Chapter Forty-Four: Looked Down Upon While Shopping for Clothes

"Don't worry," Di Qing said coldly, nodding his head. "Wang Daming, since you've confessed, come with me."

Wang Daming could only follow him out, looking utterly dejected. Aunt Niu trailed after them, weeping as she asked, "Officer, is he going to be locked up in jail now?"

Di Qing did not answer directly. "That depends on what the village chief decides."

In the town's yamen, the village chief was the highest authority.

In truth, with Guo Da and Wang Daming committing both robbery and kidnapping, together their crimes would likely earn them at least five years behind bars.

But seeing Aunt Niu weeping so pitifully, Di Qing could not bring himself to say so in front of her.

"Is this Wang Daming Aunt Niu's own younger brother?" Liao Shuxia asked Lin Sangqian softly.

"Yes," Lin Sangqian nodded, sighing inwardly.

Wang Daming had committed a crime; there was no way they could let him go. He had to be handed over to the yamen for judgment.

Yet, watching Aunt Niu in such a state, she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Their family of three also had to go to the yamen, since Lin Wenyan and his two brothers were still there.

Aunt Niu walked with them all the way to the mouth of the alley. She held Liao Shuxia's hand, tears falling again.

"Little sister, I'm so sorry for what happened today." Aunt Niu spoke with guilt. "I never thought Daming would dare commit such a brazen act."

"Aunt Niu, please don't say that. It wasn't your fault," Liao Shuxia replied quickly. "There's no need to apologize to me."

"This time, Daming will likely have to go to prison... alas..."

...

At the yamen, they learned that Guo Da had refused to admit to conspiring with Wang Daming to kidnap Liao Shuxia, claiming he had only stolen money.

But when Di Qing told him that Wang Daming had already confessed, Guo Da had no choice but to admit his own guilt as well.

When Lin Wenyan and his brothers saw Liao Shuxia, they hurried over.

"Mother!" Lin Beitao threw himself into Liao Shuxia's arms, his eyes reddening.

After all, he was only twelve, still half a child.

"There, there, I'm fine," Liao Shuxia said cheerfully, ruffling his hair. "That good-for-nothing wanted to hurt me? You should've seen how valiant I was! I had him running for cover, nearly on his knees, begging for mercy!"

Her words made everyone burst into laughter.

After Di Qing finished the customary questioning of Lin Hongda and Liao Shuxia, the family thanked him and took their leave.

The money they'd earned today totaled nearly twenty-one taels.

Lin Hongda and Liao Shuxia hadn't eaten yet, so they found a noodle stall and each had a bowl of noodles. Then, together, they headed to a ready-made clothing shop.

Their clothes were patched over and over, so worn that it was rather embarrassing.

Now that they had money, they had to buy new clothes for everyone. Especially after such a day, buying new clothes would help ward off bad luck.

They searched along the street for a while and finally found two clothing shops side by side. From the outside, they looked much the same.

Lin Hongda led the family into one at random. Inside, there was only a woman in her thirties, who glanced at them with a wrinkled nose, obviously disdainful, and didn't bother to greet them.

They didn't mind and began browsing. Liao Shuxia soon found a set she liked and asked the woman, "How much is this outfit?"

The woman glanced at her but ignored her.

Liao Shuxia was puzzled.

Who does business like this?

"If she doesn't want our business, let's go to the other shop," Lin Sangqian said cheerfully, unbothered. "After all, there’s not just one clothing shop here."

"Yes, little sister is right!" Lin Wenyan agreed at once. He'd been picking out clothes but now didn't even bother to look. "Father, Mother, let's go."

At once, Lin Hongda led his family out. The woman’s face turned stormy with anger.

She didn’t believe a family dressed so shabbily could afford her clothes, but to have them say so to her face was infuriating!

She wanted to see for herself—did they really have money to buy clothes?

The Lin family entered the other clothing shop, whose owner was a young man in his twenties, reading a book.

When he saw them come in, he started, but still stood up and said, "Welcome."

His manner was obviously much more courteous than the previous woman’s.

"We’d like to look at some clothes," Lin Hongda said.

Just then, the woman followed them over, standing at the door and sneering. "You're actually entertaining them? Just look at how poor they look—can they afford your clothes? Mark my words, you'll be wasting your time!"

The young man glanced at her, frowning. "Sister, there's no need for you to worry about my shop's business."

"You—"

He turned back to the Lin family. "If you're on a tight budget, would you like to buy some cloth and sew your own clothes? It would cost much less."

His voice was gentle, instantly earning the Lins' goodwill.

"No need, young man, we have money," Liao Shuxia said grandly. "Don’t worry, once we’ve chosen our clothes, we’ll pay."

Hearing this, the young man said nothing more, but the woman was still jeering. "If they have money, I'll eat my hat! Just don’t run off with the clothes!"

Lin Beitao wanted to retort, but Lin Sangqian stopped him.

"Third brother, ignore her. Let’s just choose our clothes."

To get angry over such people is to trouble yourself for nothing.

There would come a time when she regretted her words.

Lin Beitao shot the woman a fierce glare, then hurriedly picked out an outfit. "I want this one!"

"How much is it?" Lin Hongda asked.

The young man hesitated, then after a moment’s thought, gave a wry smile. "This set costs two hundred copper coins..."

Two hundred coins for an outfit was a bit steep for common folk.

When Lin Beitao heard the price, he hesitated as well. Even though their family had made a fair bit today, he shouldn’t be wasteful.

The woman laughed mercilessly. "Can't afford it, can you? I bet you can’t even come up with two coins between you!"

"Are you joking? If my son wants that outfit, he shall have it!" Liao Shuxia retorted coolly. "By the way, dear, you have the money pouch, don’t you?"

"Yes!" Lin Hongda nodded and pulled out a bulging money pouch.

The woman’s eyes widened in shock.

So they really did have money—quite a lot, by the look of it!

No, perhaps they were just putting on a show. For all she knew, the pouch was full of stones!