"We've made our position clear, if you call a doctor, we have no money," Sister-in-law Zhang suddenly interjected. "You're the ones who insisted on bringing her back!"
"She's not some stranger on the street; she's your daughter. How can you be so heartless?" Lin Ruixia couldn't help but speak up. "My elder brother and I feel for her. How can you be like this?"
"That's because you have money. If you didn't, would you be willing to hire a doctor for a mere girl? You'd rather use that money to buy your son something good to eat and strengthen his body," Sister-in-law Zhang said dismissively, pursing her lips.
Qi Zhenzhen was about to explode upon hearing this. How could such people be parents?
She tried to calm herself down. "Are you planning to sell Fangcao to a human trafficker?"
"What business is it of yours?" The eldest Zhang retorted. "I'm her father. I'll sell her if I want to."
Qi Zhenzhen truly couldn't interfere in this matter. In Da Feng, parents selling their children was not illegal; at most, they would receive a few scolding remarks.
"I'm short of someone to attend to me, and I find Fangcao agreeable. If you're willing, I can pay to buy her," Qi Zhenzhen said as calmly as possible.
"How much money can you get selling her as a maid? Do you think we're fools?" The eldest Zhang said with disdain. "We've already made plans. If she's unwilling to be a concubine, we'll sell her to a pleasure house. Someone will take good care of her there. I hear that even the most spirited ones eventually become obedient. Our Fangcao isn't the most beautiful, but she has some looks, so she'll fetch a good price."
Qi Zhenzhen took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. "How much do you plan to sell her for?"
"Three hundred taels!" The eldest Zhang held up three fingers and waved them. "I've inquired. Many wealthy lords and young masters are willing to pay a high price for a pure girl's first night, without batting an eye. So, this price is definitely achievable."
Fei Xu, who had just come out with a basin, chuckled. "Three hundred taels? You're really asking for the moon. Look at me, am I much worse in appearance than your daughter? Anyone with eyes can see we're not that different. I was almost sold to a pleasure house myself, but it was only eighty taels."
The eldest Zhang's eyes darted around. "You're Miss Qi's maid, of course you're on her side and trying to drive down the price."
Three hundred taels, though Qi Zhenzhen didn't care about the money, she didn't want to let these two heartless people profit.
"Miss, there are plenty of good-looking and well-behaved people with human traffickers in the capital. You can buy the best maids for ten or twenty taels," Er Xi chimed in.
The eldest Zhang clearly knew how much money could be made by selling people to traffickers. His eyes rolled around for a few moments. "We're related by marriage, after all. Selling her to anyone is selling her. Of course, we can't let outsiders benefit. I won't ask for three hundred taels anymore. Two hundred taels, two hundred taels will do."
Qi Zhenzhen glanced at him and lowered her head, saying nothing.
"Not two hundred taels either. One hundred and eighty taels."
"Fei Xu, go see if the doctor has arrived. Quickly check on Fangcao, and then ask my elder uncle to send her back," Qi Zhenzhen instructed Fei Xu, ignoring the eldest Zhang.
The eldest Zhang gritted his teeth. "One hundred taels, that's the lowest."
Fei Xu, who was walking towards the door, turned back. "I was only eighty taels."
The eldest Zhang deflated. "Eighty taels it is."
"If I give you eighty taels, Zhang Fangcao's future, whether she lives or dies, is prosperous or down on her luck, will have nothing to do with you," Qi Zhenzhen said coldly. "I'll write two contracts shortly. You sign and thumbprint them. If there are any entanglements later, don't blame me for turning hostile."
Sister-in-law Zhang nudged her husband. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and agree. She's such a burden; eighty taels isn't a loss. We can build a big house for our son and get him a good wife with this money. It'll be some use she's been to our family."
The eldest Zhang quickly nodded. "Alright, alright, it'll be as you say."
Having such parents was truly tragic. It was fortunate that Zhang Fangcao was unconscious. If she were awake and heard these words, how heartbroken would she be?
Even Sister-in-law Zhang looked astonished and disbelieving. No matter what, she was their own flesh and blood. How could they sell her so readily, without any reluctance? If she were truly sent back to her maiden home, living under their roof and watching their expressions, what fate would await her? She had always thought of finding some advantage for her maiden family, but what if she couldn't? Sister-in-law Zhang couldn't help but shiver. She decided to focus on living well in the Lin family.
The contracts were quickly drawn up, and the Zhang couple happily pressed their thumbprints.
The eight gleaming silver ingots were joyfully tucked into the eldest Zhang's embrace. Without waiting for Lin Ruichun and the others to escort them, the couple left, not even glancing at Zhang Fangcao.
"Your brother and sister-in-law are truly something!" Lin Ruixia said, shaking her head in indignation.
"They are them, and I am different from them. I... I'll go in and see how Fangcao is doing," Sister-in-law Zhang said quickly. "From now on, she's my only relative. I must treat her well."
Qi Zhenzhen gave Sister-in-law Zhang a deep look and said nothing. If Sister-in-law Zhang truly repented because of this matter, it would be a good thing.
At this moment, Lin Ruixue had also invited Doctor Mo back.
"Did she fall?" Doctor Mo asked after taking her pulse.
"She fell from the carriage, onto some stones, hitting her forehead," Lin Ruixia quickly explained.
"Judging by her pulse, there are no major issues. This young girl is lucky to have hit her forehead. If she had hit the back of her head, it would have been much more serious," Doctor Mo said as he opened his needle pouch and took out silver needles to administer to Zhang Fangcao.
After several needles were inserted, Zhang Fangcao, whose eyes had been tightly shut, opened them.
"She's fine now. Go to my place later to get a bottle of ointment and change the dressing on time. However, this wound looks like it might leave a scar. I don't have any good medicine here that can fade scars," Doctor Mo said as he tidied his things.
Zhang Fangcao drooped her head. "A scar would be good."
"What are you saying? What girl would want to be left with a scar?" Doctor Mo glared at her. "Later, when the scab falls off, have your family take you to a medical clinic in the capital to get some medicine. Don't delay; the sooner you use medicine, the better the scar removal effect."
Zhang Fangcao smiled sadly. "Family?"
"Don't worry, Fangcao. Auntie will save money to buy you medicine," Sister-in-law Zhang said quickly. "Your parents don't care about you, but Auntie does."
Zhang Fangcao looked around but didn't see her parents. "Auntie, where are my parents?"
"They've already headed home," Sister-in-law Zhang said. "From now on, consider yourself an orphan. You'll be better off without such heartless people."
"They still planned to sell me for money. How could they just leave like this?" Zhang Fangcao sounded disbelieving.
"When you fainted, your face was covered in blood, it was quite frightening. Your heartless parents didn't even call for a doctor," Sister-in-law Zhang said with a pout. "It was Zhenzhen who called the doctor for you. And another thing, your parents have already sold you to Zhenzhen. Your life or death from now on has nothing to do with them."