Chapter 60: Anger

After a noisy night, Pear Blossom got up and stepped out of her room, only to see Mrs. Jiang walking in from the outer courtyard. She asked, “Aunt Jiang, what’s all the commotion outside?”

Mrs. Jiang replied, “Oh, it’s nothing but that fire at the Jinfeng Tower. The entire place was burned to ashes, and the women inside all fled in different directions. Word is, the valuables—gold, silver, and treasures—were all looted by the wicked servants and managers. Now the constables are running around like headless chickens, searching every house.”

Pear Blossom gave a light “oh” and was about to turn back to her room when she suddenly stopped and asked, “Did they find anyone?”

Mrs. Jiang, accustomed to Pear Blossom’s absent-minded reactions, chuckled and said, “How could it be so easy? Jinyang City is huge, and it’s not like it’s a fortress. If someone wanted to leave, they could have slipped out of the city unnoticed last night. By the time the constables go house to house like this, it’s already too late.”

Pear Blossom knew full well that Murong Jin had already arranged for the people to leave the city the previous night. While Jinyang City had four guarded gates, sections of the city wall had long since fallen into disrepair. People frequently came and went through these breaches.

Due to financial constraints, the yamen couldn’t repair the walls and could only station guards at the larger breaches. But this became a means for the constables to line their pockets—want to pass through? Leave some silver behind!

Last night, Murong Jin had paid two hundred taels in advance to bribe a guard at the most remote breach. By the time the wanted orders arrived, the people had already been smuggled out. With two hundred taels in his pocket, there was no way the guard would admit to letting anyone through. He knew that not only would his money be confiscated, but he might also lose his head. So, the secret remained buried.

The constables spent the entire night searching in vain and knew the fugitives had likely left the city. But to keep up appearances, they continued the house-to-house searches in the morning.

These searches only targeted the homes of commoners. For wealthy households, it was just a matter of asking a few routine questions. At the escort agency, where Murong Jiutian greased the palms of the county magistrate and the registrar every year, the constables didn’t dare overstep. They knew better than to try searching the agency.

“Is Jin’er still not up?” Mrs. Jiang asked.

Pear Blossom shook her head. “The Chief Escort isn’t here, so the young lady probably won’t wake up early.”

Mrs. Jiang, fully aware of her daughter’s habits, decided to let her sleep in for once. She turned to Pear Blossom and said, “Jin’er probably won’t practice today. You should rest too. Or, come out for a stroll with me. If you don’t feel like that, you can just stay home and relax.”

Pear Blossom was curious about the situation outside. After some thought, she said, “I’ll go with you.”

And so, the two set off, each carrying a basket.

The market was bustling, filled with townsfolk loudly discussing last night’s fire at the Jinfeng Tower. The general consensus had shifted to this: the fire was set from within, the managers looted the treasures, and the women escaped during the chaos.

“Maybe the fire was intentional. The women wanted to escape their plight, and the managers saw an opportunity to steal. A perfect collaboration.”

“The Jinfeng Tower had dozens of women, including several top courtesans. It’s said they made a fortune every day. With so much silver, who wouldn’t be tempted?”

“People risk their lives for money, just as birds die for food. Once they’ve left the city and gone into hiding, they’ll have enough money to last a lifetime. Who wouldn’t want that?”

Hearing all this gossip but nothing related to their group, Pear Blossom’s anxious heart finally settled.

The two of them bought plenty of goods. Pear Blossom, being strong, carried two large baskets without breaking a sweat.

As they were about to head back, they noticed a crowd gathering by the roadside. Faint sobbing could be heard from within. Curious, they joined the onlookers.

In a corner of the market, five poorly dressed, sallow-faced peasants knelt on the ground, crying and wailing.

After asking around, they learned that the tax grain collectors had embezzled the peasants’ grain.

In this dynasty, tax grain was supposed to be handed over directly by the farmers. However, due to various reasons, many chose to entrust grain collectors to pay on their behalf. These collectors were often influential landlords or wealthy households. Some, blinded by greed, used their power to embezzle the grain for personal gain.

These five peasants had entrusted their grain to a collector, only for it to be stolen. The collector then threatened them to keep silent. When they went to the yamen to file a complaint, their case was dismissed. Seeking a legal advocate, they found no one willing to take their case.

Now the authorities claimed they hadn’t received the tax grain and demanded the farmers pay again. This was the second time that year. The peasants had no more grain to give. Barely surviving as it was, they had no choice but to kneel in the marketplace and cry to the heavens, a truly pitiful sight.

Mrs. Jiang, after squeezing out of the crowd with Pear Blossom, sighed. “This world… there are so many like them. You help one, and another takes their place. I’ve seen it too many times and grown numb to it.”

Bandits at village entrances, corrupt officials in the yamen, and ruthless grain collectors… Pear Blossom was lost in thought.

Mrs. Jiang patted her hand and said, “Let’s go.”

Pear Blossom obediently followed behind, silently instructing the system to keep an eye on those five peasants.

The system’s monitoring range is within ten li, but it doesn’t initiate surveillance on its own and cannot monitor every event or person in real-time. This would involve substantial computation and energy consumption. Therefore, the system only pays attention to tasks assigned by Pear Blossom or closely related intelligence. Other people and events are not monitored in real-time unless Pear Blossom specifically requests data retrieval later.

Because of this, neither Pear Blossom nor the system noticed what was happening at the casino just a street away from the market. Zeng Guangjin was being dragged toward the venue by two of his fellow disciples.

Zeng Guangjin hesitated and refused to enter. “Brother Li, Brother Ye, could there be a mistake? How could Wu Juren be in a place like this…”

“Why wouldn’t Wu Juren be here? Tell me, which man in this world isn’t tempted by women or gambling? Wu Juren is a man, so he’s no exception. He used to frequent Jinfeng Tower, and now that it’s gone, he’s here.”

The other man tugged at Zeng Guangjin’s sleeve and said, “Come on, stop acting like a woman. We’re just going in to look, not gamble. What are you afraid of?”

With the two pulling him along, Zeng Guangjin unwillingly stepped through the casino’s doors.

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Pear Blossom had just returned to the escort agency. Seeing that Murong Jin was still asleep, she went to the training ground to practice her horse stance. While training, she chatted with the system about what happened at Jinfeng Tower the night before.

The system said, “This time, you saved thirty to forty women and destroyed that den of iniquity. The reward is substantial—20 points in total, with 5 points automatically allocated to reputation. How would you like to distribute the remaining points?”

Pear Blossom didn’t say a word and allocated 5 points each to the other three attributes.

The system chuckled mischievously at the 7 points now under the “Charm” attribute.
“Host, here’s your current attribute distribution: Intelligence 29, Physique 29, Reputation 37, Charm 7, for a total of 102 points. You’re eligible for a second lottery draw!”

Hearing the good news, Pear Blossom felt a bit lighter. “No rush. I’ll draw it later tonight when I’m home.”

Just then, the system reminded her, “Host, the group at the market was driven away by patrolling officers. They’re heading toward the East Gate, seemingly leaving the city.”

Pear Blossom quickly asked what time it was. Upon hearing that it was almost noon, she wrapped up her training and went to inform Mrs. Jiang in the back courtyard before leaving the agency.

---

After completing her errands, Pear Blossom returned to Daliushu Village. Instead of going home, she made a detour and entered Zeng’s courtyard, familiar with the way.

The gate was ajar. Inside, the yard was empty, and the kitchen was silent, so she went straight into the house.

Sure enough, she found someone reclining half-asleep on the wooden chaise, fully dressed. On the opposite bed, Fubao was sound asleep.

Hearing the faint sound of footsteps, the woman warily opened her eyes. Seeing it was Pear Blossom, she closed them again and turned to curl up on the chaise.

Noticing her fatigue, Pear Blossom frowned slightly, walked to her side, crouched down to meet her gaze, and softly asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Dong Yun half-opened her eyes and looked at the girl close by. The clear black-and-white eyes were filled with concern.

She didn’t reply but rested her head on her arm, silently staring at the girl without blinking.

Pear Blossom pressed her lips together and remained crouched by the chaise, letting Dong Yun gaze at her.

After a long pause, Dong Yun finally reached out and touched the stray hair sticking out near Pear Blossom’s ear. “What were you doing in the city last night?” Her voice was slightly hoarse, with no hint of joy or anger.

Pear Blossom had no intention of hiding it from her. Since Dong Yun hadn’t asked before, she assumed she wasn’t interested. Now that she brought it up, Pear Blossom answered honestly, “Last night, I raided a brothel called Jinfeng Tower. I stole their money and freed the women.”

Dong Yun’s expression finally regained some energy. “What made you suddenly think of raiding a brothel?”

Pear Blossom explained, “Murong Jin discovered some information about the group outside the villages—they’re people from Baihu Manor. They used to be bandits and now run brothels and casinos in the city. Murong Jin suggested we ‘besiege Wei to rescue Zhao.’”

“Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao,” Dong Yun repeated, a faint smile appearing.

Pear Blossom scratched her head, embarrassed. “Yes, that. He said if we caused a big commotion in the city, the people outside would retreat. So, we targeted the brothel.”

Looking at Pear Blossom’s dimples as she smiled shyly, Dong Yun’s previously sour mood began to lift. She slowly sat up, crossed her legs, and let her hair cascade down, appearing relaxed and at ease.

“Looks like your mission went smoothly.”

Pear Blossom’s eyes lit up at her words, and she nodded enthusiastically. She started recounting the details of last night’s operation. When she described snatching the bag of silver notes from the madam’s arms, her brows raised in satisfaction, clearly proud of herself.

Dong Yun gazed at her in a daze. How could such simple, even slightly clumsy words sound so vivid and engaging?

“Sister Dong? Sister Dong?” Pear Blossom called.

Dong Yun snapped out of her daze, blinking a few times. “Hmm?”

Seeing her like this, Pear Blossom thought she resembled a little kitten—soft and less aloof than usual, but still a bit listless.

“Sister, you don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell? Let me take you to see a doctor,” Pear Blossom said worriedly. “I have plenty of money now, so we don’t have to worry about expenses.”

Dong Yun chuckled lightly. “Oh yes, you just robbed a brothel. You’re quite the rich lady now.”

Pear Blossom chuckled softly and pulled out a thick stack of silver notes from her chest, handing them over. “I asked my mother earlier how much money our family would need to live a lifetime. She calculated it, including the betrothal gifts for Daniu and Erniu, the dowry for Xinghua, as well as money for potential illnesses and for raising future siblings. Plus, the eight acres of land we have, and it won’t exceed one hundred taels. After all that, I’ve already earned enough for the family’s needs for this lifetime. Anything extra, if you need it, it’s all yours, sister.”

Dong Yun looked at the stack of notes in front of her and then at the amount written on them, at least three or four thousand taels. Even a landlord or an official wouldn’t have that much silver. This little girl either had no concept of money or was truly muddled by her own emotions, to actually say she would give it all to her.

Pear Blossom looked at Dong Yun, somewhat puzzled. Among the people she knew, Murong Jin was one of the wealthier ones, and when she saw this much silver, she was ecstatic. But her sister didn’t even react with a change in expression.

Pear Blossom felt a bit dejected and asked, “Don’t you like silver?”

Dong Yun shook her head. “Who doesn’t love money in this world?”

“But you don’t seem happy, and you don’t seem like you want it.”

Dong Yun sighed lightly. “Why would I take your silver for no reason? What do you want to get from me in return?”

Hearing this, Pear Blossom froze for a moment. This concept was all too familiar to her. To gain something, one must give something. If she was willing to give all her money to the other person, wasn’t it also because she wanted something in return?

She became stammering and struggled to find the right words. “…I just want you to be happy…”

“Can I say it this way? If I take the silver and become happy, I’ll treat you better? Or maybe let you hold me or touch me again?”

The events of that night were now brought into the open, and Pear Blossom’s face instantly turned pale. She felt completely at a loss and lowered her head, her face full of embarrassment. Only then did she feel a deep sense of shame for the audacity she had shown the night before.

Her lips trembled for a while, but she didn’t know how to explain herself. Silently, she put the silver notes back into her clothes, muttered an apology, and stood up.

However, she didn’t expect Dong Yun to suddenly grab her hand. “Where are you going?”

“…Back home…” Pear Blossom said, where else could she go?

“You’re not allowed to go back.” Dong Yun didn’t let go.

After what had been said earlier, and now with her hand being held, Pear Blossom felt unsettled. She couldn’t figure out Dong Yun’s thoughts.

“I started my period, my stomach hurts,” Dong Yun’s pitiful gaze made Pear Blossom’s heart soften. No wonder she looked so pale when Pear Blossom entered the room. All the previous awkwardness faded away, and Pear Blossom crouched down.

“How many days has it been? Let me rub your belly,” Pear Blossom said.

“First day,” Dong Yun said, shifting to make room. “Come up here.”

Pear Blossom obeyed, took off her shoes, and climbed onto the couch. As soon as she sat down, Dong Yun’s soft body pressed against her, nestling into her arms.

Pear Blossom’s heart skipped a beat, but compared to the earlier intimate touches, this time she felt more composed. Plus, after Dong Yun’s words, she didn’t dare to act impulsively. She quickly composed herself, rubbing her hands together until they warmed up, and then, through the fabric, gently massaged her stomach in circular motions.

Dong Yun seemed to feel some relief, lying in her arms with her eyes closed.

As the room fell into a calm silence, Pear Blossom, not knowing what else to say, began recounting the events at the market that day.

Dong Yun sighed and murmured, “The country is no longer a country, and the people are struggling to survive…”

When Pear Blossom mentioned leaving money for the five people and gave herself the nickname “Chasing the Moon Woman,” Dong Yun opened her eyes, propped herself up, and looked at her. “Why ‘Chasing the Moon Woman’?”

Pear Blossom felt a bit embarrassed and replied, “When I went to the market before, I often heard stories about ‘Chasing the Wind Woman,’ who fought for justice. I admired her, so now that I can help others, I wanted to give myself a name. She’s Chasing the Wind Woman, so I chose another. Wind, rain, snow, fog, stars, the moon, and the sun—there’s one I like, so I called myself Chasing the Moon.”

“You like the moon?” Dong Yun asked.

Pear Blossom nodded. “I heard the scholar recite, ‘The bright moon shines, waiting for you to return,’ and I thought it was beautiful.”

The bright moon shining, on the way home, it was when Sister Dong Yun first held her hand; the bright moon, she let her hold her all the way to her room; and the same bright moon, she wrapped her arms around her body…

Before, the stars and the moon were just stars and the moon, but now, the stars are no longer stars, and the moon is no longer the same moon.

“Your teacher taught so many things, and you only remember this one line?” Dong Yun asked.

“Yeah, she taught many lines, but this one she said the most, and it’s my favorite,” Pear Blossom answered seriously.

Dong Yun’s heart felt a little sour, and her expression became more complicated. She changed the subject, asking, “Didn’t you say earlier that your mother calculated the betrothal gifts and dowries for your siblings, but not for you?”

Looking at her delicate body pressed against her own, with her soft chest against hers, the fragrant scent rising as she moved, Pear Blossom felt dizzy. It took her a long time to hear the question clearly, and she slowly answered, “I told her not to calculate mine.”

Dong Yun didn’t press further, but after a while, she suddenly asked, “What if one day you suddenly get married?”

Pear Blossom shook her head vigorously, “I won’t.”

“What if your parents force you?”

“My parents won’t force me. Now that I earn so much money, they can’t control me anymore.”

Dong Yun looked into her eyes and suddenly asked, “Then—what if I force you?”

Pear Blossom was stunned when she heard this. Of course, she couldn’t understand what Dong Yun meant by that, but just thinking about Dong Yun actually forcing her to marry made her heart ache uncontrollably.

“I mean, what if?” Dong Yun added.

Only then did Pear Blossom reluctantly reply, “I wouldn’t.”

Dong Yun said, “What if I force you by threatening to die?”

Pear Blossom became upset. “Why would you threaten me with death to make me marry?”

Dong Yun heard the girl’s voice suddenly become stiff and felt as though even her arm, which was underneath her, had become stiff as well. But strangely, she wasn’t angry. In fact, her mood improved a bit.

“Then, would you ever suddenly run off to become a nun?”

Pear Blossom shook her head. “Since I was little, I’ve only just had enough food to eat this year, and I’ve finally started eating meat. You want me to become a nun? No way. I can’t stand those strict rules.”

Dong Yun’s smile widened, but her tone remained persistent, “People always make difficult decisions because of unavoidable circumstances. If one day you have to make such a decision, I wouldn’t be unable to understand.”

Pear Blossom was really angry now. She stopped rubbing Dong Yun’s stomach and pulled back the arm she had around her. Sitting up, she angrily said, “I don’t like all these ‘what ifs.’ I don’t want to, and I won’t do it! If it has something to do with you, I’ll tell you clearly! If you don’t like me, I won’t do it! You wouldn’t suddenly threaten me with death to make me marry! If it’s really unavoidable, we’ll discuss it and decide together. Whatever the result is, we’ll face it together!”

Dong Yun leaned against the wall, curled her legs, and watched her get angry with narrowed eyes. For some reason, she began to laugh.

Pear Blossom, having said so much, saw Dong Yun suddenly laugh and thought she was teasing her, feeling embarrassed and annoyed. She reached out to hit her.

Dong Yun didn’t dodge, allowing her to lightly hit her before grabbing her hand and saying, “Fubao is watching.”

Pear Blossom was startled and quickly turned her head. She saw that the little chubby baby, who should have been sleeping obediently, had woken up at some point. With messy hair, she was sitting on the bed, her cheeks rosy, looking over here.

“Pear Blossom—” Little Fubao mumbled, stretching her arms out wanting a hug.

Pear Blossom gave Dong Yun a quick glance, then turned and got out of bed to hug Fubao.

The little girl had just woken up and was still a bit dazed. She tilted her head, leaned against Pear Blossom’s chest, found a comfortable position, and closed her eyes again.

Dong Yun looked at her daughter like this and chuckled softly, “Look at how much she trusts you. You seem more like her mother than I do.”

Pear Blossom’s ears turned red. Nowadays, girls get married early, and in the village, there are girls her age who have become mothers, so it wasn’t unusual. But it wasn’t because of that that she felt embarrassed. It was because Dong Yun had compared her to Fubao’s mother, which made her heart flutter uncontrollably.

She was afraid Dong Yun would notice her feelings, so she cleared her throat and changed the topic, asking, “Is your stomach feeling better?”

Dong Yun shook her head.

Pear Blossom furrowed her brows, still holding Fubao and sitting back down. “Do you need me to keep rubbing it, or should I go boil some hot water for you to drink?”

Dong Yun didn’t speak. She grabbed Pear Blossom’s hand and reached it under her clothes.

When her palm touched the smooth and delicate skin, Pear Blossom instinctively pulled back her hand, but it was pressed down by Dong Yun. She bit her lip, not daring to look into those piercing eyes, forcing herself to focus on her hand as she gently pressed on the flat little belly, massaging it in circles.