mtl008 Chapter 158 The Zhong Sisters
Chapter 158 The Zhong Sisters
After Shuyun helped the two girls finish washing up, she was deeply shocked by the sight before her. The two girls were exceptionally beautiful, truly like lotuses emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without any artifice.
Their unparalleled beauty made Shuyun sigh. Sister Shi was already quite pretty, but these two girls were even more beautiful. No wonder they were targeted by villains; such beauty without any background in this world could easily attract endless suffering.
"You sisters are so beautiful! I have never seen such beautiful women before! Alright, let's go and meet Miss Shi first. I am the steward of this mansion, but Miss Shi makes the decisions on important matters."
Shuyun said softly, her words filled with heartache. She knew all too well that in this world of martial arts, without the support of a powerful family or the protection of martial arts, even the most beautiful appearance could become a disaster.
Shuyun led the two girls to the main hall. Everyone in the hall was so captivated by the beauty of the two girls that they forgot to respond and couldn't hear what Shuyun was saying.
Shi Wanxia observed them for a long time. The two girls wore no overly ornate ornaments. Their long, black hair was simply tied into a bun, with two scarlet ribbons hanging down. Their faces were unadorned, and their dark blue dresses accentuated their fair skin, delicate necks, pearly teeth, beautiful features, and charming smiles.
Her waist was so slender it could be encircled by a single hand, her figure so delicate, as if a gust of wind could blow her away. Her eyes, filled with tenderness and affection, evoked a sense of pity in one's heart; what a pair of stunningly beautiful women.
Lin Yu's cheeks flushed. He knew better than to look, and realized he had indeed been somewhat rude. His gaze shifted, and he saw Miss Shi staring intently at the two girls, her smile carrying a hint of something more. Lin Yu coughed lightly, trying to break the awkward silence.
"Ahem, ahem, ahem, ahem, ahem, the two young ladies are quite beautiful. Since you're staying here, you must follow Miss Shuyun's arrangements. We don't keep idlers here, and you shouldn't cause trouble!"
Shi Wanxia snapped out of her daze, feeling slightly displeased. This was clearly her own home, yet this guy was acting like he owned the place. However, thinking about having such a beautiful girl with her in the future, it wasn't entirely unacceptable.
"My name is Shi Wanxia, and I'm a bit older than you. You can call me 'elder sister'! There are no maids or servants here; you'll have to do everything yourselves. Understand? You'll also be working with me. By the way, what are your names, ladies?" Shi Wanxia asked with a smile.
The two sisters bowed slightly in gratitude and said softly, "Thank you, Miss Shi, for your great kindness. We, the three of us, will never forget it. To my elder sister, I am Zhong Ling, and this is my younger sister, Zhong Xiao. We cannot address our father by his name directly, so please forgive us!" Their soft and sweet voices warmed Shi Wanxia's heart.
She scratched her head sheepishly and helped them to the table to sit down. Just then, the old man entered the main hall with faltering steps. He was about to kneel down when Shi Wanxia, having anticipated this, helped him up.
"Uncle, you're too kind of us juniors. Please rest assured and stay here. We'll take care of everything. By the way, are any of you three literate?"
The three had just sat down when they heard their benefactor's words and were slightly taken aback. But they quickly recovered and replied, "Thank you, benefactor. My name is Zhong Qiang, and I am over fifty years old. I had my daughters late in life, and their mother passed away early. I saved these two girls and have been making a living by singing and performing to support them."
"Alas, who would have thought that their looks would attract evil people? Most of them came to our door to forcibly abduct them, but I risked my life to stop them and protect these two girls. I have no other wish in this life but that these two girls can find good families."
"In this way, we can explain to their mother in the future that we are very grateful to our benefactors for taking in our father and daughters. I am deeply grateful."
Zhong Qiang's heartfelt words brought tears to the eyes of the girls present. In this world, men have always been respected and there are so many people who favor sons over daughters. It is rare to find someone like Uncle Zhong who is so devoted to raising his daughters.
Shi Wanxia actually admired Uncle Zhong for being such a loyal and devoted person. His wife had died early, and he raised his two daughters alone, which was rare in a society where men were the masters.
“Your father is a remarkable man,” Shi Wanxia said to the two little girls. The two little girls nodded as if they understood, but they were too young to comprehend the greatness of their father.
Uncle Zhong works tirelessly from dawn till dusk to support his family. He does the hardest manual labor but never complains. He gives all his love to his two daughters, hoping they can live a happy life.
Zhong Qiang wiped away his tears before answering, "My benefactor, I am not very literate, but I have been teaching my two daughters to read and write since they were little. It's just that they have suffered so much because they are girls."
After saying this, he couldn't help but burst into tears again. The two girls also started crying, their eyes filled with fear and helplessness.
Shi Wanxia felt a pang of pity and comforted her, "Grandma, don't be sad. They are safe now and will never suffer again."
Zhong Qiang was moved to tears and thanked them repeatedly. Shi Wanxia looked at them, her heart filled with emotion. In this chaotic world, human life was as worthless as grass; saving this family was indeed a good deed.
"It's great that you can read. In the future, besides working with us, you should continue to study and learn to read. Remember, you are not studying for anyone else, but to enable yourselves to distinguish right from wrong and to survive on your own."
Qin Xin brought over the prepared food and told them to stop chatting and eat first. The father and his two daughters looked at the sumptuous meal on the table, their hearts filled with emotion. They hadn't eaten such a good meal in a long time; at this moment, they felt the warmth of home.
After dinner, Shi Wanxia told them to rest for a while while she went to clear the dishes. Qin Xin watched Shi Wanxia's busy figure, her heart filled with gratitude. She knew that Sister Shi had sacrificed a lot for this family, and she secretly vowed to repay Wanxia properly.
After cleaning up the dishes, Shi Wanxia returned to the small kitchen to continue making paper, which is currently their most important source of income.
The small kitchen in the courtyard was bustling with activity. Lin Yu, huffing and puffing, was pounding bamboo fibers with Shi Wanxia, using a wooden mallet. It was hard work, but there was no one more suitable to do it, so Lin Yu had to make do.
Lin Yu was drenched in sweat from exhaustion, but he didn't utter a single complaint. He knew that this bamboo fiber was very useful and might provide them with extra protection in this martial world.
Looking at Lin Yu's hard work, Shi Wanxia felt both touched and a little guilty. "Lin Yu, thank you for your hard work. I'll definitely reward you properly after this is over."
Lin Yu raised his head and revealed a bright smile, "Miss Shi, don't mention how hard it is, this is what I should do."
The two continued working, the sound of the mallet striking the bamboo fibers echoing in the small kitchen. The sound seemed to possess a unique rhythm, conveying a simple yet powerful energy.
As time went by, Lin Yu's clothes were soaked with sweat, but he did not put down the wooden hammer in his hand.