hong Ling, they went to deliver the pastries to the Duan residence.

The servant boy at the gate had not heard about this matter and told them to wait outside.

It was getting late, and the lanterns and candles in front of the residence were lit one by one.

The soft and clear light was shining on them.

Ming Zhu patiently stood at the gate and waited. After standing for a long time, her waist felt sore, and Hong Ling supported her with a hand at the waist, frowning as she whispered curses at Duan Sui.

Hong Ling grew up in the marketplace, she was unrestrained when it came to cursing people.

Several carriages and palanquins suddenly stopped in front of the gate of the Duan residence, and the girls who came out of it all had white snow skin, and looked beautiful as flowers, wearing dresses made of precious brocade, with slender waists, full chests, and excellent figures.

These were all girls from the brothel house.

They were clean and usually they only sang songs in the brothel house. They didn’t sell their body unless they themselves were willing to.

The servant boy led the girls of the brothel house to the front yard and left Ming Zhu and Hong Ling aside.

Hong Ling was fuming, “Let’s leave!”

Ming Zhu said, “But I have already received his payment.”

“Just give him back the money!”

“He has already paid five ingots of gold.”

“….” Hong Ling swallowed back all the resentment she had, and she said seriously, “Then we’ll wait some more.”

Ming Zhu also felt that for the sake of five ingots of gold, she could wait a bit longer. She could see that the second young master Duan didn’t have good intentions when he paid for the pastries, but she took pleasure in treating him like a big foolish spendthrift.

After waiting for half an hour, Duan Sui seemed to have finally remembered that there were still people waiting for a reply outside the gate of the mansion, and he casually said to the servant beside him: “Go invite her in.”

“Yes.”

Duan Sui glanced at Wei Chiyu, who was sitting straight in front of him. None of the girls from the brothel house dared to approach him, and they were left hanging behind by him.

“Lord Wei, don’t give the beauties behind you the cold shoulder.”

Wei Chiyu said, “I’m not interested.”

Duan Sui smiled, “It seems that Lord Wei’s vision is really high. “

Since he didn’t like it, then forget it.

Duan Sui waved his hand, ordering them all to retire. He knew that Wei Chiyu had a woman in his heart. When he was a student, his little fiancée would make him pouches, making all the other students in the same academy look at him with red eyes of jealousy. But he didn’t hear any news about his little fiancée for the past two years. He was kindly helping Wei Chiyu, but he didn’t appreciate it.

When Ming Zhu walked into the front yard with the box in her hands, she happened to see the girls from the brothel house being sent back.

The Duan residence had set up the evening banquet table in the front yard by the lake, with colorful, dazzling lights. Before going in, Ming Zhu specially told Hong Ling to stay outside, “You wait for me here.”

She was afraid that Hong Ling would quarrel with the young master of the Duan family, who had a bad temper. Men with a high position and power weren’t good things, they would always rely on their power to bully others.

Hong Ling reluctantly listened to her words, “You go and come back quickly.”

Ming Zhu smiled at her, touched her head, and coaxed her like a child, “Alright.”