Chapter 6: The Secret of the True Heiress

Pei Yuantang wasn’t sure whether what she said was true or false, and her words caught in his throat for a moment, but he sincerely said, “Thank you.”

“I don’t doubt you. You don’t despise me for being disabled, and you’re willing to live with me—I’m grateful and deeply touched. But I’m afraid I will only become more of a burden to you in the future.”

Qin Hanxiao had already poured her heart out, promising she would never leave him. Now, with no way back, she had to walk this path to the end.

“Er Lang, if you trust me, don’t say such things. Since we are a family now, we should face everything together. As long as our family is well, nothing else matters.”

This time, Pei Yuantang said nothing more. Qin Hanxiao waited a moment until he said, “Sleep.”

That night, Qin Hanxiao slept restlessly, her mind tossing over countless thoughts. Ultimately, everything boiled down to their current predicament—they had to find a way to earn money, or else the whole family would starve sooner or later.

Pei Yuantang also slept poorly, pondering what to do next. Though his legs were crippled, he could not simply lie in bed doing nothing, leaving the heavy burden of the household to his younger siblings or his frail wife. As a man, this family’s foundation should rest on his shoulders.

Before dawn, there was movement in the courtyard—Pei Yuanxing and Pei Jinghui were already up. Qin Hanxiao glanced at Pei Yuantang, anticipating the awkwardness of getting dressed soon, and decided to rise while it was still dark.

By the time she stepped outside, Pei Yuanxing had already left. She prepared breakfast with Pei Jinghui, and after eating, she set off for the city with Pei Ming’an. Pei Ming’an was going to study; she was going to buy medicine.

Upon entering the city, they parted ways. Pei Ming’an bowed politely to her, “Second Aunt, I’m heading to the academy now.”

Indeed, the Pei children were very sensible and well-raised.

Suddenly, Qin Hanxiao was shoved from behind and nearly stumbled.

“You brazen girl, how dare you come into the city?”

She steadied herself and turned to see her “birth mother,” Luo Shi, with a scowl, one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Qin Hanxiao’s nose.

“You’re really courting death. Miss Qin said you’re forbidden to enter the city. Why are you here?”

She reached out to twist Qin Hanxiao’s ear while continuing, “Are you deliberately asking to die?”

Qin Hanxiao took a large step aside to dodge. “Since when did Mingjiang Prefecture belong to the Qin family? The city guards let me in. What right does Qin Cuicui have to forbid me? Come, let’s go ask the officials if Mingjiang Prefecture is under Qin Cuicui’s control.”

Luo Shi was startled by her words and hurriedly pulled her away a few steps from the city gate.

Since ancient times, commoners should not challenge officials, even city guards were not to be provoked, let alone question them.

“Don’t drag me down if you want to die.”

Qin Hanxiao shook her off hard and stepped back two paces to put distance between them. Luo Shi was quick to resort to violence when speaking—Qin Hanxiao had no intention of being beaten for no reason.

“Unless you have business, leave. Otherwise—”

Luo Shi glared fiercely, blocking her way.

“What attitude is that? You still think you’re a lady? Dare to throw a tantrum at me? Asking for a beating, huh?”

Sure enough, she pushed Qin Hanxiao again, who stepped back once more.

“Speak your mind.”

After several failed attempts, Luo Shi’s tone grew harsher.

“What did you come to the city for?”

“To buy medicine,” Qin Hanxiao replied.

Luo Shi frowned, scrutinizing her from head to toe. Seeing her hands were empty, she believed she wasn’t lying.

“How’s Pei Er Lang?”

Qin Hanxiao answered bluntly, “If you cared about your son-in-law, you’d bring gifts and visit, not just ask with your lips.”

“Ugh! You shameless girl, are you itching for a fight today? Don’t think I won’t dare hit you just because you’re married.”

Of course, Qin Hanxiao knew she dared; she dodged her hands with precision.

Failing to land a blow, Luo Shi spat angrily.

“If he wants to be seen, he should bring gifts to see me. Why should I visit him?”

Perhaps sensing Qin Hanxiao’s rebellious spirit was unusually strong, she abandoned empty talk.

“Is that kid from the Pei family still studying?”

Watching her dart her eyes about, Qin Hanxiao guessed she was scheming.

Sure enough, as soon as Luo Shi nodded, her intentions became clear.

“Country folk don’t send their children to study in the city. Looks like the Peis have money. Give me ten taels. Your second brother’s wedding is coming up, and you’re short.”

Starting with ten taels—what a greedy appetite, as if she feared starving.

Qin Dacheng’s wedding had been paid for with the money from selling Qin Hanxiao; now Qin Er’s wedding was another attempt to squeeze her dry. Not a chance.

Besides, the Pei family didn’t even have ten taels left collectively.

“No.”

But Luo Shi didn’t believe her and immediately tried to search her.

“Country bumpkins are still country bumpkins. No matter how much they study, it’s useless. Pei Er Lang studied before too, even passed the county exam, yet what good did it do? He ended up crippled. You said you were here to buy medicine—how come you have no money? Hand it over.”

Qin Hanxiao brushed her hand away and scorned the notion that studying was useless.

“There’s no money, and that’s final. If you touch me again, I’ll shout outside the Qin family’s door. If I go down, I’ll take all four of your family with me. I won’t lose a thing.”

The mother and daughter of the Qin family not only hated Qin Hanxiao but also despised Luo Shi’s family to the extent they wished them all dead.

Luo Shi and Qin He were deeply misogynistic, especially since Qin Cuicui was not their biological daughter. From childhood, Qin Cuicui had been hungry and cold, forced to cook and wash for the whole family as she grew older, poorly treated and frequently beaten.

If Qin He hadn’t fallen into crippling debt from gambling and, out of desperation, gone to the Qin family to reveal the truth, they might have sold Qin Cuicui to a scoundrel who had killed three wives. But that man wouldn’t pay a high price.

Seeing Luo Shi falter, Qin Hanxiao pressed on.

“Tell me, if I went to Madam Qin and told her that Qin He once assaulted Qin Cuicui, do you think Master and Madam Qin would leave your whole family unscathed?”

This was something Qin He had drunkenly let slip, overheard by Qin Hanxiao by chance. It was also one reason she dared not return to the Qin family and instead ran away with Huo Heng—she feared that once they knew she wasn’t their biological daughter, they would treat her the same way.

Luo Shi’s face changed drastically, and she instinctively scanned the surroundings.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Her reaction was clearly evasive; she knew the truth.

“If I’m lying, ask Qin Cuicui herself.”

“You—how can you be so vicious?”

Luo Shi trembled with anger but lowered her voice.

“I am your real mother, and they are your real father and brothers.”

For someone so vile to call others vicious was the height of irony.

Qin Hanxiao sneered, “Weren’t you cruel when you sold me? Hmph! Besides, you reap what you sow.”

She refused to waste time arguing further.

“Stay away from me from now on, or I won’t hesitate to go down fighting.”