Ten People Hung from the Rafters

Zheng Yuanbao was in tears. He hugged the letter and knelt on the ground, saying:

"Waaaah... Mom and Dad, I don't want anything, I just want you back. Don't good people get rewarded?"

Father, didn't you say that good deeds would be rewarded? Why have we ended up like this?

Zheng Yuanbao burst into tears, while Zhou Wanwan sighed and said, "We can't stay here any longer; we should leave as soon as possible."

Zheng Yuanbao nodded and handed the box to Zhou Wanwan, saying, "I don't know how you found this box, but I can't accept these things."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

"These things were left to you by your parents, even though we are secretly master and servant."

However, you are still officially a free person, and you can still participate in the imperial examinations.

I'll only take half of these things; consider it a reward for finding them.

Zheng Yuanbao nodded and said, "Thank you, Miss. I hereby swear that I will never betray you for the rest of my life."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "I've found your sister's whereabouts. Do you want to save them?"

Zheng Yuanbao quickly nodded and said, "Miss, of course I want to, I've been dreaming about it. Could you please help me save them?"

Zhou Wanwan hummed in agreement and said, "Of course."

Zhou Wanwan had the Old Scholar Tree lead them directly to Azure Dragon Mountain Stronghold.

The mountain stronghold was bustling with activity; everyone was drinking and eating meat.

The bandit leader grinned and said, "Everyone has done a great job this time; our stronghold has made a fortune!"

The second-in-command beside him nodded and said, "Those young ladies of the Zheng Family are truly beautiful, but unfortunately, they are all fiercely independent."

The third leader wiped the drool from his mouth and said, "Tonight we'll consummate our marriage. I've taken a liking to that third young lady; she's absolutely stunning. I can't resist her."

The bandit leader laughed heartily, "I never thought we'd find such a beautiful wife! Even the maids are quite pretty."

A group of people were drinking and eating meat, while in the back room, several young women were sobbing uncontrollably.

Third Miss Zheng looked at her eldest sister and said, "Eldest sister, what should we do now?"

The Eldest Miss of the Zheng Family wept bitterly, saying, "Sisters, are you afraid of death? Our parents are gone, so there's no point in living anymore."

Second Miss Zheng shook her head and suddenly said, "It's a pity I don't know how our younger brother is doing..."

Third Miss Zheng sighed and said, "You two are already engaged, I wonder if they will come to your rescue?"

Eldest Miss Zheng shook her head and said, "We've already been captured and taken to the mountain stronghold. Do you think they'll still want us?"

Second Miss Zheng thought of her fiancé, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"My father found me a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, saying that once I married him, I would be a scholar's wife."

If he gets into high school one day, then I can finally have a good life.

It's all over.

Eldest Miss Zheng patted them on the shoulder and said, "Sisters, we can't bring shame to the Zheng Family. If our brother is still alive, he will definitely avenge us."

After saying that, all three of them stood up and took out their red ribbons.

The maids around them also took out red silk without hesitation, but only two maids shouted loudly, "No, we don't want to die! Our parents are still alive. If we die, we will never see them again in this life!"

"I don't want to die either. You can die all you want, but I don't want to die even if I become a bandit's wife."

The two men immediately fled, while the others kicked the stools away without hesitation.

Zhou Wanwan was quite fast; just as she arrived at the mountain stronghold, she heard two trees say, "There's someone over there, trying to commit suicide!"

"Really? Oh no, oh no, there will be a few more corpses tomorrow morning."

"Aren't there few young girls being dragged up the mountain every year? They all end up as fertilizer. I heard this time it was several young ladies too, what a pity..."

Zhou Wanwan rushed into the room with the Old Scholar Tree. Ten people were hanging from the ceiling, their faces as white as paper.

Zhou Wanwan called out to the Old Scholar Tree, and the Old Scholar Tree untied the rope and let the ten people down one by one.

Zheng Yuanbao let out a loud cry and rushed over, sobbing uncontrollably. "Sister! Sister! How could you be so silly! Why couldn't you wait for me a little longer?"

Zhou Wanwan shoved him aside, saying, "Get out of the way! Don't get in my way while I'm saving people!"

Zhou Wanwan took out silver needles and inserted them into the acupoints on the necks and chests of several people.

After giving her acupuncture, she took out some brown powder from her cloth bag, pried open the men's teeth, and fed them the medicine.

For the two cases that were particularly serious, Zhou Wanwan turned to the Old Scholar Tree and shouted, "Come on, lend a hand!"

The branches of the Old Scholar Tree immediately drooped down, gently wrapping around their chests, pressing down slowly with alternating loosening and tightening.

Not long after, these people slowly opened their eyes.

Zheng Yuanbao cried out loudly, "Sister, waaaah... Thank goodness you're all alright, otherwise I really couldn't live!"

Eldest Miss Zheng looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "And this is...?"

Zheng Yuanbao quickly introduced, "She's my master. I've already acknowledged her as my master. She's the one who helped me find you."

Eldest Miss Zheng quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Miss."

Zhou Wanwan waved her hand and said, "Alright, where are you planning to go? I'll have someone take you away."

Eldest Miss Zheng, holding her two younger sisters' hands, solemnly knelt down on the ground, and the maids beside her also knelt down.

Eldest Miss Zheng looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "If it weren't for you, we probably wouldn't be alive today. Please take us in; we're willing to serve you for the rest of our lives."

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said:

"You should all get up! You used to be rich and beautiful young ladies."

"It's such a disservice to you to make you my servants now."

Their clothes were made of fine silk and satin, and the accessories they wore were clearly very valuable.

Eldest Miss Zheng shook her head and said:

"We don't feel wronged at all; I'd like to stay by your side for the rest of my life."

Please accept us!

Second Miss Zheng looked at her and said, "Sister, we've already been engaged. It wouldn't be right to break off the engagement now, would it?"

Eldest Miss Zheng looked up at her and said:

"Sister, we've lost our reputation; we've been captured and thrown into the bandits' den."

Do you think anyone would still want to marry us?

Second Miss Zheng shook her head and said:

"He will definitely marry me. He said he's already planning to come to our house to propose."

He even swore an oath to my face.

Eldest Miss Zheng sighed and said:

"Alright, let's all give it a try! If they're not willing, then we'll just have to serve Miss well."

What do you think?

Second Miss Zheng nodded. In fact, Eldest Miss Zheng knew very well that neither of these families would accept them.

Because they're broke now. Those people used to be after their money, but now they have nothing, so who would want them?