Re-embroidering life

Lan Xin was angry and wanted to go up and argue with the doorman, but Shui Qinghua stopped her.

She said to the doorman calmly, "I am Chen Jinlan's formal master who has had tea and greeted her. I am her elder and a member of her family. It is unreasonable for her family to stop her from meeting her daughter, right?"

Seeing that she looked ordinary but had a sharp look in her eyes, the concierge wanted to retort but swallowed his words. "I'll go inform Madam. Madam will decide whether to see you or not. You wait!" After saying that, he slammed the door shut.

Shui Qinghua and Lan Xin waited outside the door. The sun disappeared into the clouds, and the light became dimmer and dimmer. It was already midwinter, and the north wind started to blow, cutting the exposed skin like a knife. Lan Xin couldn't stand it anymore, and rubbed her hands and blew out air, stamping her feet and jumping on the spot. Shui Qinghua was also almost unconscious from the cold, but she came here as an elder, so she should always remain calm.

After an unknown amount of time, the door finally opened. The doorman looked unfriendly and said in a harsh tone, "Go in. Madam is waiting."

A little maid led them through the vast and desolate garden, past the half-dry pond, and finally arrived at the upper room after twists and turns. Mrs. Zhao was a few years younger than Mrs. Chen, well-maintained, with plump cheeks. After the two sides greeted each other, she said, "I didn't know that Jinlan had a master, and her mother didn't mention it. What did you teach her?"

"Teach embroidery skills." Shui Qinghua said calmly.

Madam Zhao chuckled, "Ordinary people learn a craft to make a living and support their families, so a master is naturally important. Jinlan is a lady, and learning needlework is just to pass the time and cultivate her temperament. Master or not is just a title, so don't take it too seriously."

Shui Qinghua was unmoved: "Jinlan accepted me as her master for a reason. Although it was not to support her family, this embroidery skill did save the Chen family from danger."

Mrs. Zhao opened her eyes wide in slight surprise.

"No matter what the reason is, it is a fact that Jinlan took me as his master. As a master, it should not be an excessive request to meet his own disciple. The Zhao family is a family of officials, and their ancestors were even noble. I believe that they are all reasonable people, and they will not have any trouble with such a small matter." Shui Qinghua said.

Madam Zhao looked at her and said, "You are a foreigner, but you know that the Zhao family's ancestors are from a high-ranking family." Although she said this, her expression was pleasant and her eyes were smiling. "It seems that you are not such a vulgar person. It would be good for you to meet Jinlan. She is stubborn and even her mother won't listen to her. When a woman gets married, she belongs to her husband's family. It's more important to live a peaceful life. As her master, you should talk to her."

Shui Qinghua remained calm and just agreed readily.

After a while, the little maid led a woman into the main room.

Shui Qinghua could hardly recognize her. Less than a year ago, she was still an innocent girl with eyes as bright as morning dew and stars. Now she was thin and out of shape, her hair and skin were as dry as dead wood, and her eyes were lifeless and without any emotion.

Shui Qinghua couldn't believe it and called out tentatively, "Jinlan."

Jin Lan's eyes stayed still for a while, then slowly moved to Shui Qinghua's face. After a while, she seemed to see the face in front of her clearly, and her eyes finally became excited, and she cried out in a sobbing voice: "Master."

Jin Lan suddenly threw herself into Shui Qinghua's arms, tears streaming down her face, "Master, you are finally here. I knew you would come to save me."

Shui Qinghua stroked her bony back, feeling heartbroken.

Mrs. Zhao said unhappily, "Look at what you said. Is the Zhao family a den of dragons and tigers? And you're still saving us? Did we give you less food or less water?"

Shui Qinghua ignored Mrs. Zhao, hugged Jinlan's trembling body tightly, and said softly: "Jinlan, don't be afraid, Master is here."

Mrs. Zhao felt a little embarrassed, and said to Shui Qinghua, "You try to persuade her well." Then she left with her maid.

Chen Jinlan stopped trembling gradually after everyone left. She grabbed Shui Qinghua's arm tightly and said, "Master, please take me away. My parents don't care about me anymore."

"Jinlan, what happened? How did you become like this?"

"I grew up under the care of my grandparents and was not close to my parents. But I thought they loved me in their hearts, but I didn't expect..."

Through Jin Lan's confusing narration, Shui Qinghua finally figured out the truth of the matter.

The ancestors of the Zhao family were earls of the founding of the country. The family has fallen into decline until now. A lean camel is bigger than a horse. The Zhao family always has a few capable relatives. The Chen family wants the Zhao family to pave the way for the future of Jinlan. In exchange, they are willing to marry their daughter to the Zhao family. Zhao Jiazi is a well-known playboy in this area. He has been hanging around brothels since he was a teenager. He can take a fancy to any maid in the mansion who is a little pretty. Poor Jinlan has been in Jiangxia and knows nothing about the details of the Zhao family. When she returned to the capital, she was married into the family by her parents. On the wedding night, Zhao Jiazi actually left her to hang out in a brothel. Jinlan regarded it as a great shame and humiliation. The next day, she asked for a divorce and went home. The two had an argument, and during the dispute, Zhao Jiazi actually beat Jinlan.

Once there is a first, there will be a second. From then on, being beaten became Jinlan's daily routine.

Jin Lan lifted up her sleeves, and her arms were covered in bruises and purples. Some of them were broken and pus was oozing out, and some of them were already scabby. The broken skin seemed to have been injured by a sharp weapon.

Lan Xin covered her mouth tightly, blocking the sobs in her throat, tears streaming down her face.

Shui Qinghua asked: "Do your parents know?"

"I know." Jin Lan shed tears, "I went back home three days later, and I went back alone. I showed my mother the wound, and she cried too, but she advised me that as long as I obeyed my husband and didn't make him angry, I wouldn't be beaten." She smiled bitterly, "Every time that beast beat me, he said that I was sold to the Zhao family, and that the Zhao family found a lucrative job for my brother. Even if he beat me to death, my parents wouldn't say anything."

"What about your mother-in-law?"

"My mother-in-law is quite nice to me, but isn't it her fault that her son is in this situation? She only advises me to stop making trouble and live a good life. She doesn't know that I will be beaten regardless of whether I make trouble or not. I tried to sneak away, but after being discovered, I could never leave my yard again." At this point, a glimmer of light flashed in Jin Lan's dead eyes: "I once thought about death, but I remember what Master said before leaving, that no matter what, I should never give up on myself. Even if I am beaten or imprisoned, I will struggle to live. I believe that Master will come."

Shui Qinghua stroked Jinlan's thin face, her fingers trembling. At the beginning, Jinlan was going back to Beijing to get married. She felt that Jinlan had parents and grandparents, and they would decide her lifelong affairs. Her parents would never harm their daughter. If she had been more cautious and asked more people, Jinlan would not have jumped into this fire pit. With Ji Yun's previous experience, she did not learn the lesson!

Shui Qinghua said with tears in her eyes: "Master is sorry for you and I am ashamed for you to call me Master. No matter what the cost, Master will find a way to lead you out of this cage."