A Debt of Gratitude

Lin Fei followed the advice of the steward, Bai Yansong, and specifically purchased fifty guards from the slave market.

The cost of these fifty guards was higher than that of over a hundred menial servants.

However, the results were quite significant once these fifty guards were in place.

Drawing on his past experience, Bai Yansong first established ten rules.

Lin Fei looked them over; while some of these rules might seem unreasonable at first glance, they could fundamentally resolve potential issues before they arose.

For instance, men and women were to be housed separately, and no one was allowed to enter the female servants' quarters without authorization outside of designated times.

With hundreds of grown men living together, it was inevitable that some would be hot-blooded and have nowhere to vent their energy.

If someone were to harbor evil intentions and commit an act worse than a beast, it would not only harm the female servants but also lead others to follow suit.

In a deep, walled residence, illicit affairs between male and female servants were strictly taboo.

Every rule came with a corresponding punishment.

Light offenses resulted in dozens of strokes with a rod, while severe ones led to death or being sold off.

Under the management of Bai Yansong, these servants had clear divisions of labor and performed their duties well.

Lin Fei came to inspect the Haunted House every day, returning to the small residence in East City to spend the night.

After dinner, Lin Fei lay on the couch, resting his head on Peach Blossom's lap.

One personal maid massaged his legs, while another kneaded his shoulders.

Peach Blossom placed a peeled grape into Lin Fei's mouth, then caught the pit he spat out with her hand.

"This is the life a human is meant to live!"

Lin Fei squinted his eyes, his face full of enjoyment.

He had finally experienced the joy of being a wealthy man.

As for that nine-to-nine grind of a working beast back on Earth, whoever wants that life can have it.

"I certainly didn't misjudge her back then; Peach Blossom is a natural beauty. After some time of proper care, her little face is even prettier."

Peach Blossom had originally been sallow and thin from hunger and malnutrition.

But now, living in luxury and eating well every day, her life was very comfortable; not only had her complexion brightened, but her figure had also become full and rounded.

Her little face lived up to her name—like a peach blossom, white with a rosy flush, exceptionally enchanting.

"Husband, I would like to go back to South City tomorrow to take a look. Could you accompany me?"

"Why go back to South City? Isn't there no one left in your family?"

"I grew up in South City. Even though my family is gone, the house is still there. It is, after all, a memory."

Lin Fei nodded, understanding Peach Blossom's sentiment.

No matter how good a life one leads now, the place where one once lived with their parents is always the most unforgettable.

After graduation, Lin Fei had always worked in Yunzhou and rarely returned to his rural hometown.

Yet, sometimes in his dreams, he would still see things from his childhood.

"Alright. I happen to be going to South City tomorrow anyway, so I'll go with you and pay my respects to your father while we're at it."

Peach Blossom leaned down and kissed Lin Fei on the cheek, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Husband!"

The next day.

Lin Fei and Peach Blossom traveled to South City by carriage, bringing only one personal maid and one guard.

Although Lin Fei was wealthy now, he remained low-key, not wanting to be too flashy and attract unwanted attention.

The alley where Peach Blossom's family lived was home to some of the poorest people.

The alley was so narrow that if a carriage entered, it would be impossible to turn around, and no one else would be able to pass.

Therefore, Lin Fei and Peach Blossom had to walk in.

"Husband, that's my house up ahead."

Just as they reached the door, they heard the sound of smashing coming from inside, along with a woman's cries.

"I beg you, please stop smashing things!"

"Our family really has no money..."

"No money? Then use your wife and daughter to pay off the debt!"

Lin Fei looked at Peach Blossom in confusion and asked, "Why is there someone in your house?"

Peach Blossom shook her head. Since she had gone with Lin Fei, she had never returned, so naturally, she knew nothing of the situation.

At that moment, several men dragged two women out from the house.

"Old thing, you have no money yet you go gambling? In a moment, I'll sell your wife to the slave trader for cash."

"Your daughter has a bit of beauty; if we send her to the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion, she'll fetch a good price!"

A middle-aged man crawled out from the house, his face beaten black and blue, covered in blood.

"No..."

"Please, let my wife and daughter go!"

Peach Blossom let out a cry of alarm and said, "Xinghua!"

"Husband, Xinghua is my childhood neighbor who grew up with me. Could you please help them?"

Lin Fei frowned slightly; he was not the type to stand by and watch others die.

However, the various factions in Nanli City were a tangled mess, and those men clearly weren't easy to deal with.

With the previous incident involving the Blood Wolf Gang lackeys as a warning, Lin Fei really didn't want to invite trouble upon himself.

But looking at Peach Blossom's pleading eyes, Lin Fei's heart softened.

"Ask them what's going on first."

When Xinghua saw Peach Blossom standing at the door, she was initially hesitant to recognize her, as Peach Blossom's current attire was worlds apart from before.

But upon hearing Peach Blossom call her name, she confirmed it was her.

"Sister Peach Blossom, save me!"

The lead man barked, "Who are you people to them? This girl's father lost money gambling, and we're here to collect the debt."

"If you have nothing to do with this, get out of the way."

Once Lin Fei heard it was just a gambling debt and not some major disaster, he felt relieved.

"How much do they owe? I'll pay it for them; just let them go."

"You're paying for them? He lost a total of three silver coins, but with the interest compounding, it's doubled. You need to pay six silver coins."

Lin Fei took out a gold coin and tossed it directly to the man.

He truly didn't have any silver coins; he only had gold coins on him.

"Is this enough? Keep the change; consider the extra a treat for tea!"

"You lot are lucky today, having a benefactor help you. Let's go!"

Having received the money, the men were pleased and gave them face by releasing the captives.

After they left, Peach Blossom went to help Xinghua up.

"Xinghua, why are you at my house?"

"My father owed so much gambling debt that our house was seized. I heard you had sold yourself to bury your father and were bought by someone. I thought you would never return, so we moved into your place."

Xinghua timidly sized up Lin Fei, then glanced at Peach Blossom, hurriedly stepping back for fear of offending Lin Fei.

"Sister Peach Blossom, who is this..."

Peach Blossom introduced him, "This is my husband; he is the one who helped me bury my father."

Xinghua immediately seized the opportunity, calling out, "So it's my brother-in-law! Thank you; if it weren't for you... I don't know what would have become of my mother and me..."

She dropped to her knees in front of Peach Blossom and began to sob.

"Sister Peach Blossom, for the sake of us growing up together, please be a good person to the end and help us again?"

"My father is a degenerate gambler who lost everything of value. Now there isn't even a bite to eat at home."

"If you don't help me, I'll either starve to death or be gambled away by my father."

Xinghua's mother also knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly.

She could see that Peach Blossom's life was different now; she was dressed in silks and satins, clearly having latched onto a wealthy family.

"Peach Blossom, kind-hearted Peach Blossom, your auntie is begging you too."

"Back when your mother was critically ill, our family even lent you money to buy medicine. Later, when your mother passed away, our family helped with the burial too. Do you remember?"

Peach Blossom was already soft-hearted, and hearing these past events—each one a debt of gratitude—she felt she couldn't rest easy if she didn't repay them.

"Husband..."