Retired Villainess Transmigrates into a Cannon Fodder

The Strongest Fox-Demon (10)

As an expert in the ways of money-making, Chu Xiang said, “You ought to let them deal with such matters on their own. Or do you perhaps intend to feed them money their entire life?”

“If they really want me to, I wouldn’t mind doing so,” Bai Yi said as she suddenly thought of Zhuang Liu. “That’s right! Despite my benefactor’s previous actions, I reckon his mother would definitely choose to keep it instead. I’ll go find her something at once!”

“Hmm, alright. Meanwhile, I’ll go search around for some medicinal ingredients. I’ll be back sometime tomorrow night.”

Despite having almost fully recovered from her injuries, Chu Xiang came up with the excuse of making a full recovery to wander outside the house.

Acknowledging her decision with a nod, Bai Yi stared at Chu Xiang’s departing figure before going out herself to look for something valuable. Coming back with an expensive pearl hairpin, she deliberately placed it on the ground of the path that Zhuang Liu usually took on her way back home.

Seeing Zhuang Liu carrying a basket of cleanly washed clothes, Bai Yi secretly cast some sort of strength magic onto her, making it much easier for her to carry the basket of clothes back. Not feeling even the slightest bit tired, Bai Yi sauntered her way back leisurely while looking around her surroundings in a carefree manner, instantly able to spot the hairpin on the ground.

At that moment, she checked her vicinity and made sure no one was around before snatching the hairpin in a heartbeat and storing it away.

As a precaution, she double checked her surroundings once again — confirming that no one witnessed her actions — before dashing back home hastily.

Just as Zhuang Yulang came out from the house to get a drink of water, he noticed his mother panting heavily and asked worriedly, “Mom, what’s wrong? Was some bandit chasing after you?”

In that instant, Zhuang Liu quickly placed down the basket of clothes and dragged him into the house. After closing all the blinds in the room, she carefully pulled out the hairpin and said excitedly, “My son! Do you see what I picked up?! A pearl hairpin! We hit the jackpot!”

Zhuang Yulang frowned slightly and said, “Mother, a noble person should not be tempted by filthy lucre. A lost item should instead be returned to its original owner. How could one take it for themselves?”

Seeing Zhuang Liu showing Zhuang Yulang the hairpin, Bai Yi could not help but feel slightly nervous. After all, her benefactor would undoubtedly insist on returning the item to its original owner. Wouldn’t her plan end up in failure once again then?”

“To be honest, I happened to come across a piece of gold yesterday too. However, I already handed it over to the authorities and told them to help me look for its rightful owner.”

Without even waiting for him to finish his sentence, Zhuang Liu burst out saying, “What?! You picked up a piece of gold? And y-you… handed it over to the authorities? Are you stupid? If you give it to them, they’d definitely keep it for themselves! How could you be so stupid? That amount of money would allow us to live well for many years! Haiya! What an absolute waste!”

Zhuang Yulang responded in a righteous manner, “Mother, didn’t you always tell me to become a just and incorruptible official? If I were to use such filthy lucre for our own benefit now, how would I be able to face others in the future? How could I bear becoming a government official? How would I be able to judge a case fairly? Mom, I know you’ve been working yourself to the bone every single day, but please endure it just for a little while longer. Wait till I pass the imperial exam and end up as a top scorer in the palace examination. When that time comes, I will make sure to let you live the rest of your life carefree.”

As someone without education, Zhuang Liu did not have any experience when it came to such topics. However, her son’s words nevertheless resonated with her. If she were to keep the hairpin for herself, she was worried that it might negatively affect her son and thus began to waver in her stance.

Zhuang Yulang then grabbed the hairpin and asked, “Mom, where did you find this? I’ll go over and see whether or not the owner is looking around for it.”

“I… I found it in the alley in the east…” Zhuang Yulan renounced and told him the place where she found the hairpin. “If the owner ends up giving it to us as thanks for helping them find it, you better keep it. After all, we deserve it for finding it.”

“Alright. Mom, you must be quite tired. Why don’t you get some rest?” Zhuang Yulang said as he straightened up his clothes and walked out the door.

Bai Yi was now beyond frustrated as she regretted not attempting the plan only when Zhuang Yulang was not home. Once again, her plan had ended up in failure.

She then followed Zhuang Yulang out with the intention of getting the hairpin back. Just as she caught up to him, she was surprised to see him holding onto a young lady who had nearly tripped. Beside the lady stood another person who seemed to be a maidservant. That person quickly propped herself back up and supported the young lady.

Having regained her balance, the young lady blushed as she smiled and expressed her thanks to Zhuang Yulang. He then took out the hairpin and asked, “Young Miss, were you perhaps looking for this? Does this hairpin happen to belong to you?”

At that moment, Bai Yi noticed the young lady hesitating slightly before reaching out and accepting the hairpin.

“Yes, thank you for returning it.”

Zhuang Yulang said with a smile, “Haha, you’re being far too courteous here. I’m just glad that I’m able to return this to its rightful owner. You ought to be more careful with your belongings. Try not to lose something so precious again. Anyways, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“Sir! Please wait!” The young lady uttered bashfully. “May I ask for your name? This hairpin is extremely precious to me. As such, I would like to express my thanks to you.”

“No need. Young Miss, you’re being far too modest. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“No, I insist!”

Witnessing the scene taking place before her, Bai Yi blazed with rage. After all, that hairpin belonged to her! Who was that lady? How could she be so shameless? How dare she lie and claim that hairpin?! Had her injuries not prevented her from transforming into a human, she would have gone over to argue without hesitation!

Unable to hold herself back any longer, Bai Yi dashed over and slashed down on that young lady’s dress with her claws, not wanting her benefactor to be tricked by this woman. Unable to withstand the sharpness of a spirit demon’s claws, the young lady’s dress was immediately torn apart!

The young lady let out a frantic scream as her complexion turned pale out of fright. At that moment, the maidservant next to her immediately stepped forward to protect her. Shocked, Zhuang Yulang panicked and quickly grabbed onto Bai Yi before sincerely apologizing to the young lady.

“Lady Jiang, I’m so sorry that my pet fox ended up ruining your dress. T-This…”

Bai Yi called out several times to stop him from apologizing. After all, the young lady was clearly in the wrong!

Lady Jiang shot a glance at Bai Yi before taking a deep breath and letting out a smile. “It’s fine. This is Sir Zhuang’s pet fox? How cute.”

Seeing Bai Yi’s clear dislike towards the young lady, Zhuang Yulang hastily took a few steps back and apologized, “Xue’er is usually very obedient. I’m not sure what happened for her to do such things to Lady Jiang. In any case, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

This time, Lady Jiang did not dare to stop him as she did not want to be outside much longer with a torn dress. After saying her goodbyes, she too left the scene.