ATP Chapter 36

All the Protagonists I’ve Scummed Came To Me For Revenge Chapter 36: Abandoned Daughter of a Rich Family (7)

Xiao Wenjin.

This is Xiao Sanniang’s formal name.

Xiao Wenjin is the current head of the Xiao family.

Did you replace the father who abandoned you and become the new head of the Xiao family in Yunzhou by betraying me?

“Sister Xia, don’t you like them?”

“Hmm.” Xia Yu said with a smile, “Dealing with people from big families is too tiring. Don’t be fooled by their politeness towards me; it’s all based on the fact that they need my help.”

“Ah”

“It’s still a long way to Yunzhou.”

The wounded guards had their wounds bandaged, while those who were seriously injured were left here to await the arrival of people from Le’an County.

The carriage set off again, seemingly intending to go ahead. It was unclear whether they were going directly back to Yunzhou or to Le’an County to rest first.

With the patriarch ambushed, the most urgent task now is to return and take charge of the situation. Xia Yu doesn’t know what choice Xiao Wenjin will make.

She never expected to encounter her under these circumstances. If she had known that the person in the carriage was Xiao Wenjin, she should have turned around and left, pretending that she was blind and hadn’t seen anything.

Xiao Wenjin probably didn’t recognize her.

After all, she hadn’t aged; she looked just like she did seven years ago. Although Xiao Wenjin was by her side, she had never seen her face.

Xia Yu thought to herself, but still covered her hand. She didn’t know if Xiao Wenjin had seen the birthmark. If she had, she might have become suspicious.

For Xiao Wenjin, the most important thing now is to go to Yunzhou to take charge of the overall situation. Therefore, she did not go to Le’an County to rest, but went directly to Yunzhou.

Xin’er, supporting Xia Yu, complained, “We didn’t even rest for a bit. We should have known better than to take that road.”

They had been traveling for more than two hours. They had only eaten a steamed bun that morning, and they were feeling quite tired. She was also worried about Xia Yu, who was injured and bleeding.

Xia Yu agreed with her, but said, “Stop complaining. With a thousand taels, there are many things you can do.”

Xin’er’s eyes lit up when she heard “a thousand taels,” but then dimmed again. She said with some disappointment, “Then, is Sister Xia going back to Yangzhou with the money?”

“Heroine, you’re from Yangzhou?”

Xiao Tianci overheard Xin’er’s words, and his eyes lit up as he came over to chat with them.

Xin’er said with dissatisfaction, “What are you doing here?”

“Xin’er, don’t be rude.” Xia Yu knew that she was taking her anger out on Xiao Tianci because of her injury, so she stopped her and said, “This has nothing to do with the Xiao family, does it?”

“No, no, I’m asking in my own personal capacity.” Xiao Tianci wasn’t angry. He said, “I’ve been to Yangzhou. Where in Yangzhou are you from, heroine? Are you going to Yangzhou?”

Xia Yu glanced at Xin’er and said, “…Never mind, I won’t go back. I’ll stay in Yunzhou for now.”

Xin’er was overjoyed: “Really?”

Xia Yu nodded and said jokingly, “If you don’t mind me giving you a thousand taels later, then I’ll stay in Yunzhou for the time being.”

“I don’t mind at all!”

When she was saving Xia Yu, all she could think about was a thousand taels of silver. She only wanted money. She was also trying to get a thousand taels of silver from Xia Yu. But after getting to know her, she realized that a thousand taels of silver couldn’t compare to Xia Yu, the older sister who was so kind to her.

She didn’t care much about the thousand taels.

What was said without malice may have been taken to heart by the listener.

Xiao Tianci heard and remembered Xia Yu’s words, “Give me a thousand taels.” He thought to himself that Xia Yu was indeed not from an ordinary family, and that a thousand taels was not something that could be given away casually.

For the Xiao family, a thousand taels was just a drop in the ocean, not worth mentioning, but for others it was a considerable sum.

Could Xia Ran be an alias?

Xiao Tianci thought to himself.

Could she be a member of the Wang family of Yangzhou?

Yangzhou is a prominent city, so he naturally thought of the Wang family of Yangzhou, which was one of the seven great families along with the Xiao family.

If she is from the Wang family of Yangzhou, then it is obvious that she doesn’t take the Xiao family seriously at all, because the Wang family of Yangzhou and their Xiao family are indeed at odds.

They weren’t mortal enemies, but rather had some minor conflicts. The seven families intermarried, and their relationships with each other weren’t too bad.

There were no more ambushes on the road.

Those people seemed to have given up, and by the afternoon, they had arrived in Yunzhou safely.

Looking at the huge city gate and the exquisite buildings, Xin’er, who lived in Le’an County and had never seen Yunzhou before, stared wide-eyed with curiosity.

“We’ve finally arrived at Yunzhou City.”

“Are you tired?” Xia Yu turned to ask Xin’er.

Xin’er—several times along the way, she almost couldn’t keep up. It was Xin’er supporting her that turned into her supporting Xin’er to get here.

After marveling at Yunzhou City, Xin’er heard these words and felt a pang of grievance: “I can’t even feel my legs anymore.”

Xia Yu comforted her, “Don’t worry, once we get the money, we’ll find a place to stay.”

There were soldiers checking people at the city gate, but no one dared to check the Xiao family’s carriage. No one came over to ask any questions and simply watched them enter Yunzhou City.

The Xiao family were the local tyrants of Yunzhou.

Yunzhou’s prosperity is unmatched by Le’an County; the variety of things there is dazzling and awe-inspiring.

Wherever the Xiao family’s carriage passed, passersby stepped aside, spontaneously making way for it.

Xiao Tianci walked to the back of the group and said to Xia Yu, “We’ve arrived in Yunzhou City. You’ll come with me later, my lady, and I’ll take you to get the money. Lady, are you really not going to consider our Xiao family of Yunzhou?”

“I have no ideas for now.”

Xiao Tianci sighed, “Alright?”

He had made up his mind that once he got back, he would send someone to check with the Wang family in Yangzhou to see if they had anyone outside the family.

Xia Yu looked to be in her early twenties, an age range that was easy to identify, and her previous words also fully proved that this Xin’er was not her biological sister.

The gate of the Xiao family compound was incredibly grand, resembling a city within a city, completely isolated from the outside world.

After the carriage stopped, Xiao Tianci led them into the Xiao family compound, and then they turned right immediately upon entering.

“Heroine, would you like silver notes or cash?”

“Give me a silver note, please?”

She had some money she had earned over the past few days, plus the ten taels she had taken from teaching those four beggars a lesson yesterday, which was enough for the time being.

“Heroine, are you really not going to reconsider?” Xia Yu was in a good mood, and Xiao Tianci seized the opportunity to persuade her: “My Xiao family offers very good treatment, including food and lodging.”

Xia Yu smiled at him: “I said I would consider it.”

Xiao Tianci was startled by her and shrank back: “Aha, well, then you should think it over carefully. Once you’ve thought it over, come find me. You’re welcome anytime, anytime.”

After leaving the Xiao family, she finally understood something and left the Xiao family, which made her feel uncomfortable.

She was very familiar with the Xiao family and had visited them several times. After all, she and Xiao Wancai were allies and often drank tea together to plot secrets.

It’s a pity that this shrewd guy was betrayed by his beloved daughter.

According to the plot, she will succeed, taking advantage of the severe drought to divide the country with the current emperor across the river.

In retrospect, it was she who dragged that old man Xiao Wancai into this mess, since she was betrayed entirely because she turned a blind eye.

Given Xiao Wenjin’s personality and character, the Xiao family would never protect Xiao Wancai, let alone be able to, as that would be a crime of treason.

“Come on, let me take you to buy clothes.”

Xin’er said with a wronged expression, “But I’m so tired.”

Xia Yu rubbed her head and said, “There’s a clothing store up ahead. It’ll be done soon. After you buy the clothes, we’ll find an inn to rest. You can take a bath and change into some new clothes so you won’t be tired anymore.”

Xia Yu also bought two outfits for herself. She didn’t buy anything expensive, just two simple pieces that fit her. Clothes for ordinary people wouldn’t be too expensive, and after buying several outfits, she still had a lot of change left.

“We’re tired from walking today, let’s go out again tomorrow and see if there are any shops available for rent.”

“Do you want to open a shop?”

“Hmm.” Xia Yu nodded and said, “Food is the most important thing for people. I plan to open a restaurant. But we still need to find some people to help us, and finding people is a troublesome thing.”

“Why do we need to hire someone? I can help too, I can do the work.” Xin’er said, puzzled. She felt it was unnecessary to hire someone and pay them, since she could do it herself.

Xia Yu thought for a moment and said, “What you said makes sense. Let’s not invite anyone yet, and let’s just do it ourselves.”

A thousand taels isn’t too much money to open a restaurant, since she’d need to rent or buy a shop; it’s better to take it slow. Xia Yu had a thought of leaving after seeing Xiao Wenjin, but upon reflection, leaving would be like protesting too much. Besides, travel was inconvenient in ancient times; reaching a large city like Yunzhou would take a long time.

She saved Xiao Wenjin. Although she said that she would settle the matter once she paid her back, she believed that if she developed her career in Yunzhou, the Xiao family would probably offer him some protection.

Therefore, staying in Yunzhou is actually the best choice, since the Xiao family is there to protect her, as long as Xiao Wenjin doesn’t recognize her.

After finding an inn to stay in, Xia Yu asked the waiter to prepare hot water and food before taking Xin’er upstairs. They didn’t ask for more rooms, just one.

Prices in Yunzhou are still relatively high.

“Bathe first or dinner first?”

Xin’er thought for a moment and said, “I want to take a bath first.”

Xia Yu wasn’t surprised by her choice. Although she knew Xin’er must be very hungry, she had bought new clothes after all, and Xin’er was, after all, a girl—how could she not want to try on new clothes?

Xia Yu laughed and said, “Then I won’t wait for you.”

“No need to wait for me.” Xin’er, carrying her clothes, was about to go behind the screen to take a bath when she heard this and quickly said, “Sister Xia, you can eat first.”

What an obedient little sister!

Xia Yu propped her head up with her hand, smiling as she looked at Xin’er, feeling a mix of emotions, and also thinking of herself from the previous two worlds.

Touching her face, she thought with a sigh, “So this is how others see me? I really do look easy to bully, which makes me likable.”

Well-behaved children always make people unable to resist loving them.

The difference is that her obedience is all an act because of necessity, while Xin’er’s obedience and cuteness are genuine because she trusts her and is innocent.

If I could go back…

She paused, then shook her head.

Why think so much?