C3 She Was Sold to Him!

He Sanru touched her half-red face, feeling as though she were sucking on a sour plum potent enough to dissolve her teeth. At last, she had returned to the Mei family.

"What? They're so ungrateful?"

Mei Jiangshan's face was lined with wrinkles, yet it glowed with the moisture of a lavish lifestyle.

However, at that moment, his expression was dark with anger, clearly harboring some malicious intent.

He Sanru, with tears streaming down her face, clutched at the fingerprints Ma Tianming had left on her cheek, pleading, "Master Mei, you must stand up for me! That Ma Tianming is beyond reason. I've exhausted all my kind words, yet they not only refused but also threw me out. Sobbing, as the saying goes, 'Even when you strike a dog, you must consider its owner.' He struck me today, but tomorrow, it could be you, Master Mei. Furthermore, that young rascal said..."

"What did he say?"

"I... I'm afraid to say it."

"Speak!" bellowed Mei Jiangshan.

"He claimed that Master Mei, you are disrespectful, not only because of your age but also..."

Under Mei Jiangshan's stern glare, He Sanru exaggerated further, "He also said you're as ugly as a toad, yet because you have some money, you dare to covet his sister, who is as beautiful as a celestial being. He even spat several times after saying it."

"That insolent... A green boy, barely weaned, dares to scorn me? I won't let him off easily."

Mei He, Mei Jiangshan's butler, addressed He Sanru, "You may leave now."

He Sanru's face showed great discomfort, but inwardly she was elated, thinking, "That Ma family brat dared to strike me; I'll make sure Master Mei gives him a taste of his own medicine."

As He Sanru turned and left, Mei He watched her depart and remarked coldly, "Those two young fools aren't ungrateful; they simply haven't adjusted to their new status. Master, perhaps we should give them a reminder."

"How should I remind him?" Mei Jiangshan asked, red with rage. "Don't hold back with that boy—cut him down. But be careful with the girl; she's soft and succulent. We wouldn't want her to toughen up and lose her appeal."

"Rest assured, Master, I have everything under control. However, the Ma family may be down on their luck, but the Zhao family is still in the picture. If the Zhao family decides to lend their support, fulfilling your wish might not be so straightforward."

"What's there to fear about the Zhao family? Besides, haven't Zhao Mu and Ma Jun already had a falling out?"

"Even though Zhao Mu and Ma Jun have severed ties, the young man and young woman from the Ma family are still her sister's children. They're not likely to abandon them in their time of need."

"Hmph!" Mei Jiangshan scoffed with a cold laugh. "I intend to make the Zhao family cut ties with those Ma family kids. He wouldn't dare to take them in."

Despite his smug demeanor, Mei Jiangshan was aware that Zhao Mu wouldn't openly oppose him. Still, he knew Zhao Mu was capable of playing both sides, potentially hiding Mingxin away.

"If they're bold enough to shelter her, I'll make sure they hand her over..."

A shiver ran down Mei He's spine as he pondered the malicious scheme Master Mei was concocting.

"Hmph! I'm going to shake them up... I, Mei Jiangshan, have never been one to bully others. I'll make them hand over that little beauty, Mingxin, without a fuss."

Mei He: ...

"Let's stop for a drink first!" On their way to Uncle Zhao Mu's house, Ma Tianming and Mingxin came across the White Family Winery.

The urge for a drink was gnawing at Ma Tianming, prompting him to make the suggestion.

"Brother!" Mingxin responded with a tone of resignation. Her brother was a good man, but his love for liquor, though not life-threatening, made it a challenge to keep him away from the winery.

To avoid the clutches of Mei Jiangshan and Mei Zhengyao, who could be lurking anywhere, the siblings discreetly entered through the back door.

"Bai Chu!"

The storefront of the White Family Winery was modest, yet the air was rich with the aroma of spirits, a potent but pleasant scent.

Ma Tianming, a known drinker, favored the rice wine from the White Family for its unique taste, despite it not being a luxury brand. He was, of course, a frequent patron.

Bai Chu, a young man the same age as Ma Tianming, was the son of the family that owned the winery.

"Young Master Ma, Miss Ma?" Bai Chu was well aware of the troubles that had befallen the Ma family. Seeing them both with their belongings, he surmised they were fleeing from disaster.

The children of the Xunzhou Patrol Inspector, though they never abused their power to bully others and even regarded Ma Tianming as a friend, were of a different class. Bai Chu, despite his desire to assist them, recognized his limited means. The best he could offer now was a drink.

The trio engaged in conversation in the back hall of the Winery when a woman emerged: Bai Chu's mother, Hong Chunxiang.

Her face, usually marred by the stress of her workload, tensed up. She glanced at Ma Tianming before her gaze settled on Marmin Xin.

Ma Tianming was a regular customer at the winery, so Hong Chunxiang recognized him, but she seldom saw Marmin Xin. Rumors hailed her as the foremost beauty of Golden Ocean, even referring to her as the Golden Ocean Princess.

Today, she was finally in her presence.

Hong Chunxiang appraised Marmin Xin as if she were an old madam overseeing the sale of a virtuous woman. "Miss Ma truly has a captivating charm! Her skin is so soft and supple, it seems one could squeeze water from her cheeks. And such a waistline, effortlessly ensnaring the soul. She does appear rather delicate, the sheltered daughter of a wealthy household, unaccustomed to hardship. But men, they favor such women. If the Ma family hadn't fallen on hard times, a visit from Miss Ma would be most unlikely!"

Indeed!

A thought struck Hong Chunxiang: This Miss Ma, clearly from a respectable family, was once beyond consideration. But now, with the Ma family's misfortune, she was like a bride walking right up to their doorstep!

Young Master Ma was nothing but a drunkard, incapable of supporting his fragile sister. Who's to say he wouldn't trade her for a drink one day? This was a rare beauty, a gift from the heavens! She must be secured now as a bride for her son.

Yet, Hong Chunxiang, a seasoned businesswoman accustomed to dealing with all sorts of people, understood one thing all too well: a woman, particularly a beautiful one, could be nothing but trouble.

Miss Ma is that kind of person; she's too much for Ah Meng, who is a sincere child. He wouldn't be able to keep up with her or provide for her.

But Miss Ma is such a catch. If I don't secure her for my son, should I let someone else spoil her? Even if it turns out he can't keep her or provide for her, I could still sell her for a handsome sum later on.

With this thought, Hong Chunxiang swelled with pride. It was like a windfall had just dropped from the heavens! No, more like a shower of money!

"Young Master Ma!" Hong Chunxiang called out to Ma Tianming, her body resembling an elephant's leg and a barrel around the waist, as she waddled over. "This must be Miss Ma! Just look at her, she's absolutely pitiable."

Like Auntie He, Hong Chunxiang lavished praise upon Marmin Xin, making her cheeks flush with a blush that only enhanced her youthful allure.

What was she up to?

Having just dealt with Auntie He, Ma Tianming sensed something was off with Hong Chunxiang and asked, "Auntie Bai, is there something on your mind?"

"Young Master Ma, you're quite astute. I'll get to the point. I want Miss Ma to marry into our family as Auntie's daughter-in-law."

Ma Tianming nearly choked on his drink.

Marmin Xin, who had been sitting demurely to the side, stood up abruptly and stepped back, thinking to herself, "I just escaped those marriage-seeking ruffians, and now I've run into the same situation here."

"Mother?" Bai Chu's jaw dropped in shock.

Bai Chu couldn't deny his attraction to the radiant Marmin Xin, but the idea of marrying her was completely unexpected.

"This is rather sudden, I admit, but Young Master Ma, you must consider your situation. With Master Ma having fallen on hard times, your family's foundation has crumbled. There will be no one left to provide for you. My Bai family may not compare to your past status, but we can still offer you a warm meal."

Hong Chunxiang started off politely enough, but her tone grew increasingly sharp, her words carrying an unmistakable pressure.

"Mother, please stop talking."

"Why should I stop? If you let such a good wife slip away, you'll have nowhere to go to regret it."

Ma Tianming was seething with anger: this was an outright threat!

"Xin! Let's go!" Ma Tianming stood up, ready to take Marmin Xin and leave.

Clearly, Young Master Ma wasn't open to discussion!

"Hold on, Young Master Ma, you haven't settled the bill for the wine yet!" Hong Chunxiang sprang to her feet. Leaving without a word, what did that mean? Was she being disrespected?

Even if her son couldn't marry Miss Ma, she needed to make her point. Otherwise, this young drunkard might think we're easy to push around, thinking he's still got his father, the Inspector, to protect him.

Ha! The wheel of fortune turns, and now it's our turn. This Ma family scion, a drunkard, still dares to swagger into my home.

"What wine money?"

"The cost of the wine for this meal!" Hong Chunxiang pointed to the empty wine bowl that Ma Tianming had just drained.

Bai Chu quickly interjected, "Mother, I was treating Young Master Ma."

"What treat? Your wine is all mine. Without my say-so, how can you offer a treat?!

Hmph! Young Master Ma, you need to face reality! Sure, our family wasn't a match for you before, but times have changed. Your father's in trouble, arrested, and there's no one to shield you anymore. To be frank, you're on a path to nowhere, soon you might be begging on the streets, let alone providing for your sister to live like royalty.

If you leave now, everyone will have their eyes on Miss Ma, and who knows, some might be old enough to be your father, or even grandfather, and come courting. They might just take matters into their own hands. Hmph, my Chu'er might not have been a match before, but he certainly is now."

Hong Chunxiang grew more fearful as she spoke, knowing full well that her family couldn't protect someone as delicate as Marmin Xin.

But with the Ma family's downfall, she couldn't pass up this rare opportunity.