A Compassionate Heart

"Father, Mother, don't sell me. I can do lots of work. I only need one meal every two days."

Amid the crowd, her heart-rending cries tore at everyone's insides.

Twelve- or thirteen-year-old Zhang Cuier had a sallow face and dry, yellow hair. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at her parents and begged bitterly.

Yet Zhang Ergou and his wife showed not the slightest reluctance. Their eyes held nothing but Qian the Tycoon's silver.

"With this silver, we can pay the taxes and still have some left over to buy Dazhuang a new set of clothes."

They paid Zhang Cuier no heed, as though they were selling nothing more than some insignificant object.

"Hahaha! Once you've taken this lord's silver, you're this lord's property. Take her away!"

Qian the Tycoon laughed lewdly. His belly bulged, and a lascivious look filled his face.

Zhang Cuier was about the same age as Li Ling'er. Though malnourished and thin as a stick, she had the delicate charm of a small household girl and was quite pretty.

Qian the Tycoon had coveted her for a long time. At last, his wish had been fulfilled.

"Ah! If the Zhang Family girl falls into Qian the Tycoon's hands, she'd be better off dead!"

"Qian the Tycoon is cruel beyond measure. Many little girls he bought didn't even survive a few months."

"Heavens! How are we supposed to live?"

"..."

Qian the Tycoon was notorious throughout the surrounding villages. Everyone knew how ruthless he was.

Once Zhang Cuier fell into his hands, she wouldn't survive three months before being brutally killed.

Zhang Cuier knew the fate awaiting her as well. Yet her parents didn't care whether she lived or died. How could a little girl like her possibly resist?

"Take her away."

At Qian the Tycoon's command, several fierce-looking servants behind him seized Zhang Cuier as she struggled desperately, intending to drag her away by force.

The villagers could barely protect themselves. Even those who had paid their taxes and couldn't bear to watch were powerless to help.

"Stop!"

Just then, an angry shout rang out.

Hearing that someone dared ruin his good fortune, Qian the Tycoon's grease-slick face immediately twisted with fury as he blurted out—

"What dog bastard dares..."

He turned around, ready to deal with whoever had spoken so recklessly, but froze at once. The rest of his words lodged in his throat, and he couldn't utter another sound.

The one who had spoken was Father Li. The moment Qian the Tycoon saw him, all his fury vanished, replaced by deep fear.

"So it's Master Li. I didn't know it was you. You're a great man with a great heart, so please don't lower yourself to my level."

Qian the Tycoon's change of expression was truly astounding. His rage instantly became a fawning smile; he could bend and stretch as the situation demanded.

Throughout the surrounding villages, Qian the Tycoon ran wild without restraint, yet he didn't dare provoke anyone from the Li Family.

The Li Family had a son serving as a squad leader. Even some officials didn't dare slight someone of that status, much less a wealthy landowner like him.

Father Li ignored Qian the Tycoon's flattery and looked toward Zhang Cuier.

"My family will buy Zhang Cuier. How much?"

Watching Zhang Cuier's tiny body struggle desperately, Father Li seemed to see his own daughter from several months ago. He felt her pain as though it were his own.

His compassion surged, and his eyes brimmed with pity.

He knew only too well what torture and humiliation an impoverished girl with no power or backing would suffer after falling into the hands of a tyrant like Qian the Tycoon—how she would be dragged completely into the abyss.

Seeing his good fortune being ruined, Qian the Tycoon burned with rage, but he didn't dare show it.

Zhang Cuier seemed to have seized her final lifeline. A thread of hope lit up in her hollow, despairing eyes.

Struggling, she fell to her knees and repeatedly kowtowed to Father Li.

"Uncle Li, please save me. I eat very little. I can do anything... Mmph, mmph..."

Before Zhang Cuier could finish, Qian the Tycoon signaled with his eyes. The servants hurriedly restrained her and covered her mouth, giving her no chance to continue.

"Master Li, Zhang Cuier was sold to me by the Zhang Family. She's already a member of my Qian Residence. I don't want to sell her."

Blinded by lust, Qian the Tycoon didn't want to give Zhang Cuier up.

Besides, he believed he had reason on his side and that Father Li could do nothing to him.

"Is that so?"

Father Li's gaze turned cold. He said nothing further and turned to leave.

"Hmph!"

Watching Father Li depart, Qian the Tycoon snorted, his face full of smug satisfaction.

He thought Father Li had backed down and didn't dare oppose him.

As Zhang Cuier watched Father Li leave, the faint hope in her eyes gradually died out.

She knew that her only chance to escape the tiger's jaws was gone.

Just as Qian the Tycoon was growing carried away with pride and preparing to take Zhang Cuier away, Father Li quickly returned. Behind him came Sun Yun, the lead tax officer, along with a group of constables.

Seeing the officials approach with such aggressive momentum, the surrounding commoners and Qian the Tycoon all felt their hearts tighten. Qian the Tycoon's expression changed as a bad feeling rose within him.

"Honored officers, he's the one forcibly buying and selling people."

Father Li pointed at Qian the Tycoon, and the officials immediately surrounded him.

"So you're the one forcibly buying and selling people? And you dared offend Master Li? Do you know what crime you've committed?"

Sun Yun demanded sternly, carrying a natural air of oppression. Qian the Tycoon immediately trembled, his heart quaking.

"Honored officer, it's all a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!"

Scared out of his wits, Qian the Tycoon hurriedly dropped to his knees and begged for mercy.

He had believed that since Li Xuancang was far away at the border, the Li Family might enjoy the court's protection but held no actual power. As long as he didn't provoke them first, nothing would happen.

Only after seeing Father Li able to command government officials did he realize how absurdly wrong he had been.

Even with Li Xuancang far away at the border, the Li Family was not someone he could offend.

"Honored officer, I don't want this girl anymore. I'm willing to give her to Master Li. Everyone here can bear witness."

Qian the Tycoon snapped awake and immediately changed his tune, voluntarily handing over Zhang Cuier, the fuse that had set everything off.

His lust had vanished. He only wanted to smooth things over and get away as quickly as possible.

Sun Yun didn't agree immediately. Instead, he turned and gently asked Father Li for his opinion.

"Master Li, what do you think?"

Father Li had only wanted to save Zhang Cuier. Now that his goal had been achieved, he didn't wish to stir up more trouble.

"Let's leave it at that."

At those words, Qian the Tycoon, Sun Yun, and the others all breathed a sigh of relief.

Qian the Tycoon was a wealthy landowner with some connections at the county yamen, and Sun Yun didn't want to offend him too deeply either.

But if Father Li had insisted on punishing Qian the Tycoon, Sun Yun could only have gritted his teeth and carried out Father Li's wishes.

Fortunately, Father Li knew where to draw the line, and everyone was satisfied.

"Why aren't you releasing her?"

Qian the Tycoon had failed to catch the fox and ended up covered in stink, leaving him dirty-faced and miserable.

His stomach was full of rage, but he didn't dare vent it on Father Li or the government officials. He could only take it out on his servants.

The servants hurriedly released Zhang Cuier. Once free of her restraints, she dropped to her knees at Father Li's feet with tears in her eyes and kept kowtowing in thanks.

"Thank you, Uncle Li. Thank you, Uncle Li..."

She didn't say anything about repaying him. She simply kept kowtowing until blood soon appeared on her forehead.

"Child, get up quickly."

Father Li's face was full of heartache as he hurriedly helped her up.

"Come, go home with me."

Father Li took Zhang Cuier away. She followed closely behind him, never looking back at her birth parents again.

The other villagers sighed at the sight. Qian the Tycoon had gained nothing and instead lost some silver. He flicked his sleeve and left.