Wufu twirled the carrying pole expertly in her hand, and then jabbed it into the ground. She huffed as she glanced at the groaning family of three huddled a short distance from her feet.
"You, who on earth are you?" The aunt-by-marriage looked at Wufu with eyes filled with fear, squeezing next to the man. Damn it, where did this tough nut come from?
"Me?" Wufu pointed her thumb at herself.
"I’ve already said it before, she’s my master; I’ve sold myself to her," Shen Hongyu hurriedly intervened.
Upon hearing this, Wufu shrugged indifferently. If the little girl wanted to dismiss these people, using her as a human shield, then so be it. For the sake of her grandfather, it didn’t really matter to her.
Besides, this family was impure at heart, with deceptive appearances that simply irritated her.
And she never showed any courtesy to people who irritated her.
"Xiao Yu, have you gone mad? To be a maid, at the beck and call of someone else, you must be out of your mind," the aunt-by-marriage yelled out, her voice sharp but trembling. "Is it this girl... did she force you? Don’t be scared, your aunt and uncle are here for you. We’ll stand up for you. If we can’t handle it ourselves, there’s always the Upright and Honorable Official; we’re not afraid of her."
She didn’t dare to curse at Wufu openly anymore, only to turn her gaze towards Shen Hongyu. In her eyes, Shen Hongyu was just a child, not likely to be devious and cunning. Yet it was this unfamiliar woman, who with a few simple moves had given her an ominous gut feeling, not one to be trifled with lightly.
Even the way she idly twirled the carrying pole seemed harmless enough, but a mere glance from those eyes sent a shiver down her spine, a coldness washing over her.
"No one forced me; I really sold myself. My grandfather and she have known each other for a long time, and it was my grandfather who told me to follow her," Shen Hongyu said firmly. "So, you better leave quick and never come back. As for this house, I’ve sold it to someone else already."
"What, even this house is sold?" The aunt-by-marriage’s face darkened.
Wufu slammed her carrying pole forcefully against the ground and glared sideways, "Are you leaving or not?"
The aunt-by-marriage, her heart pounding from the sight of the carrying pole splintering, hurriedly pulled her husband and son away. "Fine, fine, if you’re seeking death, who are we to stop you! Let’s go, we can’t play the good folks here anymore."
It’s a shame for the daughter-in-law, but what’s the use of her if we lose our lives?
Before leaving, the aunt-by-marriage shot a fierce glare at Wufu. Wufu waved her carrying pole, causing her to stumble almost to the point of falling.
The courtyard became peaceful again, and Shen Hongyu let out a sigh of relief.
"So, what’s your angle?" Wufu asked, looking at her.
Shen Hongyu pursed her lips and said, "Before my grandfather passed, he told me to go with you, to be a servant or whatever was necessary."
Wufu was taken aback, what kind of play was this?
"Grandfather said that if you could come, then I should go with you," Shen Hongyu said, looking down at her toes.
"Xiao Yu, that sister is a capable person, if she truly can keep her promise to come, then go with her. Someone who keeps their promises is someone who won’t disappoint." This was the last piece of advice her grandfather had given her before he passed away.
"Even if you gave me silver, what could I, a mere ten-year-old child, do to fend them off? Today it’s the aunt-by-marriage, tomorrow who knows which cousin will come, how could I possibly hold them back?" Shen Hongyu looked at her and continued, "Alone as a little girl, I’d either die or be humiliated by others. It would be better to go with you."
Grandfather had said, a person who keeps promises won’t be bad.
Wufu stared at her steadily, and after a long while finally spoke, "What can you do? I have no use for someone useless."