Huang Qinshi didn't expect Chen Shi'er to be so straightforward. She immediately said, "Alright then, you wait here first. I'll go find my daughter right now. You just get your money ready for me."
Huang Qinshi said this and left the cross-courtyard, beginning her search for Huang Liya.
Chen Shi'er immediately moved his mind and took out the cash he had just gotten from San'er in Mao'er Hutong from his Space. He counted out five million and put it in his pocket, then waited for Huang Qinshi to return with Huang Liya.
However, Chen Shi'er waited for over two hours. He was about to lose patience when he saw Huang Qinshi rush into the cross-courtyard. Before Chen Shi'er could ask where Huang Liya was, Huang Qinshi said, "My daughter is missing. You should come out and help me look for her."
Chen Shi'er was shocked upon hearing this. He had finally found someone who could rival Bingbing as a top-tier find, and he didn't want this cooked duck to fly away. He immediately got up and went out of the courtyard with Huang Qinshi to search for Huang Liya.
Once outside the Siheyuan, Chen Shi'er immediately said to Huang Qinshi, "You go that way, and I'll go this way. If you find her, just come back to the Siheyuan." After saying this, Chen Shi'er headed off in his chosen direction to look for Huang Liya.
As Chen Shi'er walked out of Drum and Bell Lane towards Jiaodaokou, he saw Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife talking to Huang Liya by the roadside. Huang Liya was crying as they talked, but she was tightly covering her mouth, afraid she would cry out loud.
Chen Shi'er was curious. He had thought the beasts in the courtyard wouldn't cause trouble, but he was outplayed again. He crept closer to Huang Liya and listened to the conversation between Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife and Huang Liya.
He almost had a surge of blood pressure from listening. Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife and Yì Zhōnghǎi were cut from the same cloth, truly sleeping on the same bed.
Chen Shi'er originally wanted to go up and take Huang Liya away, but Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife continued, saying to Huang Liya, "Girl, you don't know, but this Chen Shi'er isn't a man. He's been taking medicine for years. I heard he's a 'tian yan', do you know what 'tian yan' is? It means he's a natural eunuch."
"His grandfather worked himself to death to cure his illness. Don't be fooled by his tall and sturdy appearance; if he can't perform as a man, marrying him would be like living as a widow."
"And he hits people at the slightest provocation. My husband just said one sentence that he didn't like, and he was slapped several times. I'm really afraid you'll be beaten to death by him if you marry him."
Listening to Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife's slander, Chen Shi'er almost laughed in anger. However, he made a mental note of Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife's words today. She would soon experience living as a widow herself.
Just then, Huang Liya inadvertently turned her head and saw Chen Shi'er standing nearby. She was stunned, having been directly brainwashed by Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife's words. She was afraid Chen Shi'er would beat her to death the next second.
At this moment, Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife also felt a chill. She looked in the direction Huang Liya was looking and immediately began to tremble all over. Then, she stammered, "Chen... Chen... Chen Shi'er, you... when... when did you... arrive?"
Chen Shi'er ignored Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife and said to Huang Liya, "Don't worry, I don't eat people. Come back with me now. Your mother is going crazy looking for you everywhere."
Huang Liya immediately lowered her head, saying nothing, nor did she show any intention of leaving. She just kept shedding tears, as if tears were free.
Chen Shi'er walked directly to Huang Liya, pushed aside Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife who was blocking Huang Liya, and then took Huang Liya's hand and walked towards the Siheyuan. As he looked back at Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife, he revealed a smile. Yì Zhōnghǎi's Wife must have understood what that smile meant. She didn't know if Yì Zhōnghǎi would wet his pants in fear when he narrated what had just happened to him.
Huang Liya did not resist now, allowing Chen Shi'er to lead her towards the Siheyuan. She had actually resigned herself to her fate long ago. However, when Chen Shi'er said today that she was being bought and sold like an object, she still couldn't face that reality, which was why she had left the Siheyuan crying.
By the time Chen Shi'er brought Huang Liya back to the Siheyuan, it was already getting dark. When Huang Qinshi saw Huang Liya being pulled back to the Siheyuan by Chen Shi'er, she immediately started scolding, "You little slut, I raised you for so many years, and you just leave? Don't you know how hard I looked for you just now? You..."
Huang Qinshi was about to continue scolding when Chen Shi'er gave her a stern look. Frightened, Huang Qinshi immediately shut up but still said defiantly, "If you weren't being taken by someone today, I would have broken your legs when you got home." After saying this, she went into Chen Shi'er's cross-courtyard.
Back in his own house, Chen Shi'er didn't waste words with Huang Qinshi. He immediately took out five million, but he didn't hand it over to Huang Qinshi. Instead, he said, "Where's the thing I asked for? Write it up and send it over, and then I'll give you the money."
Huang Qinshi was shocked when she saw the thick stack of bills in Chen Shi'er's hand. She had never seen so much money in her life and immediately said, "Tomorrow, I'll go back tomorrow. I'll write up the deed of severance and bring it to you then."
Chen Shi'er immediately said, "No need for so much trouble. I'll go back with you tomorrow. I want to see you sign it with my own eyes, otherwise, I won't be at ease. You'll stay here tonight. As for your daughter, she's mine tonight. I'll give you some peace of mind so you don't worry."
As soon as Chen Shi'er finished speaking, he counted out two million and handed it to Huang Qinshi, then pointed towards the side room, indicating for Huang Qinshi to move in there.
After Huang Qinshi left, Chen Shi'er pulled Huang Liya to sit down and said, "You don't need to be afraid of me. I really don't eat people, nor do I hit people without reason. No one I've hit has ever been innocent, and I'm not a violent person. You can rest assured."
Chen Shi'er tried to communicate with Huang Liya, but she kept her head down and didn't speak. However, she had stopped crying, her tears gone, likely all cried out. He continued to ask, "Tell me about yourself. She's probably not your real mother, or she wouldn't treat you like this."
Huang Liya's tears immediately started to fall again. After a long while, she said, "She's not my real mother. My father bought her from the Eighth Route Army's brothels. My brother isn't my father's either; she brought him with her when she married my dad. My dad, afraid of having no one to rely on in his old age, accepted this son."
Chen Shi'er was surprised to encounter such a melodramatic situation. He thought she was a pitiable person and still said, "Can you tell me why Huang Qinshi was afraid of you taking things from the house? Do you have something extraordinary?"