The Whole Village Thrives After Adopting a Lucky Girl

Chapter 503: Chen Zhao Extra _3

Chapter 503: Chen Zhao Extra Chapter_3
 

The Emperor summoned them to Beijing and even granted them official positions.

Before the departure of my daughter, she gave me the Elixir that Yingbao had given her, saying that if consumed, it could keep one’s appearance unchanged for fifty years.

I took it, so my face has stayed around thirty years old, which has inspired admiration in everyone. Even the birth mother of my daughter-in-law started to curry favor with her, just because my grandson had been chosen to go to the fairyland.

As the days passed, our tavern grew increasingly prosperous. My younger brother’s inn was also rebuilt, turning into a three-story building.

The first floor was built with bricks and stones, and the second and third floors were made of mortise and tenon wooden structures.

Because more and more guests wanted to stay, and his yard was only so big, rebuilding it into a multi-storey building would accommodate more guests.

One day, I suddenly had a dream. I dreamed of my childhood and even dreamed of my mother.

She was using a bamboo stick to beat a child. I took a closer look and that lamb was Yingbao when she was a few years old.

I wanted to stop my mother, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t.

At this time, I discovered that my childhood self and my elder sister were hiding behind the door, peeking.

Then, I saw more scenes: Yingbao was beaten by my mother until her body was covered with bruises; the skin on her arms and face was even cracked, exposing the fresh flesh.

She was lying in the haystack outside the yard, covered with a tattered reed coat.

I saw my younger self walk over, toss a piece of black bread from a distance, and put a broken bowl next to then run away quickly.

I could clearly feel what my younger self was thinking. I was very scared of Yingbao at that time, really scared, because her eyes were very strange.

But I never thought of helping her, and neither did my older sister. We would give her some leftovers after we finished eating, sometimes it was me, sometimes it was my older sister, but I found that several times my elder sister gave the black bread to the dog at home.

But I didn’t say anything, nor did I think of telling my grandmother.

Latterly, Yingbao gradually improved. I heard my grandma saying to my mother that she was really lucky. Even though she was beaten so badly, she managed to survive. It showed she was a wretched creature.

At this time, my mother, cradling my little brother Xubao, was feeding him steamed egg custard, commenting: “It’s good she survived. We need someone to do chores in the house in the future.”

So my elder sister and I got some free time. Except for occasionally fetching water from the river, she was given all the chores.

Later, I learned from chatting with the girls in the village that the Jiang family had moved out of Dongchen Village, supposedly to Jiang Village.

But several times I saw Yingbao sneaking to Dongchen Village, and I quietly followed her. I saw Jiang’s couple hugged her and cried, and even stuffed several boiled eggs into her hands.

I was thinking, when she returns, I will take the boiled eggs to my mother. As a result, I saw her sitting on the ground eating all the boiled eggs.

I was very angry and ran to tell my mother.

My mother immediately took out a stick used for beating clothes and went out. Led by me, she found Yingbao, and then she beat her severely.

Jiang’s couple tried to protect her, but they were also beaten several times. In the end, Jiang’s third son beat my mother and threatened her that he would report her to the authorities if she dared to abuse Yingbao again.

But my mother showed no fear, she yelled back, arguing how dare he scold her for disciplining her own daughter. She said even if the king’s father came, she wouldn’t be afraid.

In the end, Jiang’s couple was taken away by people, Yingbao was also lifted by her mother and taken home, and, naturally, she was beaten severely again.

Yet Yingbao seemed very persistent. Whenever she had the chance, she would steal away. She wanted to see her foster parents.

Later, my mother bought an iron chain to bind her ankle and tied her under a big tree. Holding Xubao, she pointed at Ying Bao and said: “She’s just a lowly creature, don’t treat her as a human being.”

Then my mother taught Xubao to beat her with a bamboo stick, stating that she was just like a dog, and needed to be disciplined.

The village chief, unable to stand it, came to reprimand my mother. Only then did she unlock the iron chain from Yingbao’s ankle.

I heard the village chief whisper to Yingbao, urging her to live well, as when she grows up and gets married, she will be able to leave and say, do whatever she wants.

I saw Yingbao cry. She never cried when my mother beat her to that state. The village chief just said a few words to her kindly, and she cried her eyes out.

At that moment, I felt some pity for Yingbao.

I knew I was dreaming, and I wanted to wake up, but I was unable to. Those scenes flashed one by one like a revolving lantern.

I saw a flood in the village, and our family went to the county seat.

I also saw my parents take us to live in my aunt’s house.

Once, I went out to play with a few of my female cousins, and my second cousin lost her golden hairpin in the tree.

I saw my teenage self keeping quiet, bending down pretending to fix my shoe, and then quietly put the golden hairpin in my sleeve.

When I came back, I quietly tried the hairpin on in front of the mirror, but Yingbao, who just came in, saw me.

I was very scared. Also, my second cousin was looking for her lost hairpin all over. After much consideration, I decided to give up the hairpin and put it under Yingbao’s pillow.

Later, Yingbao was severely beaten by my mother and locked in a chicken coop.

A bit later, Yingbao was sold to the brothel by my mother.

I saw my mother holding thirty taels of silver, joyfully saying to my father: “I didn’t expect that girl to be worth so much. She was sold for thirty taels. Now we can settle in the county.”