Wei limped inside the mansion, his knuckles white and phalanges aching. Rain trickled from his short hair onto the dark blue carpet embroidered with four golden dragons as he glared at the opulent hall.
Red cushions of exquisite quality, sewn by the village’s best tailor, crowned wooden chairs carved from rare dark wood. Like the door, it came from the dangerous forest to the north, making this household the only one that owned such masterpieces.
Anger boiled in his veins when he saw the paintings of Min, his arm wrapped around Qiao’s shoulder while she cradled a toddler, not the girl gripping his pants. How could it be when her parents wore those fine robes and jewellery? A year and two months, that’s all it took them to replace her after...
He forced his thoughts aside, knowing he would fail to suppress his anger if he continued. It would blow up, though. He just needed the right opportunity.
"Humph." The servant who guided him inside snorted and threw him a clean piece of cloth. "We seldom let rats in. They’re too dirty for this noble mansion and only add unnecessary cleaning work to our already busy schedule. Wipe yourself, remove your shoes, and roll your muddy pants up."
Catching the cloth, Wei exhaled. Still, he did as told, using the movement to whisper in the frozen Qing’s ear. "I know it’ll be hard on you, little Qing, but can you trust your uncle and not reveal your identity? In fact, it’ll be better if you don’t speak, or they’ll lie in your face."
With a sigh, he removed the drenched woollen coat he had used to shield her from the rain. He gazed into her pink eyes, blocking off the painting she had been glaring at, a soft smile curving his lips. "Today, you’ll understand the truth. Even if it’ll hurt you, I know you’ll recover. You’re strong, little Qing. You’ve always been."
She shuddered, lowering her head and biting her lips. "I-I don’t understand anything. They were ill and poor. But now they’re wealthy and healthy. T-They even made another baby..."
"They did worse, much worse. And you deserve to know. No, you must know because you’ll never move forward if you continue to adulate them. So please, do as I say." He rose to his feet, sighing.
Despite the shock of finding strangers in the house she had grown up in, despite the confusion of seeing her parents well off, and despite his cryptic words, he watched her fight her tears back with a sniffle and nod.
He didn’t know where she drew such stubborn strength... That was a lie. He knew from whom she inherited it...
He shook his head and walked to the servant, who tapped his foot on the ground a little louder with each second that crawled by. Then, without a word, he followed behind him, ignoring his threats and snorts.
After crossing the hall, the reception room filled with jade potteries, porcelain tea services stored behind glass dressers, and a few maids who placed plates on the long table’s napkin for supper, they reached the living room.
The servant knocked on the door, entering alone after receiving permission. Two minutes later, he came back out and gestured inside. "You’re allowed in. But don’t forget, I’m watching you."
Wei nodded and stepped in. The servant entered behind him, grabbing a club and leaning on the door. But his former neighbors were all that registered.
Sipping tea seated on a purple sofa, Qiao barely gazed at him. She seemed more interested in her polished nails and smoothing her white and green robes than in his presence. Although she entered her late thirties, time did nothing to diminish her beauty. Instead, her brown hair and beige skin glowed healthier than ever now that she could feed herself.
Min, on the other hand, hadn’t changed much. The bastard had always kept his money closer to his heart than his family. Ironically, he was an average-looking man with a protruding nose and sagging dark eyes. And now, those eyes that had pleaded with him countless times were sparkling in mockery, reflected by the poor treatment he offered him.
Bypassing the most basic courtesy of offering a guest to sit, Min waved the red sleeve of his robes. "My, my, isn’t it our dear neighbor? How is life in the slums for a crippled?" He slapped his forehead softly, chuckling. "Oh, I do remember you sold your shop to help us last year. If you came to collect the money, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. We’re still as poor as ever."
Wei snickered. "Enough. I knew you would never return the money, but I lent it anyway. Not to help you—to recover little Qing."
"Tsk." Qiao clicked her tongue while Min rolled his eyes.
But he didn’t give them time to continue with their lies. "That’s why I’m here. That witch, she’ll need someone else soon. I have someone who will please her. Like Qing, she has rare pink eyes and blonde hair." He rubbed his fingers together in the shape of a coin. "I want to be part of your... transactions, for benefit, of course."
Qing paled behind him. Transactions? Did they...
The answer came before her rumbling thoughts could finish to form, the betrayal striking her heart like a hammer blow.
Min, the father she had loved so much, leaned forward, his eyes locking on her as if she were meat on a chopping board. She had become more beautiful, but how could he not recognise her?
And her mother’s look... struck harder. She saw hate—an unrestrained hate that made her cup tremble between her fingers and nose scrunch in disgust.
"Look at you! The oh so caring and honorable carpenter Wei found us today to sell an innocent child." A smirk split Min’s face. "Remind me who barged in this very room, howling like a wounded wolf that he would kill us because we sold that parasite? Ah! How you’ve fallen. I guess tasting how poor we were getting your leg crippled by those you had considered inferior opened your eyes to a fundamental truth: money is everything. Without it, you’re less than an ant."
He pointed at Qing, his voice dripping with amusement. "I’ll give you ten percent for the wench, and that’s my being merciful. After all, you’ll benefit from my relations with the witch and Verdant Peak sect. Hahaha. You won’t even need to stage an illness. We’ll send her straight to the forest."
Qiao shook her head, gesturing at the servant to approach. "I’m fed up with hearing that parasite’s name. The girl is here, the man is a cripple. Why should we give this beggar a dime when we can seize her?"
Her words hung heavy in the air, the steps of the approaching servant echoing the threat Wei would face. Yet, he brought Qing closer and smirked. There was a last truth that had to get out.
"Of course, you dislike mentioning her, you vile serpent." He pointed an accusing finger at her. "How much longer will you hide it?"
Qiao froze, blood draining from her face. "You won’t..."
"I will." He cut her off, glaring at Min. "She asked you several times to kill me, right? And you answered that you would if I ever returned to make a scene. Can you guess why?"
A deep furrow creased Min’s brows. "It indeed happened."
"Don’t listen to him! He’s trying to sow doubt between us!" Qiao lunged at her husband, adopting a submissive, wounded posture. "I beg you, make this hateful man disappear."
The servant raised his club behind Wei, ready to strike. However, Min raised his hand to stop him.
And Wei continued. "Didn’t you say money is everything? Hahaha! My poor friend. You became one of the wealthiest men in the village, yet there is something you’ll never buy: your own child. You’re sterile!"