Gu Nian was about to ask her what’s wrong, when she saw her hurriedly take a few steps forward, suddenly kneeling in front of Gu Nian, handing over a piece of paper.
Gu Nian suddenly had a bad feeling, "What are you doing?"
Lin Pandi lifted her head, a flash of resolute determination in her eyes, "Those ten taels of silver, I gave them to my parents. I don’t really have any skills, and might never be able to repay you in this lifetime. But, I can work, I can do housework and field work, I... I asked the village chief to write a contract selling myself, in the future, I will be sold to you to pay off the debt. Whatever needs to be done, just instruct me."
"No... No!" Gu Nian was startled, "Just use the silver if you need to. I don’t really need it for now; there’s no need to sell yourself, right?"
Although knowing that trading people was legal in this era, she just couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable.
Furthermore, Gu Nian looked at Lin Pandi and asked, "Do your family know about this? They probably wouldn’t agree to you selling yourself for ten taels of silver either."
To Gu Nian, ten taels of silver seemed equivalent to ten thousand yuan in modern times, buying a person was too exaggerated.
Unexpectedly, Lin Pandi scoffed, "They’re happily taking those ten taels of silver, they’ve already pressed their fingerprints on the contract, I will have no family in the future!"
Regardless, Lin Pandi was determined to sell herself, no matter how Gu Nian tried to persuade her, she just kept her head down and cried.
Gu Nian had only been in the Lin Family for over two months herself, she truly didn’t dare to make such decisions rashly.
When Erhu returned and learned of the situation, he quickly ran to the fields to call Lin Sanshui and his wife back.
Lin Sanshui and his wife were even more resolute, willing to forgo the ten taels of silver rather than buying her.
Watching Lin Pandi’s lonely departing figure, Gu Nian suddenly recalled the scene of her slowly walking into the river this morning.
The same despair, filled with solitude.
"Sigh, this is also a poor child, how does a fine child end up with such parents?" If it were in their family, not to mention doting on their children like treasures, they would never push someone to a dead end.
Gu Nian took the chance to ask, "Mom, do you know what’s going on with Pandi?"
"Kids shouldn’t worry about such things, just go play!" Mrs. Jiang said with a dismissive tone.
After Mrs. Jiang and Lin Sanshui went out again, Gu Nian turned her gaze to Erhu.
Erhu quickly dodged it, making an excuse that he had other matters.
But to Gu Nian, he clearly seemed afraid of being questioned by her.
Nonetheless, she knew where she could find out what happened.
Gu Nian hopped out the door, heading straight for the big willow tree at the village entrance. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NovelHub(.)net
By chance, there were several aunties sitting by the bridge under the tree, chatting while they sewed shoe soles.
The second uncle’s little son and daughter were there, along with a bunch of kids playing with mud. Gu Nian walked over and greeted, "Xiangnan, Xue, what are you playing with?"
"Playing mud bomb, do you want to join?"
Lin Xiangnan took a moment to look up at Gu Nian, then took a newly crafted mud bowl and slammed it onto the ground, a large hole bursting at the bottom, delighted, he almost jumped up, not even minding the mud splattering all over his face.
The children playing with him started forming mud cakes, trying to patch it up for him.
Gu Nian had never played anything so novel before, but she had heard Sanhu and Little Hu mention it.