A Time-Traveling Mishap: I Became an Ancient Nobleman

Chapter 82 Entirely at the Commander's Orders

Li Xianda handed Xiaoxue's indenture to Zhou Hanzhang. Zhou Hanzhang picked it up, looked at it, and after confirming that there were no problems, put it into his pocket.

Jiang Mingyun, puzzled, whispered, "Brother Hanzhang, why didn't you give this indenture to Xiaoxue?"

Zhou Hanzhang shook his head and explained to Jiang Mingyun, "Since Xiaoxue was sold, we naturally can't return the indenture to her. Returning it to her is the same as returning it to her father, which would give him the opportunity to sell her again in the future."

Although Jiang Mingyun had encountered the dark side of human nature in her previous life, she had never encountered the kind of darkness that Xiaoxue was in.

She experienced hardship, but she was never poor.

Zhou Hanzhang looked at her blank expression and sighed. Why did God give her a second chance at life, but not a good brain?

Well, since I've run into this situation, I might as well keep an eye on things.

What kind of father would sell his own child again and again?

Xiaoxue's father remained hidden in the inner room and did not come out. Jiang Mingyun thought that he should look through the dilapidated door to see what kind of evil spirit was inside.

But the inside and outside of the door were like two different worlds, and they couldn't see each other at all.

After a long while, when the person inside heard no movement outside, they cautiously opened the door a crack and peered through it with shifty eyes.

He was surprised to find that his daughter was still outside the door and had not been taken away by Huangshi, so he opened the door.

Only after the door was fully opened did he discover that Fang Niu and Zhou Hanzhang were also there.

He didn't care why his daughter hadn't been taken away; he only knew that the people Fang Niu was with were dressed in rich clothes and their demeanor clearly indicated they were not from ordinary families.

His eyes gleamed, and he walked up to Zhou Hanzhang and the others with a smile, bowing to them and saying, "Greetings, esteemed guests."

After bowing, he came to Xiaoxue and Fangniu. Fangniu saw that the man's face was bulging with anger and he was about to ask for an explanation.

Xiaoxue grabbed his hand, shook her head, and tears fell again.

"Ah Niu is back! That's great news, great news..."

The tofu seller made no mention of selling his daughter or the promise he made to marry Xiaoxue to Fang Niu when he received the money.

He figured that since his daughter had stayed, it must have been Fang Niu and his men who had helped him settle his debts.

He immediately put on the act of a loving father, reaching out to help Xiaoxue, "Daughter, it's all over now. Let's go home. Aniu is back too. Everything will be alright."

Xiaoxue flung his hand away, saying, "You've already sold me to someone else. I'm no longer your daughter."

The tofu seller was embarrassed by Xiaoxue's words, but since his important person was right beside him, he couldn't get angry. He could only force a smile and say, "What nonsense are you talking about, girl? Even if I sell you, you're still my daughter."

Xiaoxue laughed sadly, "Go and ask around, which family's sold daughter can still come home and recognize her father?"

"You didn't sell it, did you?"

"Heh, you didn't sell it? Didn't you take the money? Did you change your mind and not sell it to me? Why didn't you come out when I was being pulled outside the door?"

Now that Master Huang is gone, you finally remember you have a daughter like me?

I'm telling you, you've sold me. From the moment you sold me, I was no longer your daughter.

Over the years, because of your gambling addiction, your mother fell ill and died because we couldn't afford medical treatment. I've been getting up early every day to make and sell tofu, and all the money I've saved has gone to pay off your gambling debts.

Even Ah Niu took most of my wages, and you showed no remorse or restraint. Instead, you became even more brazen, plotting to sell me to that person!

"Which of Master Huang's concubines survives more than a year? You don't care about my life or death; you only care about yourself!"

After Xiaoxue said those words, the tofu seller blushed, not because he was ashamed, but because he felt embarrassed that Xiaoxue was talking to him like that with Zhou Hanzhang and the others around.

He reached out to hit Xiaoxue, but Fang Niu stopped him in time.

Zhou Hanzhang quickly added, "Old man, I bought Xiaoxue from Master Huang with real money. Now she's mine, and you can't just beat or scold her like that."

Seeing that Zhou Hanzhang and the others had turned cold, the tofu seller quickly put on a smile, "I'm used to it, I just forgot that I had already sold her."

But my sir, Xiaoxue is a born wretched child, just like her dead mother. She needs to be beaten a lot to obey. If she goes back to disobeying, then beat her hard, don't hold back."

Jiang Mingyun was very angry when she saw this kind of person, but she didn't know what to say.

How can someone be so heartless towards their own daughter and say such cold words?

A thought faintly rose in her mind.

It was this one thought that helped many women in distress in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Zhou Hanzhang didn't want to get entangled with this kind of person any longer, so he said to Xiaoxue and Fang Niu, "You two come with me."

The tofu seller still tried to make a last-ditch effort, saying, "May I ask which family you are, sir? If I miss my daughter later, I can go and visit her."

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything, because once he did, Zhou Hanzhang was determined to eliminate him completely.

She handed the IOU she had just taken from Huang Shiren to He Shi, saying, "Go and sue the authorities. Tell them someone owes money and won't pay it back. I won't ask him to pay it back; I'll just say I hope he can spend his life in jail or be exiled three thousand miles away."

After saying that, she glanced at Xiaoxue and asked, "You don't have any objections, do you?"

"It is entirely up to you, young master."

The tofu seller was shocked when he heard this and reached out to hit Xiaoxue again, but Fang Niu stopped him, saying, "Uncle Hong, this is not appropriate. Xiaoxue is no longer your family."

The tofu seller glared at Zhou Hanzhang, "I've already sold my daughter to you, and you still can't pay off my debts?"

"Have you forgotten how much debt you yourself owe?"

Xiaoxue chuckled and couldn't help but continue, "How much am I, the daughter of a tofu seller, worth? Do you really think that selling me to Master Huang will pay off all your debts? Don't be naive. Besides, you owe more than just Master Huang's family."

They arrived very quickly; in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they had already brought the officials over.

The officials naturally recognized the men in front of them. After bowing and greeting them, the leader approached Zhou Hanzhang and asked, "Which one of you has offended the young prince?"

Zhou Hanzhang gave a signal, and the officers immediately took control of the tofu seller.

“He’s old, so don’t torture him. But it’s only right to pay back debts. We’re not unreasonable people. If he can pay, that’s fine. I can also send my daughter back to him. If he can’t pay, then I’ll have to trouble you to handle things fairly and just do what’s right.”