C30 (2/2)

Xiaowan shook her head. ”I don't care about her.”

As soon as he said that, the sound of horses could be heard from outside the store. They thought Ershan had returned.

Xiaowan poured a bowl of tea and offered it to Ershan to drink, only to see five well-dressed people barging in from the front. They were not from the yamen, and did not look like they traveled the world either.

”Which one is the shopkeeper?” They said it bluntly, and guessed they weren't natives. The accent sounded like it came from the north.

Ling Chaofeng walked out indifferently and glanced at them. The leader was startled, he would have never thought that they would meet such an extraordinary person in the wilderness. He paused for a moment, then arrogantly said, ”We are from Beijing, and we lost a servant girl in our residence. We chased them all the way here.” He warned the shopkeeper, ”If we see a mother and daughter in such dire straits, if we tie them up and inform us to come get them, my master will definitely reward us handsomely.” If you want to chase them away, we will not hold it against you. However, if you want to hide them and protect them, my master has a great background. If the shopkeeper still wants to do business here, you better listen to me. ”

Ling Chaofeng said indifferently: ”The store is open for business, customers are coming and going, only for tea, wine and food, no need to meddle.”

That person snorted a laugh. ”That would be for the best.” After thinking for a while, he said, ”Since you guys are here, bring me some food. I'm hungry.”

They ate and drank to their heart's content, threw down their silver, and set off, as if to go to the wharf and see, and rode away.

After Ling Chaofeng put away the silver, he did not see Xiaowan in the shop, he was busy packing up and did not care much about it. He thought for a bit, then walked towards the back door, indeed he saw that in the dusk, Xiaowan was holding the package, looking around.

”Where are you going?” Ling Chaofeng asked.

Xiaowan turned around in panic, her lips tightly pursed. His husband had a stern expression as he coldly said, ”Go back to your room.”

When she returned to her own room, Xiaowan was still holding onto her bag. She was really worried that she wasn't able to give these food to the two of them.

The people who claimed to be from Beijing seemed to be looking for them. They were so far away from the capital, how did they get here? And those people were vicious, they didn't seem like good people no matter how one looked at them.

Not long after, Ling Chaofeng also returned to his room and closed the door. The couple looked at each other, Xiaowan's expression was not weak, she had her reasons. Ling Chaofeng did not scold him directly. Instead, he patiently asked what was going on.

He then sighed, ”There are all kinds of people coming and going here every day, begging for food in misery and poverty. Can you manage every single one of them?”

Xiaowan lowered her head and did not make a sound.

Ling Chaofeng said: ”You don't know their background, so you just casually struck out to help them, what's the point in doing so if you bring disaster upon yourself, and cause yourself to be unable to help them?”

He reached out to take out the bundle held in Xiaowan's embrace: ”Give me the thing, don't bother with this matter anymore.”

”But …” The Xiaowan held onto her backpack tightly, and said angrily, ”Hubby, that girl has many wounds on her body. She must be the same as me in the past, getting beaten up everyday. ”Why, why do so many people like to beat people to death? What's so fun about it?”

Ling Chaofeng frowned: ”Is her entire body injured?”

Although he could understand why the Xiaowan would miss out on these two strangers, Ling Chaofeng couldn't help but send people to look for them. They would definitely cause a commotion, and might even harm them.

When she heard that her husband was willing to save the mother and daughter, Xiaowan was at ease and even admitted her wrongs. She shouldn't have hidden it from her husband.

However, after more than ten years of torture, the Xiaowan was extremely sensitive to this kind of thing. The wounds on that girl's body could not be removed from her sight, and she was unable to sleep soundly.

Ling Chaofeng watched as she quietly got up and sat in front of the mirror to comb her makeup. He wasn't as bright and lively as he usually was.

”Bang, bang, bang …” The sound came out suddenly, the shop door was knocked, Xiaowan recovered her senses and stood up, her heart seemed to have sensed something, but seeing that Ling Chaofeng had also stood up and donned her robes, the two of them hurried downstairs. Ershan also dressed up to see what was happening.

Ershan stepped forward to open the door, and as soon as he did, a soft body fell on top of him, causing Ershan to panic. An older woman followed in, her body covered with dust as she knelt on the ground and kowtowed: ”Save us, shopkeeper, please save us ….”

Ling Chaofeng's thick eyebrows slightly knitted, and he heard the faint sounds of horse hooves chasing after them. He also heard Xiaowan shouting, ”Miss, are you awake?”

He looked at Ershan, who quickly carried her and ran to the back. Ling Chaofeng supported the old lady: ”Aunt, follow me.”