The mule cart drove into an alley and stopped at the gate of a house. Little Han jumped off the cart first and ordered, "Get off!"
Yingbao climbed out of the carriage shed with a dark face, sat on the shaft and looked around.
As she walked along, she already knew that this was not Qinchuan County. There were clearly engraved large characters on the city gate tower: Zhouhe County.
This little Han was so insidious that she actually brought her to Zhouhe County.
She had originally planned to sneak to Furuifeng Trading Company to ask Zhou Mao for help after arriving in Qinchuan County, but now her plan has fallen through.
She had never been to Zhouhe County before, and when she arrived here she couldn't tell the directions.
Moreover, she was just a three or four-year-old kid walking alone in a strange place, like a lamb to be slaughtered, and could easily be targeted by kidnappers.
Xiao Han winked at the driver, who then carried Yingbao off the mule cart and drove the cart to the side to rest.
Yingbao was brought into the courtyard by Xiao Han, and she heard her whispering threats along the way: "If you dare to talk nonsense, I will cut off your nose, chop off your hands and feet and feed them to the dogs. Do you understand? Hmm?"
Yingbao nodded.
She couldn't confront this woman head-on now, or she might be killed to silence her.
Because Xiao Han's husband was under the county lieutenant and had killed people and seen blood before.
In his previous life, the county lieutenant had sent him to deal with refugees fleeing famine. Chen Guanglu led a group of guards to kill the refugees at will, as crazy as chopping winter melons.
As Chen Guanglu's wife, Xiao Han was accustomed to the smell of human blood and did not even blink when washing her husband's bloody clothes.
"Hey, isn't this his third aunt? How come you have time to come back today?" A middle-aged woman in shabby clothes came over.
Xiao Han smiled and said, "I have a small matter to ask my sister-in-law for help this time. Let's go inside and talk."
"Then hurry up and come in." The eldest sister-in-law of the Chen family glanced at Yingbao and smiled, "Oh, whose child is this? She is so handsome."
Xiao Han: "It's from my eldest sister's family."
As they talked, the two walked into the house.
After being let go by Xiao Han, Yingbao squatted on the ground with her head down, picking at the cracks in the mud, pretending to be a confused three-year-old child.
Xiao Han sat down at the table and said to Aunt Chen, "I came here this time because I wanted to temporarily foster this child with you, so that you wouldn't raise him for nothing. My eldest sister gave me two strings of silver, which will serve as her food allowance for these days."
As he said this, he took out two strings of copper coins and gave them to Mrs. Chen.
Mrs. Chen pretended to refuse: "But there are so many children at home, how much can she eat? How can she take your sister's money? You are too polite, Third Aunt."
"How can I not take the money, sister-in-law?" Xiao Han stuffed the money into Sister-in-law Chen's arms, "Put it away quickly, this is what I meant."
Mrs. Chen took the money and smiled more sincerely, "Then I'll take it."
Xiao Han touched her temples and said, "It's what she deserves. Alas, sister-in-law, you don't know, this child is very naughty and difficult to discipline. Please keep an eye on her and don't let her run outside."
Mrs. Chen nodded repeatedly: "Of course, every child is naughty. Don't worry, I'll ask my daughter to look after her and won't let her run outside."
Xiao Han sighed, "To be honest, this child has been raised in someone else's home since she was young. She has a bad temper and is extremely difficult to discipline. My eldest sister had no choice but to do this. She wanted her to experience some hardship outside so that she would know how difficult it is to be a parent. Alas, I hope that my eldest sister-in-law will take the trouble to take care of her. Don't worry about anything. Just beat her when necessary, but don't beat her to death."
Mrs. Chen blinked her eyes and smiled, "Look at what you said. I think this child is very obedient. How can he be difficult to discipline?"
"Sister-in-law, you don't know, this child looks obedient, but she is actually very hateful and full of lies. Sister-in-law, you can't believe her..."
The two talked for a long time before Xiao Han said goodbye and left. Before leaving, she also told Chen Dasao not to believe anything the child said.
He also said: "If she dares to talk nonsense, sister-in-law, you should slap her hard in the face until she dares not to say anything."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Chen frowned, glanced at the child squatting not far away, and said nothing.
Yingbao didn't say a word. She either squatted in the house or in the corner of the yard, like a frightened quail. No one could pull her away. She insisted on listening to the entire conversation between Xiao Han and Mrs. Chen.
Well, the Han sisters actually had such an idea.
First send her to foster care in another county, and then take her back after the incident has calmed down.
During this period, someone must discipline her well, beat her into obedience, and make her dare not have any other thoughts.
In the eyes of the Han sisters, they were just three-year-old children with a bad memory. In just a year or two, they would forget their original identities.
It doesn't even take a year or two. Under the corporal punishment, he will probably be completely obedient in a month.
After seeing Xiao Han off, Mrs. Chen's face darkened.
He walked up to Yingbao, looked at her coldly, and kicked her lightly with his foot, "Did you hear me? Be good and listen, or don't blame me for hitting you."
Yingbao nodded.
Mrs. Chen turned to her son and daughter who were standing nearby and watching the fun and said, "Keep an eye on her and don't let her leave the yard."
The girl agreed obediently: "I understand, mother."
The boy didn't respond, but just looked at the little girl curiously.
In the afternoon, Chen Dasao's husband came home and saw several little girls in the house. He asked who they belonged to.
Mrs. Chen told him everything, sneering: "That Han is really amazing. She sent her sister's child to our house to raise, and asked me to discipline him. What does she think of me? To let her take care of the Han family's child?"
Chen Da took a sip of porridge and said, "You have already agreed to take over, why are you still talking about this?"
Mrs. Chen rolled her eyes at him and said, "If it wasn't for the two hundred dollars, I would have kicked her out."
Chen Da said nothing.
Two strings of cash is indeed a lot, and my third brother's sister is really willing to spend it.
"Huh! I'm wondering, since the child belongs to her eldest sister, why doesn't she take care of him? She sent him to us so eagerly, didn't she steal him?"
Mrs. Chen kicked her husband and said, "Do you think my guess is correct?"
Chen Da frowned, "If that's the case, we can't keep this child at home."
If this child was really kidnapped, then my family would have to take the blame for the Han sisters.
The imperial court had extremely severe punishments for human trafficking, ranging from beheading to exile to a remote frontier. There was really no need to take such a risk for just a few coins.
"Humph! I knew that Han Yue Niang was not a good person. Is there really a good thing that can benefit our family?" Mrs. Chen snorted, "I haven't seen her come to our house many times in previous years. She came all the way here. It turns out she wants to divert trouble to us."
Chen Da said dissatisfiedly: "What's the point of saying so much? You shouldn't keep this child."
Mrs. Chen rolled her eyes at her husband and said, "I didn't react at that time. The more I listened to her, the more I felt something was wrong. What child is difficult to discipline? I see that the child is very well-behaved, fair and tender, and she is raised so well. I believe she is also very favored at home. But how could Sister Han be willing to send such a favored child to someone else's family to be disciplined
What's the point of saying you can beat and scold her as you like, as long as you don't beat her to death, is there such a way to discipline her? I even suspect that this child is from the family of her enemy of the Han family. They deliberately kidnapped her for revenge."