Chapter 36
There was nothing wrong with being good-looking, but if people did whatever they wanted using their good looks, it was a bit inappropriate.
Lian Zhou’s appearance was easy to cause trouble, but he still didn’t know how to restrain himself. One second, the village chief wanted to drive him away, and the next second he was recognized as a brothel prostitute.
This was truly a blessing and a misfortune, but what could be done? Shan Yu had reminded Lian Zhou about some things ten thousand times, but he just didn’t listen.
It was okay for the brothel. After all, Shan Yu had an official as his backer. He already had a new household identity for Lian Zhou. Even if the brothel knew Lian Zhou was still alive, they could only be silent.
As for the villagers, it was a bit difficult.
Everyone was already tolerant of Lian Zhou to the limit. After knowing that he was a brothel prostitute, they even avoided him like the plague. It was too much even Shany Yu and Wan Qiu couldn’t tolerate it.
There was no other way, in this feudal era with a strict hierarchical system, if someone became a prostitute for a day, they would be a lowly person for the rest of their life.
Lian Zhou was looked down upon by others, and Shan Yu and Wan Qiu who lived with him were also criticized.
The wet nurse said that her youngest daughter was old enough to get married. If the neighbors found out that she was working in such a family, her daughter might not be able to get married. The implication was she had to quit her job.
Wan Qiu begged for a long time but got no result. Lian Zhou got angry and said to the wet nurse: “Even if I am really a prostitute, it’s still my business! What does it have to do with your daughter’s marriage? Is there something wrong with your damn logic? What will happen if you leave the child? What will he eat? Do you want to starve him to death?”
The wet nurse covered her mouth and nose with a look of disgust. She avoided Lian Zhou as if he was some kind of disease. The wet nurse ran away without even receiving any wages.
Lian Zhou was so angry, he almost vomited blood: “This damn old woman! Her son’s foul mouth made me like this, and I didn’t even ask her to settle the score. She actually disliked me and dared to run away. I curse her mother’s eighteenth generation ancestors!”
It was useless to say anything in this situation.
Shan Yu and child were lying on the bed in a daze. On the one hand, he had to bear the pressure from the village to send Lian Zhou away, and on the other hand, he had to find a new wet nurse for the baby. What was even worse was…
Shan Yu was scolded by Wan Qiu, crying, “Husband, if you want to marry Lian Zhou before, I have no objection, but he came from a brothel. If you accept him, when our son grows up, which good girl will be willing to marry him? You have to think about your children!”
Shan Yu covered his head with a quilt and thought dully… ‘I have always been thinking about you, but who will think about me?’
It was not suitable to stay here for a long time, so he had to leave.
Although Shan Yu regretted they could not continue to stay here to find a way to travel back, he could not abandon Lian Zhou. He left the letter of separation and the banknote to Wan Qiu, and then took Lian Zhou away.
Others saw Shan Yu as abandoning his wife and son for a prostitute, but in fact, even without Lian Zhou, it would have happened sooner or later.
Shan Yu would go home one day, and the letter of separation was not an abandonment, it was the last thing he could do for Wan Qiu
From now on, Wan Qiu no longer had to get involved with the scumbag of the original owner. He could live his own life with his child, and one day find a good man to marry. He believed Wan Qiu would live a very happy life.
.
Shan Yu and Lian Zhou found an inn in the town to stay. After eating and drinking for more than half a month, they finally bought a suitable courtyard.
The small courtyard with three entrances and three exits faced the street. The front was open for business and the back was for living. The environment of the place was good, it was quiet in the middle of the hustle and bustle, and it was also very convenient for transportation and shopping.
Lian Zhou was very happy, cheering that he finally had a good living environment, and no longer had to be subject to those gossips and pointing fingers, but Shan Yu…
He didn’t feel much about the new environment, he just missed Wan Qiu and the child a little, and he didn’t even know how they are doing now?
“Hi! Shanzi, what are you thinking about? I’ve called you several times.”
“Hmm?” Shan Yu came back to his senses: “What’s wrong?”
“It’s already night, aren’t you hungry?” Lian Zhou made a grunting sound while touching his stomach. “Let’s go and eat.”
“We have no money.” Shan Yu took out his money bag and showed Lian Zhou the little bit of money left: “I haven’t bought anything at home, so I have to save money.”
When Shan Yu left, he left most of his money with Wan Qiu. Apart from just buying this place, he had very little money left. It was difficult to make ends meet, let alone open a business.
Lian Zhou never worried about money. He looked at the bits of silver in Shan Yu’s hand and frowned: “Who told you to leave all the money to that ugly guy? It’s good now, we are starving with no food.”
The two looked at each other, and for a moment, they both missed the life in the village.
In the past, living in the Deadly Forest, daily fruits and vegetables were readily available, but here sweet potatoes could not be bought without money.
Now that they had lived in the town, the environment in all aspects had improved, but eating a piece of garlic costs money. Within a few days, the little money Shan Yu had in his hand was gone.
“I don’t want to eat any more noodles today,” Lian Zhou leaned against the kitchen door and gave Shan Yu advice: “Can you try a bowl of rice?”
Shan Yu poured the last bit of noodles in the bag into the bowl and scoffed. “Whether you like it or not, this little noodle is not enough for two people, so just go hungry.” After he finished speaking, he pointed to a few scattered firewood on the ground: “The firewood is almost gone, go and take a look. If there is anything else that can be burned, just bring it here.”
“Oh my god!” Lian Zhou was also distraught and muttered as he turned around and walked out: “What kind of day is this? It’s all gone, how can we survive?”
There were no forests in the city to cut down, so even the most inconspicuous things had to be bought here. They had no money, so naturally they didn’t even have firewood to burn.
Shan Yu thought this was not an option. He couldn’t rely on Lian Zhou to make money, he could only rely on himself, and he had no other choice but to try his luck in the Deadly Forest.
The town was dozens of miles away from Mujia Village. It was impractical to walk back, and it would be very embarrassing to meet the villagers. Fortunately, the previous owner of this courtyard was a wealthy scholar and left behind a lot of books and miscellaneous items when he left.
Shan Yu read a geography book and discovered there was a trail one kilometer out of the town. From there, he could go directly to the back mountain of the Deadly Forest. The distance was within his acceptable range.
‘Okay, let’s do it.’
Shan Yu and Lian Zhou each carried a basket on their backs, prepared some water and steamed buns, and set off. When they finally appeared in the Deadly Forest after going through mountains and ridges with untold hardships, they happened to meet Grandpa Yaba who came to collect medicine.
The old man ignored Shan Yu and staggered away with a basket on his back, looking very strenuous.
Shan Yu stretched out his hand to help, but was pushed away by Grandpa Yaba. He touched his nose in embarrassment. Seeing the basket was filled with herbs that could cure diseases and save lives, he subconsciously asked: “Grandpa, how are Wan Qiu and the child… are they okay?”
Grandpa Yaba didn’t speak. He looked at Shan Yu with red eyes for a long time and told him that the child was gone.