Chapter 105: Human Nature Can’t Withstand The Test
After moving all the sacks inside, Cao Weida entered the study room and closed the door, storing all the gold bars into the space, then taking seven thousand silver dollars, leaving the rest in the room.
He left the study room and closed the door, calling Xinghong over and instructing her: “Xinghong, lock the study room. Until I return, don’t let anyone enter casually.”
Wealth moves people’s hearts. The old woman servant and Xiangzi at the residence could be considered honest people, and in general, Cao Weida still trusted them.
However, once they knew how much money was in the sacks, it was hard to guarantee they wouldn’t have improper thoughts.
Even with Xinghong, he wouldn’t trust her completely.
Not to mention just being a concubine; even blood brothers couldn’t withstand the test in the face of huge interests.
There was a saying Cao Weida always found quite reasonable: never try to test human nature, as human nature cannot withstand testing.
Do you really think people are born good?
No, we just choose to be good people!
“Oh, alright.” Seeing Cao Weida’s solemn instructions, Xinghong immediately fetched the key and locked the door.
Although she was dying of curiosity inside, since Cao Weida didn’t say, she naturally didn’t dare to ask more.
Coming from the Han Family Tan Yunji Troupe, if nothing else, she was quite sharp in terms of perceptiveness.
Otherwise, do you really think just being pretty could make her the top courtesan?
Being pretty is just the basic condition; she also had to be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, know her limits, and have high emotional intelligence!
If her emotional intelligence was low and she said the wrong thing or did the wrong thing by mistake, which of those big shots wouldn’t have sky-high power? Could she still end up well?
“Master, you hold the key.” Xinghong obediently and sensibly handed over the key. Cao Weida was quite satisfied with her sensible attitude, pinched her cheek, and said with a grin:
“Sensible girl. I’ll come spend the night at your place tonight.”
Xinghong’s face flushed red, but her expression was very excited. She touched her belly, hugged his arm with a happy face, and whispered: “Master, it’s been some time since Xinghong moved in. It’s time for me to contribute to the Cao Family.”
Cao Weida immediately laughed. “That depends on whether your belly cooperates. I’m thrilled that you’re thinking of contributing to my Cao Family.”
Xinghong’s expression lit up, and her demeanor immediately became energized.
Polygamy was very common in this era, but not all concubines in families were allowed to have children.
For example, if the main wife had a strong status, it would be very difficult for a concubine to bear and raise her own child; even if she did, whether she could raise it herself was an issue.
Or, for reasons like property inheritance, the family might prohibit concubines from having children.
She had some understanding of the Cao Family’s situation, but not in detail. Before getting a definite reply, she always felt a bit uneasy inside.
Now that she had the master’s affirmative response, she was naturally overjoyed.
Mothers rely on their sons for status; it’s not as simple as just saying it.
Not to mention anything else, in the future, if she grew old and lost her looks and favor, the child would be her only hope and confidence!
Thinking of having a child in the future and thus having support, a misty look gradually appeared in her eyes, ripples forming, as she bit her rosy lips and breathed softly into his ear: “Master, Xinghong will wait for you to return.”
“Hiss~~ You little vixen!” Cao Weida sucked in a cold breath. As expected of the future top courtesan of Xiaguang Garden in the original story, mingling only with dignitaries and nobles—she was really too tantalizing!
Smack~~
He slapped her round buttocks, sending waves rippling, then pinched them fondly, saying ‘fiercely’: “You wait for me. When I get back, I’ll have to give you a good reckoning!”
Xinghong’s face instantly turned as red as the sunset glow, letting out a coquettish hum, and coquettishly said: “Master~~~ You’re bad~~”
Hiss~~
No, can’t take it anymore, got to leave quickly. This little vixen is too seductive.
“Xiangzi, take me to the police station.”
At the police station, Little Ear was already waiting at the door. Seeing Cao Weida arrive, he trotted up and whispered:
“Big Brother Cao, everyone’s locked in the room. I took the liberty of bringing the female owner of that room too. Here’s her information.”
“Well done.” Cao Weida patted his shoulder approvingly. Having a younger brother with brains was truly comforting.
He took the note, reading it while walking. “First, take me to see that female owner.”
Soon, Little Ear led Cao Weida to a room. Cao Weida gave him a look, and after Little Ear went out to arrange two younger brothers to stand guard at the door with him.
“B-Boss.” The woman sat on the stool, her face somewhat panicked.
“No need to fear. I mean no harm; I just need to ask you a few questions. As long as you answer honestly, I’ll ensure you’re fine.” Cao Weida gave a fairly kind smile.
Seeing that Cao Weida hadn’t done anything hostile or shown a bad expression since entering, the woman’s emotions eased a bit, though she was still somewhat afraid. “Boss, you, you ask.”
Cao Weida sat across from her and then asked: “You’re Fu Decheng’s woman?”
“.Yes, I’m Master’s woman.” The woman hesitated but admitted it. Since they’d all been brought here, if she dared lie, who knew what would happen.
However, she quickly added: “But he hasn’t come to see me in a long time. Boss, my master he.”
Cao Weida’s face hardened. “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t. I ask, you answer.”
The woman jumped in fright and nodded repeatedly.
Seeing her being obedient, Cao Weida looked at the information and continued asking: “Your family is from Shandong?”
“Yes.”
“Fled famine here?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your name?”
“Ma-Ma Dongmei.”
“What’s your name?” Cao Weida looked up in astonishment.
“Boss, Ma Dongmei.” Ma Dongmei didn’t know why Cao Weida had that expression and shrank back a bit in fear.
“Do you know a man named Xia Luo?”
“Xia Luo? Who? N-No, I don’t know him.” Ma Dongmei looked puzzled; she was sure she hadn’t heard the name before and didn’t know why the boss was asking about this man.
“Really don’t know him?”
“Should I know him?”
“Alright, next question.” Cao Weida laughed at himself; he had just been indulging in a bit of mischief. In later generations, Ma-something-Mei had given him plenty of laughs.
“Do you know where Fu Decheng went recently?”
“No idea. Master never tells me about these things.”
“Fu Decheng has been entrenched at Tianqiao for years, has plenty of women, but never revealed your existence. Can you tell me why?”
His eyes stared straight at Ma Dongmei, trying to spot any signs of lying in her expression.
Ma Dongmei bit her lip and shook her head blankly. “I don’t know. Master bought me; whatever he tells me to do, I do it. I don’t dare ask.”
At this point, her expression inevitably became a bit downcast, perhaps because she was bought or because she had no name or status.
Her expression seemed natural; Cao Weida didn’t notice anything and nodded lightly, asking again: “Did he leave anything stored with you?”
“This…” Ma Dongmei hesitated and cautiously asked: “He gives me twenty silver dollars a month for expenses. Does that count?”
“Nothing else?”
“N-No, nothing.” Ma Dongmei panicked a bit. “Boss, I haven’t done anything wrong. What exactly do you want to ask? Can you just say it directly? Master only comes here two or three times a year occasionally; otherwise, I’m always alone. I really don’t know anything.”
“Don’t be nervous; it’s just routine questioning.” Cao Weida reassured her. Combining the information from Little Ear and the just-completed questioning, he could basically conclude that Ma Dongmei didn’t know about Fu Decheng hiding money in the wall.
After all, he didn’t believe in human nature, and a veteran like Fu Decheng certainly wouldn’t either.
Ma Dongmei was just a woman he bought, seeing her only two or three times a year, with basically no deep feelings.
With that much money, if he told Ma Dongmei, wouldn’t he fear her running off with it?
Moreover, the boxes they found were covered in dust, clearly unopened for a long time.
Since he judged she knew nothing, Cao Weida naturally lost interest in asking more.
He stood up and said: “Fu Decheng was exterminated by the Exterminate Traitors Squad of the anti-Japanese elements. You’re still young; better find someone to marry soon.”
“What?! Master was assassinated?!” Ma Dongmei felt like the sky had fallen. Though she truly had no feelings for Fu Decheng, and he only came two or three times a year, her food, drink, and everything depended on Master.
In others’ eyes, Fu Decheng was an utter traitor full of crimes, but to her, he was her only support.
Now, her support had collapsed with a bang—how could she not feel despair?
“It’s exterminate traitors, not assassination.” Cao Weida couldn’t help correcting her. For such a big traitor, it wouldn’t be right if they didn’t exterminate him!
He understood Ma Dongmei’s feelings and a woman’s helplessness in this, but he had no mood to pity her.
After all, pity wouldn’t help; he couldn’t possibly take her in.
There were too many pitiful people these days; could he pity them all?
He shook his head and pushed the door to leave. “Little Ear.”
“Yes, Big Brother Cao.”
“Let her go later.”
He wasn’t a killing maniac after all; he really couldn’t bring himself to act against a defenseless woman.
She was already pitiful enough… Sigh, this damn world.
“This…”
“Hm?” Cao Weida raised an eyebrow and teased: “Spit it out if you have something to say; why hem and haw?”
“Well, you know, Big Brother Cao, don’t you think this woman is quite pitiful?” Little Ear had a look of compassion.
“She fled famine here, nearly starved to death on the way. Because of her looks, she was bought by human traffickers and sold to that bastard Fu Decheng. No family in Beiping, quite a pitiful background.
Now her man’s dead, no job or anything—how’s she supposed to live from now on?
