My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 55 Farewell (3)

As dusk fell, various sounds arose from all around, mixed with Xiao Fuzi's suppressed sobs. Lin Ziping felt a pang of fear, took out his tinderbox, and lit a fire. The light dispelled the chill on his body and the fear in his heart.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Fuzi stopped crying, kowtowed towards Chunfan's grave, and sat down next to Lin Ziping.

"Go wash up." Lin Ziping handed the water bag hanging on the horse's back to Xiao Fuzi.

Xiao Fuzi took the water bag: "Thank you."

Perhaps because he had been crying for too long, Xiao Fuzi's voice was a little hoarse, and his face was a mess. Lin Ziping thought for a moment and then took out a handkerchief for him: "Wipe it off."

Xiao Fuzi emptied the water from her water bag, washed herself casually, took the handkerchief to wipe herself, and bowed to Lin Ziping, saying, "Thank you, Young Master Ziping."

Lin Ziping waved his hand, took out a pancake wrapped in oil paper and handed it to Xiao Fuzi: "Have something to eat."

Both the water pouch and the bread were hung on the horse. The bread was similar to Xinjiang naan, which was rather dry but filling.

In this era, there were no thermos cups, toilet paper, or convenience stores everywhere. Coupled with his experience of being abducted during the Lantern Festival, water, food, tinder, and handkerchiefs have become the four essential items for Lin Ziping when he goes out.

Neither of them spoke. Xiao Fuzi ate rather politely, the firelight casting flickering shadows on his face.

Xiao Fuzi has grown into a young man with rosy cheeks and white teeth, exuding a natural charm. His green clothes are now covered in mud and hang loosely on his body.

Lin Ziping hadn't noticed it before, but now he realized there was something wrong with the clothes; any sudden movement could risk them getting close to the edge.

Lin Ziping pulled his clothes tighter. Yes, boys also need to protect themselves when they're out.

"What's wrong with Young Master Ziping?" Xiao Fuzi looked at Lin Ziping with a puzzled expression, her eyes filled with tears that reflected the firelight.

"It's a bit cold, be careful not to catch a cold." Lin Ziping put two branches into the fire. "We can't go back tonight, so we'll just have to make do here for the night."

"okay."

Lin Ziping surveyed the surroundings. Xiao Fuzi had just finished crying uncontrollably. He had found a clean spot nearby, but it wasn't far from the cemetery, and he could still see faint green lights coming from the direction of the cemetery, which was rather eerie. He considered suggesting they move to another spot, but after looking at Xiao Fuzi staring at the fire and mechanically chewing, he decided to leave it at that.

Maintaining a calm demeanor, Lin Ziping silently recited the core values ​​in his mind, recalling the phenomenon of spontaneous combustion of white phosphorus that his teacher had talked about in class, trying to defeat magic with science.

"Young Master Ziping, thank you," Xiao Fuzi said softly.

Lin Ziping suppressed his fear, maintained a composed expression, and asked casually, "Is that Chunfan? What happened?"

Xiao Fuzi remained silent for a long time, and Lin Ziping did not press her further. It was easy for outsiders to offer concern and comfort for such a major event as life and death, but as bystanders, they could not remain completely indifferent and ignore it.

"Sister Chunfan was beaten to death by the Jia family." Xiao Fuzi's voice was a little soft.

The Jia family? Jia Daneng?

"Sister Chunfan went to the Jia family two days ago. That idiot in the Jia family went crazy and... he humiliated her... to death, and even cut off her hands, saying that he liked the zither she played." Xiao Fuzi clenched her fists.

Lin Ziping was shocked. Humiliated to death? Just because someone likes playing the piano, they cut off their hand? What kind of logic is that?

"What about Chunhua Tower? Didn't they report it to the authorities?"

"Hmph, Chunhua Tower, they took Sister Chunfan back and threw her into the mass grave. I... I bribed two guards to bring Sister Chunfan's body here." Xiao Fuzi's voice trembled slightly.

"This..." Lin Ziping thought of the government, the law, and He Jinbao's words, "How much money can a girl get even if she's sold?" and fell silent.

“Young Master Ziping, I know you’re a good person. I… I plotted… and killed that fool from the Jia family. I promised Xiaochunzi I would take good care of Sister Chunfan, but… but Sister Chunfan is dead. I’m so sorry to them,” Xiaofuzi sobbed.

Lin Ziping didn't say anything, but took out another handkerchief and handed it to Xiao Fuzi.

Xiao Fuzi gripped the handkerchief tightly, burying her head in her knees to prevent Lin Ziping from seeing her face.

“Young Master Ziping, I’ve never told you this before. My mother was a prostitute at Chunhua Brothel. I’m an illegitimate child whose father I don’t know. When I was six, my mother… gave me to one of her patrons. That man… treated me… abused me wantonly. I hate her so much. But then she died, and I became a motherless person. Everyone said I should die with my mother, but why? I want to live! To live, I followed Master Jiang.” Xiao Fuzi spoke haltingly, his words carrying a thousand pounds of weight.

"Master Jiang?" Lin Ziping murmured.

“Yes, it was Master Jiang, the one who kidnapped you all during the Lantern Festival.” Xiao Fuzi’s voice came in a low voice. “I mingled among the kidnapped children and passed the message to Master Jiang’s men. We were tied up together in the cave. Eighth Master stabbing my hand was just an act. This act had been performed many times. Everyone else was scared and obedient. But Young Master Ziping, you stepped forward to treat my wound and prepared to take me with you to escape… I…”

Xiao Fuzi paused, then continued, "Later, I reported Master Jiang to the authorities, but Master Jiang wasn't arrested. Eighth Master and Dashan were pushed forward to take the blame. I was beaten up by Master Jiang and had to apologize to his men. It was Xiao Chunzi and Sister Chunfan who saved me. I don't regret it at all this time. You helped me, Young Master Ziping, you're a good person. But Xiao Chunzi and Sister Chunfan think that Young Master Ziping is just like everyone else, that I've done something foolish. Xiao Chunzi injured a customer at Chunhua Tower and almost lost her life... her manhood was almost gone. I thought if Young Master Ziping were here, he would definitely save Xiao Chunzi. Maybe heaven still had pity on me and heard my voice. A few days later, I saw Young Master Ziping at Chunhua Tower, and Young Master Ziping really did save Xiao Chunzi."

Lin Ziping was completely stunned, astonished, and filled with pity for Xiao Fuzi's plight.

Xiao Fuzi seemed to feel something and said, "Young Master Ziping, there's no need to pity me. That's just how the world is. I was just trying to survive. After Dashan died, his son Xiaoshan was also sent to the brothel. Xiao Chunzi recognized Xiaoshan. Xiaoshan was the last person he saw before entering Chunhua Brothel. Xiao Chunzi helped Xiaoshan find his home, but Dashan kidnapped him and sold him to Chunhua Brothel. Some people think their own children are children, while other people's children are commodities that can be abused and bought and sold at will. Xiao Chunzi became Dashan's pledge of loyalty to Chunhua Brothel. Xiao Chunzi killed Xiaoshan, the one who guided him. That's fair."

Was Xiaochunzi abducted by Dashan? Was Xiaochunzi... injured? Did Xiaochunzi kill Xiaoshan? Lin Ziping sorted through the information in Xiaofuzi's words and felt his worldview being shaken.

“We are filthy and vicious, and only deserve to live like rats in a stinking ditch. But why did they beat Sister Chunfan to death? Sister Chunfan did nothing wrong!” Xiao Fuzi suddenly broke down and stood up.

"Xiao Fuzi, Xiao Fuzi, calm down!" Lin Ziping stood up and said to Xiao Fuzi, but he was caught up in his own emotions and couldn't extricate himself. Lin Ziping chopped him on the neck with a knife.

Lin Ziping frowned as he caught Xiao Fuzi's fallen body. He was too thin; even through his clothes, he felt a bit uncomfortable to the touch. Without thinking further, he gently placed him on the ground.

After carefully recalling what Xiao Fuzi had said, Lin Ziping sighed. He had never encountered such a situation before and had no idea how to handle it. If he reported it to the authorities, he felt that it wasn't just one party's fault; if he didn't report it, it didn't align with the education he had received over the years.

He glanced at Xiao Fuzi, added two more pieces of firewood to the fire, and decided to wait until he woke up tomorrow.

The next day, Lin Ziping opened his eyes. He didn't know when he had fallen asleep. There were still embers in the fire. He was wearing Xiao Fuzi's green clothes. There was a pile of grass where he had tied his horse, and the horse was eating happily. But Xiao Fuzi was nowhere to be seen, and the cart he had brought was also gone.

After getting up and tidying up, Lin Ziping searched the surrounding area but found nothing. He returned to his original spot and continued to wait, but Xiao Fuzi still didn't appear. Recalling what Xiao Fuzi had said last night, he guessed that he had already left.

Lin Ziping did not linger and rode back to Qingyang County.