Chapter 40: Nanny Wang

He had been raised by Madam Zhang Li since childhood—of course she wouldn’t abandon him.

“What’s the panic?”

Li Ergou clutched his growling stomach, pretending not to smell the delicious aroma of food that made his belly ache. He turned over and pulled the covers over himself, trying to sleep.

The Su family really was heartless. When they said they wouldn’t give them food or drink, they actually meant it.

If it hadn’t been for his sister providing them with aid these past few days, they all would’ve starved to death in Su family’s stable!

This grudge—he would definitely repay it!

Ah Fei and Daozi, seeing that he wasn’t panicked, also relaxed and shakily lay down beside him.

The Next Day

The weather was fine, and the frost outside had lessened a bit compared to the day before. Early in the morning, Zhang Xiaolan and Old Lady Su were busy in the kitchen, while Su Laosan and Yan Qi father and son helped tend the fire.

Old Lady Su’s pot was being used to render pork fat and scoop out the crispy pork residue. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaolan kneaded dough and chopped filling. While waiting for another pot of water to boil, she started rolling dumpling skins and wrapping them—stuffed with chive and pork crackling filling. Each dumpling was thin-skinned and generously filled, rich but never greasy.

Last night’s pork feast had been seasoned with chili and spices, making it a real treat for everyone’s taste buds. They had devoured it all in one sitting—there wasn’t even a scrap left.

Once the dumplings were cooking, Old Lady Su washed her hands and went to wake her little granddaughter.

But to her surprise, the little one was already up. Just like usual, she was stretching her small arms and legs, trying hard to dress herself.

Old Lady Su smiled, walked over to help her dress, and asked, “Wuya, where’s your mother?”

Little Su Huan looked up at her, patted her eyes, and made a motion as if applying a warm compress. “Yiya yiya~”

Old Lady Su understood and cheerfully hugged her in response, “Oh~ so your mama is applying a warm compress for our darling girl? No wonder! After just two days of applying it, your dark circles really have faded a lot!”

Little Su Huan clapped happily. “Yiya~”

Of course! After digesting some merit yesterday, her cultivation had recovered a bit. The yin energy left on her by the two-headed red serpent would be completely expelled soon.

After playing with her little granddaughter for a while, Old Lady Su happily dressed her, changed her diaper, brought some warm water to wash her face and hands, then carried her to the main hall to drink milk.

By then, everyone in the Su family was already up—except Jin Yuegui, who was still lazing in bed.

Smelling the aroma of dumplings, she leapt out of bed, face unwashed and teeth unbrushed. Even before the Su family had sat down at the table, she rushed to grab a seat. As soon as the dumplings were served, she pulled the whole bowl in front of her like a starving ghost reborn.

Just as Jin Yuegui was about to gorge herself, Old Lady Su freed one hand and slapped the back of her hand, saying, “Eat this meal and get out. You hear me? Don’t make me throw you out.”

Jin Yuegui hissed in pain but knew Old Lady Su wasn’t joking. Rubbing her stinging hand, she muttered, “Mother, you’re so harsh! It’s not like I wasn’t planning to leave. Do you have to nag me so early? I’ll go after I eat, alright?”

Old Lady Su ignored her and called everyone else who had washed up to sit down. She instructed Zhang Xiaolan to set aside two large bowls of dumplings, which hadn’t been boiled yet—later, she would bring them to Zhang Hongzhuang and little Dou’er.

As the family ate, a sudden commotion came from the entrance.

“Elder sister, are you home? I’m your sister-in-law, Madam Li! I’ve brought the deed! Let my son Ergou go!”

Madam Zhang Li shouted from the gate.

Li Sumei glanced toward the entrance and reminded, “Mother, it’s Aunt.”

Su Laosi took a sip of dumpling soup. “Perfect timing! I was just getting annoyed with Li Ergou’s bad luck hanging around. Mother, I’ll go check.”

As he got up to head out, Old Lady Su also rose and said, “You all keep eating.” Her tone made Su Laosi obediently sit back down. She glanced at Jin Yuegui, who once again looked shifty-eyed, clearly brewing more schemes. “Fifth, escort Madam Jin out. What comes next is family business—outsiders shouldn’t be present.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Su Laowu put down his chopsticks, grabbed the startled Jin Yuegui, and escorted her out through the back door.

“Wait! You can’t treat me like this! I haven’t finished my dumplings!”

“Let go of me, Fifth! Let go! I’m your sister-in-law!”

…

After Jin Yuegui was sent out through the back gate—

At the front courtyard, a yellow pearwood carriage with a green canopy had pulled up. A middle-aged nanny in a crimson silk jacket, a cyan satin cloak trimmed with white fox fur, and a pearl-inlaid silver hairpin stepped down.

In front stood Madam Zhang Li and Zhang Laoda, with several strong, tough-looking servants behind them.

These people had blades at their waists and looked quite menacing.

As promised, Madam Zhang Li had brought the property deed to the old house in Chang’an Alley.

When Old Lady Su opened the door, Madam Zhang Li handed over the contract with a dark face. “Check it. If there’s no problem, let him go!”

In the capital, land was worth a fortune. Even though the old house was in the outer city and only half the size of the Su family’s current property, it was still incredibly valuable.

The Zhang family had managed to scrape together 300 taels of silver in just three days—something that genuinely surprised Old Lady Su.

She accepted the deed, verified its authenticity, then suddenly opened the main gate with a smile. “Come in, I’ll take you to get your people.”

Madam Zhang Li quickly followed her toward the stable. The nanny came along too, while the armed servants were told to wait outside.

At the Stable

“Big sis, you’ve come to save me!”

“Ergou!”

Seeing her little brother crawl out, shivering, from a blanket frozen stiff with cold—his limbs still tied—Madam Zhang Li’s heart ached. As he threw himself toward her in excitement, she rushed forward to support him, eyes filled with tears. She immediately told Zhang Laoda to untie his uncle.

After Li Ergou and his gang were rescued, Madam Zhang Li, looking at her now-thinner brother, gritted her teeth and turned to glare at Old Lady Su. “Zhang Zhaodi, I’ll remember this! Just you wait!”

Old Lady Su smiled. “If you haven’t done anything shameful, there’s no need to fear ghosts knocking at your door.”

Madam Zhang Li gave a cold laugh and took Li Ergou home.

After they left, the middle-aged nanny gave Old Lady Su a nod and a slight bow. Her tone was proud as she said, “Honorable Madam, this servant is Nanny Wang from the Zhao family on Drum Tower Street. I’m here to redeem a person on behalf of my mistress, and also to deliver a message from our madam.”

Old Lady Su looked at her. “Oh? And your madam is…?”

The Zhang and Li families used to live on the same alley. The former was so poor they lived at the back of the alley, while the latter was wealthy and lived at the front.

Both families lost their parents early, but the Li family had deeper roots. Before falling into decline, Madam Li used most of their family fortune to marry her young and beautiful younger sister—Little Li—off to County Magistrate Zhao of Chang’an as a concubine.

Since this Nanny Wang referred to Madam Zhang Li as “Concubine Madam,” the “madam” she spoke of must be Little Li.

As expected, Nanny Wang said, “Our madam is Concubine Madam’s younger sister. She said that since this time it was Li Ergou who was in the wrong, she can let it go. But next time—regardless of whether it’s Li Ergou’s fault—if your family dares touch the Lis again, don’t blame the Zhao family for being impolite.”