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墨書 Inktalez
A few days later, Zhou Cuiping braved the wind and rain to reach the cave. She deliberately made herself look disheveled, drenched and with a swollen face. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her face was red and puffy, clearly showing that she had suffered greatly.
"Young Master Gu..." Zhou Cuiping threw herself into Gu Sheng's arms, crying heart-wrenchingly as if her heart were being torn apart. Gu Sheng was startled and at a loss for how to comfort her.
"Miss Zhou, what happened?"
After crying for a while, Zhou Cuiping pulled herself out of Gu Sheng's embrace, seemingly remembering what had just occurred, and managed a shy smile. She tidied her clothes and hair before stepping outside.
Gu Sheng, worried about her, couldn't help but ask, "Miss Zhou, what exactly happened?"
Zhou Cuiping was touched by his concern and began to cry again. Through her sobs, she recounted her experiences.
"I was sold as a child and treated as a child bride, forced to do endless chores. I was beaten and scolded every day. Today, my so-called father hit me again and said that if I didn't behave, he would sell me to a brothel..."
Gu Sheng listened, his heart aching for her. "Miss Zhou, you truly have a hard life."
"Once I'm better, come back with me to the capital. I'll take you away," he promised.
Feeling uplifted at the thought of leaving this wretched place soon, Zhou Cuiping returned home with a smile. However, Old Man Zhou was still harsh with her, scolding her for not cutting pig grass and saying it affected Dalang's reputation.
"Cuiping, are you doing this on purpose? Do you want to ruin our Dalang's chances of marrying a good wife?"
"Father, I didn't," Zhou Cuiping replied obediently. "I'll go cut pig grass on the mountain now."
On the surface, she appeared compliant, but inside she had already made up her mind. Once she soared to success like a phoenix, the first person she wouldn't forgive would be Old Man Zhou!
After the rain cleared, Su Xiawei took Su Xiaoxiao up the mountain to see if there were any treasures to be found.
"Sister, look! There's a cave!"
Su Xiaoxiao was very excited, thinking there might be wild boars inside. She ran over and saw Gu Sheng.
"Cousin!"
Su Xiaoxiao exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
Gu Sheng was equally surprised to encounter Su Xiaoxiao in this place.
"Xiaoxiao."
He refused to go home with her, insisting on staying in the cave. Despite Su Xiaoxiao and Su Xiawei's persistent persuasion, Gu Sheng remained adamant about not leaving, and suddenly fainted. The two of them carried him back home.
Zhou Cuiping went up the mountain to look for Gu Sheng but found he was missing. Furious, she yelled and caused a scene on the mountain.
"Gu Sheng, you big liar!"
"You wasted my ginseng and spiritual mushrooms!"
"If I find you, I will make you pay!"
When Gu Sheng woke up, his first words were that he wanted to return to the cave. No matter how Su Xiaoxiao tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen. As his health gradually improved, he immediately went to find Zhou Cuiping.
Before he could locate her, he stumbled upon her arguing with Zhao Dalang.
Zhao Dalang had just returned from town and was asking Old Man Zhou for money. Old Man Zhou felt pained but still handed over twenty taels.
"Dalang, your father has no money; you need to save this."
"You must study hard and not waste my efforts."
"I know."
Zhao Dalang replied impatiently, "I still need to go back to study; I’ll be on my way."
"Wait!"
Zhou Cuiping was furious. "Zhao Dalang, have you been studying properly?"
"Why are you spending so much money?"
"This is the hard-earned money of our family; you can't spend it like this!"
Zhao Dalang was impatient and pushed her away. "You worthless woman, who do you think you are to control me?"
Zhou Cuiping didn't notice Gu Sheng; she snatched Zhao Dalang's silver and scolded him. "Why do you need to spend so much on your studies?"
"You just loaf around every day, doing nothing but spending money!"
Zhao Dalang became even angrier and shoved her aside. Zhou Cuiping fell to the ground, and Gu Sheng hurried over to help her up.
"Miss Zhou, are you alright?"
Seeing Gu Sheng, Zhou Cuiping's eyes flickered, then she suddenly looked down, feeling lost and wronged.
"Young Master Gu, I thought you didn't want me anymore."
"How could that be?"
Gu Sheng felt extremely guilty. "I'm sorry, Miss Zhou; I didn't mean to leave."
Zhao Dalang, seeing their closeness, felt both angry and jealous. "Who are you two? What is your relationship?"
Zhou Cuiping lowered her head, fearfully shrinking into Gu Sheng's embrace.
Gu Sheng held her tighter. "Miss Zhou, there's no need to be afraid."
Zhao Dalang clenched his fists in anger and swung at Gu Sheng.
Gu Sheng kicked him down.
Su Xiawei witnessed everything; she pretended to mediate, helping Zhao Dalang up before rushing to inform the Zhou family.
Old Man Zhou arrived with people and saw his son beaten; he trembled with rage.
"How dare you, you shameless woman! You actually seduced a man to beat your brother!"
Gu Sheng protected Zhou Cuiping behind him. "She is my benefactor; I want to take her away."
"Impossible!"
Old Man Zhou flatly refused. "I bought her with my money; she eats and drinks from me. I have raised her."
"I won't let her go."
Many villagers gathered around, pointing and whispering among themselves. Some said Zhou Cuiping had struck it rich, while others felt sorry for the Zhou family.
Su Xiawei feigned concern and said, "Uncle Zhou, just name your price. Don't make your daughter sad."
Old Man Zhou glanced at Zhou Cuiping and then at Gu Sheng. "Let me think it over."
Zhou Cuiping was taken back home, and Gu Sheng shouted from a distance, "Cuiping, wait for me! I'll come back for you!"
Su Xiaoxiao watched all of this unfold, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart.
When Gu Sheng returned to the Li Family, Su Xiawei stopped him. "One hundred taels for the medical expenses."
Gu Sheng laughed in anger. "I don't have any money; I'll pay you back when I return to the capital."
"That's not acceptable."
Su Xiawei shook her head. "If you don't have money, then go back to your cave."
Fuming, Gu Sheng cursed at her and went off to find Su Xiaoxiao.
Su Xiaoxiao ignored him as she sat on the rooftop. Unable to find her, Gu Sheng cursed again and stormed off in frustration.
Su Xiawei climbed up to the rooftop and sat beside Su Xiaoxiao. "Sister, will you come back to the capital with me?"
Su Xiaoxiao leaned against her shoulder, her eyes filled with hope. "Of course I will."
Su Xiawei patted her head. "You're my favorite."
"Hehe."
Su Xiaoxiao chuckled. "Actually, my cousin is pretty nice to me; I just think what he's doing is wrong."
"Xiaoxiao is amazing."
"I don't have any feelings for him, and he doesn't feel deeply for me either, so it doesn't matter."
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