Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Zong Wenxiu's comforting words got stuck in his throat.

His brother had really outdone himself this time.

This way of offering comfort was truly unique!

Xu Wan couldn't help but roll her eyes at the sky again. Listening to the little demon's words was always a precarious balance between being infuriated and amused.

With such a bizarre thought process, why didn't it make people panic instead?

Jing Zhe: "......" He was furious but dared not speak out.

After all, he had accepted help and was now being treated with medicine. The child, covered in ointment, ultimately refrained from retorting.

With the assistance of the servant, Jing Zhe was helped onto the carriage. Xu Wan accompanied him all the way home, which also happened to be their destination for the day.

The slums.

This was a desolate, abandoned city, dark, dirty, and noisy, filled with the poorest residents of the Capital City. The constant coughing of the inhabitants revealed a heavy atmosphere of illness and death.

The little demon had never been to such a place before. He instinctively clutched Zong Wenxiu's sleeve, trembling with fear as he asked, "What kind of place is this? Is this wicked woman planning to abandon us here? Abandoning children is against the law!"

Before Zong Wenxiu could explain, Jing Zhe looked up earnestly and said, "No child traffickers would come here to pick kids."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Why?" the little demon asked instinctively.

"Because... it's dirty," Jing Zhe hesitated to be more specific. Many of the children here were sick, and even those who weren't were filthy. The noble families would surely disdain them even more.

"Oh," Zong Jincheng assumed he meant the traffickers found the place too dirty and quickly understood, thinking it was too filthy for anyone to want to come. Initially, he had tiptoed through the area, but upon realizing there was no clean spot, he decided to just give up and treat it like wading through mud.

After all, he didn't have to wash his clothes or shoes himself.

However, as they ventured deeper, the little demon gripped Zong Wenxiu's arm even tighter. In addition to many sickly old people and women, there were also numerous children of his age, living like countless other Jing Zhe's.

They endured the coldest winters with only a few tattered rags to cover themselves; their faces were sallow and emaciated due to hunger, their bones protruding frighteningly.

Zong Jincheng felt a bit uncomfortable.

He had never seen such a place, so many impoverished people.

Zong Jincheng almost wanted to ask if the man's brain was malfunctioning.

Steward Zhai calmly replied, "It was our young master's specific request to choose younger ones. Starting to cultivate affection from a young age is more intimate. For our manor, it's just an extra pair of chopsticks. They'll grow up in a few years."

Xu Wan listened silently, her gaze scrutinizing him.

His voice was weak, his eyes shifty, his smile obsequious.

A slippery old fox.

Xu Wan asked, "Why did Steward Zhai come here to pick children? I heard that even child traffickers don't want to come here."

Steward Zhai smiled, "The children sold by traffickers are too old. Our young master wants to raise a few little playthings, and only here can you find them. Look, their family is so poor they can't even eat or wear warm clothes. If they come back with us to the manor, they certainly won't be mistreated."

What he said was true.

Even if they were just foot-washing maids in the Marquis Manor, their lives would undoubtedly be more comfortable than here.

However, something just felt off.

Xu Wan asked, "Steward Zhai, does the Weiyuan Earl Manor have the proper documentation to take this child?"

Even if children from the slums were to be sold, they needed to sign a contract to ensure the rights and interests of both parties.

Otherwise, that would be considered kidnapping.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the topic of the contract came up, Steward Zhai's expression changed immediately.

In less than a second, Xu Wan noticed a flash of ferocity in his eyes, but it quickly returned to his usual smooth and cunning smile.

"Since this child is a friend of Master Jincheng, then I naturally cannot force the matter. Come, release her," Steward Zhai said, then apologized to Zong Jincheng, "I'm sorry for disturbing Master Jincheng. We have urgent matters at the manor, so we'll talk another day."

The fierce servants all let go, and Steward Zhai quickly left with them.

Jing Zhe hurriedly went to take his sister.

Zong Wenxiu was seeing his brother's influence in action for the first time and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "Jincheng, your face is really big. He let go without a word!"

If he had been alone here, he certainly wouldn't have been able to do anything about the people from the Weiyuan Earl Manor.

Zong Jincheng, feeling flattered, proudly said, "Of course, who would dare not give face to this young master? Unlike some people, who didn't even get a farewell greeting when they left!"