Dividing the Spoils

But the Su family didn't care at all that Su Lanxiang was so young and had to serve some rich master. The three generations of the Su family only cared about one thing: how much Su Lanxiang could be sold for.

After some bargaining, because Su Lanxiang was quite beautiful, she was sold for sixty taels of silver. On the spot, Old Su, acting as her grandfather, stamped the deal, and the money and person were settled cleanly.

The three generations of the Su family held the sixty taels of silver, their hands trembling with excitement!

"Ah, sixty taels of silver, that's so much! If I had known Su Lanxiang could be sold for this much, I would have sold her long ago!" Su Daqi happily reached for the silver, only to have Old Su snatch it into his arms first.

Old Su patted the silver and said, "This is Zhong Gong's money, don't be greedy."

Su Daqi put on a sour face, "But I was the one who tricked Su Lanxiang out and carried her into the city. I should get a cut, right?"

Su Shimao also said, "Yeah, Grandpa, I came up with the idea and led the place to sell her. I should get some benefit too."

Old Su just snorted. Once that silver was in his mouth, there was no way he would spit it out!

While the three generations were bickering over the silver, the old woman called someone to bring Su Lanxiang in and tore off the rag covering her mouth.

Su Lanxiang opened her mouth and cried bitterly, kneeling on the ground and clutching the legs of the three men, begging, "Grandpa, Uncle, Brother, I don't want to go to the brothel. I want to go home. Please take me home to find Dad and Mom."

Su Daqi was eager for the silver and didn't care about Su Lanxiang. He instinctively lifted his foot to kick her but was stopped by the old woman scolding, "What are you doing? Don't kick her! She's our brothel's girl now. If you hurt her, you'll have to pay!"

Su Daqi stopped his foot, bent down, and pushed Su Lanxiang away, "Go, go, you're sold now, understand? For the rest of your life, serve people well in the brothel. Don't say your surname is Su when you see people. Our Su family can't afford to lose face!"

Su Lanxiang sat on the ground, feeling confused and helpless. Her young heart couldn't understand why the people closest to her family would sell her.

The old woman called two servants to lift Su Lanxiang up and drag her away, yawning herself: "I say you three, once the business is done, hurry up and leave. Don't just stand here wasting my time."

The three generations of the Su family hurriedly slipped out then.

Meanwhile, Su Lanxiang was locked in a dark room, curling up in the corner, crying her heart out: "Dad, Mom, where are you? Please come save me!"

Su Sanyun's house.

The whole family was awake, holding torches.

Mrs. Sun went from house to house knocking on doors, looking like a lost soul.

Mrs. Tang, sleepy-eyed, opened the door and grumbled, "What are you yelling about? Calling out in the middle of the night like that!"

Mrs. Sun was nearly in tears, "Mrs. Tang, have you seen my Lanxiang?"

Mrs. Tang said, "No, I was sleeping inside. How would I have seen your Lanxiang?"

Mrs. Sun grew even more anxious. She had searched almost the entire village, going door to door, but no one had seen Sun Lanxiang.

Over there, Su Sanyun came holding a torch. Mrs. Sun hurried over and asked, "Third brother, have you found her?"

Su Sanyun wore a worried expression, "No... I asked around, and everyone said they haven't seen Lanxiang."

Mrs. Sun burst into tears, "My Lanxiang is usually so well-behaved. She would never run off to play. But tonight, she was clearly playing in the yard building a snowman. The snowman wasn’t even finished, and suddenly she disappeared... Where could she have gone?"