The Love of Passerby A

Chapter 483: A Survival Guide for Women in the Old Republic of China (22)

Su Xiangran gently tugged at the corner of Cao Shixun's clothes, her eyes filled with a pleading look, hoping that he would let go and put her down.

In front of his majestic father, Cao Shixun had no power to resist and could only obey his father's orders and put Su Xiangran on the ground.

"Master, you clearly don't..." The fourth concubine had just said half of her sentence when she met Cao Ce's frosty gaze. Suddenly, her throat seemed to be tightly strangled by an invisible hand, and she could no longer make a sound.

Cao Ce turned to look at the adjutant beside him and asked, "I remember Lao Zhang mentioned that one of his soldiers seemed to be unmarried, right?"

The adjutant followed Cao Ce's gaze to the fourth concubine, and then replied, "Yes, that soldier did.

Moreover, he had once had the honor of seeing the beauty of the Fourth Concubine, and he said that if he could spend a night with such a beautiful woman, he would be willing to do so even if it cost him several years of his life.

"What a loser!" Cao Ce scolded with a smile, "She is just a girl, but he is still obsessed with her."

"General, you don't know that all of your wives are stunning beauties." The adjutant said with a flattering smile, "Looking around our area, how many people don't envy your good fortune?"

"In that case..." Cao Ce suddenly pointed at the Fourth Concubine and ordered, "Then give her to that boy."

When the fourth concubine heard this, she was struck by lightning and her face turned pale.

But at this moment, she couldn't even find anyone to ask for help.

She was originally a singing girl in a restaurant. She was spotted by Cao Ce at a banquet and was taken back home.

When she first came to the Cao family, the fourth concubine had heard that Cao Ce had the habit of rewarding women to his subordinates, but when this really happened to her, she found that she had no ability to resist at all.

Only now did the Fourth Concubine realize that all her previous actions were suicidal.

Naturally, she had no roots in the Cao family since she had no children. Her lack of a strong maternal family meant that she had no powerful support. To put it nicely, she was the fourth concubine, but in the final analysis, she was just a toy that could be given away at any time.

At this time, the adjutant came forward and said to the fourth concubine with a smile: "Fourth concubine, why don't you thank me quickly. It is your blessing to be able to follow the brothers under our Lao Zhang and to be his legal wife."

The fourth concubine bit her lip, her body trembling slightly. She wanted to resist, but she saw that the adjutant's hand was already on the pistol at her waist.

Finally, she lowered her head in humiliation and said softly, "Thank you for the reward, Governor."

After saying that, she slowly turned around and planned to follow the adjutant to leave the Cao family.

"Stop!" Cao Ce spoke again, "Go to your room and pack up. You can take the jewelry I bought for you. It's the reward you deserve for serving me."

The fourth concubine bit her lips tightly, as if she wanted to refuse to accept these properties.

She became Cao Ce's woman, and although there were some factors of dependence on the powerful, she believed deep down that she was not someone who would sell her body.

If she really accepted these things, wouldn't she become that kind of person?

However, just as she was about to politely refuse, Cao Wanning said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, but very clear: "Brother, you are really kind-hearted! No matter when or where, money and wealth are always the foundation of a person's life.

The so-called clearing of payment and goods is the right way to do business. Anyone who defaults on a debt will feel unhappy. If you are alone, it’s better, but I’m afraid even your family will…”

Cao Wanning's words seemed ambiguous on the surface, but the "Fourth Concubine", who was not very smart before, now fully understood the deeper meaning behind them.

She realized that if she could get the money, she could at least have the most basic living security.

Moreover, if she did not accept what Cao Ce gave her and made him unhappy, then others would probably not be spared either.

Thinking of this, the fourth concubine's expression became more solemn.

Apart from anything else, this "Fourth Concubine" still has parents and brothers at home.

She bowed to Cao Ce again and went upstairs to pack her things. However, when she left, she probably went out through a small door, so Su Xiangran never saw this woman again.

After this incident, Su Xiangran gained a deeper understanding of this era: in troubled times, human life is worthless, and women's lives are even less valuable.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel sad. Su Xiangran didn't think Cao Ce was cruel. At least he generously gave that woman some property.

Su Xiangran once thought that getting her mother to give up foot binding was the biggest challenge in her survival. But now it seems that every step in this world is a hurdle!

"Xiao Ran, what's wrong?" Cao Ce squatted down, took Su Xiangran's hand and said kindly, "She made a mistake just now, and uncle is just punishing her. You are so well-behaved, uncle will always like you."

Su Xiangran suppressed the fear in her heart, smiled and nodded at Cao Ce.