It was a few days after her father's punishment and Xiao Niang was wandering the marketplace with her best friend and cousin, Li Mei Lin.
Mei Lin had suggested they go to the marketplace together to help Xiao Niang get away from her family for a little while.
"How could he do that to you? I mean he's your father. So how on earth could he do that to his own daughter?"
Mei Lin was red in the face and waving her arms wildly. "I mean, I just can't think of the man who hurts you as the same one who gave us piggyback rides as kids."
Xiao Niang had told her about her father's punishment and she was furious. Xiao Niang just shrugged neutrally, not giving her cousin an answer and continued to look at the merchant's wares.
Xiao Niang blinked back the tears at the back of her eyes, she knew if faced her friend, she would not be able to hold back her tears.
She could feel the merchant's eyes on her but did not look at the woman, the whole village knew of her father's harsh ways and Xiao Niang knew the merchant would be feeling one of two things, either pity or hate and she did not want to face either.
"Nini, he cannot continue to hurt you like this, I mean, he made you kneel on stones for six hours, thats madness. And last time, he didn't let you eat for two whole days, who knows what he'll do to you next time. Maybe you could come live with my family, I know my parents would be glad to have you live with us"
Xiao Niang smiled at the nickname, Mei Lin had started calling her that as a joke when they were kids, and it eventually stuck. Her mother had loved it.
She loved her cousin for the offer and briefly considered it, but she knew just like Mei Lin that it was impossible, Mei Lin's parents were not much better off than hers, and they had four children to look after. As much as she denied it whenever Mei Lin asked, Xiao Niang knew Mei Lin was aware of how much her father scared her.
Xiao Niang patted her friend's hand and gave her a soft smile, there was absolutely nothing either of them could do, they're hands were tied.
She could see the pitying gaze the merchant gave her out of the corner of her eyes, but pretended not to notice, the entire village knew of her father's cruelty but turned a blind eye because of the rumours surrounding her birth, as baseless as they were.
"Can we talk about something else, please" Xiao Niang pleaded with her cousin.
"Alright " Mei Lin crossed her arms, clearly pouting and Xiao Niang rolled her eyes at her cousin's behavior.
Their attention was suddenly drawn to where a crowd had gathered to watch something.
"I wonder what's going on over there?" Mei Lin yelled over the noise of the busy marketplace pointing to where the crowd was gathered.
"Hey!" Xiao Niang exclaimed as her best friend pulled her in the direction of the crowd.
The girls tried to see what the crowd was looking at but they couldn't see above the heads of the people so they couldn't read what had been posted.
"How about we finish buying what we need and then we'll come read the sign when the crowd is gone." Xiao Niang suggested.
"Yes, that sounds much better" Mei Lin agreed, still pouting.
The girls went around the marketplace for the next few hours buying ask the things they're families needed while keeping an eye on the crowd in front of the poster.
The crowd eventually thinned out by the time they were done and Mei Lin was excited to see what the Lord's men had pasted on the walls that morning.
"Come on" She called pulling at a stalling Xiao Niang's arm.
"What now?" She asked tiredly, Xiao Niang hadn't been able to relax all day and it was starting to get on Mei Lin's nerves.
"It's just...." Xiao Niang chewed on her bottom lip looking around as if searching for someone.
"What is it?" Mei Lin asked concerned.
" I haven't seen the trader who brings Hua Yun's medicine all day, she's been getting worse lately and I just..."
Xiao Niang closed her eyes and forced back the frustrated tears in them.
" I don't even know why I'm crying, I'm so stupid" she muttered.
"Hey, look at me." Mei Lin held Xiao Niang's face in both hands. "You don't have to hide your tears around me, it's okay for you to cry if you feel sad or frustrated, I'm your best friend." She said softly as she pet Xiao Niang's hair.
"Now, come on, let's go see if we can find him." Mei Lin led them through the market a second time but they still couldn't find him, they finally found him on their third try.
Xiao Niang rushed up to him and Mei Lin waited behind while she asked him many questions, most of which Mei Lin didn't understand, but she began to approach them when she noticed Xiao Niang's mood and posture change.
"I'm sorry, but it's just not enough" She heard him saying.
"What's wrong?" Mei Lin asked placing a hand on Xiao Niang's shoulder but Xiao Niang didn't answer, her entire attention was on the smirking merchant.
"Talk to me" Mei Lin tightened her hold.
"He says the money I have won't be enough for the medicine." Xiao Niang told Mei Lin not turning around, she was full on glaring at him now.
"I'm sure we can come back another time."
"There's no need for that." The merchant called to the two girls. "I'm sure I can work something out with two beautiful ladies like yourselves." He stared at them running his eyes over them, licking his lips and staring at certain spots.
"You're disgusting." Mei Lin spat at him. "Come on, let's go" She pulled at Xiao Niang's arm and Xiao Niang reluctantly followed her cousin, leaving the merchant behind in his alley.
When they were a few steps away, Xiao Niang stopped and rolled her shoulders.
"What is it?"
"You know the more I think about it, the more I know I can't just leave him like that."
"What are you talking about?" Mei Lin asked, but Xiao Niang took off and ran back to the alley without saying a word.
"Hey where are you going?"
Mei Lin ran after her cousin shouting at her stop. She ran out of breath and was bent over panting when she saw Xiao Niang walking out of the alley where the trader's store was.
"What did you do?" She asked between breaths.
"Nothing much, just did a little pest control, that's all."
"Dear Lord, what did you do?!"
"Like I said, I saw a pest and I stepped on it."
Mei Lin ran to the merchant's shop and was shocked to see him passed out cold. She turned to her cousin.
"How did you...?"
Xiao Niang pointed at a stick nearby. "I was just going to tell him off, but when I cam back, he tried to take off my clothes and wouldn't listen when I told him no, so i used the stick, it knocked him out quick. Now come on, let's get out of here before anyone comes and sees us."
Xiao Niang's grabbed her cousin's hand and pulled a still in shock Mei Lin and the two girls ran without stopping until they got to Mei Lin's home. Bent over panting in front of the path that led to Mei Lin's home, they stared at each other and burst into laughter.
"I can't believe you actually did that." Mei Lin giggled laying down on the ground.
"I can't believe it either." Xiao Niang joined her and they both stated at the clouds.
"But, are you actually alright? I mean he tried to hurt you."
"I'm fine, I promise, besides he deserved it. He kept increasing the price everything we went back because he knew we were desperate for it. I asked around, and everyone else said he was selling his three times the actual price."
"If you knew that why did you keep going back to him."
"Because the others weren't as steady in their delivery, it was a 50/50 chance with them, abd he had the best quality. I'll just have to go somewhere else and take the chance next time. It was buce gettingout today and spending time with you." Xiao Niang got up and dusted off her clothes. "Hopefully we can do this again soon." And waving goodbye at her cousin, Xiao Niang began to make the long journey back home.