Chapter 228: Chapter 228 The Seventh Concubine Auntie Chapter 228: Chapter 228 The Seventh Concubine Auntie “Miss, how about coming back with me to be the seventh concubine? You’ll get to sit in a big house, eat and drink well, and have maids to serve you–you won’t have to show your face here and scrape together a few copper coins in pity anymore,” the man said with a laugh, inching closer to Xuexue, reaching out his evil claws, trying to pinch her little chin and touch her soft, smooth face.
Xuexue turned her face away, avoiding him, and said coldly, “Scram.”
“Oh! This girl has quite the temper, spicy like these fish here, strong and flavorful, I like it, ahahaha…!” Not only was the man not angry, but he also burst into laughter.
This Master Zhang, in his forties, was corpulent and pale-faced; one could tell at a glance that he was the type whose vitality had nearly been drained by excessive indulgence in women.
A few companions also burst into laughter and said, “Miss, don’t be ungrateful. Do you know who Master Zhang is? He’s a major figure in the town; if you want to get by in Jingshan Town, it’s best not to offend him.”
Xuexue, with a cold laugh, said, “I mind my own business, you walk your sunny path; we do not interfere with each other, so what’s this about offending someone?”
Suddenly, the man’s face changed, “You think you can escape me once I’ve set my eyes on you?”
Seeing Xuexue being harassed by a few hooligans, Auntie Zhang hurried over, trying to appease with a smile, “Hehe! Master Zhang, Xuexue already has a fiance.”
“Just a fiance, even if she were married, it’s her fortune to catch my eye, and she must come with me,” Master Zhang declared, looking domineering and glaring fiercely, emphasizing each word.
Xuexue was infuriated by his unreasonable tone, glaring back at him fiercely and said loudly, “It’s broad daylight now, a clear and bright world, do you intend to abduct a civilian girl by force?”
“Ahahaha…! Anyway, it’s not the first time I’ve done this,” Master Zhang laughed loudly, his jowly face quivering, which was quite frightening.
The companions also joined in the laughter. Master Zhang had backers in Jingshan Town; otherwise, they wouldn’t be fawning over him. Snatching a few virtuous women to be concubines wasn’t much of a big deal; after all, his Sixth Aunt and others were also snatched from the streets, initially struggling desperately, but now they quietly waited for his return home to favor them.
“Wifey, wifey, did they bully you?” Big Bull came back from the end of the street, holding a small bowl that originally contained some mud eels for sampling, which were now all gone. Following him were a few customers who, having tasted and liked the mud eels, followed him back to buy some.
“Husband, they are bullying me,” Xuexue said as she moved forward to hold onto Big Bull’s arm, voicing her grievance.
“Oh dear, is it you, this pretty boy, competing with me for a woman?” Master Zhang looked Big Bull up and down with disdain. Just because he’s a bit more handsome and younger? What use is that? He has no silver, what right does this pauper have to compete with me for a woman?
Auntie Zhang, pacing worriedly, thought about how Xuexue had gotten herself involved with this thug. He was the elder brother of the shopkeeper of the Great Harmony Restaurant, notoriously domineering around here and had already snatched several virtuous women to be his concubines.
Taking advantage of Master Zhang speaking with Big Bull, she quietly pulled Xuexue aside and explained the stakes to her.
Xuexue pouted, “Great Harmony Restaurant is nothing great; one day, I’ll tear down its signboard and see how arrogant they can be.”
“Oh my, keep your voice down, girl. They’re not someone we can afford to provoke,” Auntie Zhang hastily covered Xuexue’s mouth, this girl just didn’t understand the severity of the situation.