Volume 1 Chapter 37: The Secret of Unbridled Joy

  "Oh! But you need 400 taels?" Xie Wenjing was in such a hurry that she didn't even hear the sarcastic remark Xu Yin made earlier.

  "For just two hundred taels, I'll return you twenty thousand taels in the future, if not, I'll return forty thousand taels. What if I can't pay it back? Alright, add one more sentence, if after ten years, I still haven't become a Zhuangyuan, these twenty thousand taels of silver notes won't be paid back either, and I'll be your slave for the rest of my life to compensate for the debt, is that okay?"

  Xu Yin wrote it into the contract as he spoke, and actually sold himself to Xie Wenjing for life, of course, on the condition that Xu Yin couldn't pay back the two million taels of silver.

  "Take it and put it away well, in the future you will make a lot of money with this!"

  Xu Yin was very relieved, with these two hundred taels of silver, it's enough for the whole family to live for several years. In these few years, as long as he passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi, there would be official salaries from the government, which would be enough to support his family.

  These years, let mother have a good rest and take care of her eyes. I won't disappoint mother, nor will I disappoint Xie Wenjing, the girl who has taken a liking to me.

  Xie Wenjing stared blankly as Xu Yin dried and folded the contract he had written, then stuffed it into his hand along with another two hundred taels of silver notes.

  It's clear that Xu Yin has already reached his limit, Xie Wenjing didn't dare to insist on asking Xu Yin to take the other two hundred taels, fearing that he would be provoked and refuse to accept even a single penny for himself.

  "Hurry up! If someone sees you, it's all over. I'll go out and take a look first." Xu Yin suddenly blew out the lit oil lamp, then quietly opened the door latch, took a peek outside, and after making sure no one was there, he turned around and gently pulled Xie Wenjing's hand, leading her away from their home.

  Arriving at Xu Yin's house under the wall, Xu Yin whispered to Xie Wenjing's ear: "I'll lift your legs up, you climb over?"

  Xie Wenjing's delicate body trembled with restraint, but she still didn't say that she could climb the wall so high. With a shy and obedient expression, she allowed Xu Yin to pick her up and carry her back to their own courtyard.

  Two people stood in their own yards, looking at each other, and found that it was almost dark and they could hardly see each other's faces, so they reluctantly parted ways.

  Xu Yin returned to his own room, closed the door, and hid the silver tickets. After a few days, he went out and cashed in the silver tickets, then told his mother that he had gone out to write letters for someone, pretending to bring back a lot of money, so his mother wouldn't know what happened tonight.

  Xu Yin couldn't help but feel his heart racing with excitement whenever he thought about Xie Wenjing and what happened between them tonight. He felt extremely happy. However, Xu Yin also knew that tonight's events were something he couldn't share with anyone, not even his mother. If she found out about the contract he had written, she would be heartbroken.

  Xie Wenjing is a secret in her own heart, the only secret that makes herself think of it and feel happy.

  But she said tomorrow she will leave Yangzhou for Hangzhou? Just now why didn't I ask her when she is coming back?

  But her home is just here, and she will be leaving tomorrow, so she should be back in a few days. Just wait patiently for her to return.

  When Xie Wenjing returned to her room, Du's mother saw Xie Wenjing's appearance and was shocked. The big sister's eyes had obvious signs of crying. But when Du's mother looked at the big sister's face, she was extremely happy. Du's mother stared at her big sister in confusion, trying to see what signs were there.

  "Du Ma, why are you staring at me like that? Have all the things been packed up? Bring everything that can be brought, especially the valuable ones."

  Xie Wenjing smiled brightly at Du's mother, diverting her attention. What she had seen with Xu Yin was a secret of her own, something that no one would ever know about, not even her parents.

  "Oh, miss, everything is packed up. The jewelry is all in one package, the clean clothes are in two bundles, your embroidered shoes are in another bundle, and I've also brought along a set of books, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone for you to use on the road, as well as some pastries for you to eat along the way..."

  "Alright, Du Ma, there aren't many people going, so just bring the most valuable and essential items. Don't bring books, they're too heavy, and don't bring writing materials either, Father and your brother will be bringing those things. Make sure to bring all of your valuable belongings, and pack extra clothes and shoes. Don't bother bringing food, it's just a burden."

  Xie Wenjing interrupted Du's mother, bringing so many things, although taking a boat along the way, still need people to move, the key is that valuable things, as long as nothing falls off, the rest doesn't matter.

  "Miss, when at home, you don't feel it, but once out, everything has to be bought with money. These are all public things, why not bring them along?"

  "Tell me, can't they just pack up and leave? The ones who stay behind are the good ones, aren't they? Miss didn't say that after leaving this Xie family, those who won't come back won't come back? I'd rather take this whole courtyard with me!"

  Du's mother said sternly.

  "Pfft!" Xie Wenjing couldn't help but burst out laughing at Du's mom teasing.

  "Du's mother, you're really ruthless!" Zhi Hua also couldn't help but tease her.

  "Alright, alright, let's clean up and get some rest. Tomorrow morning, you all get up early and make a few more breakfasts, for my parents, my brother, and also bring one for Liu Lingling."

  "I reckon she'd cry and shout to come along too, so I'll just bring her. Let someone be at peace and let us go.As long as we leave the Xie family, I can naturally make Liu Lingling obedient and useful for us."

  Xie Wenjing smiled confidently and said.

  On the other side, Grandma Li had already contacted Wang Yi.

  "The old lady instructed that tonight, find a way to let the master who lives in that yard go out for water. You bring Liu Lingling, the two of you, this whole night, there should be many opportunities."

  The size of the fire doesn't matter, as long as it's on fire, you can use it as an excuse to rush in and recite the Lord's Prayer wildly. In this process, just find a way to suffocate him, he originally only had one breath left, being startled by the fire and then having his mouth and nose covered for a while is enough to make him die completely.

  Or you can think of a way to sneak into his house, suffocate him quietly, and make it look like he died of illness, so that others will think he died naturally. The old lady will definitely insist that he died of illness.

  "Otherwise, you can also poison him in his medicine or breakfast tomorrow morning. In short, the old lady wants him to die as soon as possible!"

  Li said, handing Wang Yi fifty taels of silver: "After it's done, I'll add another fifty taels."

  Wang Yi was taken aback for a moment before responding immediately: "I understand. Please rest assured, madam, I will definitely handle it well."

  Wang Yi was also afraid, the dead person's words, as long as someone reports to the authorities, the government will investigate and if it is determined to be a homicide, they will definitely not let go, and will not give up until the truth is found.

  But with the old lady around, as long as she confirms it was a death from illness, no one in the Xie family will report to the authorities. Naturally, no one will know whether he died of illness or killed himself. As long as I do this well, I can easily earn 100 taels.

  Wang Yi may not know yet that Xie Wenjing has already arranged for more than a dozen people to take turns keeping vigil for her father in groups of four.

  After Li Ayi left, Wang Yi prepared to murder Xie Wenjing's father. He first came to Liu Lingling's yard.

  Liu Lingling rushed into Wang Yi's arms as soon as she saw him, thinking that his visit this time was the same as before, coming to make merry.

  "Wait, I have something to do tonight." Wang Yi rarely pushed away the woman in his arms.