Chapter 337: Willing to do Anything
Translator: CokeZero Editor: Rainystars
After Wang Wuzuo finished, Lu Jiao immediately flattered him, “Wang Wuzuo, you are amazing! You were able to determine the truth with just one examination. It seems that your skills are better than Song Wuzuo from our Qinghe District. Your abilities are truly incredible.”
Wang Wuzuo was so flattered by Lu Jiao’s praise that he was practically jumping with excitement. “He couldn’t match my autopsy skills! I have so many years of experience,” he exclaimed.
“Of course. Of course.”
Officer Zhao quickly approached Wang Wuzuo and asked, ” Can you sign the autopsy report?”
Without hesitation, Wang Wuzuo answered, “Naturally. The woman was not the killer. How could we let her bear the burden of being a murderer when she didn’t commit the crime? It would be unfair to her.”
Wang Wuzuo decisively signed the autopsy report. Lu Jiao breathed a sigh of relief and left Yizhuang with Wang Wuzuo.
Officer Zhao first escorted Lu Jiao back to the Xie family manor and then sent Wang Wuzuo back to the neighboring district.
In the afternoon, the court released Liu Laidi, and many people in the district learned of the new developments in the case. It turned out that the woman was not the killer, and someone else had committed the murder and framed her. If officer Zhao hadn’t asked Wang Wuzuo from the neighboring district to re-examine the body, an innocent person would have been unjustly executed.
Many people in the district praised officer Zhao for his honesty and justice. As a result, he gained a wave of goodwill and respect from the people.
On the Xie family’s side, Lu Jiao was teaching the children how to count. She had previously taught them numbers from zero to ten and was now teaching them numbers beyond ten.
Because there were so many children, they had a competitive spirit and were all learning very seriously, even Han Dongsheng was studying earnestly.
Outside the room, Lu Gui quickly came in and called out to Lu Jiao, “Sister, Lady Liu has come to see you.”
Lu Jiao immediately knew that Liu Laidi had been released. This was good news.
She told the children to take a break and play outside for a while, and that she would have Master Pan teach them music later.
Lu Jiao went out and instructed Lu Gui to bring Liu Laidi inside.
As soon as Liu Laidi entered, she knelt down to thank Lu Jiao. Although she was timid and weak, she knew that she was able to leave the jail cell smoothly because of Lu Jiao’s help. Otherwise, she would not have been able to leave alive.
“Thank you for saving my life, Lady Lu.”
Lu Jiao walked over and helped her up. “Don’t be so formal. Come, please sit down.”
After she finished her words, she asked Liu Laidi with concern, “What are your plans? Will you go back to the Luo family to take care of the child?”
As soon as Lu Jiao spoke, Liu Laidi suddenly knelt down with a “plop” and burst into tears.
Lu Jiao reached out to pull her up, but she refused to get up. She cried to Lu Jiao, “Lady Lu, please let me stay with you. I’ll do anything for you. I don’t want to go back to the Luo family.”
Luo Xinwu was the hope of the Luo family. The family had scrimped and saved to support him through his studies. Although he was just a scholar, he had brought face to the Luo family. Now that Luo Xinwu had died, the Luo family would definitely blame her.
If she went back to the Luo family, she would have no way out. However, at the same time, she was terrified to go out there to find work. These days, she was really scared of facing other people, especially men.
She only felt calm when she was with Lu Jiao. That’s why she wanted to stay with her and work for her.
Lu Jiao was taken aback. She didn’t expect Liu Laidi to want to stay with her.
“Laidi, you should get up first. I’ll help you find a job.”
She could let Liu Laidi keep company with Lady Xu and have them take care of the shop together in the future.
But Liu Laidi refused to get up. She didn’t want to go outside. She felt scared as soon as she went out. She wanted to hide in a corner and do something that wouldn’t attract anyone’s attention.
Liu Laidi cried and begged Lu Jiao, “Lady Lu, please buy me. I am willing to be your servant. Please take me in and give me a way out.”
Lu Jiao didn’t know what to say. She advised her, “Get up first and we’ll talk about it later.”
“I won’t get up. Please promise to take me in. I won’t even take your money. I just need your help to get my daughter, Xiaoya, back from the Luo family. My daughter and I will stay with you and serve you in the future.”
Her daughter wouldn’t be happy in the Luo family either. She had seen it clearly when she was at the Xie family’s place. Even a servant in the Xie family’s mansion was living a happy life. That’s why she wanted to stay with Lu Jiao and work for her, even if she had to be a servant.
Lu Jiao has never seen anything like this before. She always thought that selling oneself into slavery was a last resort, forced by others. She had never seen anyone willingly sell themselves.
On one side of the hallway, Feng Zhi understood that although being a servant was lowly, if one met a good master, life could be very comfortable. Going outside was harder for women as they were often harassed by men, and even if they had some money, they could be targeted by bad people.
In the main hall, Liu Laidi was still pleading, “Lady, please keep me here. Give my daughter and I a chance.”
Before Lujiao could speak, Xie Yunjin and Lin Dong walked in. Xie Yunjin was not pleased with what he saw and asked, “What’s going on here?”
Lujiao pointed to Liu Laidi and said, “She wants to sell herself to stay with me. I feel like something’s not right about this.”
Xie Yunjin knew Liu Laidi quite well and thought that she was a smart woman who had recognized Lu Jiao’s potential.
Although Liu Laidi was released, her future was difficult. Going back to the Luo family would be torture for her, and if she went out to earn a living, people would know that she had once been accused of killing her husband. Even if they knew it was not her, people would gossip, and she would face difficulties.
Therefore, if she could stay with Lu Jiao, it would be a good way out for her.
Xie Yunjin looked at Lu Jiao and said, “If you think she’s okay, buy her. If not, send her away. Don’t hesitate.”
Lu Jiao looked at Xie Yunjin. Was it really that simple?
Liu Laidi was afraid that Lu Jiao would not want her, so she grabbed Lu Jiao’s dress and cried while making a promise, “Lady Lu, I promise to be loyal and serve you. You don’t need to give us money, just give us food to eat. We have no other requests.”
Seeing her desperation to stay, and thinking about how she had no future if she went out there, Lu Jiao finally agreed, “Okay, I’ll do as you requested. Get up first.”
Liu Laidi excitedly stared at Lu Jiao, “Lady Lu, you are going to keep me?”
Lu Jiao nodded and then said, “But if you stay, you must sign a contract to sell yourself. However, I promise that if you want to leave, I will go to the county office to cancel the contract and grant you and your daughter freedom. If your daughter gets married in the future, I will also give her a dowry..”