"You Gu family members must have conspired together, with Gu Feng selling and Gu Xiaoqing robbing, thinking you can fool me, right? Don’t forget, I have the contract in hand, and I’m not afraid to take it to the Governor’s Office!"
Now that Gu Feng was also involved in taking people away to sell, he was dead set against acknowledging the receipt of two hundred silver.
He himself had robbed someone and sold them for a high price; how could he not make Gu Feng cough up a bit more to compensate for his own losses?
"You dare report to the authorities? You, a human trafficker, dare report to the authorities? When the time comes, I’ll just say you stole Youyou to sell. Let’s see if you don’t end up eating prison food!" Huang Xiangwen was furious and relentless. She was a rural woman who didn’t care about contracts or no contracts; she couldn’t understand them and only knew that once the goods and money were exchanged, it wasn’t her problem if the person ran away.
He was angry at Liu Dazhuang for one thing, but he was truly furious with that scheming Gu Xiaoqing.
Just you wait, Gu Xiaoqing.
As for the ’evidence’ of Liu Dazhuang’s contract, it had already been thoroughly destroyed by Gu Xiaoqing. Despite his bravado about going to the authorities, there was still a hint of trepidation in his heart. Should he actually go before them, especially with his prior record, it might indeed result in him being falsely accused.
It enraged him to no end.
Huang Xiangwen and the notorious human trafficker Liu Dazhuang had started arguing in the corner of the courtyard. Erya Gu Xiaoqing, who had been secretly eavesdropping by the corner of the wall, was now paralyzed with shock.
My god, Uncle and Auntie actually sold my elder sister to a human trafficker; they’re incredibly bold, absolutely crazy.
Luckily, Dad came to the rescue.
But Dad didn’t bring my elder sister back; it seems he must have taken her to town.
Although Auntie said Dad sold my elder sister, she absolutely didn’t believe it. What words wouldn’t Auntie say? Hmph, she framed Dad for selling my sister, but just wait until Dad brings her back home; then you’ll get what’s coming to you.
Erya quietly retreated to the Gu family compound to report to Grandpa.
After bickering, Huang Xiangwen and Liu Dazhuang calmed down and thought something was amiss and that the situation was fishy.
Huang Xiangwen said, "Gu Feng is bound to come back anyway; why don’t we wait for him to return and then discuss it."
Continuing to argue was futile, and Liu Dazhuang saw the sense in that. He nodded and said, "All right, let me know when your Gu Feng returns."
"Grandpa, Grandpa, are you awake?"
Erya knocked on the door with an anxious, soft voice.
Now that there was no one else at home, she couldn’t overpower Auntie and was scared that Auntie would conspire with the human trafficker to sell her too. She even went to the kitchen to grab a firewood knife.
If they dared, she was ready to fight them with that knife.
"Erya, come in!" Gu Feng called out.
Ever since Grandma passed away, Grandpa’s health hadn’t been good, and Erya could tell even his voice had weakened.
She opened the door and saw Grandpa had already dressed and sat up straight.
In her hand, she held the firewood knife, fear evident on her face.
Gu Feng’s eyes weren’t as sharp as they used to be, but he spotted the gleaming knife right away.
"Erya, what are you doing with that knife?"
Erya was genuinely frightened. She softly shut the door and slowly approached Grandpa before saying, "Grandpa, I’ve got to tell you something, but you have to be very quiet, or you’ll lose another granddaughter!"
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about, child?" Gu Feng said, irritated.
Erya was just a fifteen-year-old girl who had never been this terrified. Besides grandpa’s place, she really didn’t know where else to hide in the house.
Auntie and Uncle must have gone mad; this was terrible.
Erya’s face was pale, her hand shaking slightly as she gripped the firewood knife.
She said, "Grandpa, I’m not making this up. Someone knocked on our door a moment ago, quite loudly; out of curiosity, I put down my embroidery to see. Grandpa, I saw Auntie talking with Liu Dazhuang, the human trafficker from the neighboring village."