With the weather turning colder, life became even more difficult for the group of exiles. Everyone now faced a pressing issue: they had to find a way to get thicker winter clothing as soon as possible.
In truth, most people's silver had already been spent during this time. Those who had any money left didn't have nearly enough to buy winter clothes from the greedy guards.
Some tried to negotiate lower prices with the guards, but these men, whose appetites had already been whetted, refused to budge. Even Wu Yu, who had always pretended to be a decent person, said nothing this time.
After all, the profits extorted from the prisoners were shared up the chain—Wu Yu himself got a cut. No one would willingly let their share of the pie shrink.
The women who had been forced into selling their bodies found that even this line of survival was drying up, as the guards no longer wanted to spend on them in the cold weather.
Yet even the food and money these women earned through such hardship were met with scorn and disdain from their own families. Ming Niangzi was a typical example.
She had once lived a seemingly happy life, but this incident had turned her family into exiles, and everything changed.
She still remembered that rainy night when her husband had said:
"Ming Niang, Father has caught a cold. Could you sacrifice yourself a little? We truly have no more money for his medicine."
"Husband, a woman's virtue is more important than life itself. How can you say such a thing?"
"It's all because I'm useless…"
As he spoke, he slapped himself repeatedly and spoke of his hardship and helplessness.
In the end, Ming Niangzi gave in because the husband she loved had once promised her:
"Ming Niang, don't worry. Our whole family will never forget what you've done for us. I will never look down on you."
But what was the truth?
After that night, the husband who had once treated her tenderly began to avoid her, and her in-laws started giving her the cold shoulder.
Naïve Ming Niangzi thought perhaps the hardships of exile had changed her family's temperament. She buried her suspicions deep in her heart.
Until one day, she overheard a private conversation:
"Father, Ming Niang is no longer pure. I don't want my child to have such a mother. Once we reach Beihuang, please find me a wife from a clean background."
"Grandfather, Father is right. I don't want a mother who's lost her honor. Qi-ge'er already mocks me because of her."
The final blow came from her own son, whom she had carried for ten months. Even he looked down on her. So what had all her sacrifices been for?
Every time she exchanged her body for food, the whole family ate without complaint. And now they wanted to cast her aside? No way.
From that moment, Ming Niangzi began to change. She decided to live for herself. To cast aside the relatives who despised her. She would never be a fool again.
There were many women like Ming Niangzi.
They had once given up their dignity for their families, only to receive ridicule in return.
As for these women, Sun Juanfang no longer cared. It was all their own choice—she wouldn't interfere.
The system was confused by her attitude:
"Host, you helped that girl before and all those other tragic women. Why not help these ones?"
"Help them? They chose this path. Good advice can't save someone determined to destroy themselves. If they're willing, then who am I to stop them? Try persuading them—you might just get a slap in the face."
System: Humans are so complicated… Why does helping someone depend on the situation? I guess I need to study harder next time and be less gullible.
Actually, after learning the truth, Ming Niangzi had secretly saved enough to buy cotton clothes. But she had no means to protect herself. Even if she bought them, she couldn't keep them. So she didn't buy any.
As for the guard who gave her the money, she knew it was nothing more than a fleeting relationship. Men were untrustworthy dogs, not worth believing in.
Meanwhile, on Qian Pozi's side, a fierce argument had erupted over the purchase of winter clothes.
Qian Pozi claimed there wasn't enough communal money and decided to only buy five adult sets and one for a child.
After hearing this, Li Yuexi's heart went cold. From the old woman's plan, she immediately understood who the winter clothes were meant for.
One set each for the two old wretches, the three children of the old woman, and the concubine-born son of the second son.
"No way, I disagree! I paid my share. Why don't Mei-jie and I get any? Don't think I don't know you never intended to give any to the two of us!"
"Eldest son, control your wife! I'm not dead yet!"
Qian Mingwen helplessly said, "Yuexi, just listen to Mother. She's doing this for our own good."
But why should she? Most of the communal money came from her own maiden family. Her husband was nothing but a spineless mama's boy.
In the end, Li Yuexi, alone and powerless, couldn't win against the heartless Qian family.
Disillusioned, she began to form a plan in her heart.
The next day, Qian Pozi reached for the pouch of silver she always carried—only to discover it was all gone.
"Heavens! My money! Who stole it? That was my coffin fund! My life savings! Officer, you must get justice for me!"
Wu Yu, who had a lasting impression of this cruel woman (she'd once refused to buy medicine for her granddaughter), only felt a headache upon hearing her cries and instinctively didn't want to get involved.
"I'm not here to solve thefts. This isn't my business."
But Qian Pozi wouldn't give up. Over a hundred taels gone—it felt like someone had cut into her flesh.
Just as she was about to cling on and make a scene, one of the guards lashed out with a whip and shouted,
"How dare a criminal woman like you stir up trouble? You'd best behave yourself, or this whip won't miss next time!"
Qian Pozi shrieked in pain and dared not plead further.
Still unwilling to give up, she began searching every member of the Qian family, but ultimately found nothing.
Because Li Yuexi had done it.
She had sewn the banknotes into her undergarments and hidden the silver ingots in her hair bun.
Yes, she did it on purpose.
If she couldn't have winter clothes, then the whole family could freeze with her.
And the fact that the guards turned a blind eye to the theft opened a new door for others in the group.