Old Man Liu took Shen Tan and the others to the pharmacy as usual, while Li Yue Shu prepared to head to the restaurant again.
But just as she was getting into the carriage, a woman in a silk dress, followed by a maid, walked over. Her opulent attire was jarring against the muddy, dilapidated road.
In the village now, the only person who could afford to dress like this seemed to be Shen Can, who had returned home a few days ago.
Shen Can was merely a name in the original book, not even a proper character, so Li Yue Shu was not familiar with her at all.
However, she was specifically brought back by the Shen family to deal with her, so she was unlikely to be a good sort.
Adhering to the principle of meeting force with force, Li Yue Shu remained seated in the carriage.
Shen Can approached with a smile, "Are you Third Brother's wife?"
She eyed Li Yue Shu curiously, her eyes devoid of any hostility.
Li Yue Shu raised an eyebrow and replied patiently, "I am."
Upon hearing this, Shen Can smiled, "I am Shen Wei's second elder sister. My name is Shen Can. It's our first meeting. This is a gift from your second elder sister. I hope you won't dislike it."
As she spoke, she took out an exquisite silver hairpin from her sleeve and offered it. The design looked even better than the hairpins sold at the town's jewelry shops.
Li Yue Shu was bewildered by her reaction.
Wasn't she brought back by the Shen family to deal with her? What was the ploy behind giving a gift upon their first meeting?
Li Yue Shu did not move, her heart filled with wariness.
Seeing this, Shen Can hesitated for a moment, then removed the hairpin from her own hair. "This agate was a birthday gift from Steward Li last year. I hope my sister-in-law likes it."
Looking into her sincere eyes, Li Yue Shu, despite her confusion, reached out and accepted the silver hairpin.
"Thank you, Second Elder Sister." She twirled the hairpin, "Do you need anything else, Second Elder Sister?"
Her directness made Shen Can's expression stiffen slightly.
This was an opportunity she had gambled everything for, her only chance. She absolutely could not let it slip away!
Shen Can gritted her teeth and glanced at the maid behind her, "You may leave for now. I wish to speak with my sister-in-law privately."
The maid frowned, looking somewhat unwilling.
But after a moment's hesitation, she chose to withdraw.
Li Yue Shu watched all of this silently, her confusion growing.
Was this truly a maid?
Once the maid was out of earshot, Shen Can took two steps closer to Li Yue Shu, "Sister-in-law, I need to ask for your help with something."
Meeting her cautious gaze, Li Yue Shu was a little surprised.
Why did the plot seem to be diverging so completely from her expectations?
Shen Can's attitude was pleading, "I know you are preparing to open a restaurant. You will definitely need help. I can assist you."
"I've learned to read over the years, and I'm diligent. I'm willing to learn anything. Could you... could you help me buy back my freedom?"
As the last two words fell, Li Yue Shu froze. "Buy back my freedom?"
Only those bound by a contract of indenture would use the phrase "buy back my freedom."
Shen Can was a married daughter of the Shen family. Even if she were to become a concubine, she would still be a respectable woman of good standing, not someone who would need to "buy back her freedom."
Shen Can understood her confusion and lowered her gaze slightly, "Steward Li took a liking to me back then. He said he was coming to propose, but he actually just wanted to buy me."
"My mother sold me for five taels of silver, and Steward Li never took me as a concubine."
Tears welled up in Shen Can's eyes, "He brought me back and played with me for a month before he grew tired of me. I was alone and helpless at the Steward's mansion, with no money. I almost died there several times..."
She took a moment to compose herself before continuing, "Sister-in-law, I know you have money. The people at Steward Li's mansion said that if I could pay thirty taels, they would give me the indenture. Could you help me buy back my freedom?"
Li Yue Shu understood the full story and was once again astonished by the shameless greed of Shen Can's mother.
However, she did not readily agree out of misplaced kindness. "To my knowledge, when Shen Wei was left with the wandering Taoist priest, you were just a baby who knew nothing. And when Shen Wei returned three years ago, you were already married. You two are more like strangers than acquaintances, and we have even less of a connection."
"Besides, thirty taels is a significant sum. You should know that. Why do you think I would help you?"
She could be compassionate, but she was no selfless saint.
Moreover, this was the first time she had met Shen Can today, and the truth of her words remained to be verified.
Shen Can's face turned pale. "I am willing to give you my indenture. I've learned to read while at Steward Li's mansion, and I am diligent. I can definitely be of assistance to you."
Upon receiving the message from the Shen family, she knew this was her chance to escape Steward Li's mansion. She had given all her savings from the past few years to the household manager, begging for a chance to return.
Upon her return, she had indeed felt despair upon learning of the Shen family's situation. But then she heard about Li Yue Shu and saw a glimmer of hope.
She had not come to visit her in the past few days because she had been inquiring about Li Yue Shu everywhere.
She knew that even though Li Yue Shu had taken in seven orphans to find laborers, she had given them the opportunity to read and write. She had even helped the unrelated mother and son, Mo Lian, and the mother and daughter, Wei Niang. She must be a very kind person.
Therefore, no matter how slim the hope, she had to try.
However, she had clearly misjudged Li Yue Shu.
Facing her pleas, Li Yue Shu showed no sign of softening. "Thirty taels should be enough for me to buy several strong and diligent slaves."
Li Yue Shu's expression was indifferent as she watched the color drain from Shen Can's face. "If I were the benevolent person you imagine, would the Shen family be in its current state?"
Shen Can had witnessed the state of the Shen family with her own eyes.
Despite living in a beautiful house with blue tiles, they couldn't even afford to eat a steamed bun.
Li Yue Shu paid her no further attention. She tugged on the reins and drove the carriage away.
If Shen Can's story was true, she would not give up easily.
Shen Can stood frozen in place, her face devoid of color.
How could this be...
She returned to the Shen family as if she had lost her soul, not knowing how.
Upon her return, Shen Mu did not appear by her side to fuss over her as usual. Shen Wang was nowhere to be found. Only Shen Cheng Cai was squatting in a corner, chopping wood.
Ever since being expelled from school and causing a scene, Shen Cheng Cai seemed to have become much more sensible.
While he didn't talk much with his family and wasn't as obedient to Shen Mu as before, he was much more diligent in his chores.
It could be said that more than half of the household chores were now done by him.
Shen Can walked over, "Cheng Cai, where are your grandmother and father?"
Shen Cheng Cai looked up and wiped the sweat from his brow. "They left early this morning with something, and I don't know where they went."
Hearing this, Shen Can frowned, a bad premonition suddenly dawning on her.
She hurried into her room and indeed found that the bundle she had brought back had been tampered with.
She opened the bundle but couldn't find the small cloth bag where she kept her jewelry.
That was all she had left!
Shen Can didn't have time to think further and rushed towards the town.
But just as she was about to reach the town, she encountered Shen Mu and Shen Wang, carrying large bags and looking all smiles.