Chapter 504: Chapter 469, Manpower_2
Yongwang glanced at One-Eye and Bald, and under the seemingly smiling gaze of Defu, neither nodded nor spoke, but quickly lowered his head and left.
“Miss, I’ve brought the man out for you!”
Defu, accompanying Yongwang, arrived before Daohua.
Daohua glanced at Yongwang, then said to Defu with a smile, “Thank you for your trouble.”
Defu immediately responded with a smile, “What are you saying, Miss? It’s my good fortune to be able to assist you. Go ahead and tell me, I’ll take a look around. If there’s anything, just give me a shout, and I’ll come right over.”
Daohua nodded, and once Defu had walked away to speak with the guards, she turned to Yongwang, “Are you alright?”
Yongwang shook his head.
Daohua took out an antidote pill, “This is your antidote.”
Yongwang looked at Daohua, then accepted the antidote.
Daohua continued, “Is there anything you need my help with? You’ve helped me before, and as long as it is within my power, I will do my best to fulfill your request as a way of showing my gratitude.”
Yongwang pursed his lips, remained silent for a while, then muttered hesitantly, “Can I follow you?” His voice was quiet and lacking confidence.
Daohua didn’t hear clearly, “What did you say?”
Yongwang mustered his courage, looked up at Daohua, “Miss, I’d like to follow you. I can do anything, endure any hardship, please take me in.”
Source: NovelFull.com, updated on ƝᴑνǤο.сο
If it wasn’t for Lord Cao’s reminder, he wouldn’t have dared to make such a request.
Daohua was somewhat surprised; she had thought he would beg her to help him leave this place, but unexpectedly, he wanted to follow her. She pondered for a moment, then asked, “Don’t you want to go home?”
Yongwang gave a bitter smile, “My father and brother have both worked themselves to death at the armory factory, now I’m the only one left in my family.” Seeing Daohua lower her gaze without speaking, he thought for a moment before adding,
“I’ve been educated, can recognize characters, and am good at arithmetic. Over these years in Sishan Village, thanks to Brother Bald’s relationship, I’ve always been helping Lord Cao manage the account books without ever making a mistake.”
Daohua raised an eyebrow, “Is that so?” she said, pausing for a moment, “Let me ask you one question, why did you help me before?”
Yongwang: “…You resemble my benefactor a lot. When I was eleven, I was kidnapped by traffickers in Zhongzhou, and it was a young brother who saved me and others and even gave us silver to go home.”
If it weren’t for that, he wouldn’t have risked his life to help her.
Daohua was taken aback.
Such a coincidence?
Could it be her?
Daohua scrutinized Yongwang closely, hmm… she truly had no recollection.
With his heart in his throat, Yongwang watched Daohua, extremely worried she wouldn’t agree. In fact, after seeing the Little Prince at the Stone Tomb the night before, he had confirmed that this was indeed his savior.
Now without any family ties, being able to follow his savior would be the greatest blessing for him.
Daohua was silent for a while, “You can follow me, but…”
Yongwang was initially elated, but then tensed up upon hearing the word ‘but’, “But what?”
Daohua said, “I’m not the one who decides this, I have to ask the person in charge of guarding you. If they find you unproblematic and agree to release you, then you can come and find me at the Yan Residence in Ningmen Prefecture.”
Yongwang’s lifted heart settled again, and he replied with a wide grin, “Alright.”
Daohua said, “It’s settled then. You were with me at the Stone Tomb yesterday; I’ve already spoken to someone about this, so there’s no need for you to return to the cell. Just head back to the village directly.”
Having said that, she was ready to turn around and leave.
“Miss!”
Daohua turned her head and saw Yongwang hesitate as if wanting to speak, so she asked, “Do you have something else?”
After a moment of hesitation, Yongwang spoke, “Master Cao asked me to convey a message to you, would you be willing to hear it?”
Daohua raised her eyebrows, “He asked you to give me a message? What is it?”
Yongwang quickly said, “He said, as long as you’re willing to save him and Brother Bald, their lives are yours.”
Daohua scoffed, “What do I want with their lives?”
Yongwang moved his lips, struggling for a moment, then said, “Miss, I know I’m overstepping, but I still want to say a few words for Master Cao and Brother Bald.”
Seeing Daohua remain silent, he continued.
“Master Cao and Brother Bald didn’t start out following Old Fan and his crew.”
“Master Cao used to run a ship. Later, because of a dispute during a delivery, he was blinded in one eye. Unable to find work and make a living, he had no choice but to turn to Old Fan.”
“As for Brother Bald and the others, they’re from the same village as me. In recent years, the north suffered a great drought, and there was nothing to eat at home, so they started working for Master Cao.”
“Master Cao is quite a man of loyalty. Old Fan and his men don’t care about the villagers’ lives at all. If it weren’t for his covert help, more people would have died over the years.”
Seeing Daohua still had no response, Yongwang didn’t know what else to say.
Then, Xiao Yeyang came over.
Upon seeing Daohua and a young man together, Xiao Yeyang quickly walked over, glanced at Yongwang, and looked towards Daohua, “Is he the one you wanted to see?”
Daohua nodded.
Xiao Yeyang, “Are you finished?”
Daohua nodded again.
Xiao Yeyang took Daohua’s hand, “Let’s go after you’re done.”
Watching the two leave hand in hand, Yongwang didn’t dare say anything more and could only silently watch them walk away.
After leaving the ancestral hall, Xiao Yeyang saw Daohua frowning in thought and couldn’t help but ask with a smile, “What are you thinking about?”
After thinking it over, Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang, “Those kidnappers who took me sent someone to tell me that their lives would be mine if I saved them. Do you think I have a ‘good person face’? They kidnapped me and still expect me to save them. Quite bold of them!”
Looking at Daohua’s sparkling eyes, Xiao Yeyang couldn’t help but chuckle, “Why, do you want them?”
Daohua cocked her head to one side, “I want to and I don’t. I really do need more hands, but those one-eyed brutes… Can I really subdue them?” After saying this, she looked at Xiao Yeyang seeking confirmation.
Xiao Yeyang knew she was tempted and laughed, “What’s there to subdue? With my support, I’m sure they wouldn’t dare have any other ideas.”
Daohua curled her lip in dissatisfaction, “But I want my people to be won over by my own charm. What’s the point if I rely on you?”
“Your charm?” Xiao Yeyang leaned to one side to scrutinize Daohua, seeing her in peasant attire puffing her cheeks and glaring at him, looking silly and cute, and he couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “May I ask Miss Yan, what kind of charm do you possess? I wasn’t aware of any.”
Daohua was irritated, “Xiao Yeyang, are you asking for a beating? Do you need me to loosen you up?” Saying this, she raised her uninjured left hand and shook her clenched fist in front of him.
Xiao Yeyang caught Daohua’s hand, holding it while leading her forward, “Those people you mentioned, I’ll investigate them first. If there’s no major involvement, then you can decide whether to keep them or not, okay?”
Daohua nodded, not saying anything further.