Lai Si had just overheard the conversation between the pockmarked man and the little girl, and now he too was plunged into silence.
The pockmarked man considered for a moment and found his stomach didn’t hurt as much. Content orıginally comes from n̷o̷v̷e̷l̷f̷i̷r̷e̷.net
He walked over to Lai Si.
"Boss," the pockmarked man lowered his voice, "how about we let this girl go? It’s been this long, her family must be going crazy with worry."
Lai Si was silent for a moment, then asked, "Give up the money? But the young master promised he’d give us 300 taels of silver."
The pockmarked man sighed, "It’s a lot of silver, but in these past years, we’ve done plenty that goes against our conscience."
"This girl is too innocent. That young master wants us to capture her and then deliver her safely to the village house at the foot of the mountain."
"Boss, think about it, aren’t we just helping him in child trafficking?"
"This little girl was doing fine in the Capital, if she’s sold to someone to be a maid, look at her tender skin and little strength, how long could she really survive?"
Lai Si looked at the pockmarked man, wanting to say something, but ultimately stayed silent.
The pockmarked man continued to persuade, "We haven’t gone far yet, let’s just return the child!"
"We can even return the silver to the young master. This kind of money that shortens your life, it’s hard to sleep well at night holding onto it."
Lai Si was inclined to agree.
However, his few brothers were still following him.
After getting out of prison this time, none of them had a single coin on them.
Give up this job, and they’d be back to struggling for their next meal.
Lai Si closed his eyes, hardened his heart, and said, "Don’t bring it up again, we’re just delivering her, once that’s done we’re not responsible for anything else!"
The pockmarked man was anxious, "Boss!"
Lai Si waved him off, sternly rebuking, "Don’t mention it again!"
The pockmarked man gritted his teeth.
Lai Si leaned back in his chair, resting with his eyes closed.
The accomplice who’d been knocked out on the floor still hadn’t woken up.
Bai Zhi’er sat back on the table, swinging her little feet.
She was being very obedient at this moment, not making any more noise about being hungry.
The pockmarked man glanced at Lai Si, then slowly shuffled over to Bai Zhi’er’s side.
"Little girl, I’ll get you out of here, stay quiet!" the pockmarked man whispered.
Bai Zhi’er blinked her bright eyes, and softly asked with her small, childlike voice, "Aren’t we waiting for the chubby-faced uncle to come back? Didn’t he go out to find food?"
The pockmarked man picked her up from the table.
"No need to wait, I need to get you out of here, otherwise, you won’t be able to escape! We’re kidnapping you, not really taking you to find your father."
Perhaps due to a small remaining sense of conscience, the pockmarked man told Bai Zhi’er the truth.
The little girl’s round eyes were clear and bright.
This bad uncle actually confessed.
The pockmarked man took Bai Zhi’er by the hand, cautiously heading towards the door, fearful of waking up the sleeping Lai Si.
The pockmarked man stepped on a wooden plank, which cracked with a loud "snap."
Bai Zhi’er looked up, her big, innocent eyes clear as water, watching him.
The pockmarked man swallowed hard.
Hadn’t Lai Si been woken by the noise?
He turned his head slightly and saw Lai Si still leaning against the chair, appearing to be asleep.
The pockmarked man hurriedly pulled his foot out, taking Bai Zhi’er by the hand towards the door.
Little did he know, Lai Si opened one eye just a sliver, watching as they were about to leave.
A trace of helplessness flashed through his eyes, and he finally chose to close them again.
Let’s just pretend I didn’t see it, let them run if they can.
However, just as the pockmarked man reached the door with Bai Zhi’er.
They heard a comrade’s round-faced man scream from outside—
"Boss! Run! Run! A beast is coming!"