Chapter 250: A Wu
Hu Feng glanced at the groceries she was carrying—pork ribs and corn, chives, tofu, and green peppers. ‘Hm, all my favorites. This girl is pretty thoughtful.’
The two walked one after another toward the spot where their carriage was parked. But when they arrived, they discovered their carriage was no longer there, and even the young man hired to watch it had vanished.
Hu Feng frowned and asked a young man to the side, “Where’s our carriage?”
The young man glanced at Hu Feng, his expression clearly gloating. “Your carriage is missing. What’s that got to do with me? It’s not my job to watch it.”
Another middle-aged man squatting beside the youth chimed in, “Looks like it’s gone. This carriage-watching job isn’t for just anyone. Some people, you know, are just naturally light-fingered. Entrusting your carriage to him is like sending a sheep into a tiger’s den. Did you really think you’d see it again?”
The two were obviously just making sarcastic remarks. Hu Feng and Bai Zhi didn’t believe them and were about to find someone else to ask. Just then, the old man who had tried to get their business earlier came over. He glared unhappily at the two younger men and said, “Can’t you watch what you say? Is A Wu the kind of person you claim he is? If he weren’t in such a terrible hurry, he never would have taken their carriage.”
Bai Zhi quickly asked, “Sir, what exactly happened? Did the man watching our carriage really drive off in it?”
The old man hurried to explain, “Miss, here’s what happened. A little while ago, A Wu’s fourth uncle came to find him, saying his wife and child had been thrown out by their landlord. The poor things… His child is sick, too, and they have no money for treatment. Who knows if the little one will even pull through. He was just in a panic, worried his wife and child would be mistreated, so he rushed back in your carriage. You have to trust A Wu. He would never steal your carriage and not return it.”
Bai Zhi asked, “Where does he live? Could you show us the way?”
The old man wanted to help, but he hadn’t landed a single job all day. If he went home empty-handed, there was no telling how long his wife would chew him out.
Bai Zhi took five cents in silver from her money bag and pressed it into the old man’s hand. “Sir, just consider this payment for watching our carriage.”
The old man was overjoyed. He truly hadn’t expected this girl, dressed in coarse cloth and not looking at all wealthy, to be so generous.
“Alright, alright, I’ll take you there right now.”
A Wu’s home was not far from the bustling market. They had to cross the current street and turn onto another; the small house at the very end was the place he rented.
They could hear arguing from far away.
“You’re three months behind on rent and you still expect to live here? You want to stay? Fine. Pay me what you owe first.” The short, stout, middle-aged landlord glared fiercely at A Wu.
A Wu’s wife cowered behind him, clutching a little girl of about three or four to her chest.
A Wu spoke in a low, subservient tone, “Boss Qian, I don’t mean to be late with the rent. It’s just… things have been really tight lately. I can’t come up with that much money. But please, rest assured, I will pay you back as soon as possible.”
Boss Qian snorted. “I’ve met plenty of people like you. You? You can’t even earn enough to feed your family. And I’m supposed to expect you to pay the rent?”
Boss Qian’s gaze swept over A Wu’s wife. A lewd smile spread across his greasy face. “I’ll give you two options. One: use your wife to settle the debt. Two: use that carriage behind you.”