Chapter 42: Seeing Sister

Seeing the Feather Guards lead the people away, only then did the neighbor woman dare to step forward to help Ruan Mu up. "Wipe away your tears, don't cry yourself sick. You still have two daughters; if you collapse, what will become of the children?"

"Thank you, ma'am, I understand." Ruan Mu smiled weakly.

Ruan Tao was still standing in place, somewhat dazed. Only when she heard Ruan Mu say the time had come did she get up without a word to light the fire basin.

Once the ceremony ended, the funeral procession hired by Ruan Mu carried the coffin out of the city with music and wailing. They lowered the coffin and filled the grave; that was the end of it.

Ruan Mu's ancestral line had long since withered, and she had no family grave. Her father also rested in the cemetery outside the city. The Ruan family did have an ancestral grave, but as a Matrilineal Son-in-law, he had no face to return to the village, so how could he be qualified to enter the ancestral tomb? Ruan Mu hadn't thought of this, and her sister-in-law hadn't mentioned it when she spoke of adoption today.

The final part was to invite the mourning friends and relatives to eat. Ruan Mu did not have much Silver on hand; she had been buying medicine to treat Ruan Fu's legs, then bought the Coffin, and hired the funeral procession. With funds so tight, she naturally couldn't hire any skilled cooks, so she could only hire some young women or wives from nearby with decent enough skills to help. It was only because Ruan Tao took out two taels of Silver, saying it was money she had saved from household expenses, that Ruan Mu was even able to buy enough rice and vegetables.

Everyone else had gone back to eat. Ruan Mu held Ruan Tao's hand, walking slowly at the very back. She rambled on, "It's a pity Xing'er didn't come back and couldn't see your father one last time... Sigh, I don't know how Xing'er is doing now, or if she's suffering out there. She was always so delicate; you couldn't even bear to let her do any chores. A child so young, I don't know if she can adapt..."

Ruan Tao listened, but her mind had already drifted far away. Ruan Xing had been gone for over half a month and was able to earn ten taels of Silver to bring back; Ruan Mu only earned ten taels in a whole year.

What about her? She could also endure hardship. Even if she went to a restaurant to be a kitchen maid, she should be able to earn some monthly wages. Even if it were less than a hundred coins a month, that would still be better than staying at home. Now that there was no younger sister to care for and no old father who couldn't be left alone, she was free of burdens. Why not find a way to work and see the world? Otherwise, she could only helplessly and incompetently endure the bullying of others, waiting for justice and retribution that didn't know when they would arrive.

Ruan Tao clenched her fists.

Suddenly, she said, "Mother, let's move."

Ruan Mu was in the middle of speaking and suddenly stalled, asking strangely, "Why move? Isn't the house your grandfather left us good to live in?"

It was good; it was precisely because it was too good that they had to move.

Back then, her grandfather ran a private school and had plenty of money, so he bought the land deed from the Government to build this small courtyard: one main hall, two bedrooms, one small storage room, and a semi-open kitchen. Counting it up, it was five rooms plus a small courtyard. In the city, land was worth its weight in gold; the area their house occupied was unique in Huaihua Alley. Moreover, the materials used for the house were good—all blue bricks—and it remained as sturdy as ever after decades of wind and rain.

A house like this could sell for nearly a hundred taels of Silver. No wonder those people had become greedy.

Farming village land had no deeds; to build a house, one only needed the consent of the Village Head and the Clan Elder. Therefore, once an accident happened in a family or there were no male heirs, other relatives could swarm in and carve it up. The Village Head wouldn't manage such matters; people of the same clan and surname were all of one breath and branch, and it was all considered family business.

It was precisely because they were used to snatching others' things and didn't understand city laws that they grew jealous and set their sights on Ruan Mu's house.

"But those people will come back. The jail won't hold them for long. This time we had the Feather Guards to help, but what about next time?" Ruan Tao said calmly. "There won't always be someone happening to come by to help. Mother, we can't deal with those people right now; we can only avoid them for the time being. We move—move to the Inner City. The old house can be sold or rented out. We can just rent a small room in the Inner City near the Weaving Workshop. The two of us don't need much space; we can afford the rent. When the time comes, I'll find work in the Inner City too."

Ruan Tao knew very well that Jiangning City was currently dominated by gangs. The Patrol Security Division didn't even follow their own duty to patrol, so how could they possibly come to handle such a small matter for their family? It was just that someone had paid the Feather Guards to come and help.

She had understood a principle long ago: if you want others to help, it won't work without money. That was why she had given Ruan Xing money on the day she left, so she could send it out if she needed care.

Ruan Mu mumbled, "But... Mother is used to living here. This house has traces of your father and your grandfather. I grew up here since I was little... I can't bear to sell it, and I can't bear to let outsiders come in to live..."

Ruan Tao's breath hitched, choked by Ruan Mu's words. She was giving her a rational analysis, but Ruan Mu was playing the emotional card.

"Then what about when those evil relatives of my father come?"

"Talk to them nicely, they will listen... Your father's family aren't unreasonable people. It's just that since your father just passed, they are too heartbroken and are taking it out on me. It will be better in a few days..."

Talk to them? They were about to ride on your head, and you still want to talk to them? Please, wake up! They are about to move into your house and beat your child, you know!

Ruan Tao shook off her hand, feeling somewhat angry. When Ruan Fu was alive, it was fine for Ruan Mu to be emotional, but now, being emotional might just lead to them being forced out of their house with no way to survive. "Mother, think about it properly!"

She quickened her pace and walked forward with her head down. Ruan Mu called out from behind, at a loss: "Tao'er..."

Ruan Xing had been following at a distance, not too far and not too close. Hu San had finished his task and came to find her, saying in a low voice, "Miss, it's all handled. I didn't reveal our identities; I just gave some money to have them dragged in and locked up for a few days to give them a taste of hardship. What's the next order? Should we kill them?"

"Wait for now." Ruan Xing sighed. She could kill all these people to solve the trouble, but what would they do when they encountered other trouble in the future? She couldn't protect them for a lifetime.

She stepped forward quickly, passed Ruan Mu, and taking advantage of the flow of people in front of the city gate, grabbed Ruan Tao's hand and pulled her into the waist-high grass by the side of the road.

Ruan Tao was startled and about to shout, but seeing the short figure in front wearing a veil hat, she thought of something and closed her mouth.

The two passed through five or six meters of deep grass and found a small clearing before stopping.

Ruan Xing removed her veil hat, revealing the face that was both familiar and strange to Ruan Tao, and called out softly, "Sister."

"Xing'er..."

In an instant, all the grievances came rushing in. Ruan Tao's eyes blurred with tears; she stepped forward and hugged Ruan Xing tightly, burying her head in her shoulder and weeping bitterly.

She hadn't cried before her father's Coffin, and she hadn't cried when being beaten and scolded by the evil relatives, but now, seeing her long-absent sister, she cried.

Ruan Tao sobbed, "Xing'er, I'm so tired. I don't know what to do anymore. Before, when you were by my side, even if I did a lot of work every day, I didn't feel tired after talking to you. But now, I have to keep everything inside; there's no one to listen to me..."

Ruan Xing felt the dampness of the clothes on her shoulder and reached out to pat Ruan Tao's back.

When she had just transmigrated and had no cheat, and was panicking and anxious every night unable to sleep, Ruan Tao would also gently pat her back and hold her while she slept.

Ruan Tao cried for a while, and after venting her emotions, she calmed down. She wiped her face, feeling a bit embarrassed, and asked with concern, "Xing'er, are you doing well where you are now?"

"I'm doing very well." Ruan Xing said softly. She cupped Ruan Tao's tear-stained little face. "Sister, do you still want to live the life of an ordinary person? Do you still want to marry, have children, and spend your whole life that way?"

"If I had a choice, of course I wouldn't." Ruan Tao gave a bitter smile. "But in this world, a woman cannot survive without someone to rely on." "Then come with me." Ruan Xing finally made up her mind.

Ruan Tao was the first person she had seen when she opened her eyes in this world. She hadn't wanted Ruan Tao by her side before because Ruan Tao had said her dream was to find a good man to marry and escape the sea of bitterness. She respected Ruan Tao's decision and was afraid that if she were by her side and fell into danger, she wouldn't be able to simulate the best outcome.

But she had forgotten that Ruan Tao only wanted to marry because it was the best choice she had in her helplessness. If there were other choices, would Ruan Tao still choose that way?

"Sister, from now on, I will be your reliance."

Ruan Tao laughed through her tears. "Silly Xing'er, I am the older sister; it should be me protecting you."

"Alright, Sister, I'll take you back to the Red Head Gang. You study martial arts well; when you become strong in the future, you can protect me." Ruan Xing said. She helped Ruan Tao up and put her veil hat back on. "Let's go back. I won't appear in front of Mother. In a couple of days, I'll find an excuse to have someone pick you up. By the way, those people are locked in jail now. What do you want to happen to them?"

Ruan Tao was shocked. Only then did she realize that what Ruan Xing said just now wasn't a childish joke. "You bribed the Feather Guards to arrest them?"

"Yes."

"That must have cost so much Silver!?"

Ruan Xing didn't know: "... Not much."

"I want them to die." Ruan Tao's fierce little expression looked extremely cute, but she quickly deflated. "That's probably impossible, right? They didn't commit any major crimes. That would just be a fine plus a beating. Since the money is already spent, let them be beaten hard—it would be best if they couldn't get out of bed for ten days or half a month!"

"Can do." Ruan Xing replied, giving a look to Hu San, who was hiding to the side. Hu San immediately understood and went to handle it.

With her help, half a month was enough for Ruan Tao to get started with External Strength. By then, if those people dared to come again, Ruan Tao could take action herself, and only then would she feel satisfied.

She sent Ruan Tao back to Huaihua Lane, and after a reluctant farewell, the meal inside had already begun.

Ruan Mu was standing at the door talking to a man wearing a scholar's square cap. She was dressed in plain hemp clothes, with a small white flower pinned to her hair bun. Her slightly pale face carried a shy and grateful look, appearing pitiful and lovely. "Sun Shixiong, thank you for coming to help. After things turned out like that, I didn't expect you would still be willing to help me..."

"What are you saying? I'm not that kind of narrow-minded person. The teacher helped me a lot during my initiation, and you and I grew up together. Although Brother Ruan and I didn't get along, we had the bond of fellow students. With these few layers of connection, we are closer than kin. It's not easy for you, a woman, to raise children alone. If there's anything you need help with, just come to me." The man looked to be about twenty-eight or twenty-nine, and seemed to have drunk some wine; his face was slightly flushed.

His eyes were fixed straight on Ruan Mu, full of sincerity, as if to tell her this was absolutely not just polite talk.

"How could I trouble Sun Shixiong? You have your own family, it wouldn't be good if people misunderstood..." Ruan Mu was just refusing when the man suddenly interrupted her.

He said sternly, "Junior Sister, I have yet to marry."

After saying this, he hurriedly cupped his hands to take his leave and fled as if escaping.

Ruan Mu was stunned for a moment, then followed the direction Sun Shixiong had fled in and saw Ruan Tao entering, chiding, "Tao'er, why are you only just back? Where did you run off to?"

Ruan Tao did not answer, but instead asked, "Mother, who was that man?"

"He... he is your father's former classmate and your maternal grandfather's student," Ruan Mu said blankly, though she did not mention that the two had been childhood sweethearts.

"What did he mean by saying he has never married to this day? Mother, does he have feelings for you?"

Ruan Tao's blunt words made Ruan Mu's face turn red and then pale; she had just suffered a bereavement, and to be flirting with another man before her husband's spirit tablet was too much of a disservice to him—she should not continue to associate with Sun Shixiong.

"Don't talk nonsense, that is all in the past. When your maternal grandfather was helping me choose a marriage, he asked him once, and he refused, saying he was an only son and could not marry into the family. Since then, we have had no contact and no relationship whatsoever," Ruan Mu said, pulling Ruan Tao inside, "Stop letting your imagination run wild and go eat your meal."

Ruan Tao was still arguing her case: "Mother, don't be emotional and get deceived by others again. He doesn't look like a good person; when others were bullying us this morning, why didn't he appear? Now he knows how to act like a good person..."

Ruan Xing watched this scene from afar, and only after the two figures disappeared from the doorway did she turn and return to the Red Head Gang.

She did not know if that Sun Shixiong was the man Ruan Mu remarried in the Simulation, but it did not matter anymore; given Ruan Mu's temperament, if it wasn't him, it would be someone else.

Because she was a romantic fool—if someone treated her a little bit well, she would be moved to death and desperate to pour her heart out to them.

Wasn't Ruan Fu the same? Aside from being willing to marry into the family, what else had he ever done? He hadn't even worked a single day, lived off his wife his whole life, and yet Ruan Mu still thought he was a perfectly good man.

After Ruan Xing returned, she instructed the Housekeeper to prepare a room for Ruan Tao to live in, and also found a copy of the Internal Strength and External Strength techniques, along with half a month's worth of Medicinal Bath and Medicine Liquid.

She had never bought a private residence for herself because she felt she would not be able to stay in Jiangning City for too long; once the Red Head Gang stabilized and became her steady source of points, and she found clues for the Luoqi Pill or a new direction for cultivation, she would leave this place.

Achieving these two goals would take at most a year or at least a month, so there was really no need to buy land and build a house; she might be gone before it was even finished.

She went back to sleep soundly and recharge her energy, as she still had to see off the old City Lord tomorrow; not only did she have to ask about the new City Lord, but she also had to have Zhao Sanniang go and scout for information to cross-reference, since her husband's family had been involved in the Political Affairs Department for generations and always had well-informed connections.

Before she went to sleep, Hu San brought her news that was pleasing to the ears: those evil relatives who came to seize the house were each fined five hundred coins and sentenced to thirty strokes of the cane; for every day they delayed paying the money, ten more strokes were added, and if they were accidentally beaten to death, the son would pay the father's debt and be brought in to continue the beating.

With such unreasonable punishments handed down, those people were scared out of their wits, hurriedly sending over the Silver, and after receiving their beating, they were carried home by fellow villagers; several of the older Clan Elders passed away that very night after returning.

"Well done," Ruan Xing verbally commended Hu San, then went to sleep in a pleasant mood.

Thanks to jane55 for the tip~(End of chapter)