"I've given you the money. You must obediently come back with me and be my concubine's maid. There's no room for your refusal!" the fat - faced man said menacingly.
Mu Fengqie looked at the little girl in the crowd. She seemed to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, a bit younger than Mu Fengqie was now. At this age, it was common for girls to get married or be a concubine's maid.
The little girl was wearing mourning clothes, and the sign under her feet read "Selling myself to bury my father". It seemed that the fat - faced man had taken a fancy to this little girl and wanted to take her back as a concubine's maid, but the little girl was unwilling.
Jing Xinche didn't like such a noisy environment. He originally wanted to take Mu Fengqie away, but Mu Fengqie stood still and refused to leave.
Looking at the little girl's helpless expression, Mu Fengqie's motherly love welled up. In her world, children of this age were all the apples of their parents' eyes, but the little girl in front of her had to go through so much at such a young age.
Just by looking at his face, one could tell that the fat - faced man was no good. If the little girl went back with him, she might be treated inhumanely.
"I don't want to be a concubine's maid. I'm willing to be a servant for the master for a lifetime, but... but..."
Hearing the little girl's desperate plea, the man's face was filled with impatience. "But what? Since I've paid to buy you, it's up to me! Hurry up and come with me!"
After saying that, the servant beside the fat - faced man started to pull the girl. The little girl cried desperately and struggled constantly. None of the onlookers stepped forward to help. The little girl looked around, her eyes full of pleading.
Mu Fengqie, being of an older age, couldn't bear to see such a scene. Looking at the little girl's pleading eyes, Mu Fengqie made a bold decision.
"Wait!"
Mu Fengqie's sudden voice caught everyone's attention. Jing Xinche, who was following beside Mu Fengqie, held her hand. He knew Mu Fengqie was soft - hearted. Since she wanted to intervene in this matter today, he wouldn't let her be wronged.
"What? Do you, little lady, also want to go home with me?" The man showed a lecherous expression and stared at Mu Fengqie.
Mu Fengqie was much more beautiful than the little girl. The man didn't notice Jing Xinche beside Mu Fengqie and thought she was alone.
He thought he was in luck today and had a wonderful encounter. He could get a beautiful young woman and a cute little girl in one outing.
Jing Xinche stepped forward and stood in front of Mu Fengqie, just blocking the man's lecherous gaze. Mu Fengqie noticed Jing Xinche's action and couldn't help laughing. Was he jealous?
"May I ask, sir, how much silver did you pay to buy her?" Mu Fengqie asked coldly.
The man replied proudly, "I paid twenty taels of silver to buy this girl!"
"Fine. I'll pay thirty taels. Now this child is mine."
It was only thirty taels of silver. If she could save a life, it would be a good deed. Mu Fengqie just hoped that the little girl could live a good life.
Hearing this, the girl looked up, her face full of gratitude. She didn't want to be the fat - faced man's concubine's maid. Even if she had to be a rough - servant girl for a lifetime, she was not willing to be a concubine's maid.
The man showed an unhappy expression on his face and flew into a rage. "Where did this bitch come from, daring to compete with me for this girl? Let me tell you, I've set my mind on this girl. You'd better get out of here quickly, or don't blame me for being rude!"
Jing Xinche didn't want to show his skills in front of so many people. However, this old man kept challenging his bottom - line. Now he even called the one he loved a bitch. Jing Xinche couldn't bear it any longer. He rushed forward and punched the man in the face.
The man was caught off guard by the sudden attack. He staggered and fell to the ground. When he came to his senses, he found that all the onlookers were laughing at him.
He had never been so humiliated, especially in front of so many people. Maybe there were many people who knew him. How could he hold his head up in the future?
"Someone! He dared to hit me. Beat him hard!"
At the man's order, six or seven servants beside him rushed towards Jing Xinche and Mu Fengqie. Jing Xinche pushed Mu Fengqie aside and said softly, "Stay away. Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Then Jing Xinche fought with the servants. He had no difficulty in fighting against six or seven people alone and was still in the upper hand. In less than two minutes, all the servants were lying on the ground, and the onlookers even clapped and cheered.
Mu Fengqie was originally worried about him. She didn't expect that he could defeat so many people with just his own strength. It seemed that she had underestimated him.
"I said, sir, the one who pays more gets the girl. Besides, she doesn't want to go home with you at all. You'd better go home and take a good look at yourself in the mirror! Come on, little girl, come home with me!"
Under the man's fierce gaze, Mu Fengqie took the little girl away. The little girl was so grateful that she cried and didn't know what to say.
If it weren't for Mu Fengqie's rescue, she might have become the greasy master's concubine's maid by now. Now she could not only bury her father but also get out of this difficult situation. At this moment, the girl regarded Mu Fengqie as her savior.
Mu Fengqie took the little girl home. She went into the house and took out thirty taels of silver, then gently stroked the little girl's hair and said, "Take this money. Go and bury your father quickly, and then find a good family to live with."
The little girl looked at Mu Fengqie in confusion. "Is the young lady going to drive Xiaoqing away? I have no father, no mother, and no home to go back to. I just beg the young lady not to drive Xiaoqing away. Xiaoqing is willing to be a servant for a lifetime to repay the young lady's kindness!"
Mu Fengqie frowned slightly after hearing the little girl's words. "I'm not driving you away. I just want you to have a free life."
"Xiaoqing is willing to stay by the young lady's side. Please take Xiaoqing in. Don't drive Xiaoqing away!" The little girl cried and knelt down, kowtowing constantly.
Jing Xinche had been observing Xiaoqing. She didn't seem to be abnormal. It was okay to keep her. Mu Fengqie was pregnant now, and she should have someone to take care of her.
Mu Fengqie was a bit at a loss. She originally just wanted to do a good deed, give the money to Xiaoqing, and then let her go. She didn't expect that Xiaoqing really wanted to stay.
However, she had never been served before and didn't think she needed someone to serve her. Even if Xiaoqing stayed, she wouldn't let Xiaoqing serve her.
She showed an embarrassed expression and looked at Jing Xinche. Jing Xinche nodded at her, and then Mu Fengqie said, "Okay, I don't need you to be a servant. You can leave whenever you want."